El Pescador Resort

The majority of El Pescador guests arrive at the resort by boat -- which seems like the most fitting way to reach a fishing lodge. Roundtrip airport transportation is part of the hotel’s incredible all-inclusive packages, and the 15-minute boat ride offers spectacular views of Ambergris Caye. Staff members stand on the resort’s dock and warmly welcome each new arrival. Returning guests are often greeted by name and are invited to explore new parts of the lodge that have changed since their last visit. An informal check-in takes place in the tiny lobby, and guests are then led to their rooms in the lodge or one of the surrounding villas. 

It’s immediately apparent that El Pescador has a serene atmosphere. During the day, while the majority of guests are out fishing, the pools are quiet, the beach is empty, and the restaurant hardly seems open. But at night, when guests return from their excursions, the lodge’s warm communal atmosphere begins to shine. Guests hang around the bar for sundowners, gather together for dinner, and continue late-night conversations by the pool. Staff members foster this sense of hospitality by learning new guests’ names and by wholeheartedly welcoming returning ones. At dinner each night, employees announce new arrivals and give small gifts to returning guests, to show appreciation for continually choosing El Pescador. They also publicly congratulate the fisherman with the day’s best catch. If we haven’t made it obvious yet, El Pescador is centered around fishing. Despite the friendly atmosphere, non-fishers will likely feel out of place. During our visit, the dinnertime conversation was filled with so many unfamiliar vocabulary words, it seemed as though we were getting a crash-course in piscary lingo. 

El Pescador Resort is a beachfront fishing lodge located two miles north of San Pedro town on Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island. Ambergris Caye is best known for its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, a mere 20-minute boat ride from the island. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which extends from eastern Mexico to Honduras -- making it the second largest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Needless to say, travelers visit Ambergris Caye to experience its rich marine life and exceptional dive sites, such as Hol Chan and the Blue Hole. Ambergris Caye is an ideal destination for divers, avid snorkelers, and fishermen. It’s not an ideal destination for travelers in search of beautiful beaches (check out Placencia or Hopkins instead). Nearly all of Ambergris Caye’s beaches, like the one in front of El Pescador, are manmade.

Fish reside in the waters off Ambergris Caye 12 months per year. The climate is neo-tropical with micro-climate changes throughout the year. Guests can expect to find bonefish, permit, tarpon, and reef fish throughout the year, though certain months tend to be better for certain fish. January through April is great for tarpon, while June through September is best for bonefish. The resort publishes weekly fishing reports on its website to keep potential guests abreast of the current conditions.  

Like many parts of the Caribbean, Ambergris Caye is currently dealing with a massive seaweed problem. Due to rising ocean temperatures, large amounts of seagrass accumulate along the shoreline and wash up on the beach. The piles of dried seagrass are unsightly and foul smelling, and the problem seems particularly bad on the northern end of the island. The stagnant seaweed prevents a lot of people from swimming directly off shore, and the sulfurous smell may aggravate some travelers more than others. This is a natural phenomenon, and there isn’t much hotels can do to get rid of the seaweed, but it’s something travelers should anticipate when visiting Ambergris Caye.   

Rooms at El Pescador are chicer than the average fishing lodge. While they don’t have the bells and whistles of a luxury resort, it’s clear that rooms have curated decor and thoughtful amenities. El Pescador has two general room types -- lodge rooms and villas. Lodge rooms are located in the resort’s central building. They’re typical studio-style rooms with one king or two queen beds and an ensuite. Villas are housed in freestanding buildings north and south of the main lodge. Villas have one, two, or three bedrooms and are equipped with full kitchens, large living and dining rooms, and outdoor balconies or patios. The villas are ideal for families, or large groups traveling together. 

