Belize Bus and Travel Guide

Following an increase, current fuel prices are:
Premium gasoline: BZ$11.22 per gallon
Regular gasoline: BZ$10.82 per gallon
Diesel: BZ$10.49 per gallon

These are the prices in Belize City; prices may be higher in the districts due to transportation costs.

13 January 2012

New Water Taxi Service Between Belize City and Honduras

I have no information about this service except what’s on the website.
http://www.prideofbelize.com/

Daylight Saving Time

On Sunday 30 October, daylight saving time ended in Mexico, so the Yucatan region and Belize are now on the same time, Central Standard Time.

Upcoming Public Holidays

See Section 13 for a complete list of holidays in 2102.

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3. BELIZE BUS INFORMATION AND SCHEDULES

2009/03/22

Bus travel is a very common method of transportation in Belize, with many Belizeans relying on buses for daily commuting to and from work, school or shopping. Therefore, bus service along the main highways is frequent, usually hourly and sometimes half-hourly during peak travel times, and Belizeans don’t really need printed schedules. None of the bus companies have websites.

Most of the buses are used Bluebird school buses; not very comfortable, not air-conditioned, and not well equipped to handle luggage, but they are cheap! There are a few air-conditioned buses that are used on some Express runs. Buses operate on Sundays and public holidays, sometimes on a less frequent schedule.

There are two types of bus service in Belize: “Regular” buses stop for passengers anywhere along the route, and “Express” (or non-stop) buses stop only at main towns. The final destination of a bus is displayed in the front window of the bus.

When boarding a bus at a terminal, just get on and find a seat. Buses tend to be crowded so try to get to the terminal well before the departure time so that you get a seat. Put luggage in overhead racks, or at the back of the bus, or wherever the conductor says. Always keep an eye on your luggage because passengers often use the rear emergency door as an entrance or exit. I like to keep my luggage within arms reach if possible. Once the bus gets going, a conductor will collect the fares.

If you’re on a Regular bus and want it to stop, move to the front of the bus and tell the driver/conductor where you want to get off. If you’re on the side of a road and you want an approaching bus to stop, wave an arm up and down; the bus will not stop if it’s an Express, it’s full or the driver doesn’t feel like stopping. After taking a seat, the conductor will collect the fare.

In Belize City, buses arrive at and depart from the Belize City bus terminal (commonly known by its former name, Novelo’s) located on West Collet Canal. There are terminals in most other towns; if there is no terminal, there will be a central point where the buses stop.

All bus providers have been given permits to operate within assigned zones.

1. Northern Zone – Belize City to Corozal (135 km / 84 miles)

The bus companies authorized to operate on the highway in the Northern Zone are Albion’s, Belize Bus Owners Cooperative (BBOC), Cabrera’s, Chell’s, Frazer, Joshua’s, Morales, Tillett’s, T-Line and Valencia. Northbound buses depart from Belize City about every half hour beginning at 5:30 am; last departure at 7:30 pm. Southbound buses depart from Corozal about every half hour beginning at 3:00 am; last departure at 7:15 pm. All buses are Regular buses; no express buses. There is also bus service to the nearby villages; in Corozal, these buses wait on the other side of the market near the post office.

A Regular bus from Belize City:
to Orange Walk (87 km / 54 miles) is about 1.5 hours & BZ$5.00, and,
to Corozal is about 2.5 hours & BZ$9.00.

There is a main bus terminal in Corozal. It’s on the main highway, and about a 2 minute walk from the center of town.

Here’s a link to a map of Corozal: http://www.northernbelize.com/map_cortwn.html

The red line is the main highway. Look for the number 1 in a circle. The bus terminal is on the upper left side of the circled number 1, on the curve in the highway.

Bus Schedules -- Northern Zone (click on image to enlarge)

Bus Schedules -- Corozal / Orange Walk

Bus Schedules -- Corozal Villages (click on image to enlarge)

Tillett's Bus

A mini-bus that operates between Corozal and the border

2. Western Zone – Belize City to Benque Viejo Del Carmen (130 km / 81 miles)

The bus companies authorized to operate on the highway in the Western Zone are BBOC, D and E, Guerra’s Bus Service, Middleton’s, Shaw Bus Service and Westline. Westbound buses depart from Belize City about every half hour beginning at 5am; last departure at 9:30 pm. There is also bus service to the rural areas.

A Regular bus from Belize City:
to Belize Zoo (29 miles) is about 45 minutes & BZ$4.00,
to Belmopan (50 miles) is about 1.5 hours & BZ$6.00,
to San Ignacio (73 miles) is about 2 hours & BZ$7.00, and,
to Benque is about BZ$8.00.

The schedule was reorganized in June 2011. Until I get a copy of the new schedule, I’ll keep the old schedule posted below. There should not be much difference in departure times, but the bus companies will be different.

Bus Schedules - Western Zone (click on image to enlarge)

3. Southern Zone – Belize City to Dangriga (169 km / 105 miles) / Placencia (257 km / 160 miles) / Punta Gorda (338 km / 210 miles)

The bus companies authorized to operate on the highway in the Southern Zone are James Bus Line, G-Line Service and Usher Bus Line. Buses authorized to operate in the rural areas of the Southern Zone are Chen Bus Line, Yascal Bus Line, Smith Bus Line, Ritchie Bus Line, Martinez Bus Line, Williams Bus Line, Radiance Ritchie Bus Line, and Polanco Bus Line.

Bus Schedules -- Southern Zone -- posted in the Dangriga bus terminal -- April 2010 (click on image to enlarge)

JAMES BUS LINE

Here’s a link to a site with the James Bus schedule:
https://www.hickatee.com/belize_bus_times.html

RITCHIE’S BUS LINE

Ritchie's Bus Schedule printed in the Placencia Breeze -- August 2011

Note that the schedule shows 4 trips to Dangriga and only 3 trips back. In Placencia, check at the Tourist Information Centre for clarification & updates.

