Belize Travel: What You Need To Know

Belize and Mexico share a land border, with the closest towns being Santa Elena in Belize and Subteniente Lopez in Mexico. The two countries can also be travelled between by ferry or plane.

When travelling between the two countries, you will need to bring the appropriate documents, including a passport that is valid for at least six months after your intended stay period. Visitors to Belize must also have a return ticket and sufficient funds to cover their stay.

There are fees to be paid when exiting Belize and entering Mexico, so be sure to budget for these. The Belize exit fee is 40 Belize dollars (BZD) or 20 US dollars (USD), and the Mexican tourist tax is 575 Mexican pesos (MXN) or 35 USD.

Travel requirements for the Belize-Mexico border crossing

The border between Belize and Mexico is the only land border crossing between the two countries. The closest towns on either side are Santa Elena (Belize) and Subteniente Lopez (Mexico). However, the transportation hubs on either side are Corozal (Belize) and Chetumal (Mexico).

Travel Requirements

Documents

• Passport: Visitors to Belize must have a passport valid for a minimum of 30 days if the person is not travelling in transit to a third country that requires six months' validity and is returning to the country of origin immediately after visiting Belize.
• Proof of onward travel: Visitors must have a return ticket with sufficient funds to cover their stay.
• Proof of accommodation: Visitors may be asked to report where they are staying.
• Proof of vaccination: No vaccinations are required for entry, but anti-malaria tablets are recommended for extended stays in the jungle.
• Vehicle/vessel permits: Visitors driving or boating into Belize from Mexico must secure a temporary importation permit at the point of entry. Permits are valid for 30 days and can be extended by applying to the Customs Department.

Fees

• Belize exit fee: There is a fee of 40 BZD / 20 USD per person to exit Belize. This can be paid in cash, in either BZD or USD.
• Mexico entry fee: There is a fee of 687 MXN / $37.15 USD per person to enter Mexico. This fee is waived for stays of up to seven days. It is automatically included in the price of flights arriving in Mexico.

Other Considerations

• Time difference: Mexico is one hour ahead of Belize.
• Transport: It is not allowed to walk across the border. Visitors must take a taxi through the "no man's land" between the two borders.
• Currency: It is recommended to carry cash in both BZD and USD. ATMs are available across Belize, but large bills (above a $20 bill) are difficult to cash. Most places accept USD currency as well as travellers' cheques with a valid passport or driver's license.

Border fees for the Belize-Mexico border crossing

There are two official border crossings between Mexico and Belize: the New Border and the Old Border. The New Border is used for both entering and exiting Belize, while the Old Border can only be used to exit Belize. The Old Border is more convenient for exiting Belize on a budget as the route is shorter. The New Border is 4km long and you are not allowed to cross this bridge on foot, whereas the Old Border is only 1km long and can be crossed on foot.

There are two fees to be aware of when entering and exiting Belize: the Mexico Tourism Tax (DNI) and the Belize Exit Fee. The Mexico Tourism Tax is $45 USD, although it is possible to avoid this fee by printing out your itemized flight ticket. The Belize Exit Fee is $20 USD.

If you are in Mexico for more than seven days, you will be required to pay a DNI Fee (Derecho de No Inmigrante) of $45 USD. The DNI is an entry fee that must be paid to the Mexican Government by all foreign nationals, including Belizeans who enter Mexico by air, road, or sea.

The Belize exit fee is $20 USD and must be paid in cash, either in BZD or USD.

There is a possible scam at the border where you may be asked to pay the Mexican exit fee twice. It is recommended that you print your itemized flight ticket to show that you have already paid the tax. However, many travellers have reported that they still had to pay the tax even when showing their receipt.

If you are crossing the border by taxi, you will be required to pay a fixed, non-negotiable fee of $180 USD. You cannot share a taxi with a stranger, but you can share with someone who you are travelling with.

