Cocotal Inn & Cabanas

When guests arrive at Cocotal Inn & Cabanas, they are greeted by Ben, the property manager, and two friendly dogs, Lexie and Mara. Ben welcomes guests like family into his home -- a fitting concept, considering he lives on-site. As Ben prepares welcome drinks, guests can take in the scenery -- colorful cabanas, swaying palms, and a quiet beach lined with palapas. At Cocotal, the atmosphere is serene and relaxing, and often community-oriented. It’s common for guests to trade stories of the day’s adventures, share tips on excursions, or gather together at night for a barbecue and drinks. We’d say that guests here are generally older than those in San Pedro town’s budget accommodations, but the age range can vary. During our stay we encountered both young and middle-aged couples, a 30-something solo female traveler, and a group of retirees. 

Cocotal Inn & Cabanas is a beachfront hotel located a 15-minute golf-cart ride north of San Pedro town on Ambergris Caye. It’s within walking distance of a few restaurants and a small grocery store, but guests will need to rent a golf cart (available at the hotel) if they plan on exploring the island. Cocotal is ideally located for travelers seeking the best of both worlds: a quiet atmosphere and proximity to town.  

Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island, is best known for its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, 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. However, 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 the beaches in San Pedro town are used as a thoroughfare for golf-cart traffic.  

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye and is the island’s hub for transportation, shopping, dining, and nightlife. The ramshackle town, with its brightly colored facades, crisscrossing golf carts, and sandy roadways, is a sight to behold. Keep in mind that golf carts and bikes are the only form of transportation on the island.

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. 

There are eight rooms at Cocotal Inn & Cabanas, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. There are two units in the main house, two stand-alone beachfront casitas, and four freestanding garden cabanas. Decor throughout is consistent, and all units have full kitchens. Rooms are decorated in a casual, beachy style that features lots of wood tones and local artwork.The hexagonally shaped garden cabanas have unique layouts, which can create some awkward angles and tight corners, but gorgeous pitched ceilings help make each space feel a bit larger. Guests looking for more sprawl might prefer the traditionally shaped casitas or main house. 

All rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and full kitchens with large refrigerators, ovens, and electric stovetops, and small appliances like microwaves, blenders, toasters, and coffeemakers. The hotel provides each room with a five-gallon filtered water dispenser, and most people stick to bottled water to avoid upset stomachs. Bathrooms are small and fairly nondescript, with single sinks and shower stalls. All rooms have outdoor patios or balconies with white Adirondack chairs.  

Cocotal’s kidney-shaped pool sits in the center of the property and serves as a common gathering area for guests. Many people choose to spend their days off property, whether diving, snorkeling, or exploring the island, but return to the hotel in the afternoon to relax by the pool or beach. Next to the pool, there’s a tiny honor bar that has beer, wine, and sodas for guests to take (and pay for) at their convenience. A few steps from the pool is Cocotal’s manmade beach. Like most beaches on Ambergris Caye, it isn’t the prettiest, and there’s lots of seaweed along the shoreline, but the hotel does a nice job setting up palapa-style umbrellas and Adirondack chairs for guests. Past the beach, a 200-foot (61-meter) dock extends into the ocean. There’s less seaweed past the dock, so guests who’d like to take a dip, or use the hotel’s free kayaks, are advised to do so from the outer part of the dock. Additionally, most boat and marine-based tours will be able to pick guests up for excursions from the dock. Unfortunately for some, there are no dining, spa, or gym facilities on-site.

For transportation, guests can use the hotel’s free bikes or rent a golf cart. We’d recommend the golf cart for travelers who anticipate going into town often. Though there are a few restaurants and a small grocery store within walking distance, the majority of the island’s services are located in San Pedro town. Plus, other island attractions, like Secret Beach, are best reached by golf cart. 

Though we don’t usually focus on hotel service, we’re making a special exception for Cocotal Inn & Cabanas. Ben, the hotel’s resident manager, is a warm, welcoming host who treats guests like family and consistently goes out of his way to ensure guests are happy. Ben’s warm hospitality receives rave reviews from travelers, and is something that sets Cocotal Inn & Cabanas apart from similar properties. During our visit, we watched Ben prepare welcome drinks, drive guests into town, help carry kayaks, and tidy up around the pool -- only later did we discover that it was actually his day off!