Closest Airport To Cayo District, Belize: A Traveler's Guide

The closest airport to Cayo District, Belize is Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, located in Ladyville, a village 10 miles outside of Belize City. The airport is named after Hon. Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, a popular Belizean activist and politician who passed away in 2001. It is the only international airport in Belize and is served by 11 international airlines, with flights to the USA, Canada, Latin America, and Mexico.

Hector Silva Airstrip

The closest airport to Cayo District, Belize, is the Hector Silva Airstrip, also known as Belmopan Airport. It is located in the capital city of Belize, Belmopan, in the Cayo District. The airport is situated on the northern edge of the city, off the George Price Highway.

The airport's IATA code is BCV, and its ICAO code is MZBP. As of May 2024, there are no scheduled services or commercial passenger flights operating to or from the airport. However, it is still utilised by the military and private aircraft.

For those travelling to Cayo District or Belmopan, alternative airports, such as Belize City Goldson International Airport (BZE), San Ignacio Cayo Airport (CYD), or Belize City Municipal Airport (TZA), may be more suitable, as they offer commercial flights and services.

When planning a trip to Cayo District, it is beneficial to consider the peak and off-peak seasons. February is considered an inexpensive month to visit, while prices tend to be at their highest in December. Tuesday and Monday are typically the cheapest days to fly, while Saturdays should be avoided for cost-effective travel.

John Greif II Airport

The airport is equipped with maintenance and terminal facilities, as well as a paved and marked runway. The runway length includes a 60-metre (200 ft) displaced threshold on the western end, and approaches and departures on either end are over the water. The Chetumal VOR-DME is located 41.3 nautical miles (76 km) north-northwest of the airport, while the Belize VOR-DME is 29.9 nautical miles (55 km) to the southwest.

When planning a trip from John Greif II Airport, it is recommended to arrive early, typically two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. Additionally, travellers are advised to familiarize themselves with their airline's check-in requirements, baggage policies, and flight status updates.

Matthew Spain Airport

As of April 2024, there are no scheduled services to San Ignacio. However, the airport has a 5-star On-Time Performance Rating. The weather conditions on Sunday, January 22, at 1:23 pm were clear skies with a temperature of 32.1°C. The wind speed was 0 Bf (0 mph) from the north, and the pressure was 1012 hPa.

The airport's coordinates are 17-11-09.24N (17.1859) and 089-000-35.28W (-89.0098), with an elevation of 199 feet MSL (61 m MSL). The UTC is -6.0 for both Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time.

San Ignacio Town (Maya Flats) Airstrip

The airport provides air transport services and amenities such as aircraft maintenance and repair, rental car services, and a restaurant. There is also a luggage storage facility and a lost and found department.

To get to the airport, you can use public transport or drive. To check in for your flight, visit a self-service kiosk or ticket counter, and present a valid government-issued ID and your boarding pass to pass through security.

The nearest weather station to San Ignacio Town (Maya Flats) Airstrip is Mundo Maya, which is 84 km away. The airport is in the America/Belize timezone, and during daylight savings, the time is UTC -6.0.

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

The airport is the main airport in Belize and the only international airport in the country. It covers 457 acres of land and has one runway. In 2018, the airport received over 5,000 international and 26,000 domestic flights, serving approximately 1.1 million passengers. Currently, 11 international and two domestic airlines operate from the airport with scheduled flights to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

The airport terminal building is approximately 110,000 sq ft and contains Terminals 1 and 2, International Arrival and Departure Halls, a Domestic Arrival Hall, restaurants, bars, snack outlets, gift/souvenir shops, duty-free shops, a bank, and various other services. Outside the terminal building, there are car parking lots, taxi services, and a Rental Services Center containing car rental, telephone, and travel agency services.

The Philip Goldson International Airport is currently undergoing a $60 million Airport Improvements Project, which includes airport infrastructure expansion, a new Eastern Taxiway, a new car park facility, personnel training, new services, equipment upgrades, and other improvements.

Frequently asked questions