Lodge rooms are painted in a soothing shade of pale green and decorated with local artwork that depicts, well, fish. Handsome wood furniture give rooms a classic lodge feel, while brightly colored patterned quilts and throw pillows add tropical flair. In-room technology consists of bedside alarm clocks and ceiling mounted fishing rod racks -- there aren’t any TVs in the lodge rooms. Bathrooms are spacious and have double sinks, lots of counter space, and large walk-in showers, El Pescador equips each lodge room with a mini fridge and purified drinking water. (The water on Ambergris Caye is safe to drink, it just doesn’t taste very good.) 

Villas are located on the northern and southern ends of the resort, and are available with one, two, or three bedrooms. Additionally, villas have large kitchens and spacious living and dining rooms. Most of the villas have upside-down layouts, where bedrooms are located on the ground level and living spaces are upstairs. Villa decor is charmingly caribbean, with lots of bright colors and beachy accents Dining room chairs are whimsically shaped like fish and are painted in outrageous shades of purple, gold, and fire-engine red. Bulky wood furniture creates a cozy living space, where sofas are topped with sea green cushions and sky blue accent pillows. Kitchens are equipped with full-size appliances, including dishwashers, and small appliances like microwaves, toasters, blenders, and coffeemakers. Drawers are stocked with cutlery, flatware, pots and pans, and essential cooking utensils like ladles and spatulas. The open layout of the living space, along with the rooms’ vaulted ceilings, create a bright, airy feel that seems to epitomize island life. Outside, large balconies offer prime ocean views, and look like the picture of Belizean life with patterned hammocks and colorful adirondack chairs.  

The vast majority of El Pescador guests are enthusiastic fishermen who spend every day of their trip fishing. Because of this, El Pescador offers incredible all-inclusive packages that are centered around this beloved activity. Packages include accommodations, round trip domestic flights between Belize City and Ambergris Caye, round trip boat transfers between the San Pedro airport and the hotel, three daily meals, domestic alcoholic drinks including beer and rum, free Wi-Fi, and of course daily fishing excursions with one of the hotel’s expert local guides. These rates do not include international flights, imported alcoholic beverages, gift-shop purchases, or gratuities for guides and staff members. Packages are priced differently for single and double occupancy and there additional fees associated with renting a villa. 

El Pescador’s all-inclusive packages include three meals per day at its on-site restaurant -- an outdoor covered patio with a handful of tables and chairs. Guests not taking part in the all-inclusive plan can pay for their meals a la carte. Breakfast and lunch are served a la carte, while dinner is always served buffet style. Breakfast begins in the wee hours, so the fishers can eat before they embark on their excursions. Don’t leave El Pescador without trying a Belizean fry jack -- a delicious fried dough that’s great on it’s own, but even better when stuffed with ham, eggs, and coleslaw. The lunch menu consists of salads, sandwiches, wraps, and local specialities like ceviche. Guests with day-long fishing excursions receive packed lunches at breakfast time. Dinner buffets always have two entree options, along with a salad and a few sides. The lodge is happy to accommodate guests with dietary restrictions, but advanced notice is required. El Pescador has a fun, indoor/outdoor sports bar that’s popular with guests in the evening hours. Many guests gather around the bar, order drinks, and share the highlights of their days spent fishing. The casual bar scene fosters the warm communal atmosphere that El Pescador is known for.  

For anyone not spending their days fishing, El Pescador has three beautiful pools, a large beach, and free kayaks and snorkel gear. The main pool is a few steps from the lodge and is surrounded by cushioned lounge chairs and thatched palapas. There’s even a shallow pool ledge where guests can sunbathe in the water. Each section of villas has their own pool. Both villa pools are small and rectangular. They have a few lounge chairs and offer spectacular ocean views. Like nearly all of the beaches on Ambergris Caye, the one in front of El Pescador is manmade. Staff members do a nice job of keeping the beach tidy by constantly raking the sand and trying to remove mounds of seaweed from the water. The seaweed prevents most people from swimming offshore, but the resort’s long dock allows guests to easily access clearer water. The beach is lined with bright red adirondack chairs, and striped hammocks are strung between the palms. El Pescador provides free kayaks and snorkel gear for guests to use around the property.