Overland Belize Travel

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Contents

[edit] Entering Belize with a Car or Motorbike

Correct as of: Feb 2013

[edit] Required Paperwork

No copy of the documents required!

[edit] Process at border

(For people, see Belize Visa and Passport requirements at the World Travel Guide)

  • You have to purchase the insurance
  • Your vehicle will be fumigated, which costs BZ$10.00 BZD( for a suv the price is BZ$11.00 BZD). Be sure to get a receipt.
  • The owner of the vehicle gains entry at immigration (migración), including a stamp in their Passport.
  • The owner must show the new passport stamp, drivers license and the original vehicle registration to customs (aduana).
  • The owner is issued a temporary import permit for the vehicle.

NOTE: You will encounter pushy locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. They may try to trick you into buying insurance from them for a very high price. See Border Crossing Helpers for advice.

[edit] Cost of entry

  • BZ$10.00 BZD(for suvs it's BZ$11.00 BZD) for fumigation. The fumigation station at Chetumal no longer takes pesos. You can exchange pesos for Belizean dollars to the left of the parking area in front of the Aduana office on the Belize side of the border. Look for the guys on the left side of the gate sitting around a bus station bench, they all have fanny packs and gave the exact current exchange rate.

[edit] Permitted length of stay

30 days, but you can extend for up to 90 days.

[edit] Extension of stay

Unknown.
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.

[edit] Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country

(unknown)
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.

[edit] Exiting with a vehicle

  • People must pay an exit tax of BZ$37.50 BZD per person.
  • The registered owner presents the temporary import paper to customs.
  • The registered owner is stamped out of Guatemala at immigration.

if you're just transit in one day. You don't have to pay the BZ$37.50 BZD exit tax.

NOTE: As with entering Belize, you will definitely encounter very pushy locals offering to help you with paperwork to get across the border. See Central America Border Crossings for advice.

[edit] Driving in Belize

[edit] Insurance requirements

Insurance is mandatory in Belize, and you will be asked for it by Police

[edit] Cost of insurance

BZ$46.00 BZD for two weeks for a 4x4.

BZ$29.00 BZD for a suv for one week.

[edit] Where to purchase insurance

There are a couple of offices right at the border. The Insurance Corporation of Belize Ltd. seems to understand the idea of Overlanding and so purchasing insurance there is easy. Large white building just 1/4 mile past the Santa Elena border crossing. They accept VISA/Mastercard.

[edit] Driving license

Technically an International Driving Permit is required.
In reality, showing a license from anywhere in the world seems to be good enough.

[edit] Driving side of road

Right.
Right hand drive vehicles are permitted without problem.

[edit] Mandatory items in vehicle

None.

[edit] Roads

[edit] General Road quality

Roads in Belize are typically good, though you can expect dirt roads to be impassible mud pits in the rainy season.

[edit] Road signs

Road signs are common enough, and are generally good enough to rely on.

[edit] Toll roads

None.

[edit] Bribery in Belize

Police bribery is uncommon in Belize, but it might happen. See the bribery tips page for advice.

[edit] Checkpoints

Police checkpoints are common in Belize, where the Police primarily want to see your vehicle insurance. You'll be asked to show your Passport, Vehicle registration, drivers license, vehicle insurance and the temporary import permit you were issued at the border.

[edit] Traveling with pets

As with all borders in Central America, be ready for bribery if you have a pet.
According to travelers in 2012, you need: [1]

  • A Health Certificate for the animal in Spanish (updated at least every four months)
  • A vaccination record (the European Pet Passport works well)
  • You should probably fill out a Belize Pet Passport form to save a fine.

You might not be asked for these, but you should have them ready.

[edit] Gas and Diesel price in Belize

Last updated: Feb 2012

Currency and unit to display:

Gasoline Grade Price
Regular BZ$12.00 BZD per Gallon (US)
Super (90)  ??
Premium (95)  ??
Ultra (97)  ??
Normal Diesel $0.95 USD per Liter[2]
Diesel (low sulfur)  ??

[edit] Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency

Gasoline is common.

[edit] Gas and Diesel Quality

Accepted to be good quality. Sulfur content of diesel is unknown.

[edit] Safety and Security Considerations

[edit] Driving at night

Driving at night is probably OK in Belize, though definitely not recommended in big cities like Belize City due to safety considerations.

  • The border with [Guatemala] is known to be particularly full of bandits and people wishing to visit the ruins of Caracol in the area will be given a military escort along the roads.

[edit] Vehicle parking

Find a secure parking lot to park in big cities. Price unknown.

[edit] Special driving considerations

None.

[edit] Security advisories and information

[edit] Camping in Belize

Camping is becoming more popular in Belize, and you will almost always find somewhere in the rural areas. Roadside camping is also OK in smaller places.

[edit] Camping guide books

The Traveler's Guide to Mexican Camping also contains information on Belize. Information includes detailed maps, GPS co-ordinates, and descriptions of campground facilities.

[edit] Drinking water

Tap water in Belize is not safe to drink.

[edit] Navigation

[edit] Paper maps

The Mexico Road Atlas also has maps of Belize. It can be bought at gas stations within Mexico for around $20.00 USD. It is updated yearly, and is in Spanish.

[edit] GPS Maps of Belize

  • Open Street Map: Appears to have good coverage.[3]
  • Garmin: Apparently no map of Belize.
  • TomTom: No map of Belize. [4]

[edit] GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Belize

  • Camping Sites: Belize - Detailed list of campsites and propane filling with description, directions and GPS co-ordinates. Some at hotels (lists facilities and price), some roadside and free.
  • Central America Camping Locations - List of campsites, with basic directions and GPS co-ordinates. Mostly free sites.

[edit] Special Overland Travel interests

None.

[edit] Guide Books

[edit] Vehicle Maintenance

[edit] Dealers

4x4s / Trucks

Motorbikes

[edit] Local Garages

Add known good mechanics here.

[edit] Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Belize

Buy
Unknown.

Sell
Unknown.

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Central American Borders and dogs
  2. ↑ fuel price - anybody ? - The HUBB
  3. ↑ OpenStreetMap Belize
  4. ↑ TomTom Map availability

[edit] Helpful External links

Retrieved from "http://wikioverland.org/index.php?title=Belize&oldid=1983"
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