Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
See why so many travellers make Cayo Espanto their resort of choice when visiting San Pedro. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a luxury setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.
As your “home away from home,” the resort rooms offer a flat screen TV, a kitchenette, and a minibar, and getting online is easy, with free wifi available.
Guests have access to room service and a concierge while staying at Cayo Espanto Resort. In addition, Cayo Espanto Hotel offers a pool and free breakfast, which will help make your San Pedro trip additionally gratifying.
During your visit, be sure to check out one of San Pedro's popular fish and chips restaurants such as Estel's Dine by the Sea, Elvi's Kitchen, and Blue Water Grill, all a short distance from Cayo Espanto.
If you’re looking for something to do, Belizean Arts, The Gallery of San Pedro, and Belizean Melody Art Gallery are a nice way to spend some time.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Cayo Espanto as you experience all of the things San Pedro has to offer.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Lagoon View
Location
Cayo Espanto Island, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Belize
We staying in the aurora villa with another couple and had an amazing time! The Villa was 2 bedroom with 2 bathrooms and had a living area in between which gave a nice element of privacy! The Villa was beautiful, well kept and clean! Housekeeping came several times a day and we never really saw them but we saw the results! Fresh towels, swept and clean, made beds! Our houseman Eddie and his helper Ronnie were just a call away and quick to respond to our every desire! We barely had to ask because they learned our favorites and always showed up at the right time to serve us! We loved the food so much and never got tired of the vast selection of offerings by Chef! He did a fantastic job and it clearly very skilled and creative. We never saw any other guest which was nice and private! The island is immaculate! We enjoyed the excursions arranged by the staff and did some amazing snorkeling at Hol Chan!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cayo Espanto exceeded all of our high expectations. My wife and I have traveled the world and have stayed at the best hotels and Cayo Espanto honestly beat out what was our first choice for the most unique and exceptional experience. Our experience was made perfect by the entire staff but Rosita, general manager, Eddie or houseman and his assistant Brandon, chef Cynthia Murillo's and Wilson Vasquez, and boat captain German and his crew Geronimo and Max were truly exceptional. My wife, son, daughter in law and myself celebrated my wife's 80th birthday in a way she will never forget. In fact she is still attempting to call Edie on the walkie-talkie. We did two luxury boat trips on the Sarah Kate and Wow, the water was so clear the reef beautiful and the variety of fish endless. The picnic lunch was magical, having the bounty you caught prepared while you are enjoying a cold drink on another private island was incredible.
If you want to stay in the perfect beach bungalow, with endless views of the Caribbean, be totally pampered and eat scrumptious food, then look no further than Cayo Espanto.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Casa Aurora is a fabulous two bedroom unit.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the minute you step foot on the island, you are waited on hand and foot. Cool, refreshing towels and an Espanto Wave from your housemen accompany you to your villa. We stayed in Casa Brisa for our 10th anniversary and could not have been happier. Carlos and Dorian were always on hand anytime we needed anything. Erika and Rosita were so helpful arranging the helicopter (if you can, DO IT) to the island and our activities. We did the resort scuba dive with Pablo as our instructor and Geronimo (the best!) taking us to the reef. I felt safe and comfortable and really enjoyed my first dive. The next day Geronimo and Carlos took us out snorkeling, fishing, and prepared a private beach lunch for us in a secluded spot. The wine was cold and the fish was so fresh! We really enjoyed spending time with both of them. Before each meal you are presented with 3 menu options based on your pre-trip survey and we were blown away by everything! Fresh fruit and juice before your breakfast selection. Dinner was four courses and by the last night, we only ordered two - it was simply too much food and we are active, hungry people. Carlos and Dorian set up beautiful tables in different spots each evening with elaborate sand sculptures! As for the insect situation, I brought lemon eucalyptus oil and sprayed it on liberally every day and only had a few mosquito bites. Your villa is open during the day but with the breeze it never felt warm (I was concerned) and at night, the AC worked very well. I wouldn't recommend CE for families with small kids, there is nothing for them to do and it would disturb the other guests. This resort is a haven for couples. Overall - an absolutely delightful anniversary trip that exceeded all expectations. We look forward to another trip as soon as we can!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Casa Brisa has an amazing breeze all day. It faces San Pedro, so no sunset views. Western facing...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JUST WOW! If you're looking for a honeymoon, babymoon, get-away, privacy, romance, or family trip - don't look further. Cayo Espanto has exceeded our expectations by years and years!
