There are a thousand amazing ways to spend a day on the island. Here are a few of our favorites, from sunrise to sunset:

Sunrise

Sit next to the Grand Palapa at 6:30 with your coffee and catch the sunrise, followed by a fresh breakfast. A perfect way to start the day.

Land’s End

Begin your day catching some rays on the dock leading to Land’s End. Just about the time you get warm, you’ll get a delivery of frozen grapes.

Cool off

Take break from the sun and take a mid-morning swim off the east side of the island.

Snorkel

While you’re at it, grab a snorkel and check out the underwater life right off island. Maybe you’ll find a conch you can bring back for fresh ceviche.

Lunch time

Regroup for lunch under the palm trees and plan the back half of your day over cold Belikins.

Nap time

But don’t work too hard – no day is complete without a nap while you pretend to read a book. A beach lounger or the outdoor bed outside of the hibiscus house are good options. The hammocks are pretty perfect, too.

SCUBA adventure

The Belize Barrier Reef is just 15 minutes away. Suit up and explore some of the best diving spots the world has to offer.

Toast the sunset

Celebrate a hard day’s work on the west side of the island with sunset cocktails.

Stargaze

There’s one more thing to do before calling it a day: lay on the sand and take in the night sky, or use our telescope to catch uninhibited views of the stars as waves crash in the distance.

Beach games and water sport

Work off lunch with some bocce ball, Frisbee or beach volleyball. Then hit the water again with the sea kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, or take the Waverunners out for some tubing.

I’ve just realized that I used the last of my toothpaste to scrub the inside of my new SCUBA mask - something about preventing it from fogging. Now my teeth feel fuzzy.

It all happened pretty fast - a quick question after breakfast: “Do you want to give it a go?”

“Sure,” I say.

We walk across the sand to the edge of the water with a tank, BC and flippers. I sit down on the steps as I get suited up and water laps against my calves; I think it’s the color of a blue Powerade Slush.

My teeth feel fuzzier. But then they meet the regulator; a minty mask goes over my eyes and I hear someone shout, “Remember, just keep breathing!”

I go under and it’s like I just woke up somewhere else.

I’m only three feet from the dock and I see lobsters gathered under a piece of driftwood; a few feet further, I’m holding a red starfish as big as a Frisbee and I’m turning over conch shells the size of footballs. I swim back to shore to drop one off for ceviche, turn, and hug the bottom out a little further.

I get down to about 15 feet and follow a few trumpet fish that are wary of the barracuda who may or may not be wary of me. I don’t like him. But he has nice teeth.

At lunch we eat conch ceviche and talk about the dive we’re going to do tomorrow - it’s only a 15-minute boat ride from the island to a big reef wall. We’re going down to 40 feet. I ask them if it’s anything like what I did today and they tell me I haven’t seen anything yet.

I’m hooked.

10 perfect moments on royal belize