All you have to do is eat
ambergris caye
san pedro
diy food tour
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize (photo credit @diyfoodtours)
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize (photo credit @diyfoodtours)
Location of John Mcafee’s house, John Mcafee’s guest house, and the person he “allegedly” murdered, Gregory ‘Greg’ Faull’s house north of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, see below for more information (photo credit @diyfoodtours)
Introduction
San Pedro is a town on the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye in the Belize District of the nation of Belize, in Central America. According to the 2015 mid-year estimates, the town has a population of about 16,444. It is the second-largest town in the Belize District and largest in the Belize Rural South constituency. The once sleepy fishing village was granted the status of a town in 1984. San Pedro is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches, clear waters, and vibrant nightlife.
Country: Belize
District: Belize
Island: Ambergris Caye
Constituency: Belize Rural South
Time zone: UTC-6 (Central)
Population (Belize Population and Housing Census 2010)
• Total People 11,767
• Estimate (2016) 17,429
• Density 170/km2 (430/sq mi)
English is the main language on the island
DIY Tour details
Number of stops: 11
Number of tastings: 12
Tastings: Chicken Tostadas, Caribbean Chicken, Mixed Papusa, Pepper Shrimp, Black Relleno Soup, Queso Birra Taco (crispy fried taco with slow braised brisket and melted Monterrey jack cheese. Served with Beef consommé, lime, and salsa verde), Fried Snapper, Tuna Crudito (Yellow fin tuna with sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and honey, avocado and mango when available), Octopus al Mojo (Octopus grilled in chipotle roasted garlic sauce), Chicken and Tortilla Soup (shredded chicken, black beans, avocado, corn, cheddar cheese in a chicken broth topped with fresh chopped cilantro and corn tortilla strips), Fish Curry, Beef Ribs
San Pedro Factoids
Movies filmed there:
- The Mosquito Coast (1986, starring Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, and River Phoenix)
- Harpoon (2019, starring Munro Chambers, Chris Gray, Emily Tyra)
- The Bachelor (2002– ) Episode: Episode #16.7 (2012)
diy food tour
Tasting Types
There are 6 different tasting types. The first is a Must Try tasting, which means the dish provides a sense of pleasure, leaves an everlasting impression, evokes something exceptional, and will be remembered. The second is Tasting Hack, which is for example, a tasting that is combined with another tasting on the tour, that together, create a better tasting experience. A Seasonal tasting is only available during certain times of the year. A Vegetarian tasting does not contain meat (only verified vegetarian tasting are identified). A Best-In-Class tasting is an identification of a top tasting destination. A Cook At Home tasting is where you purchase in store, but cook at home.
Must try
Must try food tasting
Tasting Hack
Special manitpulated tasting
Seasonal
Seasonal tasting
Vegetarian
Vegetarian tasting
Best-in-class
Top tasting destination
Cook at home
Tasting you purchase in store, but cook at home
Tasting Locations
Tasting menu
Chicken Tosadas from Papusaria Salvadoreno
photo credit @diyfoodtours
Papusaria Salvadoreno
Salvadoran restaurant
Must try: Chicken Tostadas
“Tostada is the name given to various dishes in Mexico and other parts of Latin America which include a toasted tortilla as the main base of their preparation. The name usually refers to a flat or bowl-shaped tortilla that is deep-fried or toasted, but may also refer to any dish using a tostada as a base. It can be consumed alone, or used as a base for other foods. Corn tortillas are usually used for tostadas, although tostadas made of wheat or other ingredients can also be found” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tostada_(tortilla))
How to portion: One order can provide up to 8 tastings
Address: W29P+HR4, Pescador Dr, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Sunday 11AM–10PM
Monday 11AM–10PM
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 11AM–10PM
Thursday 11AM–10PM
Friday 11AM–10PM
Saturday 11AM–10PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/PupuseriaSalvadorenoSanPedro/
Instagram: NA
Caribbean Chicken from Bamboo Fence and Swing Bar at Secret Beach
photo credit @diyfoodtours
Bamboo Fence and Swing Bar at Secret Beach
Restaurant
Must try: Caribbean Chicken
“Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of West African, Creole, Cajun, Amerindian, European, Latin American, Indian/South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese. These traditions were brought from many different countries when they came to the Caribbean. In addition, the population has created styles that are unique to the region… Ingredients that are common in most islands’ dishes are rice, plantains, beans, cassava, cilantro, bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut, and any of various meats that are locally available like beef, poultry, pork or fish. A characteristic seasoning for the region is a green herb-and-oil-based marinade called sofrito, which imparts a flavor profile which is quintessentially Caribbean in character. Ingredients may include garlic, onions, scotch bonnet peppers, celery, green onions, and herbs like cilantro, Mexican mint, chives, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon and thyme” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_cuisine)
Address:Secret Beach, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Sunday Closed
Monday 8AM–7PM
Tuesday 8AM–7PM
Wednesday 8AM–7PM
Thursday 8AM–7PM
Friday 8AM–7PM
Saturday 8AM–7PM
Website: https://bamboo-fence-restaurant-swing-bar-restaurant.business.site/
Instagram: @swingbar501
Papusa by Pupusas al Gusto
photo credit @diyfoodtours
Pupusas al Gusto
Pupusa Stand
Must try: Mixed Papusa
“A pupusa is a thick griddle cake or flatbread from El Salvador and Honduras, made with cornmeal or rice flour, similar to the Colombian and Venezuelan arepa. In El Salvador, it has been declared the national dish and has a specific day to celebrate it. It is usually stuffed with one or more ingredients, which may include cheese (such as quesillo or cheese with loroco buds), chicharrón, squash, or refried beans. It is typically accompanied by curtido (a spicy fermented cabbage slaw) and tomato salsa, and is traditionally eaten by hand… Pupusas are also found in neighboring Central American countries. Honduran versions use the local quesillo type of cheese for the filling. In Costa Rica, both “Salvadoran pupusas” and “pupusas” are available, the latter being a local version. There, they are a staple of the food stalls at regional carnivals known as fiestas… In April 2005, the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly declared pupusas as the national dish of El Salvador and every second Sunday of November would be National Pupusas Day. A fair is typically held on the day in the capital and a few big cities. On 10 November 2007, in celebration of National Pupusa Day, the Secretary of Culture organized a fair in the capital park in which they would make the world’s biggest pupusa. The pupusa was 3.15 meters (10.3 ft) in diameter and was made with 200 pounds (91 kg) of masa, 40 pounds (18 kg) of cheese, and 40 pounds of chicharrón. It fed 5,000 people. Five years later, the record was broken again with a pupusa 4.25 meters (13.9 ft) in diameter. Guinness World Records lists the largest pupusa at 4.5 meters (15 ft), created in Olocuilta, El Salvador, on 8 November 2015″ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupusa)
How to portion: One pupusa can provide up to 2 tastings
Address: Across the street from the Caye Value Store located at W2HR+PVJ, Laguna Dr, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: NA
Website: NA
Instagram:NA
Pepper Shrimp by the Hungary Grouper
photo credit @diyfoodtours
Hungry Grouper
Restaurant
Must try: Pepper Shrimp
“Shrimp and prawn are types of seafood that are consumed worldwide. Although shrimp and prawns belong to different suborders of Decapoda, they are very similar in appearance and the terms are often used interchangeably in commercial farming and wild fisheries. A distinction is drawn in recent aquaculture literature, which increasingly uses the term “prawn” only for the freshwater forms of palaemonids and “shrimp” for the marine penaeids…. As with other seafood, shrimp is high in protein but low in food energy. A shrimp-based meal is also a significant source of cholesterol, from 122 mg to 251 mg per 100 g of shrimp, depending on the method of preparation. Shrimp consumption, however, is considered healthy for the circulatory system because the lack of significant levels of saturated fat in shrimp means that the high cholesterol content in shrimp actually improves the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol and lowers triglycerides” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_and_prawn_as_food)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: Black Coral Street, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Sunday 11AM–9:30PM
