Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December: Sea Temperatures, Hol Chan and a Two-Day Plan

In December the sand streets of San Pedro fill with the sound of golf-cart horns, steel-pan covers of Christmas songs and the clink of rum punch glasses on dock bars. Strings of lights go up along storefronts and palms, and the lagoon side of the island catches a softer, lower sun than in summer. Ambergris Caye in the last month of the year is a place for reef days, long seafood lunches and evenings outdoors with a light layer over your shoulders.

A pier on Ambergris Caye in the dry season · Illustration

What is the weather like in Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December?

December on Ambergris Caye is warm and gentle, with sea water that still invites a long soak and days short enough that the evenings arrive early and cool off a little.

Month	Sea at Ambergris Caye and San Pedro (°F)	Daylight on the 15th (hours and minutes)
November	84.1	11 h 19 min
December	82.4	11 h 06 min
January	81.4	11 h 13 min

In Belize City, highs average in the mid-80s, nights settle in the upper 60s, and rain is recorded on about ten days of the month. That gives you a picture of the air along this stretch of coast: warm enough for shorts and sandals through the day, with a breath of coolness once the sun is down.

The sea is the quieter story. It has slipped a little from its November warmth, yet it is still comfortably warm, and the reef side of the island keeps its turquoise and deep-blue bands in the low winter light. Because the sun sets earlier than it does in summer, dinner plans start with a sunset on a pier and finish under the stars.

December comes just after the Atlantic hurricane season closes on November 30, so the month sits outside the official season. Pack a light rain layer anyway, since December still carries its share of wet days, and plan one indoor option, such as a long lunch or a gallery stop, for a gray one.

Can you swim in Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December?

Yes, the sea is warm enough for a long swim in December, averaging 82.4°F near San Pedro, a little cooler than in November but still mild against the skin.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve lies about four miles south of San Pedro and protects coral reef, seagrass meadows and mangrove. It was established in July 1987 as the first marine protected area in Belize, and its name is a Maya-language phrase meaning little channel.

Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve covers 28,169 acres and was designated in 1996. Between these outings, the island’s own shoreline is lined with docks and piers where many visitors simply sit with a cold drink and watch the water change color as the afternoon moves on.

What to do in Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December

December is the Christmas month in San Pedro, and the town leans into it in a Caribbean way. Expect lights on the storefronts and the palms, holiday music drifting from open-air bars, and kitchens turning out Belizean holiday food such as tamales, baked ham and rich fruitcake. Christmas Day on December 25 is a public holiday in Belize, and some businesses in town may keep different hours around it, so a flexible plan serves you well.

The island itself is the largest of several hundred cayes in the northernmost waters of Belize, and its mood in December is relaxed and outdoors. Mornings suit a walk along the sand streets and a breakfast of fry jacks or a plate of eggs with refried beans. Afternoons belong to the water or to a shaded dock, and evenings to grilled fish, conch fritters, ceviche and a rum punch at a beach bar.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Hol Chan is the outing that defines a stay on Ambergris Caye. The reserve lies four miles south of San Pedro and protects reef, seagrass and mangrove together, so the scenery changes as you move across it, from the green shallows to the edge of the coral. It is the first marine protected area Belize created, and it has been protecting this stretch of reef since 1987.

December suits a day on the water because the sea is still warm and the days, while shorter, leave room for a full outing before the sun goes down. Bring a light layer for the ride back, when the breeze feels cooler on wet skin, and sunscreen for the hours on deck.

Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve

Bacalar Chico is the larger and wilder counterpart to Hol Chan, a national park and marine reserve of 28,169 acres designated in 1996. It forms part of the Belize Barrier Reef System World Heritage Site, and for a traveler that means a day spent in a protected landscape of reef, water and coast.

It is a good December choice for anyone who wants a quieter, more natural outing than the main strip of town. Set the day aside for it and keep the rest of the schedule light, so that you can end back in San Pedro with a slow dinner.

San Pedro Town and the shoreline

San Pedro itself is a walking town of sand streets, small shops, murals, bakeries and dock bars. Browse for local hot sauce, hand-carved wood and Belizean chocolate, then take a table by the water for the afternoon.

In the evening the main street comes alive with live music and lights. A December night here suits a slow stroll after dinner, with a sweater over your arm for the breezier moments near the water. If the sky turns gray, spend the day on the town’s indoor pleasures: a long seafood lunch, a coffee shop, a spa treatment or a gallery visit, then return to the shoreline when the clouds break.

A two-day itinerary for Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December

Day 1 is for the town and the shoreline. Start early with a coffee and a fry jack breakfast, then walk the sand streets while the light is soft and the shops are opening. Browse the craft stalls and the small galleries, and stop at a bakery for something sweet before the day warms up.