4. Belize City

The bus service providers authorized to operate in Belize City, and the zones in which they are authorized to operate (the routes include the downtown area) are:

Arrow Line or Arrowline — West Landivar area.
Belize Intransit/Metro Bus Service – West Landivar, Fabers Road, Kings Park areas.
Haylock Bus Service — Belama area.
Lemott Bus Service — Port Loyola Area.
Lopez Bus/Shuttle Service — Lake Independence Area.

I think some buses are old Bluebird school buses, but some of them are new-looking 25 to 30 seat mini-bus type vehicles, and appear to be in good condition. The Arrow buses are air-conditioned.

Fares are usually BZ$1 for adults and BZ$0.50 for children and students in school uniform. The fares for Arrow are twice those fares because the buses are air-conditioned.

Here are the links to two news reports with photos of the buses:

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/47043

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=18752

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4. OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

2009/03/22

Taxi

Taxis in Belize usually don’t have any markings, and I haven’t yet seen one with a meter. They can be identified by a green license plate that displays, in white, the letter “D” followed by four digits. Most are sedan type cars with a maximum capacity of 4 passengers, but there are some van type vehicles with seating for up to about 9 passengers. The standard fare for short trips in most cities and towns is BZ$5.00 to $7.00 per taxi (not per passenger). Fares for longer distances are sometimes negotiable.

Taxi License Plate

In some towns, there are also shared taxi vans (sometimes called colectivos in other countries) that provide transportation to smaller villages. These vans usually wait near bus terminals, and don’t depart until they are nearly full. The fares depend on distance, and are cheaper than taxi fares.

Shared taxi van - this one can can carry 6 passengers.

Water Taxi

A water taxi is a boat, with seating for up to about 80 passengers, providing transportation across water. Water taxi trips are sometimes cancelled in rough conditions.

1. Water taxi services between Belize City, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye (see websites for schedules & fares)

a) Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association:
http://www.cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com

b) San Pedro – Belize Express Water Taxi
http://www.belizewatertaxi.com/

c) San Pedro Water Jets Express:
http://www.sanpedrowatertaxi.com/index.html

Here’s another service that transports passengers from the international airport to Ambergris Caye:
http://www.tropicferry.com/

2. Water taxi service between Corozal and Ambergris Caye

The “Thunderbolt” departs from Corozal daily at 7.00 am, and departs from San Pedro daily at 3:00 pm.

However, try to confirm if the boat is operating. I’ve observed that on some Sundays, it hasn’t made the trip, and departures have been cancelled in the low tourist season.

The water taxi will stop in Sarteneja on request.

Cost: BZ$45 one way; purchase ticket at the pier before departure.

Duration: 2 hours

Thunderbolt Water Taxi

3. Water taxi service between Independence and Placencia.

The “Hokey Pokey” departs from Independence (Kingfisher Landing) daily at 6:30 am, 7:30 am, 8 am, 11 am, 12:00, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm (except Sunday) and 5:30 pm (except Sunday). It departs from Placencia (MnM Hardware/Fuel Dock) at 6:45 am, 7:45 am, 10 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm & 6 pm (except Sunday).

Telephone number for information: 523-2376 (Owner), 606-1501 or 601-8897.

www.aguallos.com/hokeypokey

4. Water taxi providing service for Ambergris Caye:

Coastal Xpress Water Taxi: http://www.coastalxpress.com

Tel: 226-2007, 226-3007

Also offering cargo deliveries and private charters

Flight

Here are the links to the two Belizean airlines, a private charter company, and a helicopter service:

a) Maya Island Air, http://www.mayaregional.com/

b) Tropic Air, http://www.tropicair.com/

c) Javier’s Flying Service, http://www.javiersflyingservice.com/

d) Astrum Helicopters, http://www.astrumhelicopters.com/

Here are the links to two airlines operating in Central America:

a) TACA Airlines (has flights to Belize), http://www.taca.com/

b) Copa Airlines (no flights to Belize), http://www.copaair.com

Car Rental

These sites have lists of car rental companies:

http://www.travelbelize.org/plan-your-visit/getting-around/vehicle-rental-2.html

http://belizeretirement.org/travel-rentals.shtml

Transfer Service

An option for getting to many destinations is a transfer service. Here are some companies that offer a transfer/shuttle service:

a) Belize VIP Transfer Service, http://www.belizetransfers.com

b) George & Esther Moralez Travel Service,

http://www.gettransfers.com

c) Gibson’s Tours and Transfers,

http://www.gibsonstoursandtransfers.com/index.html

d) William’s Belize Shuttle, www.parrot-nest.com/belize_shuttle.html

e) Belize Shuttles and Transfers,

http://www.belizeshuttlesandtransfers.com/

f) Discounted Belize Shuttles and Tours,

http://discountedbelizeshuttlesandtours.com/index.html

g) ABC Shuttle (details below in a newspaper ad, March 2009)

Advetisement for ABC Shuttle - March 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

h) Cayo Adventure Tours, http://www.cayoadventure.com/

Cayo Adventure Tours can provide an airport transfer service. Contact details are on their website.

