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Belize Travel and Country Guide

Belize Travel and Country Guide

Belize guide for vacation, diving, caving, fishing, scuba, the Caribbean sea, Maya temples, friendly people, islands, snorkel, best tourist attractions, what to do..

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Belize Facts Part Two

Bus Services

belize-guatemala-border-crossing
Crossing the western border with Guatemala

West Line, Venus, Belize Bus Owners Cooperative and others depart out of Belize City for most of the major towns (Corozal, Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belmopan, Dangriga, Punta Gorda) and border towns in Mexico and Guatemala. Most bus companies also offer runs into Chetumal, Mexico, and Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. Guatemalan bus lines such as Linia Dorada operate comfortable air-conditioned buses from Guatemala and Mexico. Smaller tourism vans from Guatemala also ply this route.

ADO Buses To Belize

Mexican based Auto Transportes De Oriente, ADO, has daily runs between Belize City and Cancun and Merida on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. These runs originate in Belize City every evening with stops in Orange Walk and Corozal Towns. ADO uses first class, air conditioned buses with sanitary facilities on board. As of June 2017 the schedule looks like this:

Tulum / Playa / Cancun

Belize City (7:30 pm) – Orange Walk (9:00 pm) – Corozal (10:00pm) Tulum (4:00am)– Playa del Carmen (5:00am)- Cancun Airport (6:30am) – Cancun Bus Terminal (7:00 am)

Hospital Route (Merida)

Belize City (7:00pm) – Orange Walk (8:30pm) – Corozal (9:30pm) – Merida (6:00am)
At this writing ADO Bus has no permanent offices in Belize. That is why information can be a little difficult to find. The buses pick up and drop off passengers at the existing local bus terminals in Belize City, Orange Walk and Corozal. ADO representatives show up at these bus stations a couple of hours before each departure to ticket passengers. You can purchase tickets in advance from them at that time as well. See our page on the ADO Bus To Belize for more details.

The local Belize bus schedules are continually being altered often without much public notice. You should call the bus company to double check the schedules for your intended trip. The important thing for travelers to know is that there are two classes of bus runs, Regular and Express. Most buses in Belize are used school buses imported from the U.S. and generally they are not in good condition due to the very high taxes on vehicle imports, parts, fuel and maintenance. The Regular bus tends to be in poor condition (chicken bus style) and makes frequent stops at villages and even for someone standing on the highway.

The Express Buses are in better condition and may make one stop, if any, between two destinations. This makes for a more comfortable and shorter ride.

Visas

Nationals of the following countries do not require visas: Australia, El Salvador, Canada,Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, United States of America, Venezuela, CARICOM member states and members of the European Union.

Nationals of the following countries must secure a visa to enter Belize: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bosnia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Japan, Korea (North and South), Libya, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Zaire.

The Government of Belize maintains a restricted list of countries, and in order to enter Belize, nationals of the following countries must secure a visa, pay the appropriate fees and must obtain permission from the Director of Immigration: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar(Burma), Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Srilanka, Syria, Thailand and the United Arab Emigrates. Looking to live in Belize?

Since visa requirements are subject to change, please contact the Belize Consuls and Embassies for up-to-date information. More information on our Belize Entry Requirements page.

How Long Can I Stay?

Visitors are permitted to stay in Belize for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. The following category of persons may be granted by the Immigration Department extensions of up to three (3) months at a time. These three months would be after the thirty day period given by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. This category includes persons living in remote areas away from the Immigration Office, Potential Investors and Business persons.

The above is on the understanding that the applicant presents himself or herself in person and satisfies the requirement that the necessary funds (US $50.00 per person per day) are available for the duration of the period requested extension. Applicant must also have a ticket to his/her onward destination. Extensions are granted at a cost of US $50.00 per month.

Animals and Pets

Animals must be accompanied by a certificate of freedom from infectious or contagious disease by a registered veterinarian and must be free of open wounds. To import a dog or cat a valid import permit from the Belize Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA) is required. Applications can be submitted at any BAHA office. Where the permit and conditions are faxed outside Belize, which is payable upon entry – this permit bears a stamp stating “pay upon entry”. Animals must have a recent veterinary certificate of health -14 days – and must have a valid rabies certificate: not less than one month or more than one year prior to the date of importation into Belize. This certificate can be included in the veterinary certificate. Dogs and cats which do not meet rabies requirements (those that are less than three months of age) will to be confined at home until they reach three months of age, at which time the animal shall be vaccinated against rabies and confined for an additional thirty days.

Currency and Credit Cards

Local currency is the BZ Dollar. One U.S. dollar is worth BZ$2. U.S. dollars should be exchanged directly in purchasing goods and services, as banks will charge a fee (currently is at .0125) to exchange U.S. to BZ dollars. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in the country. See more information on our Belize currency page.

Credit Cards and Travelers’ Checks: All hotels, restaurants and shops in the major towns and tourist areas take all major credit cards. Representatives of VISA, Master Card and American Express can be contacted at the local banks. Credit cards with the Interlink, PLUS or STAR logos can access local Bank ATM machines for cash withdrawals countrywide. The daily limit is US$500. Belize is a highly regarded offshore banking centre and these services are available countrywide through licensed offshore banking practitioners.

Belize Telecommunications

All telecommunications services (direct dial phones, cellular, fax, Internet, telex, cable) are available. The predominant cellular systems are GSM 1900 frequency, CDMA and as of 2018 4G LTE. The largest carrier is the government controlled Belize Telemedia Limited, and second tier privately held SMART. In 2018 BTL introduced its DIGINET Fibre Internet Service. The highest consumer speed is now 20 Mps down and 10 Mps up at U.S.$90. This package includes cellular and Home Phone Service. This development now makes Belize the fastest and most economical telecom service in Central America and the British Commonweal Caribbean.

Updated 28 June 2018

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