How to get to Belize from Cancun?
If you plan visiting Belize from Cancun, you should know the trip won’t be a complicated one. This article will show you all the options to choose from to get from Cancun to Belize.
Important to know is that Belize does not require the payment of a visitor’s tax as the State of Quintana Roo and its Visitax.
Where is Belize located?
Belize has 22 966km2 of total area and is located on the east coast of Central America.
To the North Belize borders with Mexico, more specifically with the state of Quintana Roo. To South and West, it borders with Guatemala and is separated from Honduras by the gulf that bears the same name.
Belize is very attractive to tourists with its exciting aquatic diving opportunities, untamed natural landscapes and the local archaeological sites.
How to get to Belize from Cancun?
As we explained at the beginning of our article, there are several options from which to choose when traveling to Belize from Cancun. Below are the most used ones so you can decide which one would be the most comfortable for you:
Fly to Belize from Cancun
Undoubtedly one of the most comfortable and fastest ways to get to Belize from Cancun is by plane. From Cancun International Airport you can take a flight that will leave you at Belize after approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
The price of the tickets starts from USD 210$ per person. It varies according to the airline company, the time in advance you make the reservation, the type of ticket you choose, what luggage you travel with.
Travel by bus
Another option to get to Belize from Cancun is to do it by bus. At your disposal are both direct bus lines and bus lines passing through various cities before arriving to Belize. The direct line will take about six hours to arrive. The bus will make several mandatory stops for short rests along the route.
The cost is between USD 30$ and USD 60$ depending on the company you choose to travel with.
Travel by Car
The 525 km trip between Cancun and Belize can be of course made by car. Preferred by many, you should note that this distance will take around eight hours to arrive.
Other ways to get to Belize from Cancun
In addition to the options mentioned above, there are other ways to get to Belize from Cancun. Among them we can mention:
- Flying from Cancun to Chetumal and then a bus connection from Chetumal to Belize City.
- Flying to the town of Dangriga, in Belize and from there take a ferry to Belize City.
What places not to miss in Belize?
Belize offers so much compared to it’s tiny area! From the Great Blue Hole and the coral reef – two sites attracting scuba divers from all over the world, to the ancient Maya ruins, and the deep jungle with extreme adventures set there for the visitors.
Once in Belize, take time visiting the following beautiful places:
El Caracol – largest Mayan site in the country. Built between 484 and 889 AD, El Caracol features Canaa – the tallest man-made structure in Belize. You can visit it any day of the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary – If you enjoy the nature and are curious to see what local species live in Belize you should visit to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a protected natural area considered the first and most important conservation site for jaguars. Cockscomb Basin also offers hiking and trekking routes. Canoeing and swimming lovers will like the place as well as it hosts a lot of rivers.
The Great Blue Hole – The giant marine sinkhole is an attractive diving spot due to the lack of sea current and the excitement to dive into a 124 m. (407ft) hole in the sea. Jacques Cousteau declared it “one of top scuba diving sites in the world” along with Sipadan in Malaysia, the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, Red Sea and the sunken SS Thistlegorm during the WWII in Egypt, and the Vancouver Island in Canada.
Needless to say, that the Great Blue Hole should be taken seriously as it is also one of the deadliest diving places on Earth.
Old Belize – If you’d like to know more about the history of Belize, you should take a guided tour of Old Belize. You will see how the place has evolved over the years and will get familiar with the local culture, industrial development, nature, and even politics.
Belize Barrier Reef – Another great attraction for those who visit Belize is its great Barrier Reef. It covers about 300 km of the Mesoamerican Reef System and is the habitat of about 500 species of fish, 70 species of hard coral and 36 species of soft coral.
Where to spend the night in Belize?
Below are some of the best places to stay during your holidays in Belize:
- Weezie’s Oceanfront Hotel and Garden Cottages is one of the top-rated hotels located on the east coast of Caye Caulker offering the charm and comfort of the boutique hotel.
- Also on Caye Caulker you will find Dream Cabanas, a lovely hotel with well-equipped rooms and excellent customer service.
- Hotel Tropical Paradise is our third recommendation again in Caye Caulker. It is a cozy place with excellent sea views and tropical design.
Where to rent a car?
If you are to visit Belize, the easiest way to move around is to rent a car. Most of the car rental firms have offices at the Phillip Goldson International Airport as well as in the major cities.
A lot of local companies are offering different types of vehicles depending on whether you will drive in the jungle and off road or on the road. Among them Crystal Auto Rental, Belize Car Rental, AQ Belize Car Rental, Pancho’s Auto Rental. The international Hertz and Avis are also operating in Belize.
Best places to eat in Belize
Belize cuisine has flavors and taste of its own. To try it, please check our selection of local restaurants:
- Smokeez Seaside Restaurant & Bar located at 63 Seashore Drive, Belize City.
- Celebrity Restaurant & Bar located on Marine Parade Blvd, Volta Building, Belize City.
- The Tavern located at 2 Mapp St, Belize City.