Monday 11AM–9:30PM
Tuesday 11AM–9:30PM
Wednesday 11AM–9:30PM
Thursday 11AM–9:30PM
Friday 11AM–9:30PM
Saturday 11AM–9:30PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hungry-Grouper/692094774182714
Instagram: NA
Black Relleno Soup by El Fogon
photo credit @elfogonbelize
El Fogon Restaurant
Belizean Restaurant
Must try: Traditional Black Relleno Soup
* Only available on Saturdays*
“Relleno negro (black stuffing) is a dish from Yucatán, México, based on turkey, pork and mixed chili peppers (chilmole). It is traditionally prepared in the month of November in a festival called Hanal Pixán…. The original recipe contains turkey, ground pork to make the but (meatball), tomato, chilmole, achiote, black pepper, cloves, cumin, oregano, epazote, garlic and boiled eggs. The black color for the stew comes from the mixture and toast of the chilies that are used in the chilmole, among which we can find: ancho chili, black peppers, cloves, cumin, natural achiote, burnt tortillas, sour orange juice, garlic, oregano and salt” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relleno_negro)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 2 trigger fish street San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Hours: Sunday Closed
Monday 11AM–9PM
Tuesday 11AM–9PM
Wednesday 11AM–9PM
Thursday 11AM–9PM
Friday 11AM–9PM
Saturday 11AM–9PM
Website: https://www.elfogonbelize.com/
Instagram: @elfogonbelize
Queso Birra Taco from Sol Fresca at the Truck Stop
photo credit @diyfoodtours
sol fresca (At the Truck Stop)
Latin Fusion Kitchen
Must try: Queso Birra Taco (crispy fried taco with slow braised brisket and melted Monterrey jack cheese. Served with Beef consommé, lime, and salsa verde)
“Quesabirria (also called quesotacos or red tacos) (“cheese birria”) is a Mexican dish comprising birria-style cooked beef folded into a tortilla with melted cheese and served with a side of broth (Spanish: consomé) for dipping… Quesabirria is “a cross between a taco and a quesadilla.” It comprises a corn tortilla with either mozzarella or Chihuahua cheese melted with stewed meat. The meat is often beef – commonly brisket – in contrast to birria, which is traditionally made with goat. The meat is stewed for up to 10 hours with chilies and spices. The tortilla is folded over on a grill, melting the cheese, meat and tortilla together. Some taqueros serve quesabirria with chopped white onion and cilantro inside the tacos or as a topping. Some taqueros use two tortillas on the grill to prepare their quesabirria, while others, including Los Originales Tacos de Birria, use two tortillas which they fry prior to adding the cheese and meat” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quesabirria)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 8 tastings
Address: 1 Mile North, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Sunday 11AM–9PM
Monday 11AM–9PM
Tuesday 11AM–9PM
Wednesday 11AM–9PM
Thursday 11AM–9PM
Friday 11AM–9PM
Saturday 11AM–9PM
Website: https://www.foodbooking.com/ordering/restaurant/menu
Instagram: @truckstopbz
Fried Snapper (small) from 303 Belize
photo credit @diyfoodtours
303 Belize
Restaurant
Must try: Fried Snapper
“Lutjanidae, or snappers are a family of perciform fish, mainly marine, but with some members inhabiting estuaries, feeding in fresh water. The family includes about 113 species. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper… Snappers inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of all oceans. Some snappers grow up to about 1 m (3.3 ft) in length however one specific snapper, the cubera snapper, grows up to 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) in length. Most are active carnivores, feeding on crustaceans or other fish, though a few are plankton-feeders. They can be kept in aquaria, but mostly grow too fast to be popular aquarium fish. Most species live at depths reaching 100 m (330 ft) near coral reefs, but some species are found up to 500 m (1,600 ft) deep” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutjanidae)
“Fish is fried in many parts of the world, and fried fish is an important food in many cuisines. For many cultures, fried fish is historically derived from pescado frito, and the traditional fish and chips dish of England which it may have inspired” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_fish)
How to portion: One order (small size) can provide up to 8 tastings
Address: 1322A 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2T 0C3, Canada
Hours: Saturday 11a.m.–11p.m.
Sunday 11a.m.–9p.m.
Monday 11a.m.–10p.m.
