Belize Travel FAQ

I started Belize News Post over twenty years ago because there was no independent voice for the country online. Most of what’s written about visiting Belize is written by people passing through. I grew up in Corozal, on the bay. So here are the questions I get asked most, answered straight.

Getting in and getting around

Do I need a passport or visa to visit Belize?

If you’re coming from the US, Canada, the UK, or the EU, you need a valid passport and that’s it — no visa for a tourist stay of up to 30 days. They may ask for proof you’re leaving and that you can support yourself. Keep your passport valid through the whole trip.

What money does Belize use? Can I use US dollars?

The Belize dollar, and it’s generally locked at two-to-one with the US dollar. That never changes. US dollars are taken everywhere at that rate, so you don’t need to change money. Bring small US bills, tens and twenties, because change in US cash gets awkward. There are money changers around that may offer slightly better rates, but don’t hold out or go looking for them, they are generally word of mouth or stationed at border crossings.

Are there ATMs in Belize, and do they take international cards?

Yes, in the towns and tourist hubs, and they dispense Belize dollars and take international cards. The small cayes and the villages run on cash. Carry some US cash as backup and don’t count on tapping your card at a roadside stand. I’d recommend getting your cash out of the ATM before the pay day rush.

How do I get around? Is there Uber in Belize?

No Uber, no Lyft, and don’t wait for them. You get to the islands by small plane (Tropic Air, Maya Island Air — the hops are 15 minutes) or by water taxi. On land, taxis carry green license plates and you usually call for one. You can rent a car for the mainland and Cayo, but the roads are rough and the driving is casual. Plan for that. If you have the means reserving a golf cart on one of the cayes that offers delivery to airport is really convenient. Or there are tour guides and tour companies that offer transportation services. Call ahead. Expect to use WhatsApp.

How do I stay connected — Wi-Fi and data?

Wi-Fi is normal at hotels and restaurants in the towns and on the cayes. For your own data, a local SIM (DigiCell or Smart) or an eSIM is cheap and works better than paying your carrier to roam. In the deep jungle, expect nothing. A few international carriers like T-Mobile offer free international roaming in Belize with limited data. Sometimes you need to call in to activate that service, depends on the carrier but worth a look to see if you plan covers it. Belize has surprisingly good internet all things considered. In my experience its better than rural America. So, if you have Voip type apps on your phone you can also probably get by. Belize stopped blocking voip some time ago, so its honestly a viable option for a lot of things.

When to come

When is the best time to visit Belize?

The dry season, late November through mid-May. December to April is the prime window. If you come in the green season, June through November, you trade crowds for heat, humidity, and an afternoon downpour most days. More on this in our guide to the best time to visit Belize.

What’s the weather like through the year?

Hot and humid most of the year — you’re in the tropics. Drier from November to May, wet from June to November. Hurricane season runs through the fall and peaks August to October; it rarely ruins a trip, but watch the forecast if you come then.

What about the seaweed — sargassum?

The sargassum hits the windward beaches hardest, roughly March through October — Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Placencia, Hopkins. Here’s the part people miss: the reef is offshore, so the snorkeling and diving are usually clean even when the beach has weed. Full detail in our sargassum guide.

Safety and health

Is Belize safe?

On paper Belize has a high crime rate, and that scares people off. The truth is most of the violence is gang-related and concentrated in a few parts of Belize City — the south side, at night — places a visitor has no reason to be. The cayes, Placencia, San Pedro, the Cayo district: you use the same sense you’d use anywhere. For starters don’t try to buy illegal drugs, or visit places of ill repute and you’ve already reduced your odds of a poor experience by a huge margin. We go deeper in is Belize safe.

Do I need vaccines for Belize?

None are required to enter. The CDC recommends your routine shots plus Hepatitis A and typhoid, and there’s some malaria, dengue, and Zika risk in inland and rural areas. The practical answer: bring good repellent and check the CDC’s Belize page before you fly.

Can I drink the tap water in Belize?

No, and locals don’t either. Bottled and filtered water is cheap and everywhere. Bring a refillable bottle and fill it from filtered sources — you’ll go through a lot of water in this heat.

What’s the emergency number in Belize?

911 reaches police, fire, and ambulance. Save your hotel’s number and your country’s embassy contact too — in a remote area a local number gets help faster than a national line. In our experience getting help is often best, and fastest if you store key contacts in your phone. And again remember the theme, Belize is highly engaged on WhatsApp. Almost all tourist centric businesses have contacts available via WhatsApp. So if you find yourself in a pinch calling to a WhatsApp number you have already saved might be more helpful than a general emergency call. Don’t expect quick response times or highly trained first responders. Belize does the best it can but I always recall the sign at the Caye Caulker cemetery: “Go slow, we have two cemeteries but no hospital”. For extreme situations they are medivac and air lift type services in Belize.

Do you tip in Belize?

In tourism, yes — around 10 to 15 percent at a restaurant if service isn’t already added, and tip your guides, they earn it. At a casual local spot it’s not the obligation it is in the States. Use judgment.

On the ground

What language do they speak in Belize?

English is the official language — Belize is the only country in Central America where that’s true, a leftover of British colonial history. You’ll also hear Spanish and Kriol everywhere, and Maya and Garifuna in their districts. You will never be stuck; everyone you deal with as a visitor speaks English. This is honestly one of the things that’s changed over the years. Belizeans have always spoken English but its flavor is slowly becoming more Americanized and less colonial. Hard to describe exactly but it sounds different these days.

How many days should I spend in Belize?

Five to ten. A week is the sweet spot: a few days on a caye for the reef and the slow island pace, a few days inland for the Maya sites and the jungle. Less than five and you’re choosing one or the other. That’s the fast answer. The longer answer depends on the type of tourist you are. Corozal for example is a vibe more than a tourist trap. In other words to get to know a place like Corozal you need time to slowly soak it in. I’d recommend a month to really see the ebbs and flows, feel the pace, see the rhythms of the land and the people. Longer stays allow you to see what most tourists simply miss. You can go to quieter corners like Sarteneja, or Punta Gorda.

Should I stay on the cayes or the mainland?

Different countries, almost. The cayes — Ambergris, Caye Caulker — are reef, beach, and island time. The mainland, especially Cayo and the south, is jungle, rivers, waterfalls, and Maya ruins. If you have the week, do both. If you only have a few days, pick by whether you came for the water or the land.

What should I pack for Belize?

Sun protection that won’t burn you or the reef, repellent for the sand flies, water shoes, and a dry bag for the boat. The rest is shorts and a swimsuit. I wrote the full list in what to pack for Belize.

What activities should I prioritize?

The barrier reef — snorkel or dive it, and the Blue Hole if you dive. The Maya sites: Xunantunich, Caracol, and the ATM cave, which is one of the great cave experiences anywhere. Cave tubing. A day in the jungle. You can’t do all of it in a week, so choose.

What food should I try in Belize?

This is the one I’m actually qualified to answer. Rice and beans with stew chicken is the national plate. Fry jacks for breakfast. Panades, salbutes, garnaches off the street. Ceviche on the coast. And don’t be the tourist asking for salmon — eat the snapper, eat what the sea gives you. The recipes for most of it are here in our Belizean recipes A-Z.