Belize City: Getting there & around

Belize City has two airports: Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE), 18km (11mi) northwest of the city center; and the Municipal Airstrip (TZA), around 3km (2mi) north of the city center. While international flights only use the international airport, domestic flights use both - flights using the Municipal Airstrip are always cheaper.

The Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association is the main service connecting Belize City with Caye Caulker (1hr) and San Pedro (Ambergris Caye; 1.5hr). On request, boats will stop at Long Caye or Caye Chapel. The Thunderbolt departs for Caye Caulker and San Pedro from its dock at N Front St, west of the Swing Bridge.

The main bus services from Belize City are run by Novelo's bus line. The terminal is in a run-down area so take a taxi. Express services are more expensive, but quicker and usually more comfortable than regular ones. Destinations include Belmopan, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Chetumal, Mexico, Corozal, Dangriga, Maskall, Orange Walk, Punta Gorda and San Ignacio.

By car, the main roads in and out of Belize City are the Northern Hwy, heading northwest from the Belcan Junction, and the Western Hwy, the westward continuation of Cemetery Rd.

Though many places in Belize City are within walking distance of each other, it's always safest to take a taxi after dark.

Belize City has the heaviest traffic in the country, as intense as that of a medium-sized country town in North America or Europe. If you're driving, there's a limited one-way system which is easy to work with. If you need to park on the street, try doing so directly outside the place you need to be. Never leave anything that looks remotely valuable on view inside a parked car.