Advantages of a transfer service:

– they will pick up from almost anywhere, some even at theCancun airport

– they will take you directly to your destination

– they will make stop along the way for food, toilets, sightseeing

– comfort; the ones I’ve seen have new looking vans with a/c

– prompt service; no waiting for buses or negotiating with taxi drivers

– the drivers I’ve seen are informative and professional looking

– assistance with the border/immigration procedures

– safety; I’ve never heard of any negative incidents

Here’s a link to some more information about these services …

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=15499278&#15499278

Cruise Ship

Here’s a link to the cruise ship schedule that I have included as information for some visitors who might want to avoid tourist destinations on the days when cruise ships are here:

http://www.belizetourism.org/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,56/func,select/id,58/

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5. GETTING PLACES IN BELIZE

2009/03/22

1. From the Airport to Belize City

There are no public buses from Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA). A taxi to Belize City costs BZ$50.00 (per taxi, not per passenger), and takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. Before exiting the airport, try to find another person to share a taxi and split the cost.

Here’s the link to a shuttle service (I have no experience with this service):

http://www.belizeshuttlesandtransfers.com/Belize-City-Shuttles.php

Another option is to walk or taxi from the airport to the Northern highway (about 2.5 km) and wait for a bus. As you approach the intersection with the highway, Belize City will be to your right so just wait on the side of the highway. Orange Walk, Corozal and Mexico are to your left, so you have to cross to the other side of the highway and wait. When you see a bus coming, wave your arm up and down to get it to stop; Express buses will not stop. If going to Belize City, the fare is BZ$1 or $2, and the bus will terminate at the bus terminal where you can change to a bus to another destination. The water taxi terminal is 1 km from the bus terminal, and an easy walk on sidewalks along main streets. The Municipal Airport is about 3 km from the bus terminal; a taxi is advisable. Taxis wait in front of the bus terminal.

For a cheap way to get back to the airport, get a bus to the airport turnoff in Ladyville, and either walk the 2.5 km to the terminal, or look around for a taxi. A bus from Belize City will cost about $2.00, and the taxi probably won’t be more than BZ$6.00.

2. To Old Belize or the Belize Zoo

In the Belize City bus terminal, look for a westbound Regular (not Express) bus; the final destination of BENQUE will be displayed in the front window of the bus, but you could take one with a final destination of BELMOPAN. Buses depart hourly and sometimes half hourly. Just board the bus, and put luggage in the overhead racks or at the back of the bus. Always keep an eye on your luggage because passengers often use the rear emergency door as an entrance or exit. I like to keep my luggage within arms reach if possible. Let the driver and/or the conductor know where you want to stop. The conductor will collect the fare after the bus gets going. Old Belize is at about Mile 5 (about BZ$1.00), and the zoo is at Mile 29 (BZ$4.00). Watch the white mile marker posts along the highway to see how close you’re getting.

After visiting Old Belize or the zoo, walk back to the highway and wait for a bus to your next destination. When you see a bus coming, wave your arm up and down to get it to stop. Express buses won’t stop. If you’re going back to Belize City, the bus will return to the bus terminal where there are taxis waiting outside the terminal.

More information can be found at:

www.oldbelize.com

www.belizezoo.org

3. To San Ignacio or Benque Viejo del Carmen

In the Belize City bus terminal, look for a westbound bus (ask around and find out if there’s an Express bus); the final destination of BENQUE will be displayed in the front window of the bus. Buses depart hourly and sometimes half hourly. Just board the bus, and put luggage in the overhead racks or at the back of the bus. Always keep an eye on your luggage because passengers often use the rear emergency door as an entrance or exit. I like to keep my luggage within arms reach if possible. The conductor will collect the fare after the bus gets going; should be about BZ$7.00. There will be a scheduled stop at Belmopan.

4. To Orange Walk, Corozal

In the Belize City bus terminal, look for a northbound bus; the final destination of COROZAL or CHETUMAL will be displayed in the front window of the bus (some buses only go as far as Orange Walk). Buses depart hourly and sometimes half hourly. Just board the bus, and put luggage in the overhead racks or at the back of the bus. Always keep an eye on your luggage because passengers often use the rear emergency door as an entrance or exit. I like to keep my luggage within arms reach if possible. The conductor will collect the fare after the bus gets going.

If you’re starting from the airport, you don’t have to go back to Belize City to get a northbound bus. You could just get out to the highway and wait.

5. To Sarteneja

Here is information I received from a resident of Sarteneja on 24 June 2010:

Buses depart from the Swing Bridge (NOT the bus terminal) in Belize City on Monday to Friday at 10:30 am, 12:00 noon, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm. On Saturdays, buses depart at 10:30 am, 12:00 noon, 4:00 pm. No bus on Sundays.

Same bus passes through Orange Walk, stopping across from the St. Christopher Hotel (NOT the bus terminal). Departure time from Orange Walk is about 1.5 hours after departure time from Belize City.

Buses depart Sarteneja on Monday to Friday at 3:30 am, 4:30 am, 5:30 am, 6:30 am. It is a good idea to check at the bus depot the day before to confirm how many buses are leaving the next day.

On Saturday and sometimes during the week and sometimes on Sunday, there is a bus to Chetumal which departs Sarteneja about 6:00 am and returns through Orange Walk (2:30 pm) at 4:30pm.

Also, check with the operators of the Thunderbolt water taxi in Corozal; it will stop at Sarteneja on request.

6. From Dangriga to Hopkins

Here is some information from a travel forum:

http://www.belizeforum.com/belize/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=156806&page=1

7. To Tobacco Caye

Here is some information from a travel forum:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/message.jspa?messageID=16123584#16123584

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1813687&tstart=0

8. From Belmopan to Placencia

At Belmopan bus terminal, you have to change buses (unless you’ve come from Belize City on a James bus), so the best thing to do is get to Belmopan as early as possible and ask at the bus terminal, because there are a couple of options.

