The cruise terminal in Belize City is located at Belize's Tourism Village, also known as Fort Street Tourism Village. The cruise port terminal is a tender port, with cruise ships anchoring in the bay of Belize due to shallow waters near the coast. Passengers are then transferred to the cruise terminal via high-speed boats, a journey that takes approximately 15-20 minutes. The tender boats dock at the Fort Street Tourism Village, which is within walking distance of Belize City's downtown hub. The cruise terminal offers a range of shops, restaurants, and tour operators, providing an authentic Belizean experience for visitors.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Fort Street Tourism Village Cruise Port |
Location | Belize City, Belize, Central America |
Coordinates | 17.5046° N 88.1962° W |
Nearby landmarks | Museum of Belize, St John Cathedral, Swing Bridge, Marine Terminal, Post Office |
Transport options | Taxi, water taxi, shuttle bus, rent-a-car |
Amenities | Restaurants, bars, shops, internet cafe, pharmacy, ATMs |
Attractions | Mayan ruins, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, snorkeling, scuba diving |
What You'll Learn
The cruise terminal is located in Belize's Tourism Village
Belize City's cruise port terminal is located at Belize's Tourism Village. The cruise ships anchor in the bay of Belize, as the waters near the coast are shallow. Passengers are then tendered to the cruise port terminal via high-speed boats, which takes around 20 minutes.
The Tourism Village is a bustling but relatively small transit hub. It features several courtyards, snack bars, and local stores with excellent duty-free shopping. There are also restaurants offering authentic Caribbean and international cuisine, and live local entertainment is often available. The village is clean and well-maintained, and there are plenty of taxis available.
The cruise terminal is within walking distance of Belize City, but the city is not particularly appealing or safe to explore on your own. However, there are a few interesting landmarks nearby, such as the Museum of Belize, St. John's Cathedral, and the Baron Bliss Lighthouse.
Belize City is the country's largest urban centre, located on the East coast of Belize, bathed by the Caribbean Sea. The country is the second-smallest in Central America, and English is the official language.
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Cruise ships anchor in the bay of Belize
The Tourism Village is a tender port, around 15 minutes ship to shore. It has the feel of an open-air mini-mall, with several courtyards, snack bars, and local stores offering excellent duty-free shopping. There are also restaurants serving authentic Caribbean and international cuisine, and live local entertainment is often provided.
Belize City's cruise port terminal is located at the Tourism Village, as the shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea near the coast make it impossible for cruise ships to dock. The village is a safe, secluded area, just a stone's throw from the historic centre of Belize City.
The village is the main gateway for ferry traffic to islands such as Ambergris Caye. It is also the entry point for most visitors to Belize, with the country's small size making it possible to head deep into the rainforest or out to the barrier reef, even if only in port for one day.
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Passengers are tendered to the port via high-speed boats
Belize City's cruise port terminal is located at Belize's Tourism Village, also known as Fort Street Tourism Village. As the water near the coast is too shallow for cruise ships, vessels anchor in the bay of Belize and passengers are tendered to the port via high-speed boats. Each tender boat has three powerful engines and the journey typically takes around 20 minutes.
The tender boats dock at the Fort Street Tourism Village, which is right by Belize City downtown. The cruise terminal is a safe, secluded area just a stone's throw away from the historic centre of Belize City. The village has several courtyards, snack bars, local shops, and restaurants offering authentic Caribbean and international cuisine. There are also tour operators, gift shops, and duty-free shopping.
A popular way of travelling between the city and the cruise port is by water taxi. These can be hired at the Marine Terminal, which is housed in the same building as the Coastal Zone Museum and the Marine Museum. Taxis are also available at the Tourism Village, but they do not use meters so passengers will need to negotiate the price in advance.
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The terminal has basic services, shops, and restaurants
The cruise terminal in Belize City, known as the Fort Street Tourism Village, offers a range of basic services and amenities for travellers. The terminal has a collection of shops, including gift shops and duty-free shopping, with items such as souvenirs, tobacco, liquors, perfumes, regional chocolate, and Caribbean clothing. There are also a few restaurants and bars, such as Wet Lizard, offering local cuisine and drinks.
The terminal has a clean and appealing atmosphere, and it is considered a safe area for travellers to explore. It is located just a short distance from the historic centre of Belize City, providing easy access to the city's landmarks and attractions.
Belize City itself offers a variety of local cuisine and drinks for travellers to enjoy. Regional specialties such as chicken stew, Bile Up, Hudut, and conch fritters can be found in the historical centre of the city. Fresh fruit, including passion fruit, jackfruit, and mango, is also a must-try.
For those looking for souvenirs and gifts, the Fort Street Tourism Village is the best place to shop. However, for a larger and more diverse selection of shops, travellers can visit San Pedro and Ambergris Caye, located a short distance from the cruise terminal.
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The city offers Mayan sites, wildlife adventures, and water sports
Belize City is a tender port, with the ship-to-shore journey taking approximately 15 minutes. The Fort Street Tourism Village Cruise Port, the original cruise port, resembles an open-air mini-mall, with several courtyards, snack bars, local shops, and restaurants serving Caribbean and international cuisine. There is often live local entertainment. The newer Harvest Caye Cruise Port in southern Stann Creek District currently caters only to Norwegian Cruise Line passengers. Here, passengers can enjoy a large pool, beach, zip-lining, water sports, and an enclosed nature area with birds and butterflies.
Belize City offers easy access to Mayan sites, wildlife adventures, and water sports. Known as the epicentre of the ancient Maya world, Belize was once home to more than 2 million Mayas. The Altun Ha Maya Temple, located 31 miles north of Belize City, is a major ceremonial and trade centre during the Classic Period. The site is rich in wildlife, including armadillos, bats, squirrels, agouti, paca, foxes, raccoons, coati, tyra, tapir, and white-tailed deer. The Caracol Maya Site, located within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, is the largest known Maya centre in the country and holds the tallest man-made structure in Belize, the "Sky Place" pyramid.
For wildlife enthusiasts, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's only known jaguar preserve. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, spanning 16,400 acres, offers the opportunity to spot crocodiles, iguanas, turtles, coatis, and the jabiru stork. The Belize Zoo, an hour away from Belize City, is home to a variety of animals, including jaguars, margays, and tapirs.
Belize City is also a great destination for water sports enthusiasts. Sea Sports Belize, located in the city, offers diving, snorkelling, and fishing trips. The Hol Chan Shark Ray Alley, accessible from San Pedro or Caye Caulker, provides the opportunity to swim with nurse sharks and stingrays. The Gladden Spit Marine Reserve, 30 miles east of Placencia, is known for its whale sharks and underwater life.
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