Belize's Gateway: Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

Belize's primary airport for international flights is Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), located in Ladyville, a village around 10 miles outside of Belize City. It is the only international airport in Belize and is served by several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and British Airways.

Flying to Belize from the US

Belize is a small Central American country nestled between Mexico and Guatemala. It is easy to get to from almost anywhere in the US, which is its primary market (70%). However, since the country doesn't cater to mass tourism, it has limited transportation options, so flying there can be a bit expensive.

All international flights from the US to Belize land just outside of Belize City, at the Phillip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Ladyville. Locally known as PGIA, it is the only international airport in Belize and the main hub for local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.

There are several nonstop flights from the US to Belize, depending on your city of origin. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) provides regular nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Belize, arriving at Philip S. W. Goldson Airport. New York also offers nonstop connections to Belize, with flights departing from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and landing at Philip S. W. Goldson Airport.

Miami is the only other US city that offers nonstop flights to Belize, with American Airlines and British Airways providing frequent service from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Belize City Airport.

If you are not in Los Angeles, New York, or Miami, you can still fly to Belize from several other US cities, including:

• Houston
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Seattle
• Dallas
• Charlotte
• Minneapolis
• Denver

The main carriers operating flights from the US to Belize are:

• United
• Delta
• American Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• US Airways
• Sun Country Airlines

An average nonstop flight from the US to Belize takes 6 hours and 14 minutes, covering a distance of 1655 miles. The most popular route is Newark to Belize City, with an average flight time of 4 hours and 38 minutes.

When planning your trip to Belize, keep in mind that December to April is the peak tourist season, so fares are likely to be higher during this period.

Airports in Belize

Belize has one international airport and several domestic airports. The international airport is Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), located in the village of Ladyville, approximately nine to ten miles from Belize City. It is often referred to simply as "Belize Airport" or "Belize International Airport". The airport is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who died in 2001. It is the only international airport in Belize and the main hub for local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.

All international flights into Belize land at Philip Goldson Airport, and some domestic flights also depart from here. However, other domestic flights depart from the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport in Belize City, also known as the "Belize Municipal Airport" or Belize City Municipal Airport (TZA).

Other domestic airports in Belize include:

• Hector Silva Airstrip – Belmopan Airport
• John Greif II Airport — San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Airport
• Maya Flats Airstrip – San Ignacio Town Airport
• Caye Caulker Airport
• Corozal Town Airport (Ranchito Airstrip)
• Independence Airport
• Orange Walk Airstrip
• Matthew Spain Airport
• Silver Creek Airport
• Blackbird Caye Airstrip

The main international carriers flying to Belize are United, Delta, American Airlines, Air Canada, and West Jet. Nonstop flights are available from Los Angeles, Miami, and Newark in the US, and Toronto and Calgary in Canada.

Getting to Ambergris Caye

To get to Ambergris Caye, you'll need to fly into the Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), located in Belize City. From there, you have two options: travel by air or by sea.

The quickest and most popular option is to take a local hopper flight from PGIA to San Pedro Airport (SPR) on Ambergris Caye. The flight takes about 15-20 minutes and costs around US$125-185.50 round trip. Maya Island Air and Tropic Air are the two airlines that offer this service, with flights departing hourly from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm.

If you prefer a more scenic and cost-effective route, you can take a water taxi from Belize City to Ambergris Caye. The two water taxi companies offering this service are the San Pedro Belize Express and Ocean Ferry Belize, with tickets costing around US$14.50-20 one-way. The boat ride takes about 75-90 minutes, but you'll also need to factor in the 25-30 minute taxi ride from PGIA to the water taxi dock in Belize City.

Getting Around Ambergris Caye

Once you arrive in San Pedro, you can explore the town on foot or use one of the many transportation options to get around the island. Golf carts are the most common vehicle type, and you can rent one from several outlets on the island, including Cholo's Golf Cart Rental and Carts Belize. Taxis are readily available, and you can also travel by bicycle or water taxi to get between resorts and towns.

Flying to Placencia

To fly to Placencia, you'll first need to fly to Belize. The easiest and most popular way to get to Belize is by flying into the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. There are five major US airlines and five other airlines that fly into Belize.

Airlines that fly to Belize

• American Airlines via Miami, FL or Dallas, TX
• United Airlines via Houston, TX
• Delta Airlines via Atlanta, GA and weekly from Los Angeles, CA
• US Airways via Charlotte, NC
• Southwest Airlines via Houston, TX or Denver, CO
• Avianca Airlines via San Salvador, El Salvador
• Copa Airlines via Panama City, PA
• Tropic Air via Cancun, Merida, Roatan, San Pedro Sula, Flores MX
• WestJet via Toronto, ON

From the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, you can take a domestic flight to Placencia Airport (PLJ). Maya Island Air and Tropic Air are two airlines that fly this route.

The duration of your flight to Placencia depends on your departure and arrival airports. Flights from Los Angeles take 25 hours and 10 minutes, from San Francisco take 29 hours and 30 minutes, and from New York take 32 hours and 35 minutes.

Tips for finding cheap flights to Placencia

• Compare multiple travel sites with a search engine like KAYAK.
• Be flexible with your travel dates.
• Book in advance.
• Choose an airline that includes baggage allowance.
• Sign up for price alerts.
• Book a flexible fare that can be changed or cancelled for free.

Visas for Belize

To reach Belize, you will need to fly into the country's only international airport, Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. From there, you can take a domestic flight to your chosen destination within Belize. The domestic airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air (or Maya Air) operate small prop planes, offering quick and scenic flights to locations such as Ambergris Caye and Placencia.

Now, onto the visa requirements for Belize. If you are a US citizen or hold a US Permanent Resident Card/US Multiple Entry Visa, you do not need a visa to enter Belize for stays of up to 30 days. However, you must have a valid passport, proof of an onward or return ticket within 30 days, and sufficient funds (USD $75 per day) for the duration of your stay.

For visits exceeding 30 days, you will need to visit an Immigration Office in Belize to extend your stay. You will need to apply for the 'Belize Visitor's Permit Extension' and pay an additional fee for each additional month, up to six months. If you plan to stay longer than six months, you may need to provide further documentation and pay additional fees.

For those who are not US citizens or permanent residents, visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. Citizens of certain countries, such as Canada and countries in the Schengen area, are exempt from the Belize entry visa requirement for visits of 30 days or less. However, citizens of other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will need a visa for any length of stay.

To apply for a Belizean visa, you must complete the application form and submit it to the Embassy of Belize, along with a passport photograph, a copy of your bank statement, a letter of employment (if applicable), a copy of your itinerary, and your passport. The processing time for visas is approximately 30 business days, and the visa fees vary depending on the type of visa and shipping method.

Frequently asked questions