Option 1: Get a James Bus Line bus from Belmopan. Here’s the link to the James Bus schedule:

https://www.hickatee.com/belize_bus_times.html

This bus will first go to Dangriga, then to Independence / Mango Creek, so it doesn’t actually go to Placencia. That part of the trip will be about 3.5 hours and about BZ$10 to $15. In Independence / Mango Creek, get a small water taxi called the Hokey Pokey to cross the lagoon to Placencia. Here’s the link to the Hokey Pokey schedule:

http://www.aguallos.com/hokeypokey/

If you have a good map of Belize, or Google Earth, you can see the location of Independence just south-west of Placencia. The advantage of this option is no changing of buses. The disadvantage is you have to get the water taxi, so you have to get to Independence before the departure of the last water taxi. According to a schedule I received in February 2010, the last Hokey Pokey departs Independence at 5:30 pm.

Option 2: I’m not up to date on the recent schedule changes, but there will be frequent southbound departures by other bus lines. Most of the southbound buses will go to Dangriga, and then maybe to Placencia, or you might have to change in Dangriga depending on which bus line you get. The trip should be about 3.5 hours and BZ$10 to $15.

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6. GETTING FROM CANCUN AIRPORT TO BELIZE AND BACK

2009/03/22

This is how I do the trip from Cancun airport to Belize…

From Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen, there is an approximately hourly ADO Riviera airport shuttle bus (check the ADO website for departure times and fares). Tickets are sold at a counter in the airport just after exiting customs, or from the ticket seller where the bus is parked. To get to the bus, go out of the airport terminal, turn right and keep going to the other end of the terminal. The bus trip is about 1 hour and costs MX$110 (as at June 2011).

The airport shuttle bus terminates in Playa del Carmen at the bus terminal at the corner of Quinta Avenida and Avenida Juarez (5th Avenue and Juarez Avenue). If you want to continue to Chetumal immediately, get a taxi (MX$20) or walk to the other bus terminal (Terminal Alterna) at Avenida 20 and Calle 12, where the bus departs to Chetumal (the airport shuttle bus might stop at this terminal on the way to the other terminal). Or, stay a night in Playa.

Here’s a link to a map of Playa del Carmen showing the location of the two bus terminals:

http://www.travelyucatan.com/playa_del_carmen_mexico_hotel_map-a.php

From Playa del Carmen, ADO express buses depart every hour or two to Chetumal (and there are a few ADO GL and OCC buses for a bit more money). The trip takes about 4.5 hours and costs MX$230 for Primera Class (as at June 2011). Check the ADO website for up to date schedules and fares.

The bus terminates at the ADO bus terminal in Chetumal. To continue to Belize, change to one of the Belizean buses or get the water taxi. There are a few options for getting from Chetumal to Belize; see the next section, TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN BELIZE AND MEXICO.

Another option for getting from Cancun airport to Chetumal is to get a bus or taxi from the airport to the bus terminal in Cancun city and from there, get an express bus to Chetumal. Cancun airport is located south of Cancun and north of Playa del Carmen, so this means first travelling north to Cancun, then getting a bus back south, but it avoids the bus terminal change in Playa. Here’s a link to comments about each of the two options:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1775702&tstart=0

Or, hire a transfer service or shuttle. Here are some links:

a) Belize VIP Transfer Service, http://www.belizetransfers.com

b) George & Esther Moralez Travel, http://www.gettransfers.com

c) Cancun Shuttle: http://www.cancunshuttle.com/

d) Cancun Express: http://www.cancun-express.com/

e) Cancun Airport Transfers: http://www.tucankin.com/

This is how I do the trip from Belize to Cancun airport…

See the next section, TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN BELIZE AND MEXICO, for ways to get to Chetumal.

From the Chetumal ADO terminal, express buses depart frequently to Playa del Carmen (and there are a few ADO GL and OCC buses for a bit more money). The trip takes about 4.5 hours and costs MX$230 for Primera Class (as at June 2011).

The bus arrives at the bus terminal at Avenida 20 and Calle 12 (Terminal Alterna). If you want to continue to Cancun airport immediately, get a taxi (MX$20) or walk to the other bus terminal at Quinta Avenida and Avenida Juarez and get the ADO airport shuttle bus to Cancun airport. The bus trip takes 1 hour and costs MX$110.

Another option is an ADO express bus from the ADO Chetumal bus terminal to Cancun airport. Buses depart Chetumal daily at 00:30 and 22:00; fare is MX$324 and trip duration is 5.5 hours.

And another option is the ADO express bus from Belize City (see next section for details).

Schedules & fares can change anytime; check for updates at:

http://www.ado.com.mx/ado/index.jsp

Note 1: MX$ is Mexican pesos. On the Mexican bus websites, just the dollar sign is used to represent pesos.

Note 2: The ADO express buses have very good air-conditioning; dress warmly.

Note 3: Taxi drivers in Playa sometimes ask for more than the correct fare; confirm the fare first.

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7. TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN BELIZE and MEXICO

2009/03/22

1. ADO Express Bus

In September 2011, the Mexican bus company ADO began two new daily services to Belize City – one from Cancun and one from Merida. The ADO buses are first class with 44 comfortable seats, video, toilet and air conditioning that seems to have only two settings, off and freeze, so dress warmly. In Belize City, buses arrive at and depart from the Belize City bus terminal (commonly known as Novelo’s) located on West Collet Canal. These buses do not go to Chetumal in either direction. The bus runs shall not affect the services provided by Belizean transport providers.

On the Cancun route, stops include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Corozal and Orange Walk, but passengers are not allowed to use these buses to travel within Belize, for example, to travel from Belize City to Corozal. Passengers can board the buses at Orange Walk and Corozal only if their final destinations are in Mexico. On the Belize City to Cancun route, the bus stops at the Cancun airport.

On the Merida route, also known as the Hospital route, stops include the most important hospitals in Merida.

