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.
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.
Portofino is a boutique resort that embodies an authentic island getaway, offering a relaxing and intimate experience. Our 17 beautifully appointed rooms, ranging from beach cabanas to spacious suites, are nestled among swaying palm trees and provide unmatched personal attention and modern comforts. Guests can unwind in our tranquil setting, enjoying the sounds of the waves, gentle breeze, and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. The resort offers various leisure options, including a freshwater pool, book collection, massage services, snorkeling, and sea kayaking. Delicious meals can be served in private or at the Portofino Restaurant, and tropical cocktails can be enjoyed at the Green Parrot Beach Bar. Our professional staff is available to assist with activities, directions, and dining reservations. The resort is located north of San Pedro Town; about 30 minutes by golf cart. Pick up and drop off on arrival and departure via golf cart, is complimentary.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
We just got back from Portofino last night we were a family of 7 with 5 rooms. We loved the resort as it was an intimate setting. You get a continental breakfast for free and can pay the $8 up charge for a meal which I thought was pretty cool. The service and hospitality was great everyone greets you with a smile… please tip the staff they go above and beyond. The rooms are cozy and a nice size the bathroom is need of some fixture upgrades (faucet handles). Housekeeping comes everyday and as you sit on your porch in your hammock the breeze of air on your skin is unforgettable. We did have a few a/c power outages but it was not for long. This resort is 30-40 minutes away from secret beach and San Pedro town so rent a golf cart and get prepared for a bumpy ride as there are a lot of potential holes. Oh you can also have your meals delivered and there are water distilleries by the bar and you can get ice so please bring your travel cup. Right on the property is a dive shop and Roberto is awesome. There isn’t any entertainment or activities so you can walk along the beach to neighboring resorts we missed the live music and we didn’t want to do drive in golf cart. Overall I recommend this boutique hotel for relaxation and reconnecting as well as family trips. We are considering renting the entire resort in the future. Thanks to everyone at Portofino Beach Resort for making my family trip memorable memorable
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip 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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 29 May 2024
Thank you so much for sharing. We look forward to your hosting you again!
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Amazing stay. Everyone at the resort made our stay very special. Staff is very welcoming and attentive. I love the intimate setting and personal touches. It was my daughters birthday and they made a cake for her and decorated her room. Rooms are very spacious and clean. Beds are comfortable. Nice small beach and amazing restaurant on site. Food was delicious and well as daiquiris. We are already planning our next stay. Shout out to Jeyson at the restaurant. You made our dinner nights very entertaining.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:The best way to get around the island is to rent a golf cart since this resort is not on the main...
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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 11 Nov 2023
Thank you so much for sharing! It is always great to hear that the little things make for an amazing stay. We look forward to welcoming you on your return!
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This was our 4th trip to AC and first time staying at this resort. We had been there for a dinner on a previous trip and looked like a great place to stay.
All of the staff was amazing ! Flowers picked us up at the airport by golf cart & brought us to the resort. 😊 We were greeted by Mark who does a fantastic job we were picked up by Flowers by golf cart & greeted by Mark Plus a complimentary drink to enjoy 😊
We stayed in the treetop room called Sunflower. Great view and large room ! The AC worked Very well and enjoyed coming back to a cool room after an outing in the sun.
The resort is well kept up, the grounds are beautiful, they work very hard to keep the Sargassum cleaned up but is a continual problem on the entire island.
The dive shop has what you need and will set up any tours that you want to go on. Dilson was fun to talk to and Roberto was doing several dive certifications with several couple while we were there and everyone said they were great ! We rented fins & took the kayak out to the reef a couple times & snorkeled around & were able to see a barracuda & lots of fish.
The food was amazing. I do not eat seafood so unfortunately was limited on the menu but my husband enjoyed so much snapper & other great seafood pretty much every day. The continental breakfast was nice & you can upgrade to other breakfast meals for $8. It was NOT mostly Italian food on the menu like was stayed in another review.
We also enjoyed using the bicycle that they provide and rode into town one day & stopped at the truck stop for some really good ice cream ! We also rode the other direction one day & explored different resorts & bars
If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful, chill stay with a great restaurant and out of town a good ways….. this is for you ! We really had NO regrets or complains. We had a massage on the beach one day that was amazing ! We met some great people & enjoyed having others around but yet still very quiet & not crowded.
We enjoyed walking 2 min to the Moon bar twice for pizza and beer. 😊. Great pizza a cute place.
My husband went spear fishing with a great tour guy & brought back some fish & the chef cooked them for us for dinner. Was awesome.
