View source for Ambergris Caye

{{Short description|Island in Belize}}
{{For|the island in the Turks and Caicos|Ambergris Cay}}
{{Infobox islands|name = Ambergris Caye
|image_name = Ambergris Caye from space.jpg
|image_size =250px
|image_caption = Ambergris Caye photographed from the International Space Station
|map         = Belize
|native_name  =
|native_namelink =
|location =[[Caribbean Sea]]
|coordinates= {{Coord|18|0|50.21|N|87|55|51.74|W|display=inline,title}}
|archipelago = 
|total_islands = 
|major_islands = 
|area_m2 = 
|highest_mount =
|elevation_m = 
|country = Belize
|country_admin_divisions_title = District
|country_admin_divisions = Belize District
|country_largest_city = [[San Pedro Town]]
|country_largest_city_population = 13,381
|population = 
|population_as_of = 
|density_km2 = 
|ethnic_groups =
}}
'''Ambergris Caye''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|m|ˈ|b|ɜːr|ɡ|r|ᵻ|s|_|ˈ|k|iː}} {{respell|am|BUR|gris|_|KEE}}; [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: Cayo Ambergris), is the largest island of [[Belize]], located northeast of the country's mainland, in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. It is about {{Convert|40|km|mi|0}} long from north to south, and about {{Convert|1.6|km|mi|0}} wide. Many parts of the island have been modified by human development since the arrival of [[coconut]] plantations in the 17th century, but it remains largely white [[coral sand]] with [[mangrove swamp|mangrove forest]] at its centre. Its eastern coast runs parallel to the northernmost stretch of the [[Belize Barrier Reef]], a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]].

A [[Maya civilization|Maya]] community lived on the island in [[Pre-Columbian]] times, leaving behind distinctive polished red [[ceramics (art)|ceramics]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Valdez|first1=Fred|title=Ceramics from Northern Ambergris Caye Sites|year=1995|publisher=Maya Research Program|location=San Antonio|isbn=0-911437-21-5|pages=95–112|first2=Lauren A. |last2=Sullivan |first3=Thomas H. |last3=Guderjan|editor=Thomas H. Guderjan and James F. Garber|chapter=5}}</ref> It is widely believed that [[Maritime trade in the Maya civilization|maritime trade]] motivated the Mayans themselves to excavate "Boca Bacalar Chico", the marine channel that separates the island from the Mexican mainland, but its origins could also have been natural (e.g. a hurricane).

[[San Pedro Town]] is the largest settlement and only town on Ambergris Caye. There are also a number of small villages and resorts that serve the island's growing [[tourism]] industry, especially [[ecotourism]] and [[scuba diving]]. Although administered as part of the [[Belize District]], the closest point on the mainland is part of the [[Corozal District]].

== Etymology ==
Ambergris, from the [[Old French]] "''ambre gris''" (literally "gray [[amber]]"), is a rare substance produced in the intestines of [[sperm whale]]s, valuable historically and in some modern perfumes as a [[Fixative (perfumery)|fixative]]. In the 17th century, [[whaler]]s in the tropical Atlantic Ocean operated from many islands like Ambergris Caye, and although sperm whales are not considered residents of Belizean waters, the animals continue to pass through on a regular basis.

== Tourism ==
Tourism development of Ambergris Caye began in the early 1970s and grew considerably in the later years of the 20th century. The main attractions are the Belize Barrier Reef and its beaches. That barrier reef is the second largest in the world, after the [[Great Barrier Reef]] of Australia. The caye has a small airstrip serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, whilst Astrum Helicopters services not only the local airstrip but the various resorts as well. It can be reached by plane or helicopter from Belize City as well as by numerous fast sea ferries. Ambergris Caye can also be reached by ferry from [[Chetumal]] in Mexico.

Ambergris Caye is commonly referred to as the "Isla Bonita" (English translation: 'The Beautiful Island'), after [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s 1987 hit "[[La Isla Bonita]]" mentioned a place called San Pedro<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://travelandfilm.com/san-pedro-belize-la-isla-bonita-by-madonna/|title=San Pedro, Belize – la Isla Bonita by Madonna - TRAVEL AND FILM - Blog de Voyages et Cinéma|website=travelandfilm.com|date=12 February 2013 |language=en|access-date=2018-09-24}}</ref> (although Madonna has said the song does not refer to any particular place<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/madonnas-50-greatest-songs-w430518/la-isla-bonita-from-true-blue-1986-w431100|title=Madonna's 50 Greatest Songs|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref>). Ambergris Caye is famous for the turquoise seascapes surrounding the island which match the character and Caribbean charm of the destination. Because of the island's small size, the main form of powered transportation is by [[golf cart]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://ambergriscaye.com/golfcarts/
| title = Golf Cart Rentals In San Pedro, Belize
}}</ref>

San Pedro Day is celebrated annually on June 27.

== Gallery ==
{{gallery|mode=packed|align=center|width=135|height=135
|File:San Pedro Beach.jpg|Beach at San Pedro
|File:Azure Water off the coast of Ambergris Caye, Belize.jpg|Azure water off the coast of Ambergris Caye
|File:San Pedro Town, A.C., Belize, Dawn.jpg|Dusk on Ambergris Caye
|File:Belize Barrier Reef, from Ambergris Caye.jpg|View of the Barrier Reef in the distance
|File:Fishing off the coast of Ambergris Caye, Belize.jpg|Fishing off the coast of Ambergris Caye
|File:Road near San Pedro - panoramio.jpg|Road near San Pedro
|File:Houses in San Pedro - panoramio.jpg|Houses in San Pedro and mangrove swamp
|File:Manmade ponds near San Pedro - panoramio.jpg|Manmade ponds
}}

== Secret Beach ==
The majority of Ambergris Caye is reserved for national park/wildlife preserve limiting the availability of real estate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://belizesecretbeach.com/ambergris-caye/facts-about-ambergris-caye/|title=Facts About Ambergris Caye|work=Belize Secret Beach|access-date=2018-09-24|language=en-US}}</ref> To the north of San Pedro Town is the destination of Belize Secret Beach, one of the more popular beach destinations in Belize. The [[Belize Secret Beach]] destination on Ambergris Caye is often called "San Pedro's worst kept secret",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://historyfangirl.com/secret-beach-belize-ambergris-caye/|title=The Secret Beach in Belize: How to Get There & Why You Need to Go ASAP - History Fangirl|date=2018-08-03|work=History Fangirl|access-date=2018-09-24|language=en-US}}</ref> as the Secret Beach area has yet to see substantial development, but has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists and locals, allowing the area to boast a remote atmosphere but still offer more developed amenities. Secret Beach also features [[cenote]]s, sinkholes, and caves.

== In popular culture ==
Two resorts north of San Pedro played host to the first season of Fox's ''[[Temptation Island (TV series)|Temptation Island]]'' in 2000, aired in 2001.

== References ==
{{Portal|Islands}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Ambergris Caye}}
* [https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/149827/san-pedro-and-ambergris-cay San Pedro and Ambergris Cay] [sic]  at [[NASA Earth Observatory]],  May 15, 2022
* [http://www.AmbergrisCaye.com AmbergrisCaye.com]—San Pedro is the only town on Ambergris Caye. Travel tips, large photo galleries, very active message board
* [http://www.sanpedrosun.com/ ''The San Pedro Sun'' newspaper]—Local Ambergris Caye newspaper

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[[Category:Belize District]]
[[Category:Belize Rural South]]
[[Category:Islands of Belize]]
[[Category:Populated places in Belize]]
[[Category:Caribbean Sea]]