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 11a.m.–10p.m.
Thursday 11a.m.–10p.m.
Friday 11a.m.–11p.m.
Website: https://www.instagram.com/303belize/
Instagram: @303belize
Elvi's Kitchen
Central American Restaurant
Must try: (1) Tuna Crudito * ONLY AVAILABLE AT LUNCH * (Yellow fin tuna with sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and honey. Avocado and mango when available). (2) Octopus al Mojo (Octopus grilled in chipotle roasted garlic sauce)
“Curtido (Spanish pronunciation: [kuɾˈtiðo]) is a type of lightly fermented cabbage relish. It is typical in Salvadoran cuisine and that of other Central American countries, and is usually made with cabbage, onions, carrots, oregano, and sometimes lime juice; it resembles sauerkraut, kimchi, or tart coleslaw. It is commonly served alongside pupusas, the national delicacy… Fellow Central American country Belize has a similar recipe called “curtido” by its Spanish speakers; however, it is a spicy, fermented relish made with onions, habaneros, and vinegar. It is used to top salbutes, garnaches, and other common dishes in Belizean cuisine” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtido)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 1013 17 Ave SW #119, Calgary, AB T2T 0A7, Canada
Hours: Saturday 11AM–9PM
Sunday 11AM–9PM
Monday 4–9PM
Tuesday 11:30AM–2PM, 4–9PM
Wednesday 11:30AM–2PM, 4–9PM
Thursday 11:30AM–2PM, 4–9PM
Friday 11:30AM–2PM, 4–9PM
Website: https://www.elviskitchen.com/
Instagram: @elviskitchen
Chicken and Tortilla Soup from Blue Water Grill Restaurant
photo credit @diyfoodtours
Blue Water Grill
Restaurant
Must try: Chicken and Tortilla Soup (shredded chicken, black beans, avocado, corn, cheddar cheese in a chicken broth topped with fresh chopped cilantro and corn tortilla strips)
“Tortilla soup (Spanish: sopa de tortilla) is a traditional Mexican soup made of fried corn tortilla pieces, submerged into a broth of tomato, garlic, onion, and chile de árbol and epazote. It is served with pieces of pasilla chiles, chicharrón, avocado, fresh cheese cubes and sour cream. Although the exact origin of tortilla soup is unknown, it is known that it comes from the Mexico City area in Mexico. Traditional tortilla soup is made with chicken broth combined with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and tortillas, cut into strips and fried. There are some variations, for example the broth being made with a thickened tomato base and ground tortillas or a bean soup enriched with crunchy strips of fried tortillas” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortilla_soup)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 5 tastings
Address: Barrier Reef Dr, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Tuesday 7AM–10PM
Wednesday 7AM–10PM
Thursday 7AM–10PM
Friday 7AM–10PM
Saturday 7AM–10PM
Sunday 7AM–10PM
Monday 7AM–10PM
Website: https://www.bluewatergrillb: elize.com/
Instagram: @belizefood
Fish Curry by Caroline’s Cookin’
photo credit @diyfoodtours
Caroline's Cookin'
Caribbean restaurant
Must try: Fish Curry
“Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of West African, Creole, Cajun, Amerindian, European, Latin American, Indian/South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese. These traditions were brought from many different countries when they came to the Caribbean. In addition, the population has created styles that are unique to the region… Ingredients that are common in most islands’ dishes are rice, plantains, beans, cassava, cilantro, bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut, and any of various meats that are locally available like beef, poultry, pork or fish. A characteristic seasoning for the region is a green herb-and-oil-based marinade called sofrito, which imparts a flavor profile which is quintessentially Caribbean in character. Ingredients may include garlic, onions, scotch bonnet peppers, celery, green onions, and herbs like cilantro, Mexican mint, chives, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon and thyme. This green seasoning is used for a variety of dishes like curries, stews and roasted meats” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_cuisine)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 5 tastings
Address: Barrier reef drive, Central Park area on the beach next to, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 PM
Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carolines-Cookin
Instagram: @carolinescookin
