Arrival Belize
Airplane: there is no national airline in Belize. American Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines and the Central American Grupo TACA fly direct from the USA; Grupo TACA also flies to Belize from San Salvador (El Salvador).
Maya Island Air and Tropic Air each offered flights between Belize City and Flores (Guatemala) twice a day, due to new safety regulations, both lines had to discontinue their flights to Flores. Flights are expected to resume when the airlines meet the new safety standards.
From Europe you have to fly to Belize via the USA. There are direct flights from the USA to Belize from Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Miami and Houston.
Airports: Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) is located approximately 10 miles northwest of Belize City. All international flights land here. Airport buses run into town, as do taxis. If you are taking a taxi, however, you should negotiate the prices in advance. Note that Belize’s official capital, Belmopan, is 84 km from Belize City.
Ship : The most important ports in the country are Belize City, Dangriga, Corozal, San Pedro and Punta Gorda.
According to computergees, the international ship connections to Belize run between Puerto Cortes (Honduras) and Placencia and Dangriga (once a week, travel time between three and four hours), between Puerto Barrios (Guatemala) and Punta Gorda (daily, travel time one hour) and between Livingston (Guatemala) and Punta Gorda (twice a week, travel time one hour).
Annually bring cruise shipsmore than 600,000 tourists to Belize City. Most cruise ship passengers, however, stay in the country for less than a day, making it difficult for them to get to know Belize properly. In addition, such high numbers of visitors can cause environmental damage (damage to the coral reefs, overloading of the rainforest trails by day-trippers). Belize’s infrastructure is also not designed for such high numbers of visitors. The country’s tourism industry sees the danger that numerous environmentally conscious travelers (who usually spend a lot of time in Belize and of course also leave money in the country) no longer come if they expect to spend their trips with shiploads of day-trippers. Cruise tourism has the potential to damage Belize’s image as a world-conscious country.
Car: There are two official crossings on the border with Mexico. The border crossing between Subteniente López and Santa Elena (14 km from Corozal-City in Belize and 11 km from Chetumal in Mexico) is used most often. The other crossing is between La Union and Blue Creek, 33 miles southwest of Orange Walk Town.
The only border crossing between Belize and Guatemala is 2 kilometers west of Benque Viejo del Carmen. The town of Melchor de Mencos is on the Guatemalan side of the border.
In order to be able to import a vehicle into Belize, you have to obtain an importation permit at the border. This allows the vehicle to be moved in Belize within the valid time period. In order to get the approval, you have to prove that you are the owner of the vehicle (vehicle registration) and that you take out motor vehicle liability insurance (this costs a few US dollars per day and is offered by insurance agents at the borders. Extensions are provided by the customs authorities (Customs Department) in Belize City. Mexican and Guatemalan car rental companies do not normally allow vehicles to enter Belize, but if they do, you will need to show rental documents at the border.
Since it is relatively expensive to rent a car in Belize, it is not uncommon to see cars with US license plates in the country. It is relatively easy to travel to Belize from the USA through Mexico. The shortest route through Mexico to the border between Chetumal and Corozal is from the US-Mexican border Brownsville / Matamoros (about 2000 km) or McAllen / Reynosa (2020 km), the journey time is about three days each.
At the Mexican border you have to acquire a temporary import permit for your vehicle, the necessary documents are vehicle registration and driver’s license. You must also take out Mexican car insurance at the border.
Buses : For cross-border bus trips, passengers must bring their luggage to the customs and immigration offices and have them checked there.
From Chetumal (Mexico) buses run once or twice an hour to Corozal Town (travel time one hour), Orange Walk Town (two hours) and Belize City (four hours).
The companies Linea Dorada and San Juan Travel operate bus connections between Chetumal, Corozal and Flores (Guatemala), the journey time is between eight and nine hours. Local buses and minibuses run from Flores to Guatemala City and other destinations in Guatemala.
Belize – Entry and Visa Requirements
Passport:
is a general requirement for travel to Belize. The passport (or the temporary passport) must be valid for at least 6 months. An identity card is not sufficient to enter Belize. When entering Belize, proof of an onward or return ticket and sufficient financial resources (US $ 50 per day) must be provided.
Visa :
Citizens of EU countries (except Bulgaria and Romania) and Switzerland do not need a visa for tourist trips with a maximum stay of one month in Belize. British citizens do not need a visa for a stay of up to 6 months.
A permit must be applied for for stays in Belize between one and seven months (exceptions are British citizens, as described above). You can apply for this permit at the District Immigration Office. The cost is $ 25 per month.
Transit
Riron, those who would normally require a visa do not need a transit visa if they do not leave the transit area, fly on with the next connection and can present valid onward or return travel documents.
Period of validity :
a tourist visa is usually issued for a stay of 3 months, but this can be adjusted as required. The visa can be extended in Belize.
Entry with children :
For accompanying children, the same visa requirements apply as for their parents. Every child needs their own travel document.
Germany: the German child ID card or your own passport is accepted. Child ID cards are no longer issued in Germany, existing child ID cards remain valid until the expiry date.
Austria: Children need their own passport.
Switzerland: Children need their own passport.
Sufficient funds:
Foreign visitors must have sufficient funds (US $ 50 per day) to travel. Note that Belize has an exit fee of US $ 37.50 (by air) and US $ 19 (overland).
Residence permit :
If longer stays (more than seven months) are planned in Belize, a permit must be applied for at the Immigration and Nationality Department (Belmopan, Belize).
Vaccinations:
You can find detailed information on recommended and required vaccinations for traveling in Belize in the chapter Belize – Health and Diseases.
