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 Buses
Regular bus services connect all towns in Belize, but for
villages off the main highways you'll have to rely on slower local
services, often with just one bus a day and running Monday to
Saturday only. The majority of buses are second-class , but
on the main highways there are a few luxury express buses ,
which stop only in the towns, while regular buses will pick up and
drop off anywhere along the roadside. The Hummingbird and Southern
highways, to Dangriga, Placencia and Punta Gorda, are not quite so
well provided for, though there are at least a dozen daily buses to
Dangriga, two to Placencia and eight to Punta Gorda. On all of these
routes tickets can be bought in advance from the offices in Belize
City; pay the conductor if you get on along the route. Fares
are very reasonable (roughly US$3.50 from Belize City to the
Guatemalan border, US$6 to Chetumal and US$12 to Punta Gorda).
 Taxis
All taxis in Belize are licensed and easily identifiable by
their green number plates. They operate from special ranks in the
center of all mainland towns and, particularly in Belize City,
drivers will call out to anyone they suspect is a foreigner. There
are no meters, so you'll need to establish the fare in advance,
though within the towns a US$2.50 fixed rate should apply.
Driving
and Hitching
Driving
in Belize is subject to the same limitations as bus travel. The
Northern, Western and Hummingbird highways offer easy motoring and
smooth roads, as does much of the Southern Highway, but off these
highways roads can be rough. If you want to head off the beaten
track you'll need high clearance and 4WD. Unleaded petrol is
easily available, but expensive at US$3.15 per gallon. Insurance
(around US$7-10 a day for your own car) is available from an agent
just inside either of the land border crossings or in Belize City.
Under Belize's seatbelt law you'll be fined US$12.50 for not
belting up.
All
the main car rental companies offer cars, Jeeps and 4WDs for
between US$75 and US$125 a day, plus up to US$15 per day for
insurance. You'll usually have to be over 25 and will need to leave
either a credit card, travelers' cheques or a large cash deposit.
Many outfits do not offer comprehensive insurance, so the renter is
likely to be held liable for any damage to the vehicle, however
caused. Note that some companies consider driving a car on minor
dirt roads (especially in the south) to be taking the vehicle
"off-road", which may invalidate your insurance. Check carefully
before signing anything.
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 Belize
travel guide
Caribbean
guide
In
the more remote parts of Belize the bus service will probably only
operate once a day, if at all, and unless you have your own
transport, hitching is the only option. The main drawback is
the shortage of traffic, but if cars or, more likely, pick-up
trucks, do pass they'll usually offer you a lift, though you may be
expected to offer the driver some money.
 Cycling
Seeing Belize from a bike is fairly straightforward and
you'll find repair shops in all the towns. Bikes are increasingly
available for rent, especially in San Ignacio and Placencia.
Few Belizean buses have the roof racks that are such a familiar
sight in Guatemala; if there's room, the driver might let you
take your bike onto the bus.
 Boats
Most boats you're likely to use will be fast skiffs,
usually open boats with two powerful outboard motors (though some
are covered, it's advisable to carry a light raincoat just in case).
Carrying about 25 passengers, skiffs run from Belize City and
mainland destinations out to the cayes , and also cover
international routes from Punta Gorda to Puerto Barrios and
Livingston in Guatemala and from Belize City, Dangriga and Placencia
to Puerto Cortés in Honduras - times and destinations are covered in
the text. Services are fast, reliable and safe; all registered boats
should carry lifejackets and most also carry marine radios. It's
worth buying your ticket the day before for early departures from
the cayes and on international services if you want to be sure of a
place, though there's usually plenty of room.
 Planes
Maya Island Air (phone 223-1140) and Tropic Air (phone 223-4851) offer a
scheduled service from Belize international airport and Belize
City's municipal airport to all the country's main towns (except
Belmopan and San Ignacio) and out to San Pedro and Caye Caulker;
there are also several charter airlines.
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A flight from
Belize City Municipal Airport to San Pedro or Caye Caulker costs
around US$27; to Punta Gorda, US$79; flights from the International
Airport to all destinations are US$15 more. The domestic airlines
also have several daily flights to Flores in Guatemala (for
Tikal) and there are daily departures to regional destinations such
as Guatemala City, San Salvador, San Pedro Sula and Roatán
in the Bay Islands, Honduras, although currently there are no
scheduled flights to Mexico.
Belize
Belize City
Where to go
When to go
Getting around
Costs, money, banks
Currency, exchange
 Eating
and drinking
Mail &
communications
Safety and the police
Work and study
Information
The media
Holidays
and festivals
Shopping,
souvenirs
Belize city
Arrival and information
Restaurants
Nightlife,
entertainment
Tours,
buses
Listings
Travel details
Explore Belize City
North side
South side
Cayo and the west
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Belize city
to San
Ignacio
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Belize zoo
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Belmopan
Practicalities
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Guanacaste
Park
Benque Viejo del Carmen
Caracol Ruins
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
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San Antonio
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San Ignacio
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Arrival
Restaurants
Kayaking,canoeing
Xunantunich, San Jose
Corozal, Orange Walk
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Travel details |
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