Belize Bound: Seattle To Belize Travel Guide

If you're looking to travel from Seattle to Belize, you're in luck! There are several airlines that offer flights between the two destinations, with prices starting at just $167 for a one-way trip. The flight time is usually around 6 hours, and you'll be travelling a distance of roughly 2,800 miles. While there don't seem to be any direct flights on this route, you can fly with just one stopover with airlines such as JetBlue, American Airlines, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. It's worth noting that April tends to be the cheapest month to fly, while July is typically the most expensive. So, if you're looking for a tropical getaway, Belize could be the perfect destination, with warm to hot weather all year round!

Getting to the airport in Seattle

If you're heading to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), there are several options for getting there. The airport is located about 15 miles south of Seattle and 20 miles north of Tacoma.

Public Transport

In 2018, Seattle was ranked in the top 10 worst-traffic cities in North America, so if you're travelling during rush hour, public transport may be your best option.

The Link Light Rail runs from the City of SeaTac to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington. The service operates from 5 am to 1 am Monday to Saturday, and 6 am to midnight on Sundays. Trains arrive and depart every 6 to 15 minutes, and the journey from the airport to downtown Seattle takes about 35 minutes. Tickets cost $3 and can be purchased at the machine in the station or via the Transit GO Ticket mobile app.

From the airport, follow the signs for Link Light Rail; the station is a short walk from the terminal on the far side of the parking garage. Once you arrive at a transit tunnel stop (International District, Pioneer Square, University Street, or Westlake), you can take a bus in the same direction. Bus routes serving the University District include the #71, 72, or 73. Buses usually come every 10 minutes and the fare is $2.00-$2.25.

Other public transport options include the Sound Transit express buses, King County Metro routes, and the Rapid Ride A line.

Ride-Hailing and Shared Shuttles

App-based ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and Wingz can take you to the airport. These services can drop passengers off at the terminal but may only pick up from the designated area on the third floor of the parking garage (by rows G through J in the orange and purple sections).

Fares between the airport and downtown Seattle range from $35 to over $50, depending on the time of day and type of service.

Scheduled Airporters and shared shuttle vans, such as Shuttle Express, are also available. Fares for the Shuttle Express Downtown Airporter start at around $25 per person, with scheduled stops at various downtown hotels.

Taxi

There are two taxi options at Sea-Tac: flat-rate and metered. Flat-rate taxis are bi-color vehicles with four-digit vehicle numbers, while single-color taxi cabs have three-digit vehicle numbers and operate with a meter.

A ride from downtown Seattle to the airport will typically cost around $40, and there is no flat rate for this journey.

Limo and Town Car

Limos and town cars are a more expensive but convenient option. STILA limos and town cars offer flat-rate fares to downtown Seattle for $45 and can pick up passengers curbside if requested.

Rental Car

If you're renting a car, you can take a shuttle outside the baggage claim level to the off-site rental car facility. Shuttles operate 24 hours a day.

Driving and Parking

If you're driving and parking at the airport, parking in the Sea-Tac garage is convenient but pricey. In the general parking area, parking is $28/day or $130/7-day week. However, you can usually find discount coupons on the Sea-Tac website for $19/day or $99/week.

A cheaper option is to leave your car in a lot near the airport and take a shuttle to Sea-Tac. There are dozens of independent lots and hotels offering airport parking, and you can use parking-reservation websites to find and compare different options.

Friends and Family

If you have friends or family willing to give you a ride, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has a cellphone lot with 200 parking spaces, free Wi-Fi, free parking for up to 20 minutes, and electric charging stations.

Flying to Belize from Seattle

Flights from Seattle to Belize City are available from a number of airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa, Delta, JetBlue Airways, and United. The distance between the two cities is around 2,797 miles (4,503 km), and the flight time is usually around 6 hours.

Direct Flights

Direct flights from Seattle to Belize City are available with Alaska Airlines. The flight time is around 6 hours, and the flight number is AS1404.

Indirect Flights

If you're looking for an indirect flight, JetBlue offers the cheapest option, with one-way flights starting at $167 and round-trip flights starting at $451. The fastest flight with stops from Seattle to Belize City takes around 7 hours 25 minutes.

When to Fly

The cheapest month to fly from Seattle to Belize City is typically April, with prices ranging from $415 to $590 for a round-trip flight. The most expensive month is usually July.