My husband and I booked Casa Solana for our honeymoon trip and we had the pleasure of having Jesus and Jose take care of us for 6 days. They were extremely attentive, respectful, and super nice; making dreams come true each and every day! While Rosita and Erika managed our excursions, arrival and departure, Esmeralda gave us spa treatments to relax our bodies and minds. Chef Richard and team cooked us top notch breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, spoiling us with some of the the best dishes we've ever had. We also went on the 'Day at Sea with Luxury' trip where we snorkeled all morning the turquoise waters and caught our own lunch (conch and snapper) that Victor and Geronimo prepared for us on another private island that was arranged for us with a tent and sun beds with crystal clear blue waters surrounding us.
After traveling to over 30 countries, this place blew our minds when it comes to service, attentiveness, food, and views. Cayo Espanto is one of the most special places we've ever stayed at!
Thank you so so much Erika, Rosita, Jose and Jesus for making our honeymoon as special as the sunsets and stars at night, we will be back!
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We decided last minute to take a trip to Belize. Found Cayo Espanto online and the booking process was easy. Getting there is a bit more tricky (via small plane and short boat ride or straight with helicopter $$$). We had an amazing time on the private Island. What a beautiful place, filled with beautiful people. The weather wasn’t the greatest over our 4 day stay, but this trip will go down as one of the best in our travel history. Having most of their team members welcome us right at our villa the moment we arrived was the first great touch out of many. A special thanks to Erika and Rosita for helping us getting everything organized, well done. Lady (cleaning) did a great job, we didn’t even realize she was there most of the time. Very discreet and detailed. A big thank you also to Chef Richard and his staff in the kitchen, the food was amazing, and they always accommodated our wishes. Getting a fried fish prepared on our last evening with only short notice goes to show how the guys go the extra mile for their visitors. Jesus and Flavio, our house butlers, did an amazing job, were always available. We couldn’t wait to call them at 7.15 to get the day started and we made sure they didn’t get bored throughout the day 😊 No matter what we wanted, they had it figured out, a big thank you for being our “friends” during our stay. Both Villas I(since we booked last minute we had to switch from one to the other) are in exceptional condition and the views from each of them are out of this world. No question, we will go back soon
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Manana and Solana, great rooms. But you can't go wrong, all 7 villas are amazing and private
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We just keep coming back. We have stayed in Solana for years now and have had Jesus as our houseman. We are trying a new villa next year and are excited. This place feels like home. It's a bit rustic but you're on a tiny island in Central America, for goodness sakes.
The fishing is what brings us back. Our guides are fantastic and we have become good friends on the water. The stories we could tell would amaze you. The birdwatching opportunities will astound you. There are many fun things to do. There is not a deep water beach but several nearby and they are happy to arrange to take you places to swim and picnic.
If you seek good food, service, and quiet, then this is the place. The people keep us coming back. The team is exceptional and we love them. If you need something, all you need to do is ask.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The portions are huge so you can ask for smaller plates. The tacos and fajitas are amazing and...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WOW OVER THE TOP LUXURY!!! How can we ever do another vacation after staying at Cayo Espanto! We stayed 4 nights with our teen girls ages 13 and 15. We were spoiled with the stunning private room. The most incredible meals and service! You can just do nothing and be spoiled or be adventurous! We chose both. We did 2 days of luxury at Sea, one diving day and one day of tubing for the girls. Each adventure was just picture perfect and exciting! The diving is so warm and clear. The snorkeling is just like being in a live aquarium. All the dive masters and boat guides are just the best of the best and so much fun! We hope we can return someday soon! It was incredible in every way!!!!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I just returned from 6 nights at Cayo Espanto and I am in post vacation depression after such an amazing time. From the minute we pulled up to the island and the staff were lined up, waving at us, smiles on their faces, genuinely happy to welcome us to this beautiful island, I knew we made the right decision. Actually, the airport greeting from Emilio and the ease he got us through security and to our gate was my first indication of what was to come.
