Travel Guide: Ghana To Belize

If you're planning a trip from Ghana to Belize, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, the distance between the two countries is approximately 5,898 miles, and there is no direct flight option available. The fastest way to travel between the two countries is to fly, which takes around 20 hours and costs between $950 and $2,000. It's important to note that Ghanaian citizens do not need a tourist visa for Belize in 2024, but you must have a valid passport and ensure it remains valid for at least six months after your departure from Belize. Additionally, you should obtain travel insurance that covers medical treatment and COVID-19-related costs with a minimum coverage of $50,000.

Travel insurance and medical cover

Travel insurance is not mandatory for entry to Belize, but it is highly recommended. It is a good idea to protect yourself financially in case of emergencies, especially when visiting areas where there is a higher likelihood of injury or incident.

When travelling from Ghana to Belize, it is important to consider the value of your trip and the possibility of requiring medical care or emergency services abroad. Travel insurance for this trip is recommended because flights are expensive and there are costly excursions. If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, travel insurance can help you recover some of your lost expenses.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance will reimburse you for prepaid and non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to a covered reason. Acceptable reasons for cancellation typically include the death of a travel companion or close family member, a serious family emergency, or other unforeseen problems as specified by your policy. You can also add "cancel for any reason" coverage to your policy, which allows you to cancel your trip for any reason but usually costs about 50% more than the base cost of your standard travel plan.

Trip Delay Insurance

Trip delay insurance can help offset costs associated with unexpected delays, such as a cancelled flight due to bad weather. It can cover the cost of a hotel stay, meals, and some personal expenses up to the limits in your plan.

Trip Interruption Insurance

Trip interruption insurance covers the cost of returning home early if you need to cut your trip short due to a family emergency or other covered reason. It can also reimburse you for non-refundable, prepaid activities that you miss out on due to the interruption.

Travel Medical Insurance

When travelling outside of your home country, your health insurance plan may have limited or no coverage. Travel medical insurance can pay up to the policy limits for hospital and doctor bills, lab work, and medicine. Be sure to check what your health insurance covers before you book your trip.

Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you have a severe medical issue while travelling, emergency medical evacuation insurance can cover the cost of air ambulance transportation to the nearest adequate medical centre. Depending on your condition and location, medical evacuation can be very expensive, so this coverage is important to have.

Baggage Protection

Baggage protection, also known as baggage delay and baggage loss insurance, can reimburse you for missing, damaged, or stolen items. Some items, such as electronics or jewellery, may not be covered under baggage loss coverage, so be sure to check the details of your policy.

When purchasing travel insurance, it is important to understand what is covered and what is not. Review your existing health, auto, and home insurance policies, as well as any credit card benefits, to see if they provide any protection while you travel. Then, shop around for a travel insurance plan that meets your needs and covers any gaps in your existing coverage.

Passport validity

To travel from Ghana to Belize, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your planned date of departure from Belize. Some sources state that a passport valid for three months from the date of arrival is sufficient, while others advise that some airlines may refuse entry if the passport is not valid for at least six months after arrival.

It is important to note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality and the country of issue of your passport. It is always recommended to check with the relevant embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding passport validity and other travel requirements.

In addition to passport validity, there are other documents that you may need to provide upon entering Belize. These include a return ticket, proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay, and travel insurance.

It is also worth noting that, as of 2024, Ghanaian citizens do not need a tourist visa when travelling to Belize. However, it is always a good idea to check for the most recent updates before travelling.

Visa requirements

Ghanaian citizens do not need a tourist visa to enter Belize and can stay for up to 30 days. However, if you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you will need to apply for a "Belize Visitor's Permit Extension" at an immigration office.

To enter Belize, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your planned departure date. Additionally, you must have a 30-day round-trip ticket and sufficient funds ($75 per day) to cover your stay.

