Belize FAQs

Visas are not required for US, Canadian, UK and most EU citizens. Other countries that do require visas should contact their local Belizean consulate and be sure to leave enough time to complete the relevant paperwork before travel. All visitors, regardless of nationality, must ensure they have at least two consecutive blank passport pages and six months validity, after their intended departure, in their passports.

We will confirm certain elements of your trip such as domestic flights, permits or train tickets using your current passport details. If a member of your party changes their name in their passport after booking (for example, through marriage or adoption) this could mean having to reissue important parts of the trip at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

Please note that requirements can change and we recommend that our guests contact the local embassy in the country where you live for the most recent and up to date information.

Yes, once your trip is confirmed it is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in case anything unexpected happens. 

We always recommend that our guests get the maximum level of coverage that you feel comfortable investing in. Read more about travel insurance for US travellers here and for travellers from other countries here.

Yes, you should visit a travel doctor before your trip as they may recommend certain vaccinations or medications before or during travel. Some vaccines commonly recommended for travellers to Latin America include: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Meningitis.

Some parts of Belize (Cayo, Punta Gorda and Stann Creek) do have a malaria risk, so it’s important to discuss your itinerary with your doctor so they can advise you on the best anti-malarial medication.

Good quality mosquito spray is essential and it can be a good idea to discuss this with your doctor too, particularly if you’re travelling with little children. Wearing long trousers and shirts with long sleeves will also protect against mosquito bites.

Travel pack

Before you head off on your adventure you will be sent a travel pack. The travel pack is full of great information and is also a beautiful keepsake. It is not necessary to travel with vouchers or confirmations on your trip but we do recommend having a printed copy of your travel itinerary to hand when you arrive into Belize.

Bon Voyage email

Around 2 weeks before you depart we will email you an electronic version of your travel pack including your domestic flight tickets. Once you’ve received this email your Travel Designer will reach out to arrange a time for you to talk on the phone to go over any last minute questions and talk you through the information we’ve sent over.

US Dollars are widely accepted throughout Belize, although the local currency, the Belize Dollar, is recommended for smaller purchases. Exchanging US dollars is fairly straightforward at hotels, exchange counters or at the airport. Most tourist shops, hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards and ATMs can also be used to withdraw local currency. 

ATMs are fairly easy to access unless you’re in remote areas, for this reason it’s best to plan your funds before leaving the major hubs, remembering that you’ll want cash to tip guides and servers. You must also be sure to look out for the relevant symbol on the machine to ensure it is an international machine (displaying the VISA, MAESTRO etc symbols), local ones won’t work. Generally it’s good to have more than one card, so that you have an alternative if there is a problem with the connection for one.

In Belize we do not recommend that you bring travellers cheques.

Tipping is generally expected for tourists in Belize and it’s best to tip in the local currency rather than US dollars. If you’re on a trip with several guides and drivers, tip them individually. For this purpose, many people find travelling with a few envelopes can be useful. It can be tricky to break down big bills in Belize, so try and hang on to small denominations, which you can use for tipping.

Normally, the rates are 10-15% in restaurants. Hotel porters get around USD 1 to USD 2 per piece of luggage, a private guide on a full-day trip will get about USD 30 or USD 15 for a half-day tour and it’s about USD 10 for a private driver on a full-day trip.

Belize is a tropical country with warm weather throughout the year. However, there is a rainy season between May and October, with some strong afternoon showers and even storms.

Here is our general guide for packing in Belize, for a personalised list based on your trip and activities, please speak with your travel designer or concierge. 

• Shorts / Zip off trousers/pants
• T-shirt or light cotton long-sleeved shirt
• Light shirts; cotton, long sleeved for lodge
• Light cotton hiking trousers; jeans okay, but not recommended, because of weight and drying time
• Sweater or sweatshirt for cooler evenings
• Swimwear
• Waterproof walking shoes
• Sandals/Flip Flops, if you are doing any cave exploring in Belize water shoes or waterproof sandals are best so you have good grip on the slippery rocks

Useful Extras

• Spare pair of glasses, if you wear prescription lenses
• Sunscreen Day pack for day tours
• Earplugs – there may be noise disturbance in the city and from wild animals such as monkeys
• Insect repellent
• Toiletry kit; no aerosols as these are bad for the environment and wildlife
• Medications for personal prescriptions
• Light cap with wide brim or visor for sun
• Windbreaker; unlined Anorak, shell type, which can be tied around your waist
• Camera with extra memory cards and waterproof case in case it rains
• Plastic bags of various sizes to protect small items from rain and water
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Head Lamp – Please note that in some lodges after 5pm it is dark operate without electricity in the evening

Almost all of the properties in Belize will offer a laundry service at an extra cost. You might find some pricing to be quite expensive so please do check the costs with reception before sending your items to be washed.

We highly recommend that you make restaurant reservations in advance of your trip. Once your trip is confirmed you will be introduced to your concierge who will be able to assist you in not only making the reservations but also  making  recommendations based on your preferences.

Plugs and power

Belize uses 110 volt, 60 cycle electricity, same as the US. Plugs are typically the 2 pronged flat type so US travellers will not typically need a converter or adapter. Outlets rarely have 3 holes so if your device has a third prong, bring an adapter.

Wifi and Internet

Wifi is common in most hotels and lodges in Belize. In remote areas the connection can be patchy and is not always available throughout the entire property, sometimes only being available in the common areas or in the rooms.  There are some exceptions, so if this sort of connectivity is very important to you please discuss this with your travel designer or concierge.

Remote areas

Cell phone reception and roaming is not always possible in some remote areas so please bear this in mind when planning communications while on your trip.