The Palapa Bar is the best bar on the north side of ambergris caye, just 1 1/2 miles north of the bridge. Accessable by bike, boat and golf cart. So on a recent trip to San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize my husband and I were happy to see that the Palapa Bar was back over the water. We found that it was bigger and better than ever.
In 1997 on our first trip to Belize and the island of Ambergris Caye San Pedro we took a 3 hour cruise by boat, I know, we did not find gillian's island but we did find a jewel of a place in paradise to sit relax and have a cold Belikin beer (the local beer on the island). Now, at that time the Palapa Bar was just a tiny place out over the water that might of had 10 bar stools along with a frail old American behind the bar living out his dream of living in and owning a bar on a tiny island in the Caribbean. It was so tranquil and relaxing we made a point to keep coming back to the palapa bar year after year. Unfortunately a hurricane wiped out the original palapa bar forcing the next bar to be built on the beach. That took away most of the quaintness of the palapa bar and I guess they knew it, so a few years ago something priceless sprang up out of the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean that surrounds the tiny island of ambergris caye! That's right, the Palapa Bar like I said before it came back bigger and better than ever!
My husband and I love spending time with the new owners of the Palapa Bar, Scott and Jodie. They make you feel so welcomed you just can't help enjoying yourself each and every time you visit the new and improved Palapa Bar. This American couple strives to make their little piece of paradise to be the best experience you can have at their cute little bar and grill. The food at the palapa bar is great like their specialty of a BBQ, Slow Smoked, Pork Sandwich or Fresh Caught Fish Tacos, the bar is stocked well with both American liquors as well as the local brews (they even made sure they stocked their bar with something special we requested) and what can I say about the beautiful panoramic views of the Caribbean sea from the palapa bar, with the reef being only a few hundred feet away. You can see and hear the waves breaking on the reef its self.
The entertainment comes in many forms at the palapa bar. The other local Americans that frequent the bar have some great stories, they have some live music from time to time like Oct 9th the Award Winning Songwriter Kelly McGuireas heard on Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville performing songs from his new CD "Boat In Belize", the mix of tourists that come to the palapa bar can be entertaining too, and my favorite is the palapa plunge! What can I say about seeing someone hang off the rails of the palapa bar and jump into the clear blue water 2 stories below, Take off your wedding rings is what I would say now! You would think at worst a girl might lose a bikini top causing a tad bit of embarrassment but While we were there someone's cute little wife took the palapa plunge only to have her wedding rings slip off her tiny fingers and their next wedding anniversary was the very next day.
Don't worry this sad tale had a fantastic ending like every thing does at the palapa bar! With some quick thinking by my husband he had the couple relax and sit down on the dock while he went and got our snorkels from our condo close by. His golf cart ride took about 10 minutes round trip and after having the snorkels the couple found the rings in less time than it took my husband to get the masks!
If you're reasonably active, you can walk or bicycle in along the beach to stop at the Palapa Bar right on an ocean pier for a refreshing Caribbean Lemon Drop (Our Creation). If you chose rent a golf cart for the quick mile and a half ride from the bridge in san pedro or catch the water taxi that runs every hour to the palapa bar.
Being American Owned and Operated Jodie and Scott take pride in everything they serve at the now world famous Palapa Bar which is something we appreciated so much. Out of the 3 weeks we spent in ambergris caye we made a stop at the palapa bar every day but three. We did enjoy ourselves at a few other places like Wet Willy's, Ramons and Fido's but we got the most enjoyment from visiting the palapa bar and we spent a few hours a day just relaxing and enjoying ourselves at the Palap Bar in good company.
Scott and Jodie do have a nice website for the Palapa Bar and Grill along with a palapa bar photo gallery section that shows you all the things that go on there. If you have a moment check it out and leave them a short message of when you will be visiting San Pedro Ambergris Caye Belize. Make sure to visit the Palapa Bar one time and you will see why my husband and I liked the Palapa Bar so much!
We will be posting more things of what we saw and did in Ambergris Caye soon and I hope you enjoy this blog tip about visiting the Palapa Bar and make sure to say hello to Palapa Papa !
Later All,
V and J
If you are looking to move to Ambergris Caye Belize like we are you can use the links below as we found them very helpful. Then you could visit the Palapa Bar anytime you wanted!
