This Flashback Friday takes us back to 1985, when flying into San Pedro was a completely different experience. Back then, what we now know as John Greif II Airport was simply a small airstrip carved into the island. No perimeter fence. No security checkpoints. No separation from everyday life. The runway sat right alongside the street, blending seamlessly into the town itself.
Planes would land and take off just steps away from where people walked, biked, and went about their day. It wasn’t unusual to pause and watch a small aircraft come in, then carry on like nothing happened. The “terminal”? Just a few tiny wooden offices, modest and functional. No crowds, no long lines, no rush. Air travel felt personal. You knew the pilots, the staff, and sometimes even your fellow passengers.
In this photo, you can see one of those small planes being serviced right on the open tarmac, with a pickup truck nearby and simple buildings in the background. It captures a time when San Pedro was still a quiet fishing village, just beginning to find its place on the tourism map.
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San Pedro Airport Today
Fast forward to today, and that same airstrip has transformed into the busiest and largest aerodrome in Belize after the Philip Goldson International Airport. Hundreds of flights now move through daily, connecting Ambergris Caye to the mainland and beyond. What was once a laid-back landing strip is now a vital gateway to the country’s top tourism destination.
And yet, for those who remember, there was something special about those early days. No fences. No barriers. Just a strip of land, a small plane, and the feeling that the whole island was connected — sky to sea, street to runway.
A true reminder of how far San Pedro has come.
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