Traveling To Ambergris Caye: Flying From Belize City

Belize City is a great place to start your journey to Ambergris Caye, Belize's largest island, which is about 35 miles east of the city. To get to Ambergris Caye, you can either fly or take a ferry. The flight from Belize City to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye's only town, takes about 15-20 minutes and costs around $125 round-trip on Maya Island Air or Tropic Air. Alternatively, you can take a water taxi, which takes about 75 minutes and costs between $14.50 and $20 one-way.

Flying from Belize City Municipal Airport to San Pedro

The cost of the flight is typically around US$25 each way, which is not much more expensive than taking a water taxi. However, if you are travelling from the international airport, you will need to take a taxi to the municipal airport, which is located closer to the city centre.

When booking your flight, it is recommended to reserve your ticket in advance, especially if you are travelling with a larger group. You can book directly with the airline, either online or by purchasing a ticket at the airport. While booking in advance can save you money, it is also possible to get a discounted rate by asking about any available deals when you arrive at the airport.

The planes that service this route are typically small, seating about a dozen passengers. These flights offer beautiful views of the Belize River, the Caribbean Sea, and the Belize Barrier Reef. Upon landing in San Pedro, it is easy to find a taxi or arrange for your hotel to pick you up and take you to your final destination.

Overall, flying from Belize City Municipal Airport to San Pedro is a quick, scenic, and relatively affordable option for travellers looking to get to Ambergris Caye.

Taking a ferry from Belize Terminal to San Pedro Terminal

To get from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, you can take a ferry from the Belize Terminal to the San Pedro Terminal. The ferry ride takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, and there are usually 5 daily and 33 weekly sailings between the two destinations.

There are two ferry operators that sail this route: Caribbean Sprinter and Ocean Ferry Belize. The average price of a ferry from Belize City to San Pedro is around $113, with prices ranging from $42 to $210.

In Belize City, the Ocean Ferry Water Taxi Terminal is on North Front Street, next to the Swing Bridge. The San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi departs from the Tourism Village in Belize City.

When you arrive in San Pedro, you will be in the heart of the island's activity, with most of the restaurants, bars, nightlife, shopping, and hotels clustered around the terminal. Three streets run north-south and parallel to the beach on the island's east side: Front Street (Barrier Reef Dr.), Middle Street (Pescador Dr.), and Back Street (Angel Coral St.).

San Pedro is a great place to visit if you're looking for a true getaway vacation. The town offers a mix of modern tourist life and old-world fishing and boating charm. You can enjoy the sandy streets, explore the souvenir shops, restaurants, clubs, and cafes, or simply relax on the pure white sands and enjoy the mild breezes.

If you're looking for a more social scene, San Pedro also has plenty of bars and restaurants catering to various culinary whims. Whether you're looking for sushi, sandwiches, or a simple coffee and pastry, you'll be able to find something to suit your taste.

So, if you're planning to visit Ambergris Caye, be sure to consider taking the ferry from Belize Terminal to San Pedro Terminal. It's a convenient and scenic way to travel between these two destinations.

Flying from Belize City Goldson International Airport to San Pedro

Flying is one of the options to get from Belize City to Ambergris Caye. The island's only town, San Pedro, is about 25 miles from the airport.

Belize's two airlines, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air, fly directly from the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) to San Pedro Airport (SPR) in downtown San Pedro. The flight takes about 15 to 20 minutes and costs around $125 round-trip.

You can book your ticket online in advance, or you can pay by cash at the Belize City Airport. Booking in advance can save you money, as prices tend to increase closer to the travel dates.

Upon arrival at the San Pedro Airport, you can easily find a taxi or arrange for your hotel/lodging to pick you up.

Alternatively, you can take a water taxi or ferry from Belize City to San Pedro. This option is more affordable but also more time-consuming. The water taxi ride takes about 75 minutes and costs between $14.50 and $20 one-way.

Two companies, San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi and Ocean Ferry, offer scheduled water taxi services between Belize City and Ambergris Caye. They depart from different terminals in Belize City and arrive at the pier across from Doc'ks Tiki Bar in San Pedro.

Taking a water taxi from Belize City to Ambergris Caye

There are two water taxi companies that operate between Belize City and Ambergris Caye: San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi and Ocean Ferry Water Taxi. The journey takes around 75 minutes and costs between $14.50 and $20 one way.

You can get to the water taxi terminal in Belize City by taxi. The fare is usually $25 and the taxi ride takes around 20-25 minutes. The water taxi terminal is located on North Front Street, next to the Swing Bridge. You can buy your ticket at the terminal, but it's recommended that you get there early to allow time for your luggage to be loaded onto the boat.

The boats are usually open with outboard motors and seat around 20-35 people. On a sunny day, the journey is pleasant, but it can be wet and rough in rainy or windy weather. The boats stop briefly at Caye Caulker and also at Caye Chapel if requested.

When you arrive in San Pedro, you can walk to your hotel if it's nearby, or take a taxi.

Helicopter transfers from Belize City to Ambergris Caye

There are a few companies that offer helicopter transfers from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, including Astrum Helicopters, JM Belize and Grand Caribe. Here is some information about the services they provide:

Astrum Helicopters

Astrum Helicopters offer three different routes for transfers from Belize International Airport to San Pedro Municipal Airport on Ambergris Caye. These are:

• Direct Route to San Pedro (Blue Route): After departing from Belize International Airport, you'll pass over the Caribbean Sea and several small cayes, including 'Hen & Chicken' Caye and Congrejo Caye, before landing at San Pedro.
• Reef Flight Transfer to San Pedro (Red Route): This route takes you over Belize's Barrier Reef, the world's second-largest reef. You'll see small cayes like Coffee Caye and Long Caye, and may even spot manatees, dolphins or sharks in the water. You'll then fly over the Caye Chapel golf course and Caye Caulker before reaching San Pedro.
• Blue Hole Over Flight Transfer to San Pedro (Orange Route): On this route, you'll fly over the mainland and the Caribbean Sea, as well as the Reef and Gallows Pt. You may see sharks, dolphins, stingrays, manatees or crocodiles. You'll also fly over Turneffe Island, the largest of Belize's three Atolls, and Lighthouse Reef Atoll, before heading to your final destination of San Pedro.

JM Belize

JM Belize offers helicopter transfers to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and can pick you up from anywhere in Belize. They can accommodate a maximum of four passengers and their website includes information about weight restrictions for direct and flyover flights.

Grand Caribe

Grand Caribe offers helicopter transfers to Ambergris Caye in partnership with Astrum Helicopters. They can arrange a direct route to Grand Caribe or add on a tour of the Belize Barrier Reef or the Great Blue Hole before arriving at the Grand Caribe Heliport.

Frequently asked questions