Lobsterfests in Belize 2023 Dates

A quick note about this years Lobsterfests in Belize dates for anyone planning to travel and enjoy them.

The 2022/23 Belize lobster season just finished, and to that end, we saw an Instagram post from one of our favorite Belize-related sites – the San Pedro Scoop – reminding us about the upcoming 2023/24 season set to start in July.

In Belize, the spiny lobster fishing season always begins with a party. Over the years, these Lobsterfests have become major dates in the calendars of coastal communities, especially San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Placencia.

Think of them as lobster-themed carnivals, where locals, tourists, and expats come together to celebrate the return of the fishing season, and the livelihoods of so many.

That return of people’s livelihoods is, after all, the traditional reason for these celebrations. They allow communities to give thanks for the opportunity to work again after four months of lobster fishing prohibition.

Over the years, these communal celebrations have grown into some of Belize’s best parties. They’ve become tourist attractions in their own right. Hotels book out in advance and a party vibe gets going, as the beers flow with the myriad of lobster dishes available.

If you’re a lover of lobster, then you’ll love Lobsterfest. Belize is a barbecue-based society, so you’ll find people grilling these delicious crustaceans on every street corner. You’ll find lobster kebabs, curried lobster, lobster burgers, and… and… well, anything else you can think of. It’s a true lobsterfest.

This year, to get to the point of this article, the big three Lobsterfests in Belize get underway in mid-July.

The San Pedro Lobsterfest on the island of Ambergris Caye runs the longest, from July 4th to July 15th. If you’re planning on visiting San Pedro during the first half of July, get your accommodations booked as soon as possible. It’s gonna be a busy one.

Caye Caulker holds its Lobsterfest on July 14th, 15th, and 16th. A three-day celebration that’s shorter than San Pedro’s, but no less fun. If you’re not all lobstered out from ten days of festing in San Pedro, you can nip over to Caye Caulker for more.

Again, make sure you have your accommodations booked in advance if you’re planning to visit Caye Caulker during these days.

And then there’s the Placencia Lobsterfest, also running from July 14th to July 16th. This one is famous for its massive beach parties, and again you can expect the town to be full across this weekend. It’s a pity that Placencia and Caye Caulker run concurrently, but you can still work it out to attend them all and get your Lobsterfest hat trick if you’re a true lobster aficionado.

Whichever Lobsterfest in Belize you attend, again, and we can’t stress this enough, make sure you get your accommodations arranged in advance. And enjoy that unique blend of lobster and festival you can only find in Belize.

James Dyde is the editor of centralamerica.com. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.