Physically, the property is impressive. Ocean front. Nice pool in an intimate setting. Generally had it to ourselves. Basically a large family home (guess 3000 sq ft?) with impeccable daily maid and groundskeeping services. Enrique served as the point person for us on the staff and we all liked him. My sister insisted I mention how helpful he was. Served as ringmaster for all of our demands. Spent a lot of time on his cell phone on our behalf.
The villa itself was delightful. I go into that in the room description. I think they are going for a combined plantation / Mexican villa theme with more wood than stone or stucco. Decor looks like it belongs in the setting it is in, not contrived. Plantation shutters over screens. Some unfinished wood shelves. Bathrooms were enormous and each had its own tile theme. No privacy between toilet, shower, and sink. Glass divides shower from the rest of the bathroom.
Like much of Belize inside the reef, the beach is white, powdery sand, but turns to sea grass a couple feet into the ocean. Felt natural to me; I liked how it looked, especially the color contrast. Some in my party wanted a white sand beach without the grass. Can still swim off the dock so that you don't have to wade through the sea grass, which looks to be how most other properties work it. Maybe 10% clear the of grass, from my informal sampling. Getting rid of the grass eliminates some sea life habitat. I'm not a fan of that, and like it the way it is.
There was a little plastic trash on the beach. I wondered why the staff didn't clean more diligently, until I wandered through an adjactant vacant parcel. Holy crap, all the plastic trash of the Caribbean washes up here. The little bit of trash at La Perla was minor in comparison and clearly just what happens over a few hours between cleanings.
My first time to La Perla, and Ambergris Caye, and to Belize for that matter. What I wished I knew before I went.
Although ocean front, no roar of the crashing surt. The barrier reef mean that there is very little surf at the beach -- which I miss. But good for kids' safety, for sure. My girls enjoyed hours of beachcombing.
Took a long time to get here. If you have access to private aircraft, I highly recommend that :)
North Ambergris Caye is somewhat isolated. Road looks rough. Although passable in a golf cart, heard from many that boats are the best way to travel. Coast is heavily traveled by boat traffic; so wouldn't advice a rental boat other than for experts in motorized boat operation in heavy traffic. Occaisonally, the sound of the boats could be a distraction. $11 US per person each way to get to town in the taxi. Maybe a 15 minutes boat ride to go the 4-5 miles. But there are restaurants a very short walk either side of La Perla. Every meal I had on Ambergris Caye was pretty good, at varying price points. All somewhat pricy.
Much of Belize is a long way away. Went 'cave tubing'. Just fantasic. Blue clear freshwater through a limestone cave tunnelled through the hills thru the eons.. But a four hour commute round trip -- ufff. Maybe once in a trip. The iconic Blue Hole out past Turneffe is even further. If you do this hardcore commuting day after day, you'll go crazy. When setting up activities, I would focus on those things that are close. Fantastic snorkling and diving on both the north and south tips of the island. Turtles, sharks, and rays, oh my.
Personal chef which I recommend) will shop for you. We overbought food on our own. "Chefs for Hire" did an amazing job -- well worth the cost -- and on top of our overbuying, bought and prepared so much food that we were able to eat the same food for multiple cycles of leftovers. I probably would have bought less food and gone out to eat more.
Basically everything on the island is imported from the mainland. Including construction material, I'm told. Prices generally reflect this.
I didn't find prices on the local beer or rum to be unreasonablely priced. Nor the local seafood or fruit, relatively speaking. But packaged snacks (breakfast cereals, chips, Oreos, and the like) are galactically expensive. And the humidity seemed to impact the quality of some of that kind of food. I'd pack it in luggage from the US, if doing this again.
Insect repellent was also very expensive, and very unnecessary and unused in mid February -- even on our trip up in the hills on the mainland. Would guess that's a function of the time of year, and would bring some from out of country in any case.
Buy hard liquor in the duty free shop as you clear customs at the Belize City airport. It's right there.
The bottled water in the unit is in a bulk dispenser with a tap. I'd bring my own water bottle.
Water, ice coffee, sugar, and coffeemate are provided. Also (at least in my unit) there was a laundry unit with a tub of powder there for use.
Plenty of towels for beach, pool, and bath. Standard hotel toiletries are provided. Solid Wifi.
Power went out (less than a day) while we were here. Not just this property, but the whole island. I always pack a small flashlight when I travel and certainly would make a point of it here.
Got in a dispute with the grocery delivery company. Confirm and reconfirm your order, and ensure your order is complete before the delivery guy goes.
Left vast quantities of electronic foldero sitting out; left untouched by staff. People were all honest and friendly, from my experience.
Enjoyed by multiple generations of my family. Kids, adults, and grandma. Starting checking return airfares while still here.
- Also Known As:
- La Perla Del Caribe Hotel
- La Perla Del Caribe Hotel San Pedro
- La Perla Del Caribe Belize/San Pedro
Phone Number:
Region:
Belize >
Belize Cayes >
Ambergris Caye >
San Pedro
Amenities:
Beach
Free High-Speed Internet
Free Parking
Kitchenette
Suites
Swimming Pool
#8 Family Hotels in San Pedro
#8 On the Beach Hotels in San Pedro
#15 Romantic Hotels in San Pedro
Price Range:
$$$$
Hotel Class:3.5 star (3.5*)
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
-
Strolling lazily down a tropical white sand beach, a soothing azure sea lapping rhythmically at your feet, a Caribbean breeze stealing away the cares of the world as it brushes gently across your face… This is La Perla Del Caribe Resort.This Luxury Ambergris Caye Resort is located on the north end of Ambergris Caye, the most popular vacation destination in Belize. La Perla Del Caribe captures the Caribbean ambiance of Belize in elegance and luxury. You can relax in the modern indoor-outdoor style of your private beach villa between trips to the pool and snorkeling - just offshore lies one of the top ten dive sites in the world, the pristine Belize coral reef. Or you can enjoy the vibrant life of the island – participate in village fiestas or sample local and international cuisine in the restaurants and clubs.Set off on sun-soaked Caribbean adventures to ancient Mayan ruins and scuba diving at the famous Great Blue Hole.Relax on your private mahogany sun bed and watch the herons stroll through the shallows. Laze by the pool while taking in a miraculous sunset.We are here to bring you the once in a lifetime Caribbean vacation experience, unlike any other Ambergris Caye Resort, that can only be... La Perla Del Caribe.Your Ambergris Caye Paradise
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