Social ConventionsBritish influence can still be seen in many social situations. Flowers or confectionary are acceptable gifts to give to hosts if invited to their home for a meal. Dress is casual, although beachwear should not be worn in towns. It may be inadvisable to discuss politics, particularly if of a partisan nature.
International Travel:Getting There by AirAmerican Airlines (website:
www.aa.com) flies from Miami to Belize City.
Continental Airlines (website:
www.continental.com) flies from Houston.
There are no direct flights from London to Belize; passengers can fly non-stop to Miami or Houston and join a connecting flight.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsThe
Philip S W Goldson International Airport (BZE) is 16km (10 miles) northwest of Belize City.
To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the city (journey time – 20 minutes); prices should be agreed with the driver beforehand. Taxi drivers are not tipped. There is an airport bus to the city center, but it runs infrequently and should not be relied upon (journey time – 30 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank, shops, restaurant and bar.
Note: Belmopan, the capital, is 84km (52 miles) from Belize City by road.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Belize City,
Corozal,
Dangriga,
Punta Gorda and
San Pedro. Belize City is the primary port of call for most cruise ship lines. Regular scheduled boats carry passengers ashore to taste a bit of Belize at the Fort Street Tourism Village.
There are regular water taxi services between Punta Gorda and Puerto Barrios, Guatemala and a direct twice-weekly service from Livingston. There is a US$3.75/BZ$7.50
departure tax for passengers leaving by sea, payable in US or BZ Dollars.
Getting There by RoadThere are road links with Chetumal on the Mexican border and Melchor de Mencos in Guatemala.
Regular scheduled
buses serve these routes, leaving every half hour or hour for Belize City. It is easy to enter Belize by bus from US border cities via Cancun, Mexico City and Chetumal.
Travelers entering Belize by
car from Mexico or Guatemala must obtain a temporary importation permit at the border, valid for one month; drivers need to show all travel documents, insurance papers and proof of car ownership or rental documents.
Visitors leaving Belize by road must pay a US$18.75/BZ$37.50 land
departure tax, payable in either currency.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into Belize without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
1l of wine or spirits;
BZ$200 of gifts or goods for personal use.
The following items may not be exported from Belize: pre-Columbian articles, marine products, unprocessed coral or turtle shells.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirLocal airlines connect Belize City with the main towns and cayes. Flights leave from both the international airport and the municipal airstrip. The main carriers are
Maya Island Air (website:
www.mayaislandair.com),
Tropic Air (website:
www.tropicair.com),
Caribee Air Service and
Javier's Flying Service.
Getting Around by WaterThere is a scheduled boat service from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, Caye Chapel and Caye Caulker. Boats also run from Corozal Town (near the Mexican border) to San Pedro.
Getting Around by RoadAll-weather roads link Belize's main towns, though torrential rain seasonally severs these links, particularly at ferry points. The Manatee Highway, running from the Western Highway to Dangriga, is unpaved and floods easily. The Southern Highway from Dangriga to Punta Gorda, the Northern Highway to Mexico and the Belize to Belmopan road are in generally good condition. However, road traffic accidents are still a common occurrence and local driving standards are poor. Traffic drives on the right.
Bus: There are inexpensive daily bus services to most towns and villages, and to the Mexican and Guatemalan borders. Travel is usually in hot and overcrowded old US school buses, though there are a few air-conditioned express services.
Car hire: Many international and local firms operate in Belize City as well as in Ladyville, Dangriga and San Ignacio. Visitors usually need to be 25 years old to hire a car. 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for excursions south of Belize City.
Regulations: The speed limit is 90kph (56mph) on highways and 40kph (25mph) on most other roads. Seatbelts are compulsory.
Documentation: A national driving license is acceptable for three months, after which an International Driving Permit is required.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Belize City to other major cities/towns in the country.
| Air | Road | Sea |
| Belmopan | 0.20 | 1.00 | - |
| Corozal Town | - | 2.00 | - |
| Punta Gorda | 0.55 | 4.00 | - |
| San Pedro, Ambergris | 0.15 | - | 1.30 |
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