We stayed in Casa Ventanas and enjoyed watching the fish swim under the villa. The breezes coming from all sides made it very pleasant inside. We only turned on the AC twice. After reading prior reviews, we were reluctant to get in the water surrounding our villa, so we ended up avoiding that. Apparently, the sea lice can be a problem, especially in the warmer months. We missed having a plunge pool like the other villas have, so when we return, we will stay in a different villa to have that experience.
We chose to do one excursion, the day at sea, and had a great time with Geronimo and Edgar. Lunch on the private beach eating the fish we caught was truly a once in a lifetime kind of experience- the perfect way to celebrate our wedding anniversary! Speaking of our anniversary, our housemen Larry & Kevin went out of their way (well, even more so than they did the rest of the week) to make our anniversary special. The dinner they set up was so romantic and the special cake they had made was just perfect. They made us feel like royalty all week!
The food was very good. I appreciated the attention to detail to our food preferences and the variety offered. The seafood options always ended up being our favorites, but we really didn't have anything that we disliked.
I really can't say enough good things about Cayo Espanto. Leave all your worries behind for a truly relaxing vacation!!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What others have written about Cayo Espanto is certainly true: the island is very pretty, you have your own houseman who is always only a walkie-talkie call away, and you will be overwhelmed with food and drink. Nonetheless, our Cayo Espanto stay left us with a dismal feeling over our otherwise blissful 3 week honeymoon which involved stays at 5 properties in Belize and Costa Rica.
1. Our houseman neither smiled (seriously, not once) nor offered a single proactive suggestion or recommendation during our entire stay. We would have to characterize him as unwelcoming, unfriendly, and otherwise robotic. This led to a very odd, creepy and strained feeling, especially considering your primary interaction is with your houseman. And, no, we're not jerks or difficult guests. In fact, the bizarre vibe made us hesitant to ask for much of anything during our stay. From reading the property's book of guest comments, it was clear that guests who had Obed as their houseman (we did not) were delighted with his friendliness, warmth, good humor and excellent service. You are paying for the highest level of service, and your houseman determines, in large part, the quality of your stay -- don't take your chances, do yourself a favor and insist on Obed as your houseman when you make your reservation. Once you're there, the nature of the arrangements at Cayo Espanto don't seem to lend themselves to requesting a different houseman.
2. Contrary to their marketing, Cayo Espanto is nowhere near big enough to handle the charade of being each guest's own "private island". There are five (soon to be six) casas and some administrative buildings on what is a very small property. The moment you leave your casa and try to walk anywhere outside your door, you impinge upon other guests' enjoying their "own private island". Sitting in the lounge chairs on your casa's dock, you find yourself staring at two or three other couples sitting in lounge chairs on their docks. Because everyone is made to pretend they are on their "own private island", the end result is just weird. On one long, rainy day we ended up feeling trapped in our casa with absolutely nowhere to go and a very unsettling sense of cabin fever. We'd have much prefered if Cayo Espanto had just dropped the whole privacy charade and at least provided some opportunity for guests to interact (perhaps an optional nightly cocktail hour). We understand that's not consistent with what they claim to be selling, but pretending there's nobody else there gets old pretty quickly and makes the place seem painfully contrived.
3. You are surrounded by water but cannot swim in it. We were covered with stinging sea lice within 2 minutes of entering the water. (we certainly would have appreciated at least a word of caution or warning from our houseman, who silently handed over snorkels and masks when requested). As we now know from reading other reviews here, others have had the same problem.
4. Although Cayo Espanto was by far the most expensive place we stayed on our honeymoon, the room was not even close to the most luxurious or comfortable. Although aesthetic tastes certainly differ, be aware that the floor is cement, the furnishings sparse and the bathroom dark and dank. On a rainy day with cabin fever, the room lacked any comfort or coziness and was downright depressing. Also, it was the only place we stayed where no one bothered to say "Congratulations" or "Happy Honeymoon" much less offer us a congratulatory bottle of wine or champagne as 3 of the 4 other properties we stayed at did.
