Our experience at Victoria House Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize

Victoria House Resort – Ambergris Caye, Belize

Belize is a diverse country, known for its ancient Mayan temples, lush jungles and picture-perfect tropical islands. Most visitors who want to visit the Belize Barrier Reef will stay on the popular Northern Cayes, specifically Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye.

Both islands (or cayes) have easy access to the Belize Barrier Reef, but each has its own distinct vibe. Conversations with fellow travelers revealed completely different descriptions of these two islands.

Not surprisingly, when we stayed at the luxurious Ka’ana Boutique Resort and Lodge at Chaa Creek, guests raved about Ambergris Caye and its white coral beaches. However, they didn’t think much of Caye Caulker.

When we stayed at budget hotels in the towns of San Ignacio and Placencia, guests said, “Ambergris Caye is too expensive, head to Caye Caulker instead. It’s less touristy and more laid back”.

Fortunately for us, our itinerary included both islands.

Victoria House Resort, Ambergris Caye

As we pulled up to the entrance of Victoria House Resort, our taxi driver gave an approving smile. He said, “People love this hotel for the palm trees and grass… it’s one of the best in San Pedro.”

Encouraging words!

Shortly after arrival, we were escorted to the beachfront Plantation Villa, our home for the next three nights. The large tropical grounds at this dreamy beach resort are neatly groomed with dozens of tall, shady palms scattered along the smooth white sand beach.

More info about this beach resort here.

*Note – we visited the hotel in 2011. This post was updated in May 2022. 

The photo above is the spacious wooden deck of the Plantation Villa, complete with comfy loungers, chairs and hammock. The relaxing moments we spent on that private deck are some of the most memorable from our stay. Sunsets and sunrises will never be the same. 

A different view of the the Plantation Villa. We had the downstairs suite, but guests are also able to rent the entire villa

Thatch-roofed Casitas with seaside views of the Caribbean.

The main pool at Victoria House has unobstructed views of the Belize Barrier Reef. If you look closely at the horizon, you can see the white water crashing on the reef. 

Because there are so many things to do on Ambergris Caye (fishing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, cave tubing, etc), the main pool and beach were often empty during the day.

We had already spent full days snorkeling at Laughing Bird Caye in the Belize Barrier Reef and searching for whale sharks, so we were quite content lounging by the pool. We took full advantage of our luxurious surroundings.

At first, we couldn’t put our finger on what made this resort feel so special.

Of course, the private beach helps. But it was more than that. We felt like there were only a few guests staying at the hotel. However, as the days passed, we realized this boutique hotel was actually almost at capacity.

The calm atmosphere is the opposite from what you find at a typical all-inclusive beach resorts. The loungers and hammocks are strategically spaced along the beach. This made it feel like we had the entire beach to ourselves. It never felt crowded and we always had several choices beside the pool or on the beach.

Because the resort is east facing, it’s the perfect beach to capture a Caribbean sunrise. 

Beach sunrise on Ambergris Caye in Belize. 

Tropical island paradise found!

As much as we love sinking our toes in the sand, we also love spending time on docks. Canada, our home, has an countless fresh water lakes that usually have docks. So we have fond memories of summer days spent chilling out on the dock.

The Victoria House dock is outfitted with comfy loungers and a thatched roof for shade. These loungers had our names written all over them! It’s not every day that we find ourselves relaxing on a private dock with unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea. 

The sound of water splashing against the swaying dock. The hot tropical sun, the smell of salt water, the sea breeze. Simply perfection.

There’s a roped off section for guests to swim and snorkel straight off the dock, protecting swimmers from boats. A large sting ray decided to join us on our afternoon snorkel in front of the dock.

Read more blog posts from Belize here.

Palmilla Restaurant 

The Restaurant Palmilla at Victoria House is one of the best dining experiences on the island. It has an air-conditioned fine dining room and an outdoor patio with views of the pool and beach. 

We prefer to sit outside on the patio under the stars, with the cool breeze and sounds of the waves crashing on the beach.

Although we typically like to try different restaurants when visiting a new place, we were happy to stay at the resort. The food is fantastic and reasonably priced, and the tropical atmosphere is perfection. At times we felt like we were on a second honeymoon.

Below are photos of the meals we enjoyed at Palmilla Restaurant.

Tortilla appetizer topped with chili sauce, sour cream and Parmesan cheese.

Grilled plantain with black beans, sour cream and fresh herbs.

Camarones al tomate – fresh squid in a tomato garlic sauce topped with Parmesan.

Camarones en Hamaca – Sauteed prawns and heart of palm served on pan fried plantain slices with a lime, ginger, tomato and caper sauce. My favourite dish at Victoria House.

Chicken Enchiladas served with fresh avocado and black bean, sour cream and green sauce.

Pasta Primavera Alfredo with grilled shrimp and fresh local vegetables in a rich cream sauce.

Would we recommend staying at Victoria House Resort?

Absolutely! We’ve stayed at many hotels and resorts over the years. Our experience at Victoria House Resort was unforgettable. We highly recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a romantic getaway.

What we liked most about this property is that it doesn’t have the all-inclusive, mass tourism vibe. It’s the perfect destination for couples looking for a quiet, relaxing and luxurious stay – without the big beach parties.

Not surprising, this hotel books up fast. Check hotel availability here. 

How do you get to Victoria House Resort in Belize?

Victoria House is located a few miles south of San Pedro’s city center. It’s far away from the city noise of San Pedro, but close enough to access by golf cart. 

If you take a flight from Belize City to San Pedro, a Victoria House staff member will meet you at the airport and drive you to the resort. In the unfortunate event of a delay or their inability to pick you up, they will arrange for a taxi in front of the terminal to take you directly to Victoria House.

You can also travel by water taxi from Belize City to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The boat ride is 1.5 hours. The last boat departs Belize City at 4:00 PM (at the time of publishing this post). Make pick-up arrangements with Victoria House and someone will pick you up from the ferry. 

We loved our stay at Victoria House. It’s easy to see why it’s consistently rated as one of the best places to stay in Ambergris Caye.

Have you visited Ambergris Caye in Belize? 

Share your experience in the comments section below!

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