It’s almost hard to believe it’s here. You step out of your golf cart from the bustling main road in San Pedro and open the wooden door and are instantly transported. 

Somehow, you’ve found yourself in a lush, tropical oasis, with thatched roofs and a sparkling pool, a slice of Polynesia in the heart of Belize. 

This is Ramon’s Village Resort, and it’s one of the Caribbean’s most legendary places to stay. 

The property is actually the site of what was once the island’s first hotel, the Reef Colony Club, before a storm shuttered the resort and paved the way for what is now Ambergris Caye’s most unique hotel. 

It gets its name from Ramon Nunez, who was actually the first certified diver in all of Belize, and opened the hotel as a jack of all trades, running the resort practically by himself. 

The property has evolved over the years, under various owners, several rebuilds and a few expansions, too — but it’s never lost its fun-loving, breezy, laid-back charm. 

There are 71 rooms in all, spread out across a collection of cabanas and bungalows, either in the “jungle” or on the beachfront, all with thatched roofs, wooden floors and a tiki vibe. There’s also the Steve & Becky’s wing, with a collection of colorful cottages just across the road from the main resort. 

The beach is beautiful, lined by palm trees and soft sand, joined by the Pineapples beach bar (don’t miss the evening beach barbecue). 

That’s along with Tropic Al’s, the pool bar that also serves up some terrific locally-roasted coffee drinks, too. 

Ramon’s is just a lovely place to be, with the endless shade from the lush foliage (it actually started life more than a century ago as a coconut plantation) and the feeling that  everybody here has found his or her paradise for the week. 

But the biggest story at Ramon’s isn’t on land. The resort is home to a fantastic dive and snorkeling operation, with a large divers’ dock and an outstanding dive shop (home to 14 boats) that will take you all over the coastline’s spectacular waters, from the storied Blue Hole to the right-nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve. On our last stay, we used Ramon’s Village Divers and explored Hol and Chan and were blown away — the water is crystal clear and the sea life is abundant. 

If you travel the Caribbean a lot, you know them. They’re those special little hotels, the ones that ooze personality, the ones that really give you the sense of a place — and of themselves. 

Ramon’s is one of them. And if you’re planning a trip to Ambergris Caye, it needs to be on your radar. 

Even better? The prices. Rooms start at just $165 per night for the Steve & Becky’s room, and $315 for a beachfront unit. 

For more, visit Ramon’s Village.