5. Be aware that the price does NOT include gratuities, so you might as well tack on another couple hundred bucks (which we curiously felt compelled to do despite receiving lackluster service). Also, wine is not included and excursions are extra. The excursions seemed extremely overpriced except for the private 2 tank dive ($250) with German, the divemaster at Cayo Espanto. Our dive was terrific and we thoroughly enjoyed our day with German.
6. Be aware that there is ongoing construction. This wasn't overly disturbing with the music or TV on, but our casa was the farthest one from the construction site. We felt terrible for the guests in the casas right next to it! It's a very tiny island, so anywhere you are, you're going to hear it. What really disturbed us was how they dealt with the whole issue. When we received marketing materials for the new over-the-water casa to open in August, we specifically asked whether there would be construction during our stay and were told (three or four weeks before our trip) that there would not be, but that they'd let us know if that changed. Surprise, surprise, one week before our arrival (when we were already in Costa Rica and unable to change any plans) we received an email telling us that the construction would be going on, but that they would do their best to "minimize these occurrences" of noise, and that they "appreciated our understanding", and could help us change our dates or make other arrangements if we desired. We wrote back expressing our serious dismay -- after all, $1,600 a night doesn't get them a lot of understanding a week before our arrival. So, did anyone, even once during our stay, follow up with us on whether the construction noise was an issue....nope. Not once.
And that's really the issue right there -- the difference between personal service and actual caring. We've traveled all over the world, and have experienced everything from the most refined luxury to the most bare-bones hostels. Even the simplest, most humble place can prove an extraordinary experience if the owners and staff truly care about their guests. Sure, Cayo Espanto has a wonderful checklist of things to make you feel special -- cold towels on the dock every time you arrive...check...radio ahead to have a drink waiting for you...check...have the chef come over and read you the evening's menu...check...tiki torches next to your table for dinner...check...a line of staff members waving to you when you first arrive...check. But no list of luxury touches can make up for unsmiling, unwelcoming staff members robotically going about their duties.....
We understand Cayo Espanto has garnered nothing but positive reviews in the past. Unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing. Although we would rate our experience as a 2-3 or so, with the expectations at Cayo Espanto's price point, we have to give it a "1." Although the concept of the private island in theory sounds fabulous, the best way we could describe our stay was odd and disappointing. In comparison, we had amazing accomodations, luxury and service (and truly wonderful staff) at other places that were half the price.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2007
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
Service
Business service (e.g., internet access)
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Generally we do not go back to places we have been to before, preferring instead to venture to places new and unknown. The world is a big and interesting place - why go to the same place twice? Once in a while however we find a place so good that we have to go back again,and then again. Cayo Espanto is such a place. Everything about the island is first class - the people, the food, the surroundings, things to do (snorkeling with nurse sharks, manta rays and turtles anyone?). The food is excellent and it is hard to understand how Michelin star restaurant quality food can be prepared on a small tropical island off the coast of Belize. Leave the world behind, come here, and then spend the rest of the year wishing you were back here. A rare gem of a place.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is not really set up for nteracting with the other guests. There isn't much of a common area but you may see other guests around the island using the amenities.
Hi there...We never heated the pool and never needed to. It was cool and refreshing and felt very good at the standing temperature. Some afternoons it was really warm and the pool felt great.
Yes there was some sea lice just around the shallows near the island, it comes and goes week by week from what I was told. I think its worse in the shallow waters, kicking around in the sand stirs them up. Was not a major issue for us though...
We had alot of fun around the island. We used the Hobie Cat, paddle boards and kayaks every day. They also put the water trampoline out and we swam out by the trampoline no lice and no problem. No coral around the island for snorkeling, but beautiful to sail/paddle around .
We were spontaneous with our daily trips. I highly recommend fishing and of course snorkeling. We did half day trips. Just tell your house man what you would like to do. The most amazing snorkeling!!
You eat around your house, dock, sandy beach, really wherever you would like. Each night is different and awesome.
The whole trip was awesome....
There are more places to choose from in the San Pedro area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
cayo espanto san pedro, cayo espanto resort san pedro
LOCATION
BelizeBelize CayesAmbergris CayeSan Pedro
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