If you do not qualify for visa-free entry, you will need to apply for a Belize entry visa. This visa allows you to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days. To obtain this visa, you must have:

• A valid passport for at least six months before your date of travel.
• A completed and signed visa application form.
• A cover letter with relevant details.
• Confirmed flight tickets.
• Confirmation of your tax declaration.
• Medical travel insurance that covers the costs of medical treatment, COVID-19-related expenses, and repatriation, with a minimum coverage of $50,000.
• A detailed travel itinerary.
• Confirmation of your accommodation, such as an invitation letter or hotel reservation.
• Confirmation of the purpose of your visit, such as an invitation letter or conference pass.
• Proof of sufficient funds for your trip, such as a bank statement.

The processing time for a tourist visa application is typically between three and seven days, but it may take longer if reviewed by the Director of Immigration and Nationality. The visa is valid for three months and costs 16,500 Belize dollars (approximately 8,000 euros).

Please note that visa requirements can change, so it is always recommended to check with the official Belizean government sources and embassies for the most up-to-date information.

Customs regulations

Belize has specific regulations and restrictions on items that can be brought into the country. Here are some key points to consider:

• Duty-Free Allowances: Travellers to Belize can bring certain items duty-free, including a limited quantity of cigarettes, cigarillos, tobacco, cigars, spirits, dessert wine, wine, eau de toilette, and perfume. These quantities are restricted, so it is important to check the latest regulations before travel.
• Import Restrictions: Belize has restrictions on importing certain items, including meat and meat products, processed food items, live animals, illegal drugs, firearms, explosives, ammunition, knives, and certain plant and plant products.
• Currency Declaration: Travellers entering Belize must declare if they are carrying more than $10,000 BZ in currency or its equivalent. This needs to be declared on a customs form before arrival.
• Import Permits: For importing goods into Belize, an import permit, commercial invoice, bill of lading/air waybill, and a packing list are required. Additional documents, such as health and sanitary certificates, may also be necessary.
• Pets and Animals: Bringing pets or animals into Belize requires special permits and health certificates. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) must grant permission for importing cats and dogs.
• Prohibited Items: Belize has a list of prohibited items, including illegal drugs, firearms, explosives, ammunition, knives, counterfeit money, pornographic material, and certain food products.

Ghana also has its own set of customs regulations and restrictions. Here are some key points to note:

• Free Import Quantities: Ghana allows free import of a certain quantity of items, including cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, wine, spirits, perfume, and local currency (up to 1,000 Ghanaian Cedi-GHS). Foreign currency up to 5000 USD can also be exported.
• Prohibited Items: Ghana prohibits the import of illegal drugs, weapons, explosives, ammunition, knives, counterfeit money, pornographic material, diseased animals, and certain plants and seeds without permission.
• Permits and Certificates: Importing cats, dogs, or other animals into Ghana requires an import permit from the Veterinary Head Office in Accra, along with health and rabies inoculation certificates.
• Poultry Products: Poultry products from certain countries need permission from the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture.
• Live Plants and Plant Products: These require a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture. Rough or uncut diamonds also need a licence from the Ministry of Finance.
• Customs Valuation: Ghana's system for assessing the value of goods for customs valuation is complex and opaque. It often deviates from the agreed transaction value between the seller and the buyer.
• Meat and Dairy Restrictions: Ghana has specific restrictions on the fat content of imported meat and dairy products. For example, imported beef, pork, and mutton must have a fat content of less than 25% by weight.

Transport options

There are four ways to get from Ghana to Belize City, all of which involve taking a plane, ferry, or shuttle. The quickest route is to fly from Accra to Belize City Goldson International Airport, which takes 20 hours and 11 minutes. This route costs between $950 and $2,000. There are no direct flights from Accra to Belize, and this route includes two stopovers.

You can also fly from Accra to Dangriga and then take the ferry to Belize City. This route takes 24 hours and 44 minutes and costs between $600 and $1,900. This is the cheapest way to get from Ghana to Belize City.

Another option is to fly from Takoradi to Belize City Goldson International Airport, which takes 25 hours and 29 minutes.

Alternatively, you could fly from Accra to Cancun and then take two shuttle buses to Belize City, via Playa del Carmen and Bacalar. This route takes 26 hours and 21 minutes.

Frequently asked questions