At midday, settle into a dockside table for ceviche or grilled fish. The afternoon is for the water’s edge: a long sit on a pier, a swim in the warm sea, or a quiet hour with a book. With the sun setting earlier in December and daylight lasting just over eleven hours, plan to be on a pier for the last light, then walk into town for a dinner of conch fritters or stew chicken with rice and beans.

If rain arrives, move the afternoon indoors to a coffee shop, a spa or a gallery, and keep the pier for the evening if the clouds lift. Day 2 is for the reef. Head out in the morning toward Hol Chan Marine Reserve, four miles south of San Pedro, where reef, seagrass and mangrove sit side by side. Bring sunscreen and a light layer for the breeze on the way back.

After the outing, a late lunch of grilled fish and a cold drink is the natural reward. Spend the rest of the afternoon unhurried, then watch the sunset from a bar on the water. For the last evening, choose a table with a view and a rum punch, and end the night with a stroll along the lit main street.

Is Ambergris Caye and San Pedro busy in December?

December is a holiday month, and the weeks around Christmas and New Year bring the feel of a festive season to the island, with lights up, music in the bars and a crowd of travelers sharing the docks.

The mood is warm and social rather than hectic. Dock bars and beach restaurants have their liveliest evenings, and the lunch and sunset hours are when people gather. Mornings are quieter, a good time for a stroll or a swim before the town stirs.

The early weeks of the month, before the holiday stretch begins, have a calmer rhythm, with more room on the piers and an easier pace at the tables. The days between Christmas and New Year carry the most energy, so choose your dates according to whether you want a lively holiday feeling or a slower stay.

Whichever weeks you choose, give your marine outings their own morning, such as Hol Chan or Bacalar Chico, and keep dinner plans flexible. The island’s mood is easygoing, and a loose schedule fits it well.

What to pack for Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December

Pack for warm days, a cooler edge after dark and plenty of time on and in the water.

Swimsuits and a cover-up, because the sea is warm and you will want it daily.
A light long-sleeved layer for evenings and boat rides, when the breeze feels cooler.
A packable rain jacket, since December still has wet days.
Sunscreen and a hat for the hours on deck and on the docks.
Sandals that dry quickly for sand streets and piers.
Snorkel gear if you own it, for reef days at Hol Chan.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates Belize Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because of crime, and says the south side of Belize City has historically had the highest concentration of violent crime.

December falls just after the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, so the month sits outside the official season. Around Christmas Day, some businesses may adjust their hours, so keep dinner and tour plans flexible. Reef outings to Hol Chan and Bacalar Chico are the experiences to fix first, with the rest of the days left for the town and its docks.

Ambergris Caye and San Pedro in December vs November and January

Moving the trip to November brings a slightly warmer sea and a few more minutes of daylight each day. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on November 30, so late November is the tail of it, and the holiday lights have not yet gone up. It is a good choice for travelers who want the warmest water and a more ordinary rhythm in town.

January keeps the same easy island feel with a sea a touch cooler than in December. The daylight starts to lengthen again, the holiday decorations are fading, and George Price Day on January 15 is a public holiday in Belize. For travelers who prefer the post-holiday calm, January offers it.

Choose December if you want Christmas atmosphere, with lights, music and the social buzz of holiday travel. Shift to November for the warmest sea, or to January for a quieter feel once the festivities have passed.

Is December a good time to visit Ambergris Caye and San Pedro?

Yes, December is a good time to visit for travelers who like a festive mood by the water, warm sea and long evenings outdoors.

You will love it if you want a holiday with reef outings, seafood and a lively town after dark. It also suits couples and groups who want to spend Christmas somewhere warm. If you prefer a quiet, off-season hush with no decorations or music, another month will suit you better.

On arrival, start with the water. Walk to a pier, order a cold drink and let the sea set the pace, then plan your Hol Chan morning from there. What is special about December here is the mix of Christmas lights on sand streets, a sea that still feels like summer, and a pier at sunset with a rum punch in hand.

Sources

Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 11, 2026
sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 11, 2026
NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily station BHM00078583 (Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, Belize City), normals 1991-2020 computed from the daily record (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=daily-summaries&stations=BHM00078583), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Public holidays in Belize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Belize), checked October 11, 2026
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Wikivoyage, San Pedro (Belize) (https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/San_Pedro_(Belize)), checked October 11, 2026
Wikipedia, Hol Chan Marine Reserve (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hol_Chan_Marine_Reserve), checked October 11, 2026
Belize Fisheries Department, Hol Chan Marine Reserve (https://fisheries.gov.bz/hcmr/), checked October 11, 2026
Belize Fisheries Department, Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve (https://fisheries.gov.bz/bcmr/), checked October 11, 2026
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NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 11, 2026