7/27/2012

Travel to Belize City.





Belize City waterfront
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It is located on a small peninsula protruding into the Caribbean Sea. It was the capital city until flooding and other damage from a hurricane prompted the government to relocated toBelmopan, nearer the geographic center of the country.

Get in

Airplane

The international airport (Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport[[1]]) for Belize is located in Belize City. Philip S. W. Goldson is about 30 minutes drive from Belize City's center. The best way to get to and from the city center is with a taxi. Although an airport bus service exists, it is very infrequent and unreliable. BZE (Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport) is served by most major US airlines (American, Delta, United, and US Air) as well as a couple regional carriers (Honduras, Maya, and Tropic).

Water Taxi

San Pedro Express and other water taxi companies have boats going out to Caye Caulker and San Pedro from the city often. Remember if you buy a round-trip ticket, you will have to use the same company going back as you took going there.

Bus

From Guatemala City (travel time: 8 to 10 hours), you have the following options to Belize: Altobuses del Norte (ADN) [2]. Linea Dorada [3], first class buses leaving Guatemala City at 9:00pm for US$30,"first class" buses at 10:00am and 12:00pm for US$22 and an economy bus leaving at 10:00pm for US$16. Fuente del Norte [4] has 15+ departures from Guatemala City per day. Most of these are local runs with second-class buses (older pullman coaches without air conditioning), but they also operate a few first-class express buses (with toilets and air conditioning) leaving from Guatemala City at 10:00am, 2:00pm, and 10:30pm, and a deluxe bus leaving from Guatemala City at 9:00pm.

Get around

Use a taxi. If you want to get out of Belize City, use the taxi, bus, or even the little airplanes which take you to other destinations in Belize for less than US$100.
Getting to and Around the Cayes Belize is undoubtedly the “it” place in travel and tourism in Central America and the Western Caribbean. Not only is the culture attractive for foreigners as an English speaking nation, navigating to and around the Cayes of Belize has become very easy. For those wanting a truly Belizean experience, take the water taxis from destination to destination. San Pedro Belize Express [5] departs from the Brown Sugar Terminal in Belize City with scheduled runs at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
Departure to Caye Caulker and Belize City from San Pedro Town pier on Black Coral Street next to Wahoo's Bar and Grill and leaves at 7:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
There are boats departing from Caye Caulker to both Belize City and San Pedro Town and they leave from the pier in front of the Basket Ball Court. Caye Caulker to Belize City: 7:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm and Caye Caulker to San Pedro: 7:00 am (Connection to Chetumal), 9:45 am, 12:45 am, 3:45 pm
Rates: Belize City to San Pedro, San Pedro to Belize City: $30 Belize or $15 US (one way), $55 Belize or $27.50 US (round trip) Caye Caulker to San Pedro, Belize City to Caye Caulker: $20 Belize or $10 US (one way), $35 Belize or $17.50 US(round trip)

See

Eco-museum Belize, located at 14.5 Mile, Western Highway, is a living museum of Belize tropical treasures. Here, they show you how Belizeans utilize and recycle natural resources in the construction and decoration of the museum. The Eco-museum is dedicated to show visitors the beauty of nature in harmony with the Belizean culture.

Do

There is not much to do around Belize City, and most use this as a transportation hub. With that said, there are a few museums around the downtown area and a zoo.

Buy

Most places accept US Dollars as the Belizean Dollar is pegged to the US dollar at 2BZD = 1 USD. If you are traveling to the cayes, stock up on your cash at the central bank, as the ATMs on the islands often run out of money on weekends.
If you want to shop there is tourism village in the Fort George area which has jewelry shops like Diamonds International and lots of gift shops. Fort George is located on a boardwalk.
There is a cruise terminal there that receives Carnival Cruise Line ships.

