11 ESSENTIAL Belize Travel Tips
You’ll need these tips for Belize before your trip! Don’t jet off too soon. I know you’re excited about the sand between your toes and exploring ancient ruins, but let’s go over a few things first!
Here’s everything you need to know before heading to Belize—including a few things I wish I knew before my visit (trigger warning for #5)!
Table of Contents
1. Know the Entry and Exit Requirements
Most travelers do not need a visa to enter Belize, so long as your trip is 30 days or shorter.
Belize requires visitors to pay a departure tax when leaving the country. Fees range between US$20-50. Check your airline ticket to see if this tax is included in your trip.
2. Remember the Exchange Rate
The exchange rate is straightforward to remember if you’re coming from the US. The Belizean Dollar and the USD are fixed currencies.
So, no matter what, every US dollar will equal almost 2 Belizean dollars. No need to whip out the calculator or guestimate how much you’re truly spending!
3. Pick the Right Time to Visit
For reference, I went in November! But here’s a quick overview of the different seasons to help you plan your visit:
- Dry Season (November to April): This is generally considered the best time to visit Belize. The weather is pleasant, with lower humidity and little rainfall. The temperatures are comfortable, ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-29°C). But this is the peak tourist season, so accommodations and activities may be pricier. This is the best time for diving or snorkeling.
- Green Season (May to October): Also known as the “rainy season.” While it does see more rainfall and higher humidity, it can still be a good time to visit if you want to take advantage of lower prices and fewer tourists. The rainforest is lush and vibrant during this time. Just be prepared for occasional heavy rain showers, especially in June and July. Keep in mind diving and snorkeling won’t be at their best, and boat rides could be unpleasant.
- Hurricane Season (June to November): Belize falls within the hurricane-prone area of the Caribbean, with the highest risk of hurricanes occurring between August and October.
4. Bring Some Cash to the Parks
Almost every national park or reserve will cost you about 10 Belizian dollars (US$5) to enter, and they will likely only accept cash.
They won’t have a nearby ATM, so seriously, don’t forget this!
5. The Bugs!
If you’re chasing waterfalls, heading into the jungle, or even just going for a beach stroll at sunset, you’ll need GOOD bug spray.
The bugs were pretty vicious, especially on our hikes, and I had bite marks for over a week. It’s not just mosquitos either, sand fly and botfly bites are brutal!
No, seriously, Garrett had to get LARVE removed from his leg after Belize. He got really bad botfly bites that left a larve worm in the bites. It went unknown for a week or two, and a doctor had to surgically cut them out of his leg. It was horrifying. Bring all the spray!
6. Sample the Local Cuisine
Belizean cuisine is highly influenced by its native roots and the natural resources available. This means your tastebuds will be in heaven for your trip.
Fresh seafood dishes like lobster and conch ceviche or the coconut fish stew (hudut) are must-tries, while meat lovers can indulge in classics like stewed chicken and conchita pibil – a slow-roasted pork dish served on fresh flour tortillas.
7. Tip Your Servers!
Tipping culture in Belize isn’t as hardcore as stateside, but it’s encouraged! Depending on the type of place you’re dining (or drinking), a tip of 10-20% is standard.
Some establishments automatically charge a 10% service fee and add it to your bill, so check your receipt carefully.
8. Card Usage
Surprisingly, Belize was way more “card-friendly” than I had thought. Even the lady serving us our hudut in the small Belizian town of Hopkins that only had 2 tables at her restaurant on the beach accepted cards as payment! Make sure you’re using the right travel card.
With this said, always have cash on you because you will inevitably visit a store and restaurant that’s cash only.
9. Solo Female Travelers
I “dared” to walk away from Garrett a few times and was cat-called almost endlessly.
They continued even as I was down and across the street. It was—annoying. To say the least. Street harassment isn’t new to me, but I got used to not dealing with it since I’m with Garrett often.
While Belize is safe overall, it might not be an ideal spot for a first-time solo traveler! Read Kate’s experience on being a solo traveler in Belize.
10. What to Pack for Belize
Here are some reminders on what to pack for your trip to Belize!
- Dry Bag: Protect your belongings from unexpected rain or water activities by bringing a dry bag. It’s also useful for keeping your essentials dry during boat trips or rainy hikes! I never travel without one.
- Reusable Water Bottle: Reduce plastic waste and bring a water bottle you can refill or, better yet, a water bottle that can filter water! Don’t drink the tap water.
- Insect Repellent: Insect repellent is a must.
- Sarong: Save space in your luggage with a compact and quick-drying sarong. It’s perfect for beach days, cover up, skirt etc. I never travel without a sarong.
- Headlamp or Compact Flashlight: Exploring caves or taking a stroll after dinner back to your hotel, these always come in handy!
- Waterproof Phone Pouch or GoPro: There are too many boat, snorkeling, and diving opportunities to not get pictures underwater.
