A Goat-Friendly Getaway: Vacation in San Pedro, Belize, Like Simone Biles

When Simone Biles isn’t collecting Olympic medals and breaking world records, she retreats to one of her favorite destinations – Belize.

This Central American country is not just a refuge for Biles; It’s your second home. The gymnast has citizenship through her mother and over the years has shared her love for the island of Ambergris Caye through her Instagram.

Ambergris Caye is home to the popular town of San Pedro, known for its food, nightlife and water activities. Biles’ trips to San Pedro include participating in parades, fishing, enjoying vacations with her husband and organizing her bachelorette trip.

I got an idea for how to vacation like the GOAT during a recent trip to San Pedro. Here’s how to win on vacation in northern Belize like the 23-time gold medalist.

Sleep like a winner

Not only did TikTokers choose Alaia Belize as the best place to stay in San Pedro, but Biles also made the Autograph Collection Hotel the setting for her bachelorette trip. Alaia Belize is the country’s first Marriott property. It has more than 150 spacious rooms and villas to accommodate large groups and couples. I stayed in a three-bedroom villa, like Biles, to take advantage of the resort’s amenities, including six dining concepts, three pools, 1,000 linear feet of beach, and spa.

When you’re a guest at the villa, you get additional amenities including airport transportation, free day access to an Alaia golf cart, spa service, and a complimentary pool cabana that you can decorate for a special occasion. Villa guests can also book a private chef, which Biles did with her friends for dinner on her patio overlooking the ocean.

Each villa has a patio, including a private pool and beach access. Each bedroom in the villa has a full bathroom, creating more space for vacations with friends and family traveling together. Common spaces included a fully equipped kitchen with bottled water, plates and cutlery for snacking on leftovers.

Seek adventure as a gymnast

Alaia Belize was the first resort I tried where the majority of guests looked like me. Being greeted with welcome drinks and seeing friendly smiles from Black American guests from all over the United States in San Pedro to celebrate love and life was beautiful. There was even an all-black diving group of about 30 people led by Gabby Shepard, creator of Black Girl Blue World, to explore the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second largest in the world. Scuba diving is a popular attraction for travelers, but if that’s not your thing, Alaia Belize offers a snorkeling and swimming tour at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley to see parts of the famous reef and visit the fishing village of Caye. Calafate. Fishing is an activity that Biles loves to do when she visits the island. During her stay in Alaia, she took advantage of the private boat tour to do some of her favorite water activities.

She usually gets around San Pedro like a local, but if you’re new to Belize, you can ask the concierge to help you book your activities or offer suggestions. Activities in San Pedro range from water sports to chocolate making. You can go shopping or take a gastronomic tour. During the low season, some restaurants or activities have limited hours, but checking the website or social media pages in advance helps you know the schedule. One of the main activities suggested by the Alaia team was a trip to Secret Beach.

The 45-minute golf cart ride took us on a bumpy journey to an area filled with bars, restaurants, and water activities. We visited Blue Bayou and sat at the picnic tables in the ocean to enjoy drinks and paddle while the fish swam around us. During the drive to and from Secret Beach, you’ll pass by roadside markets to shop for souvenirs and find other dining options if you get hungry.

Dine (and drink) like an Olympian

Biles enjoys the island’s many restaurants and bars that fuel her after long days on the water. Travelers should add popular local restaurants like Caramba or Elvi’s Kitchen to their itinerary. Elvi’s Kitchen is one of the oldest restaurants in San Pedro, with a mix of Caribbean and Mexican food on the menu. The shrimp guacamole was a delicious starter, while the Creole fish dish reminded me of a Caribbean version of Louisiana-style gumbo. As we ate dinner, I heard a musician play classic R&B songs, from “Can We Talk” to “I’m Every Woman.”

Alaia Belize is home to Belize’s first suspended rooftop infinity pool. It was a perfect place for sunset cocktails or dinner at the sushi restaurant in the rooftop Vista Rooftop Lounge. Alaia Belize’s mixology program was also top notch. During her stay, Biles and her friends enjoyed the Molecular Mixology Master Class. The immersive dining experience combines food with cocktails and education on the different aspects of cocktail making.

If you don’t attend classes, you can still experience some impressive mixology throughout the resort, but the Piano Bar is the best place to grab a nightcap. The bartenders crafted each drink with love, and I enjoyed craft cocktails that impressed in presentation and taste and were delivered in signature glasses throughout my stay. When poolside, try the resort’s signature cocktail, the coconut mojito, a coconut cream-based drink that is the island’s signature drink.

Despite the sheer amount of things to do in Belize, upon arrival you will find yourself taking things slow and easy, leaving you not enough time to do it all but wanting to come back to experience more. Belize has a special place in Biles’ heart and will become a favorite destination for you too after your first trip.