The Tropical Trek: San Pedro, Belize To Cancun

San Pedro in Belize is a popular destination for travellers from Cancun, Mexico. The distance between the two locations is around 234-241 miles or 377-378 kilometres. While there are no direct flights between Cancun Airport and San Pedro Airport, there are plenty of travel options for those wishing to make the journey.

Flying from Cancun to San Pedro

Flying from Cancun, Mexico, to San Pedro, Belize, is a popular route for many travellers wishing to explore the beauty of two countries in one trip. Although there are no direct flights, there are several options for a stopover or a connecting flight. Here is a detailed guide to help you plan your journey from Cancun to San Pedro by air.

Flight Options:

The distance between Cancun and San Pedro is approximately 230 to 241 miles, and the fastest way to travel between the two places is by air. Tropic Air is the primary airline offering flights between these destinations.

When booking your flight, you can choose from several options, including:

• Flying directly from Cancun International Airport (CUN) to San Pedro Airport (SPR) with a stopover. This option typically involves taking a flight from Cancun to Belize City's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) and then connecting to San Pedro.
• Flying from Cancun to Corozal, Belize, and then taking a short flight to San Pedro. This option is ideal if you want to explore Corozal or break up your journey.

Booking Your Flight:

When booking your flight, consider using online platforms such as Expedia, which offer the ability to compare prices and schedules from different airlines. You can also book directly through the Tropic Air website or a travel agent. Keep in mind that flight prices can vary, but you can generally expect to pay between $363 for a one-way trip and $815 for a round trip.

Travel Time and Layovers:

The total travel time for your journey will depend on the layover options you choose. If you opt for a direct flight to San Pedro with a stopover in Belize City, the total travel time, including transfers, is approximately 3 hours and 14 minutes.

If you decide to break up your journey and stay overnight in Mexico or Belize, your travel time will be longer. For example, if you choose to fly into Cancun and then take buses to Belize before flying to San Pedro, your trip could last about 9 hours or more, depending on connections and layovers.

Day Trips and Extensions:

If you have the flexibility, consider extending your trip beyond San Pedro to explore more of Belize. San Pedro is located on Ambergris Caye, and the island offers pristine beaches, excellent snorkelling and diving spots, and a relaxing atmosphere. You can also explore the Blue Hole barrier reef, go fishing, or enjoy the local markets and restaurants.

Additionally, if you're interested in day trips, there are plenty of options from San Pedro to other parts of Belize or even back into Mexico. This allows you to experience more of the region during your trip.

Practical Tips:

• Bring your passport, and ensure it is valid for at least six months after your travel dates.
• Have cash or the appropriate currency (USD, BZD, or MXN) for any taxes, fees, or purchases along the way.
• If you have time, consider downloading the ADO bus app, which can be useful for purchasing bus tickets in Mexico.
• Be prepared for busy airports and long lines, especially at immigration.
• Bring noise-reducing headphones, sanitising wipes, and a travel mask to make your bus and plane journeys more comfortable.

Taking a bus and ferry via Felipe Carrillo Puerto

The distance between Cancún and San Pedro is 241 miles. The cheapest way to get from Cancún to San Pedro, Belize, is to take a bus and ferry via Felipe Carrillo Puerto. This option will cost you between $60 and $110 and the journey will take around 12 hours.

Step 1: Cancún to Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Take the bus from Cancún to Felipe Carrillo Puerto. There are a few bus stations in Cancún, including Terminal de Autobuses ADO Cancún and Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún Terminal 2. The bus journey will take between 5 and 7 hours.

Step 2: Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Chetumal

Take the bus from Felipe Carrillo Puerto to Chetumal. This journey will take around 2 hours.

Step 3: Chetumal to San Pedro

Take the ferry from Chetumal to San Pedro. There are a few ferry companies that operate this route, including San Pedro Belize Express ($40) and San Pedro Water Jets ($50). The ferry ride will take about 2 hours, but the time may vary depending on the weather and water conditions.

Additional Information:

If you decide to take this route, keep in mind that it is not the fastest way to get to San Pedro. The journey will take a full day, and you may want to consider staying overnight in Chetumal or Corozal before continuing your trip.

There are other options for getting from Cancún to San Pedro, including flying and taking a combination of buses and ferries via different routes. The fastest way to travel between these two places is by plane, which takes about 3 hours but costs significantly more, with prices ranging from $350 to $900.

Flying to Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is a popular destination in Belize, with its inviting restaurants, markets, and pristine beaches. The island is easily accessible by air, with several airlines offering flights to the island's airport, Caye Caulker Airport (CUK).

The cheapest flights to Caye Caulker can be found on Travelocity, with prices starting as low as $104 for a one-way trip and $302 for a return trip. Flights can also be booked through Expedia, with prices starting at $130 for a one-way trip and $320 for a round trip. These prices are for flights to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), which is located 25 miles from downtown Caye Caulker. Keep in mind that flight prices may vary depending on the season, with the lowest rates typically found in April.