- Travel Insurance: Not a physical item, but crucial nonetheless. Ensure you have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and unexpected incidents. Here’s what I use.
- Sunscreen: This one is a given but definitely don’t forget, it will be more expensive in Belize plus you should get reefsafe sunscreen!
READ MORE: The Best Travel Cards (For Any Traveler) That Save and Earn You Money!
11. How to Get Around Belize
There’s no one size fits all solution to getting around Belize. It all depends on where you are, where you’re going, and how comfortable you want to be.
TRANSPORTATION TIP
If you’re looking for bus or boat tickets around Central America and Mexico, you can easily book them online! Check Availability
Taxis
Taxi drivers are always available if you prefer to leave the driving to the professionals. Drivers will drive you virtually anywhere in the country where their vehicle can go for a price.
There are no meters in Belizean taxis, so agree on a price with your driver ahead of time.
You will have to use a service, perhaps through your hotel, as there aren’t taxis just roaming around with the exception of maybe Belize City, but you don’t really want to spend any time there. It’s not the safest, nor is there anything to do.
Car
Driving around Belize is a great way to get around the country if you’re sticking to the main areas. If you want to journey off-trail a bit, though, things can get a bit tricky.
Undeveloped roads abound, and potholes and unannounced speed bumps are also common. You’ll likely need a vehicle with 4-wheel drive to go to far-to-reach places, which can be expensive to rent and fill up.
We rented a regular vehicle, and while we were able to do a lot of dirt-road sections, we couldn’t make it out to Caracol and even had to park and hike in to a few of the attractions because the road simply got too rough to continue.
With that said, renting a car was 100% the way to go and offered us tons of freedom to explore!
We rented our car from Crystal Auto Rental, and they were probably the nicest and easiest car rental company we have ever used. No hassle, no pushy insurance spiel, no headaches returning the car… You can also check here for current car rental deals.
Driving was also very easy and chill throughout our time in Belize. The main roads were all paved and what you’d be used to at home, except with many speedbumps everywhere.
Once you’re off the main road, you’re in the dirt! Potholes and rocks, but our regular vehicle made it through just fine. Be careful after it rains, though! Those dirt roads become almost impassable.
Ferries
Belize has tons of cayes off the coast; to access them, you’ll need to hop on a ferry – also known as a water taxi. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are the most popular spots off the mainland.
A few large ferries operate between the islands and Belize City multiple times a day. Prices are reasonable, and the journey isn’t too bad. Here’s how to get from Belize City to San Pedro or Caye Caulker. You can also search and book your tickets here.
You can even get to Mexico from San Pedro via a ferry which is what we did. It saved us a whole day and many hours on boats, taxis, and buses!
Golf Carts, Bikes, and Walking
Once you get to the islands, you’ll need a way to get around. Cars aren’t really a thing on either Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, so golf carts have the lion’s share of the transportation market on both cayes.
Taxi service via a golf cart is also available on both islands if you don’t plan on renting one yourself.
Using your own two feet or renting a bike on the islands is just fine too! We walked everywhere on Caye Caulker and San Pedro, except for renting a golf cart for one day just to head to Secret Beach.
Buses and Shuttles
Bus travel is also an option; this is a great way to get around if you’re on a budget. This is one for the more adventurous travelers.
Re-purposed US school buses are the norm, and don’t get re-purposed confused with refurbished.
The technology and comforts are as basic as they come, but hey, it’s all part of the experience. Most major cities have bus terminals, and even small villages have bus stops.
Rather than paying when you get on, a conductor will come around and ask where you’re going and provide you with a ticket. Fares are cheap and only cash is accepted, so have small change ready.
Alternatively, if you want more comfort, fewer stops, and even a pick up and drop off from your hotel, just book a shuttle!
Find shuttles around Belize here.
More Belize!
Check out my other guides to Belize:
- 27 Amazing Things To Do in Belize — A Complete Guide!
- Where To Stay In Belize: 21 of the Best Hotels and Resorts
- 7 Best Beaches in Belize for Beach-Bumming
- 7 MUST-VISIT Waterfalls in Belize
- 9 TOP Things To Do in Placencia, Belize
- 11 Best Things To Do in Caye Caulker, Belize
- 12 Most EPIC Things to Do in San Pedro, Belize!
- 10 Things To Do in San Ignacio, Belize: Your Adventure Guide
- Your Guide to Hopkins, Belize: Where to Play, Eat, and Sleep!
- Caye Caulker Snorkeling: Your Underwater Playground!
- 11 ESSENTIAL Belize Travel Tips
- How to Get from Belize City to San Pedro
- How to Get from Belize City to Caye Caulker
- Getting The Water Taxi from San Pedro to Chetumal (READ FIRST!)
I hope this helped you plan for your trip to Belize!