The only thing I was kinda creeped out about is the Sunflower room has a large thatched room and a large awesome balcony to sit with a perfect view over the pool & water BUT there is also a family of fruit bats that live in the top of that area (outside over the porch, not inside the room) & I really do not like bats & after a few days we discovered them & sitting out there had a different feeling or walking in & out as they were flying around 😳😳. Also would find small fruit & droppings in the floor right in front of the door in the mornings. So maybe try to get the other treehouse room Jasmine because I could not see any on that roof.
Overall a GREAT experience and would definitely stay there again!
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip 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.
Response from Portofino Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 21 Sept 2022
Hi Jodi, Thank you so much for your review. We are happy you had a great experience with us at Portofino Beach Resort. It is reviews like this that keep us motivated and determined in delivering exceptional service for all of our guests. Thanks and we wish you safe travels further. Management
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Beautiful hotel property in Ambergris Caye north of San Pedro town. My partner and I spent 4 nights at Portofino Hotel and opted for the all inclusive package since the hotel was so far from the town center. Drinks and food were delicious; the menu was heavy on the seafood which makes sense given the location. Couldn't swim at the beach at the resort due to the seagrass, which is unfortunate. New on-site dive shop Carpe Diem was excellent and convenient. "Seahorse" suite was large and comfortable. Staff was attentive, helpful and non-obtrusive.
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Date of stay: March 2025
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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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 1 week ago
Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed your stay and the amenities we offer. We appreciate your understanding regarding the natural surroundings and are glad our team made your experience pleasant. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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We chose this property based on a recommendation from a co-worker who had recently visited and raved about the resort. We were certainly not disappointed. From the pick up at the airport, to our initial arrival at the resort, the staff was absolutely incredible! It was more than just a resort, it felt like we had stepped into an extended family. Everyone from reception, to the property managers, the bartenders, and maintenance staff were so friendly, easy to talk to, accommodating and overall just incredible. Our room was beautiful, well appointed, there were handmade soaps in the bathroom and beautiful local flowers to greet us. Not sure how the cleaning staff was able to maintain the beautiful hardwood floors after we drug in all of the sand, but each day they were spotless. The pool is just lovely and at the right temp to swim or sit around and have a lovely cocktail in the evening watching the ocean. There is a dock with a dive shop attached (see reviews for Action Divers and Adventures) to book your snorkeling and diving, which the resort took care of for us in advance. We had selected the Tropical Package (two snorkel trips, island hopper flights to/from Belize City, and dinner one evening on the beach) and the resort took care of every single detail for us, so no effort was required on our part. I have to say, that was one weight off the mind when it came to arranging the trip. My birthday occurred while there and upon return from our snorkeling trip, the staff had left a towel birthday cake decorated with fresh flowers, a lovely hand-written note and balloons on the wall. It was such a nice surprise and made me feel very special. The food was always delicious and fresh and they were always accommodating to any changes or special needs that we had. Not to mention, they gladly brought the food out to the pool, the patio or the beach if that is where we preferred to dine. In addition, they made all of the arrangements for us for our Covid testing for our return trip and the medical professional came onsite to conduct the testing in the privacy of our room. Overall, I would highly recommend the resort to anyone traveling to Ambergris Caye who wants to be a little north of San Pedro. It's a short ride back into town or to Secret Beach as well. When we left, it felt like we were leaving treasured new friends.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
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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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 12 Oct 2021
Good afternoon, Wow...thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time out to share your feedback on your recent stay at our beautiful property 💖 We are very delighted that you had a great time and that you enjoyed all the services that we offer. Looking forward to welcoming you again in the near future. Management & Team Portofino!
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My boyfriend and I spent five nights at Portofino for New Years. We stayed in one of the beachfront cabanas (truly beachfront!) and his sister and a friend joined us at the last minute in one of the larger units at the back of the property.
I absolutely loved the trip and would wholeheartedly recommend Portofino for three reasons.
First, the property and views from the pool, our room, and the restaurant are beautiful, and I never got tired of it. The only other time we visited Ambergris Caye we stayed closer to town, and while it was pretty the beach in front of our house was used as a road with golf carts going back and forth throughout the day. Although all beaches are public access, because Portofino is so far from town it feels more private and the staff works hard to clean up trash and debris.
Second, the food selection and prices were outstanding. In particular, I was traveling with two vegetarians and one vegan, and we were pleasantly surprised by the large vegan menu (I ordered one of the veggies dishes once or twice). The kitchen was also willing to make substitutions on items from the regular menu (my favorites were the conch ceviche for lunch and coconut curry and almond crusted snapper for dinner).
