Getting in and visas for Belize

US, Canadian, Australian, and EU passport holders do not need a visa, but they will need a valid passport. Cruise ship visitors do not even need a passport. The Belize Tourism Board [2] maintains up-to-date information.

By plane

The Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (IATA: BZE) (ICAO: MZBZ) is in Ladyville, to the northwest of Belize City where it receives flights from Atlanta, Newark, Miami, Dallas, and Houston. It also has flights coming in from Guatemala City, San Salvador, Roatan and San Pedro Sula.

By car

From Mexico via Chetumal, in the north, or on a much rougher road from Guatemala via Tikal.

By bus

Buslines from Guatemala City and Belmopan operate to Flores in Guatemala, and to Chetumal in Mexico.

By boat

Several cruise lines call on Belize City, which is the largest city in Belize. Unfortunately they usually stay only one day, which doesn't give one the opportunity to really see Belize. You can visit one of the Maya ruins, ride an airboat in the salt marshes just outside the city, shop, go to the museum, go to the zoo or take either a short cave rafting trip or snorkeling, but that's about it. That means about 70% of the things most tourists would like aren't available, not mention the eco-tourism points of interest. To Puerto Cortés, Honduras, the Gulf Cruza, a small rickety speed boat (20 people) leaves Placencia each Friday at around 9:30AM (4h US$50), going first to Big Creek. It returns to Placencia on Monday. Tickets are sold in the tourist office next to the gas station. Stop by immigration first. Small speedboats operate on a daily basis between Puerto Barrios in Guatemala to Punta Gorda. On Tuesday and Fridays, boats operate from Livingston in Guatemala to Punta Gorda. The ride takes around two hours.