By Foot
Belize City's downtown hub is compact and easy to navigate on foot. However, the city has a rather nasty reputation for being unsafe for visitors, and you'd be wise to stick to the busiest sections of downtown and obvious tourist districts. You can easily walk the entire Fort George neighborhood, as well as the compact business area just south of the Swing Bridge. If you need to venture any further, take a taxi. Be careful when you walk, as sidewalks are often in bad shape and sometimes quite narrow. It's wise to stow flashy jewelry, and avoid making visible cash transactions.And don't walk anywhere at night, except perhaps around the downtown hub of budget hotels and restaurants and the Fort George area.
By Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. A ride anywhere in the city should cost between BZ$6 and BZ$14 (US$3-US$7/£1.60-£3.70). There’s no standardized look or color to taxis in Belize: many are old, some are sedans and some are vans, and most are in some stage of disrepair. Licensed taxis will have green license plates, and some have roof ornaments or “TAXI” written on the doors. Almost all have friendly drivers. Very few taxis use meters, so be sure to negotiate your fare in advance. If you need to call a cab, ask at your hotel or try Cinderella Plaza Taxi Stand (tel. 203-3340), Taxi Garage Services (tel. 227-3031), or Majestic Taxi (tel. 203-4465).
By Car
You shouldn't need to navigate Belize City in a car. If you do find yourself driving around Belize City, go slowly, as pedestrians can appear out of nowhere, and pay attention to the general flow of traffic and the wealth of one-way streets. Despite being members of a former British colony, Belizeans drive on the right-hand side of the road, and road distances are listed in miles.
Most rental car agencies are based at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, although a couple have offices downtown or at the Municipal Airport, and almost all will arrange to deliver and pick up your vehicle at any Belize City hotel. The most reputable rental car agencies in Belize include: Avis (tel. 225-2629; www.avis.com), Budget (tel. 223-2435; www.budget-belize.com), Crystal Auto Rental (tel. 0800/777-7777 toll-free in Belize, or 223-1600; www.crystal-belize.com), Hertz (tel. 223-5396; www.hertz.com), and Thrifty (tel. 207-1271; www.thrifty.com). Prices run between BZ$120 and BZ$240 (US$60-US$120/£32-£64) per day for a late-model compact to a compact SUV, including insurance.
By Bus
While Belize has an extensive network of bus connections to most cities and rural destinations, there is no metropolitan bus system in Belize City.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
