Please independently verify all travel information as it is subject to change.
Please consider travel insurance for your trip.
Getting to Belize: The country’s only international airport is Belize City International (BZE). International carriers serving Belize City are:
Air Canada (seasonal)
Alaska Air
American Airlines
Copa Airlines
Delta Airlines
Jet Blue (starts Dec 2023)
Southwest Airlines
Sun Country Air (seasonal)
Tag Airlines
United Airlines
WestJet (seasonal)
Some also consider getting to Belize via Cancun, Mexico (& April 2024 Tulum!). Tropic Air flies from Cancun to Belize City or if you have more time and would like to travel more economically, ADO bus service from Cancun comes recommended (service all the way to Belize City resumed July 2023). There is more information on getting to/from Belize via Cancun here.
BEFORE YOU GO
•Please check with your physician and the health authorities, such as the CDC, for recommended vaccinations & health precautions.
•Make sure you have the necessary paperwork & documents to enter Belize! For example: children traveling with one parent require a notarized letter of authority from the other parent indicating travel consent; your passport should be valid for at least 30 days (or 6 months if you have ongoing travel plans) beyond the date of your departure from Belize — details here. Please contact the Belize Tourism Board or your local Belize consulate for specifics and if questions.
GETTING BETWEEN MAINLAND BELIZE AND SAN PEDRO, AMBERGRIS CAYE:
To/from Belize City International Airport (BZE): You’ll want to leave an hour to clear immigration & customs (sometimes it’s faster; on busy days, such as weekends in Dec/Jan/Feb especially, it can be longer). For your return, a 3 hour window at BZE is requested when connecting to your international flight; in practice this is more time than you will need as BZE is a small airport, but it’s better to be early rather than late!
By air: This is the fastest & most comfortable route (plus you’ll have gorgeous views!); both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air serve San Pedro airport from Belize City & other mainland locations.
Tropic Air is the larger airline & has more routes. We would be happy to book your standard fare Tropic flights for you and you would pay for your flight on the day you check in (therefore no cancellation penalties should your plans change). Standard roundtrip fare between BZE & San Pedro is US$173.25; one way is US$98.75. [Note: flights departing BZE 6 pm or later will have higher fares.]
Insider’s tip!! If the co-pilot seat is empty when you board your island hopper plane, ask if you can sit there!
NOTE that both Tropic Air & Maya Island Air often have discounted fares; however, you would need to book & pay for the flights yourself and you would be subject to their cancellation policies. If you are booking flights yourself, be aware there are two Belize City airports — Municipal (TZA) & International (BZE). When connecting to/from your international flights, you want your connection to be via BZE; but if you will be on the mainland for some time before or after San Pedro, you can easily fly to or from TZA which is less expensive.
By private water taxi from Belize City: The next fastest & most comfortable way to travel is via chartered boat; Belize Private Express water taxi service picks you up at Belize City International (BZE) airport on your arrival & takes you to their boat in nearby Ladyville (~10 minutes), where you’d board the private vessel & be taken directly to your accommodations’ dock. On the return, they would pick you up at the same dock & do the reverse, boat you to Ladyville & then shuttle you to BZE. Please contact them directly for pricing (one way or round trip).
By scheduled water taxi from Belize City: Both San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter serve the Belize City/San Pedro route via a 90 minute trip including a stop en route at neighboring Caye Caulker. No advance booking needed. SP/Belize Express has bigger boats & more departures (including the latest at 5:30 pm); Caribbean Sprinter is a little less expensive. Popular blogger San Pedro Scoop has done a post describing the water taxi option here (though note that fares have changed).
The transport between BZE and the water taxi dock takes about 30 minutes. You can arrange private transport ahead of time with Tony Blair, or with a service such as Belize Paradise Shuttles or Belize Shuttle, or grab a cab (~US$30 for 1-2 people, with an additional US$5/person over two; usually 4 people maximum; cash only for cab fare). Belize Airport Shuttles is another option and offers shared services from BZE to Belize City (& San Ignacio) which may be especially helpful to smaller groups.
From Chetumal, Mexico, there is service with San Pedro Belize Express and Water Jets International. The daily trips take ~90 minutes, but also factor in immigration procedures (& entry/departure taxes) on either end of the trip.
Two water taxi companies connect San Pedro with Corozal, Belize (just across the border from Chetumal; contact Belize VIP Transfers if you would like help/private transportation crossing the border) and Sarteneja, Belize; please contact them to confirm current service & rates: Belize Sea Shuttle and Thunderbolt Water Taxi. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air serve San Pedro airport from Corozal.
This April 2023 Port Authority post outlines approved fares & schedules for all Belize scheduled water taxis.
Getting to your accommodations once in San Pedro: We would be happy to arrange for taxi service (pictured are Manolo & his son Alvin), to meet you on arrival in San Pedro and bring you to any of the accommodations (cash only, fares: Casa Coccoloba-US$10; El Estero, Sunset Beach & Miramar-US$15; Wilson Point & Casa Redonda-US$20; La Perla Azul-US$25). Up to 6 guests plus luggage fit in each taxi van! (Cab transport is recommended for getting between the airport/water taxi dock & your accommodations and having your golf cart delivered to/picked up from the house or condo as golf carts were not made for dealing with luggage! 🙂 )
Information on getting around the island is here.