We always visit the nearby fishing village to swim, drink and eat. This is the only port that hasn't fallen victim to overpriced taxis and private companies dominating the beaches by placing their beach chairs within feet of the water line and demanding a cover charge for beach access.
Not much to do in Belize without doing an excursion. Beach and snorkeling require a tender ride to an off shore island or Cay. Straying outside the shopping village into the city is asking for trouble in this dirty impoverished country.
Great island for swimming and snorkeling, however the taxi operators will steer you to West Beach and swear up and down that it is a free public beach. Once they get you there they deliver you to the beach via one of several private drives and inform you that the beach is free but the private access *TO* the beach will cost you $10 or more. They only charge you the $2 per person fee that they have to pay when the depart the port facility, and tell you to pay on the return trip. That way they can tell you to bug off if you balk at paying for beach access. They are not obliged to bring you back to the ship since you have paid them nothing up front for transportation.
Another port where the taxi drivers try to steer you to a specific beach club where they get a kickback for bringing you there. Beaches that were remote and public years ago are now fronted with beach clubs and bars that place their chairs all the way down to the water and demand a cover charge or minimum food and drink purchase for each beach chair. There is really nowhere to place your possessions and feel confident that they won't disappear.
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