Belize City travel guide

Safety

Tourist police wearing dark green uniforms patrol the city centre in an attempt to control crime and give advice; their introduction has been encouraging and crime in the city is greatly reduced. Nevertheless, a common-sense approach is needed and a careful watch on your possessions recommended. Watch out for conmen. Guides have to be licensed and should carry a photo ID. Street money changers are not to be trusted. It is wise to avoid small, narrow sidestreets and stick to major thoroughfares, although even on main streets you can be the victim of unprovoked threats and racial abuse. Travel by taxi is advisable, particularly at night and in the rain.

Cars should only be left in guarded car parks. For a tip, the security officer at hotels with secure parking will look after cars for a few days while you go to the cayes.

Getting around

Belize City is small enough to walk around when exploring. If going further afield, jump in a cab.

Ins and outs

Getting there

International flights arrive at Phillip Goldson International Airport, 10 miles from Belize City along the northern highway. Facilities in the check-in area include toilets, a restaurant, internet, bank (daily 0830-1200 and 1230-1800), viewing deck and duty-free shop. There are no facilities on the arrivals side but you can just walk round to the check-in area. Taxi fares to town are US$20, 30 minutes; taxi drivers strongly discourage sharing so team up, if need be, before getting outside. Make sure your taxi is legitimate by checking for the green licence plates. Taxis all operate on a fixed rate, so you should get the same price quoted by every driver. Ask to see a rate sheet if you have doubts about the price. Any bus going up the Northern Highway passes the airport junction (US$1), then it’s a 1½-mile walk.

The main bus station is on West Collette Canal Street to the west of town, an area that requires some caution. If taking an early morning bus, arrange for a taxi as walking through this part of town in darkness with luggage can be dangerous. Likewise, if arriving after dark take a taxi from outside the station; approximately US$3 to the centre.

Belize City

Air

The International Airport is 10 miles from Belize City . The municipal airstrip for local flights is 15 mins’ drive from the centre on the northern side of town, taxi, US$5, no bus service. Domestic services with Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, flights every 30 mins, 0700-1630. Flights to and from the islands can be taken from the international airport and companies link their flights to international arrivals and departures; flights from the international airport cost about US$15 more each way. Maya and Tropic also have services to Flores, Guatemala.

Airline offices

American Airlines, San Cas Plaza, T223-2522 (reservations), Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat 0800-1200. Continental Airlines, 32 Albert St, T227-8309. Belize Global Travel Services, 41 Albert St, T227-7363, http://www.belizeglobal.bz, provides services for Grupo Taca and US Airways. Maya Island Air, Municipal Airstrip, Belize City, T223-1140, http://www.mayaislandair.com. Tropic Air, Albert St, Belize City, T226-2012, http://www.tropicair.com.

Boat

Boats to Caye Caulker continuing to San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) leave from the Marine Terminal on North Front St with the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association, T223-5752, http://www.cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com. Departures at 0730, 0800, 0900, 1030, 1200, 1330, 1500, 1600 (to Caye Caulker only), 1630 and 1730 (to Caye Caulker only), Caye Caulker US$7.50, return US$12.50, San Pedro US$10, return US$17.50. Check website for changes in the schedule.

Departures also with Triple J in covered boats from their terminal at Courthouse Wharf, T207-7777, wwwtriplejbelize.com, office hours 0700-1630, boats at 0800, 1030, 1200, 1330, 1500, 1630 to Caye Caulker and then San Pedro. To Caye Caulker, US$7.50, return US$12.50, to San Pedro US$10, US$20 return, Caye Caulker to San Pedro, US$5.

Bus

Within the city the fare is US$0.50 run by Belize in Transit services. They originate next to the taxi stand on Cemetery Rd.

There are bus services to all the main towns. The National Transportation Co operates Northern Transport from West Collette Canal St (can store luggage, US$0.50).

Car

Car hire

Cars start at US$75 plus insurance of around US$15 a day. Most rental firms have offices in Belize City and opposite the international airport terminal building.

Avis, T203-4619, avisbelize@btl.net. Budget, 2½ miles, Northern Hwy, T223-2435, http://www.budget-belize.com. Crystal Auto Rental, Mile 5 Northern Hwy, T223-1600, http://www.crystal-belize.com, cheapest deals in town, but not always most reliable, wide selection of vehicles, will release insurance papers for car entry to Guatemala and Mexico. Hertz, 11a Cork St, beside Radisson Fort George Hotel, T223-5395, www.hertz belize.com, and International Airport, T225-3300. Pancho’s, 5747 Lizarraga Av, T224-5554, http://www.panchosrentalbelize.com, locally owned rental company.

Taxi

Official cabs have green licence plates (drivers have ID card); within Belize, US$4 for 1 or 2 people; slightly more for 3 or more. There is a taxi stand on Central Park, another on the corner of Collet Canal St and Cemetery Rd, and a number of taxis on Albert St, Queen St and around town. Outside Belize City, US$1.75 per mile, regardless of number of passengers. Belize City to the resorts in Cayo District approximately US$100-125, 1-4 people. No meters, so beware of overcharging and make sure fare is quoted in Bz$ not US$.

Banks

All banks have facilities to arrange cash advance on Visa. Guatemalan quetzales and Mexican pesos are best bought at the border. There are several ATMs in Belize City Atlantic Bank, 6 Albert St, quick efficient service, small charge for Visa/MasterCard, smaller queues than Belize Bank Belize Bank, 60 Market Sq, is particularly efficient and modern, US$0.50 commission on Amex cheques but a big charge for cash against Visa and MasterCard. It is easy to have money wired to Belize City.

Cultural centres

Audubon Society . Baron Bliss Institute, public library, temporary exhibitions; has 1 stela and 2 large discs from Caracol on display. The Image Factory, 91 Front St, has exhibitions of contemporary art, Mon-Fri 0900-1800. The Belize National Handicraft Center sales room on South Park St has a good supply of books about Belize culture. Programme for Belize, 1 Eyre St, T227-5616, http://www.pfbelize.org, is a conservation organization that manages land reserves including Río Bravo. Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR), 5638 Gentle Av, T223-1668, http://www.spear.org.bz, with a great reference library for everything Belizean.

Embassies and consulates

Many Embassies and consulates are now located in Belmopan. For more countries visit http://www.mfa.gov.bz . Canada (consulate), represented through Guatemala. France, covered by San Salvador. Guatemala, 8A St, T223-3150, 0830-1230, will not issue visas or tourist cards here; will tell you to leave it till you reach your exit point. Honduras, 114 Bella Vista, T224-5889, 0900-1200, 1300-1600. Italy (consulate), 18 Albert St, T227-8449. Nicaragua, 124 Newtown Barracks, T223-3868. Panama, consular services at Central American Blv and Mahogany St, T222-4551.

Internet

Service at BTL and in some hotels; prices around US$4 per hr. Keep an eye out for cheaper options. Mailbox, on Front St.

Laundry

Northside Laundromat, North Front St, 0900-2000, US$4 for 6 kg wash and dry. Belize Dry Cleaners and Launderomat, 3 Dolphin St.

Post office

The main post office is at Queen St and North Front St, 0800-1700 (1630 Fri). Letters held for a month. Beautiful stamps for collectors around the corner on Queen St.

Telephone

Belize Telemedia Ltd, 1 Church St, just off Central Park, Mon-Sat, 0800-1800, Sun 0800-1200. Also public fax and booths for credit card and charge calls.