Belize's International Airports: A Traveler's Guide

Belize is a tropical country in Central America, located just south of Mexico and east of Guatemala. The most popular way to get to Belize is by air, with all international flights landing at the Phillip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Ladyville, just outside Belize City. This is the only international airport in Belize and is served by several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and British Airways. There are nonstop flights to Belize from various cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. From Canada, WestJet and Air Canada offer direct flights during the high tourism season from November to April. For those travelling from Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, flight connections are necessary.

Flying into Belize: Philip Goldson Airport is the main international airport

Belize is a tropical country in Central America, located just south of Mexico and east of Guatemala. It is a popular tourist destination, with over a million cruise visitors per year. The country's primary market is the United States (70%), and it is easily accessible from most places in the US.

For tourists, flying is the most popular way to get to Belize, with all international flights landing at the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Ladyville, just outside Belize City. 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. The airport is named after a Belizean activist and politician, Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson.

US to Belize flights are served by major airlines such as United, Delta, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest. The main cities of departure include New York, Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago. From the US, an average nonstop flight to Belize takes around 6 hours, covering a distance of 1647 miles.

If you are flying from Canada, WestJet and Air Canada offer direct flights to Belize during the high tourism season (November to April). From Europe, there are currently no direct flights, but the shortest option is to fly from London Heathrow with a brief stop in Miami.

Once you arrive at Philip Goldson International Airport, you can take a connecting flight to smaller destinations in Belize, such as Caye Caulker, San Ignacio Town, and San Pedro. These local flights are operated by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air.

Getting to San Pedro: Fly into San Pedro Airport, the only airport on Ambergris Caye

If you're heading to San Pedro, you'll be flying into San Pedro Airport (airport code SPR), also known as John Greif II Airport. It's the only airport on Ambergris Caye, and it's located at the southern end of the busy downtown area of San Pedro.

Flying into San Pedro Airport

There are frequent daily flights to San Pedro Airport from Belize City, with flights leaving from both the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport and the Municipal Airport. Maya Island Air offers 11 daily flights from Belize City to San Pedro, with two extra evening flights between March and October. Tropic Air is another option, with several daily flights. The flight time is around 15 minutes, and the fare is typically BZ$72-BZ$140 each way.

When booking your flight, consider whether you'll be arriving on an international flight or if you'll already be in Belize City. If you're coming in on an international flight, book your connection to San Pedro from the international airport. If you're already in Belize City or travelling within the country, it's cheaper and more convenient to fly from the Municipal Airport.

During the high season and whenever possible, it's recommended to make a reservation. However, it's usually also possible to show up at the airport and get a seat on the next available flight within an hour. Keep in mind that luggage may be limited due to space constraints, so your baggage may end up on a later flight if the plane is too full.

Alternative Ways to Get to Ambergris Caye

In addition to flying, you can also travel to Ambergris Caye by boat. Ocean Ferry Belize and San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi offer water taxi services from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, with the journey taking about an hour and a half, including a stop at Caye Caulker. The fare is typically BZ$34-BZ$56 one way, or BZ$64-BZ$76 for a round trip.

Getting Around Ambergris Caye

Once you've arrived in San Pedro, getting around the downtown area is easy on foot. However, if you're staying at a hotel located further north or south of the town, you may need alternative transportation. Golf carts are a popular option and can be rented from several outlets on the island. Bicycles are another good choice, and most hotels either provide their own bikes or can recommend rental options.

A bridge connects the north and south sections of Ambergris Caye, and while pedestrians and bicycles can cross for free, there is a toll of BZ$5 each way for golf carts and other vehicles.

Getting to Belize by land: Take a bus from Mexico or Guatemala, a cheap travel option

Belize is accessible by land from Mexico and Guatemala, and taking the bus is a cheap travel option. However, it's important to note that there are no direct buses from Mexico to Belize. From Mexico City, you can take a bus to Villahermosa, then another bus to Bacalar, and finally, a third bus to Belize City. This journey, including transfers, takes approximately 22 hours and 46 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Mexico City to Chetumal, Mexico, and then another bus from Corozal, Mexico, to Belize City.

If you're travelling from Guatemala to Belize, you can take a bus and shuttle combination. First, take a bus from Guatemala City to Melchor de Mencos, and then another bus from Benque Viejo el Carmen to Belize City. This journey will take you around 9 hours and 14 minutes. Another option is to take a shuttle from Guatemala City to Belize City, which is the fastest land option, taking approximately 17 hours and 21 minutes.

When crossing the border from Guatemala to Belize, remember that there is only one land border crossing point, Melchor de Mencos-Benque Viejo del Carmen. This border is usually open from 6 am to 10 pm, and you'll need to fill out two immigration forms before entering Belize. Keep in mind that scams and bribery attempts are not uncommon, so be vigilant and aware of your rights.

Getting to Belize by sea: Over a million cruise visitors arrive in Belize each year

Getting to Belize by Air

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. This airport is located 9 miles (15 km) outside of Belize City and is named after Belizean politician and activist Philip Goldson. It is the only international airport in Belize.

There are several nonstop flights from the U.S. to Belize, depending on your city of origin. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) offer nonstop flights to Belize City Airport. Miami is the only U.S. city that offers nonstop flights to Belize, with both American Airlines and British Airways providing this service.

Getting to Belize by Sea

Over a million cruise visitors arrive in Belize each year. It is possible to enter Belize by boat from either Guatemala or Honduras. There are daily boats to Punta Gorda from Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, and Puerto Cortés, Honduras.

However, the heavy passenger traffic from cruise ships can have damaging effects on both the environment and infrastructure in Belize. An alternative option is to fly into a nearby country and travel to Belize by boat. Flying into Cancún is often cheaper than flying directly into Belize, so many travellers choose to fly to Cancún and then take a bus or drive to Belize. Cancún is about 230 miles (369 km) from the border with Belize.

US to Belize flights: Flights are offered by United, Delta, American Airlines, and more

Flights from the US to Belize are offered by several airlines, including United, Delta, American Airlines, British Airways, and Alaska Airlines.

United

United Airlines offers flights to Belize City (BZE) from over 200 airports within the United States, including:

• Houston (IAH)
• Denver (DEN)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York/Newark (EWR)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• San Antonio (SAT)
• Austin (AUS)
• Minneapolis (MSP)
• Portland, OR (PDX)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Cleveland (CLE)
• Baltimore (BWI)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Orlando (MCO)
• San Diego (SAN)
• Saint Louis (STL)
• Columbus (CMH)
• Kansas City (MCI)
• Las Vegas (LAS)
• Atlanta (ATL)
• Boston (BOS)
• New Orleans (MSY)
• Orange County (SNA)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Washington, D.C. (DCA)
• Cincinnati (CVG)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Charlotte (CLT)
• Indianapolis (IND)
• Oklahoma City (OKC)
• Colorado Springs (COS)
• Raleigh (RDU)
• Honolulu (HNL)
• Billings (BIL)
• Fort Myers (RSW)
• Montrose (MTJ)
• Pittsburgh (PIT)
• Hartford (BDL)
• Kalispell (GPI)

Delta

Delta Air Lines offers flights from the US to Belize City, with layovers. In 2024, they introduced nonstop flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Belize City (BZE) on Saturdays.

American Airlines

American Airlines offers nonstop flights from Miami (MIA) to Belize City.

British Airways

British Airways offers nonstop flights from Miami (MIA) to Belize City.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers flights from the US to Belize, with layovers.

Frequently asked questions