Cancun to Belize City
Departs from Cancun bus terminal daily at 10:15 pm; from Playa del Carmen at 11:40 pm; from Tulum at 12:45 am.
Fares to BC: MX$492 from Cancun; MX$456 from Playa; MX$396 from Tulum.
Trip time: 8:10 hours.

Belize City to Cancun
Departs from BC bus terminal daily at 7:30 pm with stops at Orange Walk (9:00 pm), Corozal (10:00 pm), Tulum (4:00 am), Playa del Carmen (5:00 am) and Cancun Airport (6:30 am). Arrives at Cancun bus terminal at 7:00 am.
Fares: BZ$55.00 to Tulum; BZ$63.00 to Playa del Carmen; BZ$79.00 to Cancun (one way).

Merida to Belize City
Departs from Merida Terminal Alta Brisa daily at 9 pm with stops at Corozal and Orange Walk.
Fare to BC: MX$492
Trip time: 8:30 hours.

Belize City to Merida
Departs from BC bus terminal daily at 7:00 pm with stops at Orange Walk (8:30 pm), Corozal (9:30 pm), and the most important hospitals in Merida (ORAM, Juárez, Clínica Mérida, Star Médica). Arrives at Terminal Alta Brisa at 6:00 am.
Fare: BZ$79.00 (one way).

Here’s the link to the ADO website:
http://www.ado.com.mx/ado/index.jsp

Other contact telephone numbers:
ADO Cancún: +52 (998) 887-1149
ADO Chetumal: +52 (983) 832-9877
Belize City: 600-8100
Orange Walk: 302-2240, 624-8200
Corozal: 605-3308, 665-2829
If dialing from outside Belize, 501 is the country code for Belize.

ADO bus notice posted at Corozal bus terminal (click on image to enlarge)

2. San Juan Travel Services, a Guatemalan company, provides Express bus service between Flores, Belize City and Chetumal. In Belize City, buses arrive at and depart from the Marine Terminal on North Front Street near the Swing Bridge, and are not scheduled to stop anywhere else in Belize. Buses operate on Sundays and public holidays. Not all buses are air-conditioned. The agent in Belize City for these services is Mundo Maya Travel located at the Brown Sugar Market Place on North Front Street, Belize City. Phone: (501) 223 1200 / 663 5957. Email: mundomayatravels@yahoo.com

Belize City to Chetumal (161 km / 100 miles / about 3 hours)
Foreign bus companies are not allowed to pick up passengers in Belize and take them to Chetumal.

Chetumal to Belize City (161 km / 100 miles / about 3 hours)
San Juan bus departs daily at 7:00 am; US$10.00
The bus waits outside the ADO terminal. It goes to Belize City, then continues to Flores, Guatemala arriving about 4 pm (400 pesos from Chetumal to Flores). Confirm the departure time when Mexico switches to daylight saving time.

(updated: 20 January 2012)

3. Regular Buses Between Corozal and Chetumal

Several bus companies (BBOC, Chell, Gilharry, Russell, Tillett, T-Line, Venus) provide Regular bus service between Corozal and Chetumal. The buses are mostly used Bluebird school buses; most of them are not very comfortable, not air-conditioned and are not well equipped to handle luggage, but they are cheap!

Buses to Chetumal depart from Corozal bus terminal about every half hour beginning at 7:00 am; last departure at 8:00 pm. Most of the buses that go to Chetumal have come from Belize City and Orange Walk. There are also small mini-buses that go from Corozal to the border.

Buses to Corozal depart from Chetumal Nuevo Mercado (New Market; about 1 km from the ADO terminal) about every half hour beginning at 4:00 am. I don’t know the exact departure time of the last bus from Chetumal Nuevo Mercado, but it is between 5:45 and 6:30 pm (Belize time); this bus connects with the last bus to depart from the Santa Elena border at 7:15 pm.

Duration and cost: about 45 minutes (mainly due to the time it takes for a bus load of people to get through two immigration points), and about BZ$3.00.

Map of Chetumal showing the locations of the bus terminals and the water taxi pier (click on image to enlarge)

4. Water Taxi Between Ambergris Caye and Chetumal

There are two water taxi companies providing service between San Pedro and Chetumal (see websites for schedules & fares):

a) San Pedro Water Jets International:
http://www.sanpedrowatertaxi.com/index.html

b) San Pedro – Belize Express:
http://www.belizewatertaxi.com/

Trip time: 90 minutes.

Both services have same day connecting water taxis between San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

In Chetumal, water taxis use the main pier, “Muelle Fiscal”, which is close to the big Government building, “Palacio Gobierno”, at the waterfront. Check the map of Chetumal above for the locations of the ADO bus terminal and the pier. The pier is also visible on Google Earth.

If arriving in Chetumal at the ADO bus terminal, there is a little booth inside the terminal where you can get water taxi information. There is (or at least there once was) a water taxi sign and a person who speaks English. You could probably buy a ticket there, but you might get pushed into an overpriced taxi. I’d just go outside to get a taxi, and buy a ticket at the pier.

It’s about 3.5 km from the ADO terminal to the pier. A taxi should take about 10 minutes, and cost MX$15 (that’s pesos). The taxi driver might not know about the water taxi, but he/she will know the pier. Write it down if you can’t pronounce it.

