Renting a golf cart is the best way to get beyond the main tourist strip. The road runs north and south along the island, and a day's driving reveals the quieter, less-developed stretches of beach that most visitors staying in town never see.
Head north across the bridge and the beach improves noticeably — wider, less crowded, with cleaner water away from the boat traffic. The road becomes rough sand and coral past the second bridge; 4WD golf carts are available for hire if you want to push further toward Bacalar Chico National Park at the island's northern tip. The park protects mangroves, jungle, and a section of the Barrier Reef, and can be reached by boat tour from town. The full drive north from San Pedro takes around an hour in good conditions.