20 Best Places to Shop in The Cayes and Atolls, Belize

The country's first art gallery, established more than 30 years ago by Londoner Lyndsey Hackston, Belizean Arts today has the largest selection of art by Belizeans and Belize residents, including paintings by Walter Castillo, Pen Cayetano, Nelson Young, Leo Vasquez, Rene Guerra, and others. The gallery also carries ceramics, jewelry, and other crafts. Even if you don't intend to buy, it's worth a look.

At Graniel's Dreamland, the showroom for Armando Graniel's beautiful carpentry, you can find stunning tropical woodwork at affordable prices, like one-of-a-kind bowls of knotted wood, clam chairs, or cutting boards. The shop will package your items for shipping or for carrying back home.

Enter through the blue picket gate to discover curated goods and crafts all made in Belize. Paintings by local artists can be found here. The owner, Jessie Wigh (who also runs Namaste Café), writes the charming Caye Boy series, children's books about the joys of growing up on Caye Caulker.

Even if you don't love Belize's signature beer, Belikin merch makes a distinctive gift. After all, only one country in the world has Belikin.

This gallery sells prints, handpainted silk, and other works by Lee Vanderwalker, as well as handmade jewelry and scarves by local artists. The small café serves tasty coffee and eclectic breakfast and lunch dishes.

Chan's is a popular supermarket in the village. Pick up your basic groceries and Marie Sharp's hot sauce here.

Since 1976, this one-person "factory" has crafted beautiful jewelry. If you don't see a design you like, artist Dimas Guerrero will work with you to create one. We encourage you not to buy items made of black coral, which is highly endangered.

Get your boat snacks, Travellers rum, hot sauce, and kitschy magnets at this dependable store, open daily until late-ish.

The Greenhouse has a trove of healthy ingredients like microgreens that may rival Whole Foods for priciness.

Pick up your Cohiba and Montecristo Cubans at this hideaway, as well imports from Nicaragua, Honduras, and elsewhere. You can even have a tumbler of rum with your cigar in the shop’s atmospheric lounge.

Island Supermarket has the largest selection of groceries, liquor, beer, and wine along with hot sauces and other souvenir items.

What are men’s supplies? Apparently they include Sperry topsiders and Star Wars Lego sets. If you forgot anything from an extension cord to anti-chafing powder, this variety store might carry it.

Marina's Store south of town has good prices for groceries but only a small selection. It has longer and later hours than many stores.

This dependable little store serves residents and condo guests on North Ambergris. You can order online and Mata Grande will deliver groceries to your vacation rental north of the Boca del Rio bridge. Expect higher prices than in town.

You'll recognize this little shop by the beautiful mural of hibiscus blooms; inside you'll discover paintings by American artist Paulette Salo and craft pieces by Maya and other Belizean artists. This is a great spot to find meaningful souvenirs.

This reasonably priced store delivers groceries, which can also be ordered online, all over San Pedro Town.

This permanent market has a couple of dozen stalls with friendly vendors selling ziricote wood carvings, Maya masks, weavings, handmade dolls, jewelry, trinkets, and other goods, some of which are made on the island.

Many local residents buy their groceries at Super Buy, which has lower prices.

For gaudy geegaws and unabashedly touristy souvenirs, the Toucan Gift Shops, including Toucan Too, all sporting the bright green, yellow, and red Toucan logo, are hard to miss.

Wine De Vine has a great curated selection of wines and imported cheeses, at prices (due to import taxes) roughly double the cost in the United States. It supplies wine to most fine restaurants on the cayes.