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)
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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.
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3. Rental Car
I have no personal experience with this, but some car rental companies allow vehicles into Guatemala. Try Crystal Rentals or Thrifty.
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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/
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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/
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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).
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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:
2012/01/03 at 20:59 |
My husband and I are wanting to take a bus from Belize City to Tikal, or as close as we can get to it on a bus. I know one option is to take a bus to Belque and then get a taxi to the border and a shuttle to Tikal. Another option is to take a bus to Flores and take a shuttle from there. What I am wondering is if we were to take an express bus to Flores what happens at the border? Do we still get out of the bus and walk through customs? If this is the case could we just take our luggage off with us and get a shuttle from there?
Thanks so much,
Amanda
2012/01/04 at 13:57 |
If you get one of the express buses from Belize City, it will first stop at Belize Immigration.
Passengers get off the bus without luggage, go through immigration (pay your departure fees) and get back on the bus.
Then the bus will cross the border and stop at Guatemalan Immigration & Customs.
Passengers get off the bus with luggage and do the formalities.
Then get back on the bus and continue to Flores.
2012/12/05 at 09:37 |
Hi, I am a US citizen. I will be in Puerto Barrios and wish to take a ferry to Punta Gorda on a Saturday or Sunday. Will Customs and Immigration be open? I’ve read that they are only open Monday – Friday.
2012/12/05 at 10:19 |
Yes, an officer will be there to meet the boat.