Transport in Belize

If you want to travel across the country, your best options are airplane and bus. The cost of petrol in Belize makes car travel slightly less appealing for long distances, though it is certainly an option - and a good one if you intend to go to any of the remote areas not accessible by bus. It is good to have a car, but you may not use it very often. A bicycle or golf cart is ideal for roaming around in the smaller villages and beach/island communities.

Obviously, if you are going out to an island, you will need to take a boat or aeroplane. Boats are widely available should you wish to purchase one, though many people import their motors, as they are far more expensive here. Water taxis are also common in all the coastal towns to get people across lagoons and rivers and out to the islands. The two airlines that operate in Belize fly to airstrips on several of the islands. Rates are rather affordable for most of these options, with the notable exception of buying or renting a car.

Travelling around Belize by plane

Belize has several airports, namely the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, which is located in Ladyville just north of Belize City. International flights into the international airport are through Delta, American, Avianca, Southwest, and United. There are smaller airstrips in several of the larger towns and islands. The ones in San Pedro, Belize City, Belmopan, Corozal, San Ignacio, Orange Walk, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, Dangriga, Placencia, Punta Gorda, and Big Creek are served by Tropic Air and/or Maya Island Air. They also fly to and from the international airport, and Tropic flies to a few international destinations in surrounding countries

Useful links:

American Airways www.aa.com
Tropic Air www.tropicair.com
Maya Island Air www.mayaislandair.com
Southwest Airlines www.southwest.com
Delta www.delta.com
United www.united.com
Avianca www.avianca.com

Travelling by bus

The bus is probably the most common means of transport in Belize. Many Belizeans can afford neither a car nor gas, which is almost always more than BZD9.00 per gallon. The bus is used for both daily commutes and bigger trips. Even people with cars regularly use the buses.

You can catch a bus nearly anywhere in Belize by standing on the side of the road and raising your hand as the bus drives toward you. Express buses only stop in larger villages and towns. Most of the buses are retired US school buses, though some of the express buses are more like Greyhound with tinted windows and air conditioning. The drivers drive very fast in some cases, and they tend to pack people on at times, sitting and standing. If you are claustrophobic or not a fan of curvy, hilly roads at high speed, you may want to skip the buses.

The good part is they are incredibly inexpensive and reliable. There is a general rule of three dollars per hour of travel, but that isn't always true, particularly in the south. Perhaps because the roads aren't as good, it is in the BZD6-9 per hour range. Even still, you can get from Punta Gorda to Belize City for BZD23. That's a bargain compared to the cost of gas. There are no tickets. You simply pay the conductor on the bus. Children are free, but you're expected to have them in your lap if the bus gets full. Fares are regulated by the government, so there's no real reason to fear being cheated. They are almost always on time, so don't expect 'Belize time' to apply.

There are links provided to a few bus schedule sites, but be aware that slight time changes happen periodically that are not updated online. Bus companies also come and go like the breeze, so be flexible. Holiday schedules are rarely announced. You can always call if you're on a time schedule.

Useful links:

James Bus Line jamesbusline.com
The Bus Schedule belizebus.wordpress.com/2017/01/14/updates
Belmopan Online https://www.belmopanonline.com/Portals/0/bus-schedules/Bus-Schedule-East-South.pdf?ver=2016-07-22-110059-760

Boat

If you wish to travel to nearby islands, you can take water taxis. Water taxis are small motor boats which can transport up to 40 passengers at a time. The most well known and used water taxis travel between Belize City and San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, and Chetumal, but there are several others worthy of noting.

Water taxis go from Dangriga to a number of the islands off the coast there. Ask a taxi driver, at the airstrip, or at the bus terminal. There is a water taxi between Placencia and Independence/Mango Creek called Hokey Pokey. It is a lifeblood for Placencia's https://www.expat.community and also anyone using the James Bus Line. There are several water taxis from Punta Gorda to Guatemala and Honduras. The sea can be rough in that area. You have been warned. There is a sign by the immigration building in Punta Gorda with the most up to date schedule. Check the sites for fares. They vary. Unlike the buses, kids pay half.

Aside from the listed sites, private charters are always available. Purchasing a boat is also relatively easy. They are abundant along the coast. Ask a Belizean friend to help you negotiate a better price.

Useful links:

Belize Water Taxi www.belizewatertaxi.com
Ocean Ferry http://www.oceanferrybelize.com/
Hokey Pokey http://hokeypokey.aguallos.com/
Requena's in Punta Gorda http://www.puntagordabelize.com/pg/requena/index.htm

Driving around Belize

Renting a car will allow you to travel anywhere at any time you wish. There are a number of amazing places where buses simply do not go. However, you must have a valid driver's license and be at least 25 years old. You must also have a credit card which you will use to pay your bill. Rental fees are quite high in Belize. You will have to pay an average of BZD100 - 140 per day or BZD700 -1100 per week plus fuel. You will be required to take out damage insurance which you may have to produce at police checkpoints. Golf carts and scooters are also available to rent throughout Belize and are very common on the islands and in the beach towns.

Purchasing a vehicle, golf cart, or scooter is quite simple. It is often word of mouth, so ask around. There are also several buy and sell sites on Facebook. Be aware that vehicles are rather more expensive here. Import duties are in the 40% - 50% range, so expect to pay that additional cost whether you import your vehicle or purchase one here.

Good to know:

You are not allowed to travel outside of Belize with a rented car. Many rental companies do not allow you to take their cars on Belize's numerous unpaved roads. If you're planning to go on one of the fine, gravel roads, it's best to check in with the company first.

Belize is known for speed bumps. Some of them are downright treacherous. Most, but not all, of them are accompanied by signs. Here is a helpful sign interpretation. 'Bumps' are small metal bumps. Some suggest that taking these at full speed. Some of them are more bumpy than others. It's probably best to slow dow until you know them well. These are generally to alert you that you are coming to an intersection or village. 'Bump' (no 's') is a larger bump designed to slow you down. 'Pedestrian Ramp' is a car killer. You must come almost to a complete stop. Do not underestimate the Pedestrian Ramp.

Useful links:

Rental Car Group belize.rentalcargroup.com
Belize Auto Rental www.belizeautorental.com
Jabiru Auto Rental www.jabiruautorental.bz

Cycling in Belize

You can buy or rent a bike if you want to go cycling in cities or in the countryside. You can find bike rental shops in almost all Belizean cities. Fees are around BZD20 per day.