What to Expect in Belize City

Belize City has a tropical climate, with warm to hot weather all year round. The dry season is from February to May, and the Caribbean hurricane season, with potential high winds, is from June to November.

Some popular events in Belize City include Baron Bliss Day in March, which features a regatta in front of the lighthouse, and Independence Day celebrations in September, which include street parades and music.

Visa requirements for Belize

Belize is a small country in Central America, neighbouring Costa Rica and Panama, with a flight time of around 6 hours from Seattle. There are no direct flights from Seattle to Belize, but Alaska Airlines and JetBlue are two airlines that offer flights with one stop.

When it comes to visa requirements, Belize is fairly relaxed. If you are visiting for under 30 days, you may not need a visa, and a valid passport is the only requirement for many nationalities, including citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the Caribbean, and Central American countries.

For citizens of certain countries, such as India, Egypt, and the Philippines, a visa is required. These travellers need to possess a valid passport and apply for a visa through a Belize consulate. There are two types of visas: sponsored and self-sponsored, each requiring different documentation. Visa fees vary depending on citizenship. For example, citizens of China pay BZ$3000 for a single-entry visa, while citizens of India, Nepal, Thailand, and a few other nations pay BZ$750. All other nationalities pay BZ$200.

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days in Belize, you will need to apply for an extension, known as the "Belize Visitor's Permit Extension." This allows you to extend your stay in 30-day increments, and each extension costs BZ$200.

It is worth noting that Belize has introduced a "Work Where You Vacation" programme, catering to digital nomads who wish to work remotely in the country for up to six months. To qualify, citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, or Canada must have a minimum annual income of US$75,000 and employment outside of Belize. The cost of this programme is BZ$500 per adult and BZ$200 for children under 18.

Child car seat laws in Belize

Getting to Belize from Seattle

To get from Seattle to Belize, you can either take a flight with at least one layover or take a combination of a flight and drive.

Flight Options

There are no direct flights from Seattle to Belize. The fastest flight with stops from Seattle to Belize City takes 7 hours and 25 minutes. The cheapest one-way flight is $167, and the cheapest round-trip flight is $436.

Airlines

Airlines that offer flights from Seattle to Belize City include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Copa, Delta, JetBlue Airways, and United.

Airports

When flying from Seattle, you will depart from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA). When arriving in Belize, you will land at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE).

Driving

If you plan on driving in Belize, it is important to note that the country has strict child car seat laws.

In Belize, all children under the age of 12 must be seated in the back seat of the vehicle. In addition, the law requires that children under a certain age or weight threshold use a child car seat or booster seat. The specific age and weight requirements are as follows:

• Children under the age of 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
• Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing.
• Convertible and all-in-one car seats have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing children to remain rear-facing for longer.
• Children who have outgrown the height and weight limits for rear-facing seats can transition to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
• Once a child outgrows the height and weight limits for a forward-facing car seat, they should use a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.

It is important to choose a car seat that fits your child's age, size, and the vehicle you will be driving. Always refer to the car seat manufacturer's instructions and the vehicle owner's manual for proper installation and use.

Things to do in Belize City

To get from Seattle to Belize City, you can expect a flight time of around 6 hours and 23 minutes. There are no direct flights, so you will need to make at least one stop.

Now, here are some ideas for things to do once you arrive in Belize City:

Explore the City's Natural Beauty

Belize City is surrounded by lush rainforests, so one of the best ways to experience the area is by taking a tubing expedition through the caves. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try zip-lining through the rainforest canopy.

Visit the Belize Zoo

The Belize Zoo is renowned as one of the finest small zoos in the world. It is unique in that it only houses native animal species, such as ocelots, black jaguars, spotted jaguars, pumas, scarlet macaws, crocodiles, and the famous tapir, April.

Discover the Tropical Education Center

Adjacent to the zoo, the Tropical Education Center offers an 84-acre nature reserve where you can hike or canoe and observe Belizean wildlife in their natural habitats.

Belize Museum

For a glimpse into the country's rich Mayan history, visit the Belize Museum, which is housed in a former colonial prison. Be sure to check out the cell that has been preserved in its original form.

St. John's Cathedral

St. John's Cathedral, built in 1812, is the oldest Anglican church in Central America. It stands as a symbol of Belize's colonial past and is dedicated to preserving its history.

Frequently asked questions