Enjoying the local music in Belize. Photo © Ryan Milani, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
Music aficionados will find their fix in San Pedro. It’s the most frequent, steady, weeklong schedule of musicians and bands you’ll find anywhere in Belize, although other parts of the country tend to have more local sounds and less in Western genres. Overall, San Pedro’s offerings reflect a mix that keeps visitors and locals happy on a year-round basis—from soothing Latin melodies over dinner to light rock, jazz, and blues bands catering to travelers and expats, and local punta rock sounds for a taste of the Afro-influenced Garífuna side of Belize. And there’s no extra cover charge! Up for it? Here’s your weeklong itinerary. Sunday is “Funday” in Belize. Everything but the bars and restaurants shut down and everyone relaxes, swims on the beach, drinks Belikins, listens to music, and breaks out the barbeque grills.Monday, start out at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar (beachfront, tel. 501/670-8001, 7:30pm-11pm Mon.) with the local and popular Punta Boys Band. Grab a few drinks before the live Garífuna drums, turtle shells, and hip-shaking fun start around 9:30pm. The crowd is a mix of visitors, expats, and locals.
Tuesday gives you a chance to get behind the mic at popular Legends Burger House’s (north of the bridge, tel. 501/226-2113, noon-midnight Tues.) Jam Night. Ask about the other live-music nights, including Saturday. To continue the night, head to the waterfront pier bar Tackle Box (beachfront, tel. 501/226-4313, 9pm-close Tues.) for a mix of late-night Belizean sounds.
Wednesday, start out mellow with Cuban music and tapas at Red Ginger (Phoenix Resort, tel. 501/226-4623, 6pm-9pm Wed.), a more intimate option. If you’re up for post-dinner fun, head to the island’s biggest dance night at the infamous Wet Willy’s (Beachfront, tel. 501/226-4136), which gets going around 11pm.
Thursday, it’s Fido’s (Front St., tel. 501/226-2056, 6pm-close Thurs., 9pm-close Fri.) for a beachfront setting. A regular lineup of light rock or jazz bands fills this large indoor and outdoor space. While there isn’t much “local” about Fido’s, it’s there if you need an option. Not to be missed, however, is the local Belizean music at the Chicken Drop event just down from Fido’s at Wahoo’s Lounge (Front St., 501/634-6008, 6pm-midnight Thurs.), playing a mix of calypso, reggae, punta, and more. It’s possibly the closest you’ll come to dancing barefoot to local music on San Pedro’s “beach.”
Friday nights are also popular at Fido’s; Saturday, you can rock and roll at Wahoo’s.
Sunday is “Funday” in Belize. Everything but the bars and restaurants shut down and everyone relaxes, swims on the beach, drinks Belikins, listens to music, and breaks out the barbeque grills. Try Crazy Canucks (noon-close Sun.) or Caribbean Villas (Seagrape Dr., tel. 501/226-2715, 7:30am-9pm Sun.). Wherever you end up, don’t forget your swimming gear to take advantage of the docks or swimming pools.
Excerpted from the Tenth Edition of Moon Belize.