Prices were also reasonable for the quality and compared to what you'd expect at similar resorts. It is more expensive than many places in town (you can get a feast at a pupusa place for $5), but it ended up being around $500/each for three meals a day for five nights plus the bar tab (typically a few beers in the afternoon plus some wine and cocktails most nights) and tips on top of the service charge. I thought this was a good value, and we definitely didn't need to go the all-inclusive route.
I will note that at lunch in particular the food could take a while, so if someone in your party gets very hungry after diving or another activity you may want to put an order in before showering or changing.
Third, the staff were all very friendly. Just a day or so into the trip they remembered our room and our names, started giving the vegetarians their menu automatically, and were happy to bring us fries by the beach or lunch down by the pool. We felt very comfortable and welcomed every day.
Finally, since we were traveling during COVID-19 I appreciated that the staff wore masks in the restaurant and at the bar. While we typically wore our masks in public areas some of the other guests were better about it than others, but thankfully those areas (pool, restaurant, etc) were never very crowded and everything is outside so it turned out fine. We purposely chose a property where we could stay in one place the whole time and avoid crowds, and it ended up being a great choice! I hope to be back!
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip 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.
Response from Portofino Resort, Sales at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 13 Mar 2021
Great to hear that you all were able to enjoy your stay, even in the tough times that we're all facing. We hope to continue to be able to provide for a safe environment for people to get away from home, and we're glad you all seemed to have gotten that. Look forward to getting to see you all again! Warmest Regards, Bellini
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This resort was such a nice getaway and escape. My partner and I stayed for a week to celebrate my birthday and our anniversary. The staff went out of their way to make me feel special and celebrated! Some tips to keep in mind - highly recommend renting a golf cart during your stay so you have the freedom to drive around the island; they're pretty affordable and easy to rent, there's plenty of golf cart companies on the island. The beach by the resort has a lot of seaweed so you wont be able to swim in it, but it wasn't an issue for us since Secret Beach is a pretty quick drive from the resort. The pool on the resort is also beautiful, especially at night if you like night swimming. Bugs don't seem to be an issue overall for the resort, but we saw one or two in our room, but as soon as we told the staff, they took care of it and we didn't see anymore for the rest of our stay! When it comes to the food on the resort, absolutely delicious! Every single meal was a 10/10! This place became like a second home, especially with how kind and communicative the staff were. :)
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 29 May 2024
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are delighted to know that your anniversary and birthday was well spent and we look forward to having you with us again someday!
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We decided to celebrate our 25th anniversary with a trip to Ambergris Caye. When looking through reviews, Portofino stood out to us. The photos of the resort, the pool, and the ability to be all inclusive were all draws for us. Moe picked us up from the airport (we were late getting in) and drove us to the resort in the golf cart, pointing out things along the way. The staff greeted us by name, settled us into a room decorated for our anniversary, with a complementary bottle of champagne. The rest of our trip there was fantastic. Every staff member treats you like family. We did not take advantage of the all-inclusive option, preferring to eat out in town and at Secret Beach for some meals. However, every meal we had at the resort was delicious. We especially loved the paella! and the happy hour apps cannot be beat. The bar downstairs serves incredible drinks. ALL of the bartenders, including the one who started working there on our second to last day, were great. Friendly, chatty, and they remembered what we liked and made great suggestions. The staff arranged a golf cart rental for us one day, and the snorkel trips left from their dock so no need to drive to town early for an excursion. The grounds are lovely and well cared for. We found our bed to be super comfortable, and the morning views from the cabana porch were worth the trip alone. Before we left, the front desk arranged our covid tests. It was VERY quick and easy. There is just enough activity here in the evening to be a fun atmosphere, meeting locals and expats and other guests, but not enough that it is noisy or "party" like. We went into town for that, and were happy to come back to a quiet place after. We have already decided to plan another trip, and we will be staying at Portofino again. Usually I plan vacations to the minute and I'm constantly focused on details. I never had a thought about anything during this trip. I credit the awesome care of the people at this resort. Thanks for making our anniversary trip truly special!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 27 Apr 2022
We're pleased to know that your experience with us was an amazing one. You are officially apart of our Portofino family 💖 Our entire team is very satisfied to know that we all made an impact in your recent stay here with us. We are happy that you enjoyed all the services that we offer. It's reviews like these that makes us very proud of what we do. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. Your kind words are greatly appreciated, and we hope you won’t hesitate to let us know if we can serve you again in the future. Management & Team Portofino
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Hotel Portofino is a small, charming hotel on the North side of the island. I travel by myself and spent a couple of very relaxing days at the resort. I never left the hotel as everything I needed was right there: beach, bar, restaurant and even a place where one could just hop on a boat for a snorkeling trip. If you like to venture outside during your stay, you can book a golf cart at the resort. The staff, especially Marc behind the bar, were very friendly and attentive. The food was very good and the breakfast especially good. Due to its intimate atmosphere, guest are very friendly and it is easy to strike up a conversation and you get to know a lot about Belize and its people. I highly recommend this for anyone who is looking a laid-back vacation!
