Complete Guide to Transportation in Belize: Water Taxis, Domestic Small Planes, and Inland Connections
Belize has no railways. Islands are accessed by boat or 15-minute small planes, while inland areas rely on 4x4 vehicles and ferries — this guide covers all transportation options in detail.
Arrival and Getting into Town
| Hub | Transport Options | Time/Price |
|---|
| Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) | Taxi / Airport Shuttle | About 30 minutes to Belize City, 25–50 USD |
| Belize City Dock | Walking / Taxi | 10–20 USD to downtown |
Upon departure, an exit and environmental fee of around 40 USD (around 20 USD for land exit) is required at the airport. Please carry cash in USD.
Getting to the Islands
- Water Taxis: San Pedro Water Taxi and Ocean Ferry operate between Belize City Dock and Ambergris Caye, taking about 1.5 hours. One-way fare is 15–20 USD with frequent daytime departures. You can take a second boat to reach Caye Caulker.
- Domestic Small Planes: Tropic Air and Maya Island Air connect Belize City to San Pedro in just about 15 minutes. One-way fare is around 90–120 USD, ideal for those in a hurry. Luggage is limited to 50 pounds.
Inland Transportation
- Renting a 4x4 or Booking a Private Transfer: Mayan ruins and waterfalls in the Cayo District are spread out, and mountain roads can be muddy after rain. Renting a 4x4 or joining a tour is recommended.
- Hand-Cranked Ferries: The ferry across the Macal River before San Ignacio is manually operated via a steel cable to carry vehicles across the river. It’s part of the attraction.
- Long-Distance Buses: The bus from Belize City to San Ignacio takes about 2 hours. It’s cheap but slow. Northern line buses can connect to Chetumal, Mexico, where you can transfer to an ADO bus to Cancún.
- Travel Agency Day Tours: Day trips to Caye Caulker, ATM Cave, and Tikal (cross-border) all include pickup and drop-off. Most tours to San Ignacio are readily available.
Tips
- Water taxis stop running early in the evening. If you arrive late, book a small plane or plan for the next day’s boat.
- For Tikal day trips, bring your passport and allow time for border checks. Sunday queues are typically shorter.
- Google Maps works for inland navigation, but signal may be weak on the final dirt road sections to the ruins. Download maps offline.
Cross-Border by Land
Belize has no railways. There are only two main overland routes out of the country: the northern route via Chetumal, transferring to an ADO bus to Cancún, which takes about 4–5 hours, and the western route via the Melchor de Mencos border crossing to Flores and Tikal in Guatemala. Both borders charge a small exit fee and may ask to see your return flight ticket. Cross-border buses have limited schedules and mostly run during the day. Depart in the morning, bring your original passport, and during peak season, expect long queues. Those with tight connections should allow the entire day for crossing.