Eat

  • Vegetarian Restaurant, 14.5 Mile, Western Highway, Orchid Garden Eco-Village: Delicious Food, Nature at its best.
  • Neris II, Regency Street: great conch soup, but the season ends on the first of July.
  • Big Daddy's Diner, Central Market: Reasonably priced, very local, and a great view of Haulover Creek, home to much of the city's modest fishing fleet.
  • Dit's Cafe: Great watermelon juice and wonderful pastries.
  • Smoky Mermaid, Fort George area: Upscale dining.
  • Harbourview, Fort George area: Very upscale dining, with a great chef.
  • Marva's: a small family-run restaurant serving good, hot breakfast within walking distance from the water taxi terminal

Drink

  • Riverside TavernOwned by Belize's only Brewery you can get the freshest & coldest Draft Beer. Also great Hamburgers, and other food available. Open Tuesday to Sunday 11AM until Midnight  edit

Sleep

  • SeaSide Guesthouse3 Prince St (from main Bus Station, head south on Cemetery Rd until Albert St, go right on Albert St until Prince St, then left on Prince til the Seawall end),  (+501) 227-8339 (seasidebelize@gmail.com, fax(+501) 227-1689), [6]. Basic rooms but centrally located and probably one of the cheapest options in Belize City. If you are lucky, you might get a free public WiFi from the terrace. Dorm from Bz$30.  edit
  • Orchid Garden Eco-Village, a Living Harmony: From this tranquil, secure and beautiful home base some fourteen miles from Belize City, you just need to pack lightly to visit other interesting locations, such as Caye Caulker or San Pedro, Placencia, and San Ignacio.
  • The Princess: A great hotel at which to stay, which has great service. There is a swimming pool, casino, buffet, restaurant, marina, and nightclubs and bars.
  • Best Western Biltmore Plaza: A very good hotel with pool and amenities of everyday life.
  • Radisson Fort George: A great hotel with a buffet, restaurant, marina, and gift shops. Try to stay in the main building or the tower; the annex is not as nice.
  • The Great House: A nice hotel in a large colonial house across from the Radisson. The rooms have the feeling of a B&B (Bed & Breakfast).
  • Chateau Caribbean: A great place to stay. Food is great, especially the seafood soup. The service is awesome. The hotel is a large colonial style house which was at one time a hospital. The structure could use some repairs, but if you can look beyond that it is the best deal in town, especially as it offers you a great view of the seafront while sipping on the best Baileys Colada in Belize City.
  • Seas Guesthouse: A resort on the outskirts of Belize City on the western highway named Old Belize. It is a beautiful resort with a beach named Cucumber Beach. One can learn about life in Old Belize there. Tourists are shown the chicletos and rum makers of Belize and the importance of baymen and loggers who logged the mahogany (the national tree). There is also colonial houses, a marina, and restaurants.
  • D'nest Inn (info@dnestinn.com), 475 Cedar Street, Belama Ph 2 (From the Best Western Biltmore, head towards the police station and then make a right. The D'nest Inn is located next to the soccer field and the river, right behind the far goal.),  (501) 223-5416, [7]. This very cozy and reasonably priced B&B is half the price of the Biltmore, has large spacious rooms, with cable TV and air conditioning. There is plenty of hot water and great water pressure. Best of all, this B&B is run by the nicest couple you will meet, who will go out of their way to make your stay extra enjoyable. Breakfast is included with the price of the room and is always a home cooked meal.  edit
  • Hotel Mopan55 Regent Streer 501-227-7351, [8]. checkin: 3:00; checkout: 11:00One block away from the Carribean Sea, close to water taxis, retaurants and shops. Clean, comfortable, friendly, budget minded hotel. $100-130BZ.  edit

Get out

The Western Highway leads to Belize West or the Northern Highway to Belize North.
Water taxis regularly run from the main terminal to Caye Caulker, a 25 minute trip, and Ambergris Caye, a 75 minute trip.
San Pedro Belize Express [9] departs from the Brown Sugar Terminal in Belize City with scheduled runs at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.
Rates: Belize City to San Pedro, San Pedro to Belize City: $30 Belize or $15 US (one way), $55 Belize or $27.50 US (round trip), Belize City to Caye Caulker: $20 Belize or $10 US (one way), $35 Belize or $17.50 US(round trip)
(Personally,) I would recommend a week-long trip to Green River in the south to experience the rain forest and a week-long trip to the coral reefs to experience the reefs.

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