Belize's Best-Kept Secret: Flying Into Ambergris Caye

To get to Ambergris Caye in Belize, you'll need to fly into the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), located in Belize City on the mainland. From there, you can either take a local hopper flight or a water taxi to the island. The local flight is a convenient option, with two airlines—Maya Island Air and Tropic Air—offering hourly flights to the island's only airstrip in San Pedro Town. The flight takes around 15-20 minutes and offers stunning views of Belize City and the barrier reef. Alternatively, you can opt for a water taxi, with two companies—San Pedro Belize Express and Ocean Ferry Belize—offering daily service to Ambergris Caye. The boat ride takes about 90 minutes and provides a unique perspective of the shoreline and the Caribbean Sea.

Flying into Belize City and then taking a small plane to San Pedro

To get to Ambergris Caye, you will first need to fly into Belize City. From there, you can take a small plane to San Pedro.

Flying into Belize City

Belize City is served by two airports: Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (airport code BZE) and Municipal Airport. The former is the only international airport in Belize and is located outside of the city. The latter is cheaper to fly into and is also closer to downtown Belize City.

Flying from Belize City to San Pedro

To get from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, you will need to take a local hopper flight or a water taxi. The quickest and most popular option is to fly. Maya Island Air and Tropic Air offer flights from both of Belize City's airports to San Pedro, with one-way fares starting at BZ$72 and journey times of around 15-20 minutes. The flight offers stunning views of Belize City, the Caribbean Sea, and the Belize Barrier Reef.

Alternatively, you can take a water taxi from Belize City to Ambergris Caye. The boat ride takes around 90 minutes, and there is also a 30-minute drive from the airport to the water taxi terminal. The round trip on the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi costs US$59, and tickets should be reserved in advance.

The pros and cons of flying to Ambergris Caye

To get to Ambergris Caye, you must first fly into Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), which is located in Belize City on the mainland of Belize. From there, you can either take a local flight or a ferry to Ambergris Caye. Here are the pros and cons of flying to Ambergris Caye:

Pros of Flying:

• Quick travel time: The flight from PGIA to San Pedro Airport (SPR) in Ambergris Caye takes just 15-20 minutes, making it a convenient and time-saving option.
• Beautiful scenery: The flight offers stunning views of the Belizean terrain, including the barrier reef, cayes, and the mainland. You may even spot manatees, eagle rays, nurse sharks, or dolphins from the air.
• Frequent flights: Maya Island Air and Tropic Air, the two airlines offering this service, have multiple daily flights between PGIA and SPR, with flights leaving hourly from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm.
• Easy transportation: The SPR airstrip is located in downtown San Pedro, making it easy to find transportation to your final destination, such as a taxi or hotel shuttle.

Cons of Flying:

• Cost: Round-trip flights can be expensive, especially for larger groups or families, with prices ranging from US$167.50 to US$175.
• Small planes: The planes used for these local flights are typically small, with limited space to move around. This may be uncomfortable for those who are averse to flying or prefer more room.
• Luggage considerations: Baggage space on these small planes can be limited, and your luggage may need to be accommodated on a different flight if the plane is too full.

Pros of Taking a Ferry:

• Cost-effective: Round-trip ferry tickets are significantly cheaper than flying, making it a more budget-friendly option.
• Scenic journey: As the boat pulls away from Belize City, passengers are treated to a beautiful view of the shoreline and the vibrant blues of the sea.

Cons of Taking a Ferry:

• Longer travel time: The boat ride itself takes 90 minutes, and you also need to factor in the travel time from PGIA to the water taxi dock in Belize City, which is about 25 minutes. The overall journey can be even longer if you're coming from the international airport.
• Crowded boats: The ferries can often be filled to capacity, leaving little personal space for passengers.
• Limited schedule: The last boats to Ambergris Caye leave at 5:30 pm, so if your international flight arrives later in the day, taking the ferry may not be possible.

The two airlines that fly to Ambergris Caye

To get to Ambergris Caye, you first need to fly into Belize City. From there, you can take a connecting flight to San Pedro Airport (SPR) on Ambergris Caye.

Belize has two airlines that operate flights between San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Belize City: Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. Maya Island Air is considered Belize's most experienced airline, and Tropic Air has a computerized system and offers more reliable service. Both airlines fly the same type of aircraft, a small 13-passenger plane.

The flight from Belize City to San Pedro Airport takes about 15 minutes and costs around $125 round-trip. It is worth noting that flying into Belize City's municipal airport is much cheaper (around $25 each way) than the international airport, although you will need to take a taxi between the two airports.

In addition to air travel, you can also reach Ambergris Caye by boat from Belize City, with water taxis provided by Ocean Ferry Belize and San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi.

The two water taxi companies that operate from Belize City to Ambergris Caye

To get to Ambergris Caye, you'll first need to fly into Belize's only international airport, the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), which is located just outside Belize City. From there, you have a few options to get to Ambergris Caye. The quickest and most popular option is to take a local hopper flight from PGIA to San Pedro Airport (SPR), which is located on Ambergris Caye.

However, if you prefer to travel by sea, there are two water taxi companies that operate from Belize City to Ambergris Caye: Ocean Ferry Belize and San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi. Both companies offer daily service to Ambergris Caye, with boats that are large and covered. The journey by water taxi takes around 90 minutes, and there is also a 30-minute drive from the PGIA to the water taxi terminal.

Ocean Ferry Belize is located across from Cholo's Sports Bar, and their water taxis depart from the Marine Terminal on North Front Street, next to the Swing Bridge. They offer five trips per day to Ambergris Caye and provide free Wi-Fi on board. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or in person at the terminal, and stowing luggage is free.

The San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi departs from the Tourism Village in Belize City and offers nine daily departures to Ambergris Caye. The ride takes about 75 minutes, and tickets can also be purchased online or at the terminal. They also offer a shuttle service from the airport, and their boats have free Wi-Fi as well.

Both water taxi companies provide a cost-effective and scenic way to travel from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, offering a comfortable alternative to those with a fear of flying.

The cost of flying to Ambergris Caye

To get to Ambergris Caye, you first need to fly to Belize City. The cost of your flight will depend on where you are flying from and the airline you choose. For example, flights from Dallas-Fort Worth Intl. Airport to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City can be as low as $165 one way. From there, you can fly to San Pedro Airport (airport code SPR) on Ambergris Caye. Flights from Belize City to San Pedro Airport cost around $125 round trip.

Alternatively, you can take a water taxi from Belize City to Ambergris Caye. The two water taxi companies that operate this route are the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi and Ocean Ferry Belize. A one-way ticket with Ocean Ferry costs between BZ$34 and BZ$56, while a round trip is between BZ$64 and BZ$76. The San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi is slightly more expensive, with one-way tickets costing between US$14.50 and US$20, and a round trip costing US$20.

Frequently asked questions