Belize's Duty-Free Shopping Secrets Unveiled

Duty-free shops in Belize sell a range of products, including alcohol, tobacco, perfume, electronics, and snacks. Alcohol is the most popular item, with a variety of local and international options available. Local options include Belize rum, Belize coconut rum, Belize blackberry wine, and Belize Cashew Wine. International options include Absolut Pear vodka, whiskey, and wine. In addition to alcohol, duty-free shops in Belize also offer tobacco products such as cigarettes, Cuban cigars, and vape products. Fragrances from top brands like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Gucci are also available.

Alcohol: spirits, wine, beer, and liquor

Duty-free shops in Belize sell a variety of alcoholic drinks, including spirits, wine, beer, and liquor. The selection of alcohol available in duty-free shops includes both international and local options.

International options include well-known brands such as Absolut Vodka, Tito's Vodka, and Johnnie Walker Black Label. These drinks are often significantly cheaper in duty-free shops than in grocery stores or bars in the country. For example, a 1L bottle of Absolut Pear vodka costs $18 in the airport duty-free shop but $54.55 in grocery stores. Similarly, a bottle of Tito's Vodka costs $18 in the duty-free shop but $60 in San Pedro.

Local options include Belizean rum, fruit wines, and beer. Local rum, in particular, is recommended by some sources, who suggest trying brands such as Tiburon or Copalli. Local rum and fruit wines are also widely available and inexpensive within the country, so it is not recommended to buy these in duty-free shops.

Duty-free shops in Belize have a limit on the amount of alcohol that can be purchased. Each traveller can buy up to 4.5 litres of wine and spirits, or up to 6 bottles of liquor or wine.

Tobacco: cigarettes, cigars, and Cuban cigars

Duty-free shops in Belize sell a range of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and Cuban cigars. The tobacco products available in duty-free shops include well-known international brands such as Marlboro, Benson & Hedges, Camel, British American Tobacco, Lucky Strike, Philip Morris, Kool, and Winston.

When shopping for Cuban cigars in Belize, it is recommended to check the packaging, as some stores are known to sell imitations of popular brands. Duty & Tax Free Ltd, which has stores in the Philip Goldson International Airport, Harvest Caye International Cruise Port, and Punta Gorda International Point of Entry, offers genuine Cuban cigars from brands such as Arturo Fuente, Romeo y Julieta, Monte Cristo, and Cohiba.

The duty-free allowance for tobacco products in Belize is quite generous. Each traveller can purchase up to three cartons of cigarettes (200 cigarettes per carton) and up to 150 cigars per trip.

For travellers departing from Belize, the amount of tobacco that can be purchased duty-free depends on the limits set by the destination country. For example, the United States allows returning residents an exemption of up to 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars every 31 days, provided they have stayed outside the country for at least 48 hours. Similarly, Canada allows travellers who have been away for more than 48 hours to bring in up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars duty-free.

Perfume and fragrances

Duty-free shops in Belize sell fragrances from top brands like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Each traveller entering Belize can purchase up to 3 100ml bottles of fragrance duty-free in a single trip.

Duty-free fragrances are available at the Philip Goldson International Airport, which has multiple duty-free retail stores. There is one branch inside the Departures gate and two branches inside the Arrivals gate.

Duty & Tax-Free Ltd, which has been in operation since 1986, has 10 stores in 5 locations across the country. They offer a 10% discount on purchases when you sign up for their email list.

Other locations to find duty-free fragrances in Belize include:

• Harvest Caye International Cruise Port
• Punta Gorda International Point of Entry
• Benque Viejo Del Carmen Western Border (Guatemala-Belize)
• Santa Elena along the Northern Border (Mexico-Belize)
• Fort Street Tourism Village (Belize City)

Electronics

Duty-free shops in Belize sell a range of products, including alcohol, tobacco, perfume, and confectionery. The most popular items are typically alcohol and tobacco, as these items are heavily taxed outside of duty-free zones.

At the Philip Goldson International Airport, there are multiple duty-free stores in both the departures and arrivals gates. One source mentions that the Premier Duty-Free store is located directly across from the baggage claim area and offers a discount to readers of the tacogirl blog. This store sells liquor, tobacco, fragrances, watches, jewellery, and other gift items.

Duty-free shops can also be found at the Harvest Caye International Cruise Port, the Punta Gorda International Point of Entry, and various land border crossings.

Snacks and confectionery

The confectionery products available at duty-free shops in Belize include chocolate, candy, sweets, and other comestibles. These shops also often offer samples of their products, so you can try before you buy.

In addition to confectionery, duty-free shops in Belize sell a range of other products, including alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, Cuban cigars, fragrances, watches, jewellery, and other gift items.

Frequently asked questions