(updated: 24 November 2011)

Entrance to the Pier in Chetumal (click on image to enlarge)

Water Taxi Offices beside the entrance to the pier (click on image to enlarge)

5. Flight Between Cancun and Belize

For several months in 2010 and 2011, Maya Regional / Maya Island Air had flights between the international airport in Belize City (PGIA) and Cancun airport. Currently, the route has either been temporarily suspended or discontinued completely. Check the website for updates: http://www.mayaregional.com/home

6. Renting a Car in Mexico and Driving to Belize

I have no personal experience with this, but here are the names of two car rental companies that allow vehicles into Belize:

a) Cancun Rent a Car: http://www.cancunrentacar.com/

b) Europcar: http://www.europcar.com.mx/

In Chetumal, the Europcar Central office is located at or near Sam’s Club, and I think they have an office at the airport. They have one or two cars that are allowed into Belize.

In Belize, you must have insurance. Insurance can be purchased at the border.

Here’s a link that should be helpful for anyone driving a rental car from Mexico to Belize:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1865946&tstart=0

7. Chetumal Bus or Taxi then Belizean Bus or Taxi

It is possible to get to the border with a Chetumal bus or taxi. The bus fare is about MX$10, and terminates at the border control point. A taxi from Chetumal city to the border takes about 15 minutes and costs MX$60 or MX$70. Depending on the driver, the taxi might not continue across the bridge, or it might proceed across the bridge and continue to the Belizean customs/immigration building. Wherever it stops, it should be easy to find a Belizean bus/minibus or Belizean taxi to continue to Corozal. The bus fare is BZ$1 or $2, and the taxi fare is BZ$25 (but possible to negotiate a lower fare).

Chetumal City Bus -- this one goes to Calderitas (click on image to enlarge)

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8. CROSSING THE BORDER FROM CHETUMAL TO COROZAL AND BACK

2009/03/22

Update: On 1 May 2010, Mexico’s National Immigration Institute implemented some changes to its immigration procedures. The FMT entry form for tourists was replaced by a new form called Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM).

Visitors entering Mexico by air should be issued (on the plane) with a form called Forma Migratoria Múltiple or FMM. Fill it out on the plane. If you don’t get a form on the plane, ask some questions. Visitors entering Mexico at a land border will receive a form and complete it at the border.

The FMM allows a maximum stay of 180 days, but it depends on the type of travel, i.e. tourist, transit, work, business, student, etc. When you go through immigration at the airport, the immigration officer will write in the actual number of days you can stay depending on which box was checked in the Type of Travel (Tipo de viaje) section (on the left side of the form). If the Tourist (Turismo) box is checked, you should get 180 days. If the Transit (Tránsito) box is checked, you might get only 30 days. Immigration will keep the left-side part of the FMM form, and you keep the right-side part with your passport.

Front & back of the FMM (click on image to enlarge)

Front & back of the right side (visitor's part) of the FMM (click on image to enlarge)

There is usually a fee for the FMM. When arriving by air, the fee is usually included in the cost of the airline ticket, so there is nothing to pay on arrival in Mexico and nothing to pay later at a bank. When arriving at a land border, the fee is not paid at the border, but paid at a bank before departing Mexico. The immigration officer will attach another piece of paper showing the amount to be paid (currently MX$262). The bank will give a receipt which should be kept with the FMM. There is one situation where the fee is not paid – that’s if the visit is 7 days or less and the visitor returns to the country of origin. The fee is always paid if the visitor is transiting through Mexico between two other countries; it doesn’t matter how long the visitor stays in Mexico.

When you leave Mexico by bus, the bus will stop at a small immigration booth just before crossing the bridge to Belize. Passengers get off, without luggage, and present their passports with FMM and receipt to the immigration officer. Whenever I have crossed, he has always asked (in Spanish) for MX$100 (that’s pesos) or US$10. I have heard that since January 2010, he has been asking for US$20 from all bus passengers.

Beware! This is a scam. Your passport might get stamped, but there is nothing to pay if the FMM fee has already been paid. THERE IS NO EXIT FEE.

Here are two recent threads on the Lonely Planet forum about the Mexican Exit Fee scam at the Belize border:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?newPost=true&messageID=17230928&#17230928

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1923025

If you are not going to return to Mexico within the amount of time allowed on the FMM, then just hand over your part of the FMM form. You might need to say, “No regresso” (“no return”). If you re-enter Mexico later, you will have to pay for a new FMM.

With the previous FMT form, I once received a doble entrada (double entry) stamp on my part of the form after paying MX$100, but I learned later that there should be no fee for the doble entrada stamp. The stamped form was kept with my passport and allowed me to re-enter Mexico within the 180 day period without paying any more fees. I have been informed by the Mexican Embassy that the FMM is a one-use only form, and double entry is not allowed. However, in July 2010, I heard that a person crossing from Chetumal to Corozal received the doble entrada stamp after paying US$20, and had no problems re-entering Mexico with the stamped form. In November 2010, another visitor who used a taxi to get to the border reported that he handed in the FMM, there was no request for money, and his passport was not stamped.

Passengers re-board the bus, proceed across the bridge over the Hondo River and stop at Belize Customs & Immigration. Passengers (with their luggage this time) go into the immigration building. For citizens of Canada, USA and many other countries, there are no visas or fees required when entering Belize. You will get a stamp in your passport allowing a stay of 30 days. Citizens of some countries require a visa which must be obtained before entering Belize. After completing immigration and customs, re-board the bus.

If you want to stay in Belize longer than 30 days, go to the nearest immigration office and ask for an extension. Your passport will be stamped again, allowing a stay of 30 days. There is a fee for the extensions; I think it’s BZ$50 (US$25) for the first 6 months, and BZ$100 thereafter. After 12 months, you may be asked to leave the country, or you might be asked if you intend to apply for permanent residency.

