Travel Guide: Belize To Chetumal

Belize and Chetumal are separated by a land border, and it is possible to travel between the two by bus, car, rideshare, or shuttle. The cheapest way to travel between the two is by bus, which costs around $11 and takes 3 hours and 48 minutes. The fastest way to travel between the two is by car, which takes 2 hours and 26 minutes and costs $30-50. There are also ferries that travel between the two, which take around 5 hours and cost $13-22.

Characteristics	Values
Distance	The distance between Chetumal and Belize City is 101 miles. The road distance is 100.2 miles.
Cheapest way of transportation	The cheapest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City is to rideshare and bus which costs $11 and takes 3h 48m.
Fastest way of transportation	The fastest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City is to drive which takes 2h 26m and costs $30 - $50.
Bus	There is a direct bus departing from Chetumal and arriving at Belize City. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 5h.
Shuttle	There are shuttle services available from Chetumal to Belize City.
Ferry	There is a ferry from Chetumal to the Belizean islands.

Travel by bus

As of March 2023, the ADO bus company, one of Mexico's main bus companies, has not yet resumed its operations for the Chetumal to Belize route. The available option is the local "chicken" bus, which you can find at Nuevo Mercado Bus Station. A 10-minute taxi ride from the city centre to this bus station costs 50 MXN ($3).

The local "chicken" buses are colourful, non-air-conditioned buses mainly used by locals. The estimated travel time from Chetumal to Belize is 4 hours, but it may take up to 5.5 hours because the buses make several stops along the way, including Corozal and Orange Walk.

You can choose between two local bus companies: Fe Wu Transport and Silva's Bus Line. Bus tickets to Belize cost 20 BZD ($10).

The schedule is based on Belizean time, which is 1 hour behind Mexico. This means the buses depart at 12:00 and 13:30, respectively, in Mexico time.

Note that online booking is not available for these local buses, so you need to arrive early at the bus station to buy your tickets.

In Belize City, the arrival station is the main bus terminal, also known as Novelo's. This bus stop is 5-10 minutes away from downtown Belize and the main port. The easiest way to move around is by taxi with rates from 5 BZD ($2.50).

If you are travelling from Belize to Chetumal, there are only two bus departures in the morning, at 05:00 and 06:30.

Border Crossing

The border between Mexico and Belize is marked by the Hondo River. To get from one country to another, you must cross the bridge at Santa Elena, a small bordering town 20 minutes away from Chetumal.

The bus will stop at the immigration office on the Mexican side and wait until you finish having your passport stamped. Once you’re done, the bus will cross the river and take you to the Belizean Immigration Office.

Your bus will be waiting for you outside the immigration office to take you straight to Belize City. It is not allowed to pick up passengers at the border.

If you took a bus or taxi only up to the border crossing, you will have to walk on your own from one immigration office to the other.

After you finish your paperwork in Belize, you need to go to Corozal Bus Terminal, located some 15 km southeast of the border. You can find taxis and microbuses waiting in front of the casino near the Belizean border.

At Corozal Bus Terminal, you can transfer by bus to Belize City with BBOC or Valencia's Bus Line with fares from 11 BZD ($5.50).

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Travel by car

The distance between Chetumal and Belize City is approximately 100 miles. The road distance is 100.1 miles. The journey usually takes around 2 hours and 26 minutes by car. The cost to hire a car for this trip ranges between $30 and $50. This option allows for flexibility and the opportunity to explore the scenic route at your own pace.

When driving from Chetumal to Belize, you will cross the Mexico-Belize border at Chetumal/Santa Elena. Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork ready and keep your travel documents handy for both border checks.

Directions:

Get to Chetumal from Bacalar or take a taxi in Chetumal to the New Border. Your taxi driver will know which border you need as it is the new border, not the old one.
At the Mexican exit border, you will need to show your passport and get an exit stamp. You may be asked if you have already paid the tourism tax.
After getting your exit stamp, walk to the Belize Customs Control area and go through Belize immigration.
Once you have passed through Belize Customs, you will be free to head into Belize!

