Why Every San Pedro Visitor Is Fighting for Golf Cart Rentals This Season

Wandering through the swaying palms and coral beaches of San Pedro, Belize feels like stepping into a Caribbean postcard – until you realise you need transport to actually explore this paradise. With tourism to Ambergris Caye skyrocketing by 21% last year and the island welcoming over half of Belize’s overnight visitors, the question isn’t whether you need wheels, but which ones will get you there without breaking the budget.

This tiny Caribbean island has become the poster child for sustainable tourism done right – Belize earned the title of World’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination in 2024. Yet with 53.2% of the country’s visitors descending on Ambergris Caye, the infrastructure is scrambling to keep up. Enter the humble golf cart, which has quietly become the lifeline connecting tourists to everything from the famous Secret Beach to hidden cenotes tucked away in mangrove forests.

Your Ticket to Island Freedom

Forget everything you know about conventional car hire – on San Pedro, golf carts rule the sandy roads. The island’s narrow streets and laid-back atmosphere make these electric and gas-powered vehicles the perfect match for exploring at your own pace. Rental companies like Aviz Golf Cart Rental have recognised this growing demand, offering street-legal carts at competitive rates.

‘We ensure that visitors can easily navigate both [sandy paths and more developed streets] with confidence,’ explains a spokesperson from Aviz Golf Cart Rental, which recently launched a promotion offering $35 USD per 24-hour rental through September. Their approach reflects the broader shift towards accessible, reliable transport that doesn’t compromise the island’s delicate ecosystem.

The timing couldn’t be better. With Secret Beach becoming the island’s must-visit destination – despite requiring an hour-long bumpy journey through rough terrain – having your own wheels has shifted from luxury to necessity. Traditional taxi services charge around $100 USD for the trip, whilst boat shuttles offer a scenic alternative at $30 USD round trip, but limit your flexibility once you arrive.

The Secret Beach Phenomenon

Speaking of Secret Beach, this western shore destination has become something of a phenomenon, drawing visitors despite its remote location and rough access roads. The journey by golf cart takes about an hour each way on roads that can charitably be described as ‘challenging’, but the payoff – crystal-clear waters and a completely different vibe from San Pedro town – has made it worth the adventure for thousands of visitors.

The popularity of destinations like Secret Beach highlights why golf cart rentals have become essential infrastructure for the island. With limited public transport options (though a new system connecting San Pedro, Mahogany Bay and Secret Beach is planned for 2025), visitors rely on rental carts to access the very experiences that brought them to Belize in the first place.

Booking Battles and Peak Season Reality

The surge in tourism hasn’t come without growing pains. Reddit forums buzz with stories of visitors contacting six different rental companies only to find everything booked during peak periods. The island’s compact size restricts the number of vehicles allowed, creating a seasonal bottleneck that savvy travellers learn to navigate by booking well in advance.

Rental rates have stabilised around $30-35 USD per day, with companies competing more on service than price. Airport pickup and drop-off have become standard offerings, with some companies even providing luggage assistance and flexible scheduling to accommodate flight delays – a far cry from the casual, walk-up rentals that characterised the island’s earlier tourism days.

Sustainable Growth on Paradise

Behind the booking battles lies a more complex story about balancing tourism growth with environmental protection. Ambergris Caye’s rapid development – the island has seen population growth rates of over 8% annually in recent years – has sparked conversations about carrying capacity and sustainable development.

The proposed public transportation system by Taly Corporation represents one attempt to address these pressures. The planned route from Mahogany Bay through San Pedro to Secret Beach could reduce the demand for private vehicle rentals whilst providing more affordable transport options for visitors and locals alike. This approach mirrors broader trends in eco-friendly adventure planning where destinations balance accessibility with environmental responsibility.

Golf cart rental companies have adapted by focusing on fleet maintenance and customer service rather than simply expanding numbers. Regular servicing ensures vehicles can handle the island’s unique conditions – salt air, sandy roads and tropical weather – whilst minimising environmental impact through better fuel efficiency and longer vehicle lifespans.

The Real Cost of Paradise

For visitors, the choice often comes down to simple economics. A week-long golf cart rental at current rates costs roughly $210-245 USD, compared to taxi services that can easily reach $50-100 USD per trip for popular destinations. The flexibility to explore at your own pace, stop for impromptu beach breaks and carry snorkelling gear or picnic supplies makes the investment worthwhile for most visitors.

The island’s tourism boom has created opportunities for local entrepreneurs whilst raising questions about preserving the laid-back Caribbean charm that attracted visitors in the first place. With foreign investment projected to reach $315.44 million in 2025 and tourism accounting for 46% of Belize’s GDP, the pressure to accommodate growth whilst maintaining sustainability continues to intensify.

Much like the broader Caribbean luxury property boom transforming destination experiences across the region, San Pedro’s evolution reflects changing visitor expectations. Today’s travellers seek authentic experiences combined with convenient access to natural wonders – exactly what makes these pristine white beaches so irresistible.

As more visitors discover this slice of Caribbean paradise – and with 2025 promising even stronger growth – the humble golf cart rental has evolved from convenient transport to essential infrastructure. Whether you’re heading to Secret Beach for the day, exploring the northern reaches of the caye or simply want the freedom to discover hidden gems at your own pace, having wheels on this island paradise isn’t just recommended – it’s becoming absolutely necessary.