Beef ribs from Estel’s Dine by the sea
photo credit @estelsdinebythesea
Estel's Dine By the Sea
Restaurant
Must try: Beef Ribs * Only Available On Saturdays At Noon *
“Barbecue or barbeque (informally BBQ in the UK, US, and Canada, barbie in Australia and braai in South Africa) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that use live fire and smoke to cook the food. The term is also generally applied to the devices associated with those methods, the broader cuisines that these methods produce, and the meals or gatherings at which this style of food is cooked and served. The cooking methods associated with barbecuing vary significantly but most involve outdoor cooking… Barbecuing encompasses multiple types of cooking techniques. The original technique is cooking using smoke at low temperatures—usually around 116–138 °C (240–280 °F)—and significantly longer cooking times (several hours), known as smoking… A public barbecue site at a park in Oulu, Finland, on 23 March 2014… Grilling is done over direct, dry heat, usually over a hot fire over 260 °C (500 °F) for a few minutes. Grilling and smoking are done with wood, charcoal, gas, electricity, or pellets. The time difference between smoking and grilling is because of the temperature difference; at low temperatures used for smoking, meat takes several hours to reach the desired internal temperature” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue)
How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: W29Q+G6R, Beachfront, Buccaneer St, San Pedro, Belize
Hours: Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 6AM–4PM
Thursday 6AM–9PM
Friday 6AM–4PM
Saturday 6AM–9PM
Sunday 6AM–4PM
Monday 6AM–4PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/estelsdinebythesea/
Instagram: @estelsdinebythesea
notable products from Belize
photo credit @mariesharpsofficial
Marie Sharp's
“Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods Ltd., better known as Marie Sharp’s is a plant-based condiment and jam manufacturer based in the Stann Creek District of Belize, Central America. The women-owned company is named after its founder Marie Sharp and is highly regarded for its authentic Caribbean, carrot-based habanero pepper sauce recipe. Marie’s Belizean habanero pepper (hot) sauces consistently rank among the world’s tastiest and most beloved condiments… The brand offers many varieties of sauces made from sustainably farmed, hand-picked, fresh fruit and vegetable bases such as carrots, orange/grapefruit pulp, nopales, tamarind, mango, and pineapple combined with crushed habaneros or other chiles… Marie Sharp exports her habanero pepper sauces to more than 30 countries… Her products known as Marie Sharp’s have been widely recognized. She received the Gold prize in the 20th Food and Beverage Competition of Düsseldorf, Germany. In 2013, her entries at the Anuga Food Fair in Cologne made the prestigious “Taste13 Showcase” round and Sharp’s sauce placed in the top three. In 2014, she was honored by Belize’s Special Envoy for Women and Children as a woman trailblazer. Sharp was inducted into the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame in 2016. In June 2017 Mrs. Sharp’s Products won twice golden awards in 2 out of 3 categories at the German Chili Award in Hanover/Germany” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Sharp’s)
Webpage: https://mariesharpsusa.com/
Instagram: @mariesharpsofficial
photo credit @travellersliquors
Travellers Liquors
“With creativity and foresight, Don Omario single-handedly created a true legacy for his children, grandchildren and Belize. Today, the Perdomo family honors his memory by creating award-winning products with the same standard of excellence that Don Omario exemplified” (https://www.onebarrelrum.com/home)
Awards
We create award-winning products:
The Fifty Best 2022 Silver Medal
Best Flavored Rum – Kuknat
The Fifty Best 2019 Gold Medal
Best Aged Rum – 1 Barrel
BIN 2019
92 Points Superb Liquor Rank
WSWA 2014
Gold Award -1-Barrel
Rum Renaissance Fair – 2012
Gold Award & Best in Category – Miami, Florida
International Rum Fest – 2010
Gold Medal – Ybor/ Tampa, Florida
San Francisco World Spirits – 2009
Gold Medal – San Francisco, California
International Rum Fest – 2008
Gold Medal – Ybor/ Tampa, Florida
International Rum Fest – 2007
Gold Medal – Ybor/ Tampa, Florida
International Rum Fest – 2006
Gold Medal – Ybor/ Tampa, Florida
COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS/UPDATES
Email: Matt@diyfoodtours.com
