We are choosing between a private house rental in Ambergris or a second floor condo rental at Chabil Mar in Placencia. Will be there in late Feb.

I am really nervous about the sand fly or flea issue. I have nightmares about making the wrong choice and subjecting everyone to a nightmarish insect experience.

I heard Ambergris has fewer bugs... but does this apply to properties five miles from town? Do the bugs come in off the beach to the pool area? Do they bite during the day or just in the evening? Are they worse in Placencia?
Any info is appreciated.

I would definitely choose downtown Ambergris Caye over Placencia. Remote locations such as north Ambergris Caye and less developed places like Placencia always have more bugs.

I was recently in both San Pedro and Placencia. In fact I stayed at Chabil Mar (which has beautiful condo units). I wasn't bothered by sandflies at either place.

My experience over the last 15 years is that Placencia sometimes does have sandflies, though I've rarely been bothered with them myself, and that sandflies are usually not a serious problem on Ambergris Caye, especially not in town and only occasionally away from town.

Overall I wouldn't be too concerned about sandflies or other bugs in either area, as long as you don't run into a period of calm without the prevailing breezes from the sea.

--Lan Sluder

We just returned from San Pedro today. My husband has major reactions to sand flies/fleas and he did get some bites. At least I assume that's what they are. I got bit a little too, but the bites I get don't get red or hang around. If he remembered to put on some repellant he was fine. And it wasn't like there were lots and lots of bites. It sure didn't impact our trip.

I was in both Ambergris Caye and Placencia in November '05.

I wasn't bothered (too much) in Ambergris Caye, but in Placencia I got quite a few bites...it seemed to be worse at night (dining outside)and when there was no breeze....and on the day we hiked Cockscomb (my fault -- I shouldn't have worn shorts).

I'd take some lightweight long pants just in case.

Nov and Dec are rainy season. Feb is dry with more breeze, so lots less nuisance insects.

I was almost eaten alive by sand flies in Placencia in FEBRUARY. Never again Placencia for us.

Just goes to show you never know, we were in Placencia in February a couple years ago and didn't get bit by one single insect.

FWIW -We weren't in Placencia, but stayed in Hopkins which isn't too far, in October. Didn't spend any time on Ambergris. I didn't notice bites from mosquitos myself, but I got eaten alive by sand fleas. I don't usually get bit by insects. My husband got bit just as much as me and he usually is a target even here at home. My advice is just bring a REALLY good repellant (deep woods off really didn't do much for us, FYI) Personally, the beauty of the mainland in the area around Placencia is not something I would pass up just because of bugs. Having been there myself, I would have regretting making another decision! I also know someone who stayed at Mata Chica on Ambergris and she got just as bit up as I did, so i don't know that one is necessarily better than the other.
Also - they bite more at night it seemed to me, but I think they were equal opportunity pests - i do recall being bit during daytime!

sand fleas can be a big problem and ruin a trip. those suckers hang around and itch me for almost two weeks sometimes. getting a couple of dozen scars my legs for months.

but don't let that keep you off the beach. you might want to avoid sunrise and twilight when they seem worse. I found that insect repellent does work though and when I am diligent about keeping it on, I can avoid 95% of the bites. I have been told by several local folks that the body will build an immunity to where the bites are no worse than a mosquito. so maybe some people have a natural immunity. places that rake the sand every day have a lot less fleas as the raking disrupts the egglaying, i'm told.
frankly, i wish they all used a bit of malathion. that would cure the problem overnight (but not politicly correctly).

I'm very sensitive to sand flies and I had a big problem in Placencia. It really doesn't make lots of sense if I have to stay inside to avoid them so we never returned there. It is not any fun to be covered with bites. On the other hand during many trips to San Pedro I never had any problem.

Recently returned from Ambergris, South Water Caye and Placencia. No problem with any types of bugs in Ambergris. In South Water Caye there were some bugs that I would classify as sandflies on the beach but they were not bothersome enough for me to put on repellent. They did leave a bite (that we never felt) with a red mark that quickly went away. In Placencia we experienced what I would consider "noseeums", tiny brown bugs that did bite and itch. But the presence of these bugs would not keep me from going there. Could be I am just not sensitive to them, but my husband feels the same way about them.
Have heard that the closer you are to Placencia village the less bothersome they are.

I just had to write and tell you about our experience on Cay Caulker many years ago. We walked around in the evening carrying a can of bug spray and I was bitten so many times. The bugs lapped it up. My legs were simply covered with these little bites. It looked like I had a rash covering my entire legs. It was soooo bad. I used a hair brush to scratch (which made things worse), but it was truly miserable. After that, we went to Ambergris and had no problem with bugs. But my legs were a mess for a couple weeks. My husband wasn't bothered by them as much as I was. IF I EVER go back, I'd definitely bring lightweight long pants and HEAVY duty bug spray with the most concentration of Deet. I have no idea what sort of critters those were, but be prepared and you should be fine.