If you are travelling from Cancun, Mexico, there are a few different ways to get to Caye Caulker. The fastest and most convenient option is to fly directly to Caye Caulker Airport (CUK). This flight takes only 10 minutes and can be booked with Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. The cheapest one-way flight with Maya Island Air starts at $98. Alternatively, you can fly into Cancun and then take a couple of bus rides to get to Belize. This option will take longer but can be more affordable. The bus from the Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen is only $10 USD, and you can find a hotel in Playa del Carmen for $40-60 USD. From there, you can take another bus to Chetumal, Mexico, and then take a water taxi to San Pedro, Belize. The water taxi ride takes about 2 hours and costs $40-50 USD.

When flying to Caye Caulker, it is important to keep in mind that the island's airport is small and may not have all the amenities of a larger airport. Additionally, the weather in Caye Caulker is consistently warm and humid year-round, with a rainy season from June to December. The island can also be affected by the Caribbean hurricane season from June to November. Therefore, it is essential to plan accordingly and be prepared for potential weather delays or disruptions.

Overall, travelling to Caye Caulker by air is a convenient and relatively affordable option, especially if you are flexible with your travel dates and book in advance.

Flying to Belize City Goldson International Airport

The Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) is located in Ladyville, a village/suburb that is 10 miles northwest of Belize City. It can be reached in 20 minutes by car. The airport is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001.

The airport is Belize's main airport and the only international airport in the country. It is owned by the Government of Belize and the Belize Airports Authority. In 2018, the airport received over 5,000 international and 26,000 domestic flights, serving approximately 1.1 million passengers.

There are 11 international and two domestic airlines that operate from the PGIA with scheduled flights to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. International airlines flying to Belize include:

• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Southwest Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines

Domestic airlines in Belize include Tropic Air, which offers daily domestic flights to locations across Belize.

The airport has two terminals, international arrival and departure halls, a domestic arrival hall, restaurants, bars, snack outlets, gift/souvenir shops, duty-free shops, a bank, and various other services. Outside the terminal building, there are car parking lots and taxi services.

When departing from Belize, it is recommended to arrive at the airport 2 hours prior for an international flight and 1.5 hours prior for domestic travel. The departure tax for international tourists at PGIA is US$55.50.

Flying into Cancun and then travelling to Belize City Goldson International Airport can be a cheaper option than flying directly to Belize. It can also be a good option if you are planning to visit both Mexico and Belize, as Cancun is about 250 miles north of the Belize border.

• Cancun airport to Playa Del Carmen by bus (70 minutes)
• Taxi between PDC bus stations Tourist and Alterna
• Playa Del Carmen to Chetumal by bus (5 hours)
• Chetumal to the Mexico/Belize border by taxi or Uber ($7USD for 20 minutes)
• Walk or take a taxi from the Mexico border to Belize Immigration
• Taxi from Belize border to Corozal airstrip ($20USD)
• Flight from Corozal to San Pedro, Belize (18 minutes, $75USD one way)

Alternatively, you can take a bus from Cancun to Chetumal and then a ferry from Chetumal to San Pedro, Belize. This option takes about 11 hours and costs $80-$140.

Taking a bus, ferry, and taxi via Tulum

The distance between Cancún and San Pedro, Belize is 241 miles. Here is a detailed description of how to get from Cancún to San Pedro, Belize by taking a bus, ferry, and taxi via Tulum:

Bus from Cancún to Tulum

Take the ADO bus from Cancún Airport to Tulum. The bus leaves every 20 minutes from the airport and makes pick-ups at all terminals before heading to downtown Tulum. You can buy a ticket at the ADO kiosk as you exit the airport or online with the ADO app. The ticket price is 240 Mexican pesos, which is about $13 USD. The journey takes around 70 minutes, depending on traffic.

Bus from Tulum to Chetumal

From Tulum, take the ADO bus to Chetumal. You can buy the ticket at the ADO kiosk in Tulum or online. The bus trip takes about 5 hours, with stops in Bacalar and Tulum. The bus can be quite cold, so make sure to bring a sweater.

Ferry from Chetumal to San Pedro

There are two water taxi companies that operate ferries from Chetumal to San Pedro: San Pedro Belize Express ($40 USD) and San Pedro Water Jets ($50 USD). The boat ride usually takes about 2 hours but can be longer if the water is choppy. Remember to arrive at least 30 minutes early at the Chetumal dock and be prepared to go through customs for both Mexico and Belize.

Taxi from San Pedro Water Taxi Dock to Your Destination

Once you arrive in San Pedro by water taxi, you can take a taxi to your final destination on the island. Most locals travel via golf cart, and you will quickly notice that life slows down on Ambergris Caye.

Frequently asked questions