Crossing the Belize-Mexico border by boat

There are two official crossings between Mexico and Belize: the New Border and the Old Border. The New Border is used for entering and exiting Belize, while the Old Border can only be used to exit Belize. The Old Border is more convenient for those on a budget, as the route is shorter. The Old Border is also the only border that can be crossed by foot, as the New Border has a distance of 4km and you are not allowed to cross the bridge by foot.

To cross the Belize-Mexico border by boat, you can take a ferry from Chetumal to San Pedro. This journey takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and is offered by International Island Ferries. The ferry runs four times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It leaves Chetumal at 10 am.

Alternatively, you can take a water taxi from Chetumal to San Pedro or Caye Caulker. Water Jets International is the only boat company that offers this route. From Caye Caulker, the water taxi leaves at 12:45 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. From San Pedro, the water taxi leaves at 2:30 pm on the same days. The journey takes 3 hours and 15 minutes from Caye Caulker, including a 1-hour wait at San Pedro.

If you are staying on Caye Caulker, you will need to take a separate water taxi to San Pedro first. Thunderbolt Water Taxi offers a daily route from San Pedro to Corozol, Belize. From there, you will need to complete the land border crossing. The boat leaves at 3 pm daily from San Pedro and costs $104 BZD / $52 USD.

Crossing the Belize-Mexico border by bus

There is only one land border crossing between Belize and Mexico, which is between the towns of Santa Elena (Belize) and Subteniente Lopez (Mexico). The closest major towns are Corozal (Belize) and Chetumal (Mexico).

The bus journey from Belize City to the border takes around 4 hours. Buses depart from the Novelo Bus Station in Belize City. Tickets can be purchased at the station for around $7.50 USD. The bus will drop you off directly in front of the Belize immigration building.

After exiting Belize, you will need to take a taxi across the "no man's land" to the Mexican immigration building. This journey should cost around $12.50 USD per person.

Once you have entered Mexico, you can take an ADO bus to Bacalar, Tulum, Cancun, or any other onward travel. ADO tickets can be purchased at the bus station in Chetumal.

Border Fees

There is a fee of $20 USD to exit Belize. This can be paid in cash, in either BZD or USD.

There is also a fee of around $38 USD to enter Mexico. This is somewhat of a scam, as you will have already paid this fee if you have a departure flight booked. It is possible to avoid this fee if you have a printed, itemized receipt of your departure flight, although many travellers have reported that they still had to pay this fee despite providing proof of payment.

Onward travel in Mexico after the Belize-Mexico border crossing

After crossing the border from Belize into Mexico, there are several options for onward travel. The closest town on the Mexican side of the border is Subteniente Lopez, with the bigger town of Chetumal a short distance away. From Chetumal, you can travel onwards to other destinations in Mexico by bus, ferry, or plane.

By Bus

The ADO bus company offers a convenient and stress-free method of travelling between Mexico and Belize. The ADO bus runs between Cancun and Belize City, with tickets sold at the Belize City Bus Terminal. ADO buses are comfortable and air-conditioned, with credit cards accepted at Chetumal and Cancun. The ADO bus from Chetumal to Belize City costs around $12 USD per person.

By Ferry

There are several water taxis running from Caye Caulker and San Pedro in Belize to Chetumal, Mexico. The San Pedro Water Jet runs four times a week from Caye Caulker and San Pedro to Chetumal. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs $69-74 USD.

By Plane

For those looking for a faster option, Tropic Air offers direct flights from Cancun to Belize City. The flight takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Onward Destinations

Popular onward travel destinations from the Belize-Mexico border include:

• Chetumal: Chetumal is a good option for those looking for a transportation hub with an airport and ADO bus station.
• Tulum: Tulum is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches and cenotes. It can be reached from the border by ADO bus in around 3 hours.
• Cancun: Cancun is a major transportation hub with many cheap international flights. It can be reached from the border by ADO bus in around 6 hours.

Frequently asked questions