These sites explain entry requirements for Belize; the first one has links to a site listing which countries require or don’t require visas:

http://www.travelbelize.org/plan-your-visit/getting-here/entry-requirements-2.html

http://www.belizetraveltrade.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=187

CROSSING THE BORDER FROM COROZAL TO CHETUMAL

When you leave Belize by bus, the first stop will be at Belize Immigration. Passengers, without luggage, get off the bus, enter the building and present their passports to Belize Immigration. For tourists who have been in Belize for more than 24 hours, there is a fee of BZ$37.50 (US$18.75), payable in BZ$ or US$.

These sites explain departure fees for Belize:

http://www.bmabz.com/

http://www.travelbelize.org/plan-your-visit/getting-to-here/visitor-fees.html

Passengers re-board the bus, proceed across the bridge over the Hondo River and stop at Mexican Immigration where they get off the bus with their luggage. If the bus is scheduled to continue to Chetumal, it will park about 50 to 100 metres further up the road, or maybe on a side street, and wait for passengers to complete immigration & customs. If in doubt, speak to the driver when you get off the bus.

Passengers go into the immigration building, get an FMM, complete it and then present the completed form with passport to an immigration officer. After your documents are returned, walk out of the immigration building, walk ahead and go through customs. Re-board the bus. The fee for the FMM must be paid at a bank before you leave Mexico. Visitors in transit can pay at Cancun airport.

Anyone re-entering Mexico with an FMM stamped “doble entrada” can bypass immigration and just proceed through the border control (customs). With a doble entrada, there are no fees to pay at the border or later at a bank.

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9. TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN BELIZE AND GUATEMALA

2009/03/22

1. Fuente del Norte, Linea Dorada, and San Juan Travel Services (Guatemalan companies) provide Express bus service between Flores and Belize City. In Belize City, buses arrive at and depart from the Marine Terminal on North Front Street near the Swing Bridge, and are not scheduled to stop anywhere else in Belize. Buses operate on Sundays and public holidays. Not all buses are air-conditioned. The agent in Belize City for these bus lines is Mundo Maya Travel located at the Brown Sugar Market Place on North Front Street, Belize City. Phone: (501) 223 1200 / 663 5957.
Email: mundomayatravels@yahoo.com

Linea Dorada: http://lineadorada.info/

Flores to Belize City (235 km / 146 miles / about 4 to 5 hours)
Fuente del Norte departs daily at 5:00 am; US$25.00
San Juan Bus departs daily at 5:00 am; US$ 25.00
Linea Dorada departs daily at 7:00 am*; US$ 25.00
* Departure of the Linea Dorada bus is sometimes delayed because it waits for a connecting bus from Guatemala City.

Belize City to Flores (235 km / 146 miles / about 4 to 5 hours)
Fuente del Norte departs daily at 9:30 am; US$25.00
Linea Dorada departs daily at 1:00 pm; US$ 25.00
San Juan Bus departs daily at 2:30 pm; US$ 25.00

This is the schedule from the agent, but there is another San Juan bus that departs from Chetumal at 7 am, goes to Belize City then to Guatemala.

(updated: 24 November 2011)

2. Regular Bus to Guatemala

Get a bus to Benque Viejo del Carmen, the last town before the border. Most of the westbound buses from the Belize City bus terminal will go to Belmopan, San Ignacio and terminate at Benque. You can board a Regular bus anywhere along the route; the final destination of BENQUE will be displayed in the front window of the bus. See Section 3 “Western Zone – Belize City to Benque Viejo Del Carmen” for more details.

The Regular buses don’t go all the way to the border, so it’s necessary to take a taxi (shouldn’t be more than BZ$10) or mini-bus/colectivo (shouldn’t be more than BZ$2) for the remaining 2 km.

Proceed through Belize Immigration. For visitors who have been in Belize for more than 24 hours, there is a fee of BZ$37.50 (US$18.75), payable in BZ$ or US$. Cross the border, proceed through Guatemala Customs & Immigration, and get a bus or taxi to your destination. Regarding an entry fee, I’ve heard various reports that there is a fee of 20 quetzals, 10 quetzals, and no fee.

The return trip is similar, and there is no exit fee for Guatemala and no entry fee for Belize. After Customs & Immigration, get to Benque where you can get a bus to San Ignacio, Belmopan or Belize City.

3. Rental Car

I have no personal experience with this, but some car rental companies allow vehicles into Guatemala. Try Crystal Rentals or Thrifty.

4. Flights Between Belize City and Guatemala

Tropic Air has daily flights between Belize City International (PGIA) and Flores. There is a connecting flight to Guatemala City with Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG). Check the website for schedules and fares:

http://www.tropicair.com/index.cfm

5. Water Taxis Between Punta Gorda and Puerto Barrios

Requeña’s Charter Service & Watertaxi operates a watertaxi, “Mariestela”, between Punta Gorda and Puerto Barrios.

Departs Punta Gorda daily at 9:00 am from the Municipal pier near the Customs & Immigration Office.

Departs Puerto Barrios daily at 2:00 pm from the pier near the Shell gas station.

Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours.

Cost: BZ$40.00 each way.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from Requeña’s office on Front Street (half a block north of the pier), or before departure from the Requena representative in front of the Customs/Immigration Office at the pier.

Contact: Requeña’s Charter Service & Watertaxi, 12 Front Street, Punta Gorda.

Tel: (501) 722-2070.

Email: watertaxi@btl.net

Website: http://www.belizenet.com/requena/

Other water taxis:
Pichilingo

Departs Puerto Barrios daily at 10:00 am.

Departs Punta Gorda daily at 2:00 pm.

Duration: 1 hour.

Cost: BZ$50.00 each way (plus any exit fees).

Marisol

Departs Puerto Barrios daily at 1:00 pm.

Departs Punta Gorda daily at 4:00 pm.

Duration: 1 hour.

Cost: BZ$50.00 each way (plus any exit fees).