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Response from PBR Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 27 Sept 2024
We are thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful stay at Portofino and that our little slice of paradise was able to provide you with the relaxing getaway you were looking for. We're delighted that you were able to take advantage of our beautiful beach, bar, restaurant, and snorkeling trips, and that you found everything you needed right here at the resort. we are especially pleased to hear that our staff, particularly Marc behind the bar, were friendly and attentive. We take great pride in our team and strive to provide exceptional service to all of our guests. I'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Marc and the rest of the team. We're also glad you enjoyed our food, especially our breakfast offerings. We're constantly working to improve and refine our menu, so your feedback is greatly appreciated. One of the things that sets Portofino apart is our intimate atmosphere, and we're happy to hear that you were able to connect with other guests and learn more about Belize and its people. We believe that this is a big part of what makes our resort so special, and we're glad you were able to experience it firsthand. Thank you again for your kind words and for choosing to stay with us. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to Portofino again soon.
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We stayed 4 nights in a Treetop and two nights in the Honeymoon Suite.
Resort staff was consistently personable, friendly, and responsive. Resort food was tasty and reasonably priced albeit a slightly limited menu for a weeklong stay. The Resort was reasonably quiet except for one 8am hammerer one morning. There are many dilapidated buildings and trash loose on Ambergris Caye, but the resort felt clean and reasonably maintained, comfortable, and was a good place to relax by the pool. By US standards, I’d say it’s a rustic 3-star resort.
We’re probably spoiled, but the pillows consistently sucked. The roads are as potholed as any I’ve ever driven, which was amusing but also a bit grueling for longer drives. The Resort is a very bumpy 30 minute golf cart ride from San Pedro (you’ll want to rent one if you wish to explore much back in San Pedro or elsewhere). I definitely got a third world feeling bouncing down the road.
Perspective is relative to one’s experience, and we’ve been to Hawaii, Turks & Caicos, Australia, St. Lucia, St. John, Italy, France, Greek islands, San Diego, Florida, the Texas Gulf Coast, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta. So we’ve seen some wonderful beaches. Maybe the biggest thing to consider is what you’re looking for. If you’re a scuba diver or snorkeling aficionado, this could be perfect as it’s a 5-minute boat ride to the Mexico Rocks dive site on the Belize Barrier Reef, and 20 minutes to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, with gear rentable at the resort.
But if you’re looking for long, strollable, white sandy beaches with accessible, clear blue water (and I was) you may be sorely disappointed. The beach is short, swamped daily by thick rows of sea grass, too much to clear, the water adjacent to the beach is often murky with sea grass, and it’s not inviting water for a swim.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip 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.
Response from Portofino Management, General Manager at Portofino Beach Resort In Belize
Responded 6 May 2022
Thank you Edward, Your review and feed back of your visit to San Pedro, Belize and Portofino is very much appreciated. Our team is grateful for constructive feedback and pride themselves in delivering a personalize, professional and excellent service. We are constantly face with the forces from Mother Nature but try our best to keep the beach clean from seagrass on days where it is needed and hire extra men to get this completed. Our guest enjoy that Portofino Beach Resort is located away from the hustle and bustle yet just an easy 30 minute drive to town by golf cart. More than half of the road is paved and the last part to the resort can be bumpy especially after the rains. The town council usually grade the road yearly and have recently done so in the last 3 weeks. Once again, thank you and we wish you truly incredible travels further. Regards, Management
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Santa Barbara, California6 contributions1 helpful vote
It can be. We paid for an all-inclusive package, so we got three meals a day plus a few specific activities (that we booked in advance). Our package did not include alcohol, but I think you can add that on.
There are more places to choose from in the San Pedro area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 1,138 - RM 1,654 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
portofino hotel san pedro, portofino san pedro
LOCATION
BelizeBelize CayesAmbergris CayeSan Pedro
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
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.
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