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Travel by taxi

If you want to travel by taxi from Belize to Chetumal, you have a few options. You can take a taxi from Belize City to Chetumal, which will take around 2.5 hours and cost around $30-$50. Alternatively, you can take a taxi to the border, cross the border on foot, and then take another taxi to Chetumal. This option will be cheaper, but it will take longer as you will have to wait at the border to get your passport stamped.

If you are travelling from Chetumal to Belize, you can take a taxi to the border, cross the border, and then take a taxi to Belize City. This option will be faster than the bus, but it will be more expensive. You can also take a taxi to the border, cross the border, and then take a local "chicken" bus to Belize City. This option will be cheaper, but it will take longer.

Venancio's Shuttle Service: +501-603-6711
Alberto the BZ Transporter: +501-630-2700
George from Get Transfer: +501-604-5789
Jesus Catizm: +501-620-6653

These drivers speak English, have contacts on both sides of the border, and can help you with advice on how to get to your destination. They can also help you avoid being ripped off and can connect you with trusted contacts on the Mexican side of the border.

Border Crossing Process

When exiting Mexico, you will need to show proof that you have paid the tourism tax. This is often requested at the border, and it is a soft scam, as it is legal and the border officials will ask for proof. If you flew into Mexico, this tax was likely included in your airfare, so be sure to have your itemized receipt from the airline handy to show them.

At the Mexican border, you will need to get an exit stamp on your passport. There is also a controversial and possibly scammy Mexican exit fee of around $200-$300 pesos that you may be asked to pay.

Once you have crossed the border, you will need to take a taxi or shuttle to the Belize border. This should cost around 250-500 Mexican pesos.

At the Belize border, you will need to pass through customs and get an entry stamp on your passport. You will also need to fill out an entry form and get a stamp for your rental car if you are bringing a car into Belize. There is a parking fee of 30 Belize dollars or 350 Mexican pesos that you will need to pay at the Belize border.

After you have finished the paperwork at the Belize border, you can take a taxi to your destination in Belize.

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Travel by ferry

Ferries are a convenient way to travel from Chetumal to Belize, with the journey taking around 4 hours and 15 minutes. Water Jets International operates four boat trips from Chetumal to Caye Caulker every week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The boat ticket costs 1,400 MXN ($83) and the journey takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes. Ferries arrive at the EZ Boyz Dock in the centre of Caye Caulker.

From Caye Caulker, you can take a water taxi to Belize City. San Pedro Belize Express operates four water taxi trips daily and tickets cost 420 MXN ($25). The journey takes around 1 hour and boats depart from the San Pedro Belize Express Terminal, dropping passengers off at the Water Taxi Port in Belize City centre.

It is recommended to book water taxi tickets online in advance to secure a seat.

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Travel by plane

Flying is the fastest way to get from Chetumal to Belize, taking only 47 minutes. The flight route is from Corozal (CZH) to San Pedro (SPR) and is serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. Flights are available five times a day.

Step-by-Step Guide to Flying from Chetumal to Belize

Book your flight with Tropic Air or Maya Island Air.
Arrive at the Corozal Airport (CZH) in Mexico.
Board your flight to San Pedro Airport (SPR) in Belize.
The flight duration is approximately 47 minutes.
Arrive at San Pedro Airport (SPR) in Belize.

Important Considerations for Flying from Chetumal to Belize

Flight times and availability may vary, so be sure to check the schedules and book your flight in advance.
Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are the main airlines servicing this route, with up to five daily flights.
The flight time may vary slightly depending on weather conditions and other factors.
Ensure you have all the necessary travel documents, such as your passport and any required visas, for both Mexico and Belize.
Keep yourself updated with any travel restrictions or requirements, such as negative COVID-19 test results or vaccination certificates, as these may change over time.