SunBreeze Suites

SunBreeze Suites is a beachfront condo property in the midst of San Pedro’s downtown chaos. It’s fairly large by San Pedro standards and has more of a resort-like feel than the neighboring Mayan Princess. The hotel’s exterior has Spanish flair, with a terra-cotta roof and lots of rounded archways with salmon-colored columns. Inside, the lobby is a simple office space with a wood paneled front desk and maps of Belize hanging on the walls. SunBreeze has a laid-back feel, and is itself a quiet place, save for its surrounding noisy neighborhood. The majority of guests are couples and families, so the atmosphere never gets too rowdy.  

SunBreeze Suites is plunked down in the middle of downtown San Pedro, surrounded by great restaurants, fun bars, large grocery stores, and a handful of dive shops all in walking distance. Guests who plan on exploring the farther reaches of Ambergris Caye can rent a golf cart (the only form of motorized transportation on the island) at one of the nearby supermarkets. 

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island. Ambergris Caye is best known for its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, which is 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 and avid snorkelers, and is an excellent place for those seeking scuba certification. 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 are manmade, and most of the beaches in San Pedro town are used as a thoroughfare for golf-cart traffic. Though the one in front of SunBreeze is closed to golf-cart traffic, it’s always busy with pedestrians and bicyclists.  

The ramshackle town of San Pedro is a sight to behold. Brightly colored facades line the sandy streets, where golf-cart traffic crisscrosses between pedestrians, cyclists, and street dogs. San Pedro is exciting, and frenetic, but it’s probably not the best spot on the island for rest and relaxation. Travelers seeking quieter surroundings should head north or south of town, where the atmosphere mellows significantly.  

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.  

Guest rooms at SunBreeze Suites are practical and spacious. All of the rooms are condo-style units with full kitchens and separate living spaces. And all are one bedroom suites, and either have full or partial ocean views. The decor at SunBreeze is plain, and perhaps a bit drab, but hotel rooms in San Pedro aren’t typically very design-conscious. Guests can expect beige walls and dark wood cabinetry along with futon sofas and ’80s lattice-work dining chairs. Walls are livened up by vibrant local artwork and billowy curtains add an island-vibe. Kitchens are equipped with full-size refrigerators and ovens, as well as small appliances like microwaves, toasters, blenders, and coffeemakers. Cabinets are stocked with flatware and cutlery, pots and pans, and basic cooking utensils like ladles and spatulas. Bathrooms feature frosted-glass showers and single vanities with a few toiletries. Outside, each balcony is equipped with two plastic chairs and a small table, and provide partial or full ocean views. Most partial ocean-view rooms overlook the pool, with the ocean in the distance.  

SunBreeze’s pool sits in the middle of the property, between the guest rooms and the beach. The pool has a squiggly, freeform shape and is surrounded by a few cushioned lounge chairs. It isn’t huge, but it’s well-liked by guests and constantly in use throughout the day. Next to the pool, the hotel’s on-site bar and restaurant, Jambel, is situated beneath a covered deck. The restaurant serves an eclectic mix of Jamaican and Belizean food and hosts a popular weekly reggae night. Jambel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as drinks throughout the day. Breakfast is not included in the nightly room rate, so guests must pay extra if they want to stop by for coffee and fry jacks in the morning. Past the restaurant, it’s only a few short steps to the ocean. Like almost all of the beaches in San Pedro, the one in front of SunBreeze is manmade. The hotel sets up lounge chairs along the sea wall and on its rickety dock. Mounds of seaweed wash up along the shoreline, which typically prevents swimming in the area. Inside, the hotel has a small massage room, where guests can book massages and other basic spa treatments. It’s a nice amenity, but not luxury-spa level. Wi-Fi is free for all guests and works well across the property.