There has been a lot of confusion as to what is the name of the large island off the coast of Belize. Is it Ambergris Caye or is it San Pedro. The island is called Ambergris Caye(pronounced “key” The etymology will be discussed ina later post). The largest town on the island is San Pedro Town. Since the island is associated with the town, the names have been used interchangeably, sort of like brand recall. When you think of adhesive bandages, most people say Band-Aid instead. The names are used interchangeably.
The History of the island goes back to the Mayans. In most recent history, the town was a site where the villagers relied primarily on fishing as their source of income and sustenance. The seafood market has been a large driving force in the economy of the island, to this day. Conch, fish, and lobster were the main sources of income. The fishing cooperative on the island would process and package the catch to send to the mainland and from there to international export.
The island had begun to gain some popularity because of its pristine waters, cool trade winds, and simplistic lifestyles. The first successful public hotel was opened in 1965. There was one attempt before this date but catastrophe hit that changed that first hotel. The Holiday Hotel in San Pedro has been a cornerstone in the tourism industry from that day on.
With the growth of tourism, fishing tours became popular followed by diving tours. Traveling to the island had become more advanced as the years marched on. Initially, traveling to the island was done on a barge. This led to the Water Taxi services growing and then the national airline services.
Everything was a cumulative effect from the first hotel built on the island. Historically a sleepy little fishing village, the island has transformed into one of the most sought-after vacation and real estate areas of Belize.