Cayo Espanto

Local restaurants

A short hop away by boat on Belize's Ambergris Caye, award-winning chef Amy Knox runs Wild Mangoes, a popular open-air spot on the San Pedro seafront that deftly combines Mexican and Caribbean cuisine. Booking is essential (+11 501 226 2859). The Blue Water Grill at the Sunbreeze Hotel does tasty things with lobster and mixes mean mojitos (+11 501 226 3347). Colourful, laid-back Mambo at Mata Chica resort is the place to go for Mexican-style seafood, a short taxi ride from the town (+11 501) 220 5010), whereas  Palmilla Restaurant at Victoria House serves delightful international fodder in classic colonial surroundings (+11 501 226 2067). Rojo Lounge at Azul Hotel mingles Caribbean, Mexian, Cuban and Asian influences with finesse (+11 501 226 4012).

Nightlife

For unreconstructed kitsch, visit Jaguar’s Temple in San Pedro on neighbouring Ambergris Caye. Enter through a giant Jaguar's mouth doorway for clubbing, karaoke and killer cocktails (+11 501 226 4077). Fidos in the town centre usually has live music and is a good spot to sup a beer while waiting for a water taxi (+11501 226 2056).

Worth getting out of bed for

A two-hour boat ride from San Pedro is the Blue Hole, a collapsed underwater limestone cave with an unbeatable view into its unfathomable depths. Experienced divers can drop below the rim at 40 metres to explore the eerie stalactites and gawp at Caribbean reef sharks. Snorkel or scuba dive with professionally-run Amigos del Mar (+11 501 226 2706; www.amigosdive.com).

For a full list of bars and restaurants in Belize, click here