From Philip Goldson into the country
Most arrivals never see Belize City - they get on a small plane or a boat to the cayes the same afternoon.
The airport
- Philip Goldson International (BZE) is about 15 km from Belize City, which is itself not where most visitors are going.
- Taxis are fixed-price and green-plated. Agree the fare before getting in; there are no meters in Belize.
- There is no airport bus. The public bus runs from the highway junction, which is a walk with luggage and not the sensible first move.
Where people actually go
- Straight onto a domestic flight. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air fly tiny planes from the international airport to San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and Punta Gorda. The San Pedro hop takes about 15 minutes and is the standard onward move.
- Or by boat. The water taxi to Caye Caulker and San Pedro leaves from Belize City, which means a taxi into town first. Boats stop in the late afternoon - a late arrival means either flying or a night on the mainland.
- Check the last boat before booking a late flight in. This is the single most common Belize planning mistake.
Belize City itself
- The FCDO puts gang violence in Belize City, particularly south of Haulover Creek - the Southside. Tourists are not usually targeted but bystanders are a risk.
- Most itineraries pass through it for an hour on the way to the water taxi terminal, and that is fine in daylight with a taxi.
Overland
- The Guatemala border at Melchor de Mencos is about two hours from Belize City and an hour from San Ignacio - the standard route to Tikal.
- The Mexico border at Corozal/Chetumal is the northern exit.
- Remember the BZ$40 departure tax in cash at both.
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