(as at February 2009)

Here’s a site with more information about water taxis from Punta Gorda and Livingston:

https://www.hickatee.com/punta-gorda-water-taxi.html

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10. TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN BELIZE & HONDURAS

2009/03/22

1. Water Taxi Between Belize City and Honduras

I have no information about this service except what’s on the website.
http://www.prideofbelize.com/

2. Water Taxi Between Dangriga and Puerto Cortes

The “Nesymein Neydy” departs from Dangriga on Fridays. Passengers should be at the dock at 9:00 a.m. for immigration processing. The boat departs at 11:00 am and arrives at Puerto Cortes about 1:30 pm.

Return trip: Departs from Puerto Cortes on Mondays; check in at 9:00 a.m.

Cost: US$60.00 / BZ$120.00 / HNL1100.00 each way (plus any exit fees).

Information from Mundo Maya Travel, located at the Brown Sugar Market Place on North Front Street, Belize City.

Phone: (501) 223 1200 / 663 5957

Telephone numbers for the captain of the Nesymein Neydy Water Taxi: (501) 522 0062, (501) 604 4738, (501) 605 7336.

Check the website for updates and information about charters:
http://www.belizetohonduraswatertaxi.com/

(updated: 10 January 2012)

3. Water Taxi Between from Placencia and Puerto Cortes

The “D-Express” departs from the dock by the Shell gas station on Fridays at 9:00 am. There is a stop at Big Creek. Departure from Big Creek at 11:00 am. Arrives at Puerto Cortes, Honduras about 2:00 p.m.

Cost: BZ$110.00 (US$60.00) plus any exit fees.

Return trip: Departs Puerto Cortes, Honduras on Mondays at 11:00 am, but be early for immigration processing. Arrives at Placencia about 2 pm. Cost: 1000 lempiras (US$60.00) plus any exit fees.

Tickets available at the Placencia Tourism Center. Tel: 202-4506 or 523-4045. Email: placencia@btl.net

Check the website for updates and information about charters:
http://www.belizeferry.com

4. Express Bus

1. Transportes Manabre Bus

Departs from front of Caye Caulker water Taxi Terminal, North Front Street, Belize City on Saturdays at 5:45 am.

Departs from the Belize Embassy in San Pedro Sula on Tuesdays at 7:00 am.

Duration: 12 hours.
Cost: US$70.00 one way.
Tickets must be purchased from Mundo Maya Travel.

2. Fuente del Norte Bus from Flores

Departs Flores daily at 6:00 am.

Cost: US$42.00
Duration: 8 hours

Information from Mundo Maya Travel, located at the Brown Sugar Market Place on North Front Street, Belize City.
Phone: (501) 223 1200 / 663 5957
Email: mundomayatravels@yahoo.com

(updated: 24 November 2011)

5. Flights

Check TACA Airlines:
http://www.taca.com

Also check Maya Regional / Maya Island Air. They had this flight in 2010/2011, but currently either suspended or no longer offered.
http://www.mayaregional.com/

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11. EXPRESS BUS TO SAN SALVADOR

2009/03/22

1. Emars Bus departs Belize City at 5:00 am (not sure if that’s daily).

Cost: US$70.00 each way.

Duration: 12 hours.

Tickets must be purchased from Mundo Maya Travel.

2. Fuente del Norte bus departs Flores at 6:00 am.

Cost: US$42.00

Duration: 8 hours.

Information from Mundo Maya Travel, located at the Brown Sugar Market Place on North Front Street, Belize City.

Phone: (501) 223 1200 / 663 5957

Email: mundomayatravels@yahoo.com

(updated: 24 November 2011)

Here’s some information from the LP forum:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?newPost=true&messageID=18586785&#18586785

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12. DISTANCES

2009/03/22

Distances by road:

Along the Northern Highway:

Belize City to Maskall Village: 63 km / 39 miles

Belize City to Orange Walk Town: 87 km / 54 miles

Belize City to Corozal Town: 135 km / 84 miles

Belize City to Santa Elena, Corozal: 150 km / 93 miles

Belize City to Sarteneja: 177 km / 110 miles

Belize City to Chetumal, Mexico: 100 km / 161 miles

Along the Western Highway:

Belize City to Belize Zoo: 47 km / 29 miles

Belize City to Belmopan: 80 km / 50 miles

Belize City to San Ignacio: 117 km / 73 miles

Belize City to Benque Viejo del Carmen: 130 km / 81 miles

Belmopan to San Ignacio: 37 km / 23 miles

Belmopan to Benque Viejo del Carmen: 50 km / 31 miles

Belmopan to Flores, Guatemala: 235 km / 146 miles

Belmopan to Dangriga: 89 km / 55 miles

Dangriga to Placencia: 89 km / 55 miles

Dangriga to Punta Gorda: 172 km / 107 miles

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13. MISCELLANEOUS

2009/03/22

Belize City

Public and Bank Holidays for Belize in 2012

Monday, January 2 – New Year’s Day (in lieu of January 1)
Monday, March 12 – National Heroes and Benefactors Day (in lieu of March 9; also known as Baron Bliss Day)
Friday, April 6 – Good Friday
Saturday, April 7 – Holy Saturday
Sunday, April 8 – Easter Sunday
Monday, April 9 – Easter Monday
Tuesday, May 1 – Labour Day
Monday, May 21 – Sovereign’s Day (in lieu of May 24; also known as Commonwealth Day)
Monday, September 10 – St. George’s Caye Day
Friday, September 21 – Independence Day
Monday, October 15 – Pan American Day (in lieu of October 12)
Monday, November 19 – Garifuna Settlement Day
Tuesday, December 25 – Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 26 – Boxing Day

Some holidays are observed on a different day than the date they actually fall on.