How to get from Chetumal to Belize
What are the 3 ways to travel from Chetumal to Belize City?
There are 3 ways to travel the 160 kilometre (99 miles) distance from Chetumal to Belize City. You can choose between the bus, minivan and ferry via Caye Caulker. The journey takes 3 hours to 4 hours 15 minutes and the quickest way is by ferry via Caye Caulker. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 20 BZD ($10).
Chetumal to Belize City by Bus
The bus is a direct way to travel from Chetumal to Belize City. Travel time takes 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours by bus. This includes the waiting time at the border to get your passport stamped on both the Mexican and Belizean sides.
The last time we checked (March 2023), ADO has not yet resumed its operations for this route. The available option is the local “chicken” bus from Chetumal to Belize City. We discuss both options below.
Bus options from Chetumal to Belize
Option 1: Local Bus
The local “chicken” buses are colourful, non-airconditioned buses mainly used by locals. You can find them at Nuevo Mercado Bus Station. A 10-minute taxi ride from the city centre to this bus station costs 50 MXN ($2.80).
The estimated travel time from to is 4h. But it may take up to 5.5 hours because the buses make several stops along the way, including Corozal and Orange Walk.
You can choose between the two local bus companies Fe Wu Transport and Silva’s Bus Line. Bus tickets to Belize cost 20 BZD ($10).
Note that online booking is not available for these local buses, so you need to arrive early at the bus station to buy your tickets.
In Belize City, the arrival station is the main bus terminal, also known as Novelo’s. This bus stop is 5-10 minutes away from downtown Belize and the main port. The easiest way to move around is by taxi with rates from 5 BZD ($2.50).
Option 2: ADO Bus*
*IMPORTANT UPDATE: The last time we checked (March 2023), ADO buses from Chetumal to Belize City were unavailable. We suggest taking the local bus or the ferry via Caye Caulker instead.
ADO, one of Mexico’s main bus companies, was the primary choice for tourists before the pandemic. Its buses were equipped with AC, reclining seats and a toilet, making for a comfortable ride. Tickets were about 500 MXN ($28).
The ADO bus departed from its ADO Chetumal Centro in the city centre. There were two departures every day: one at 05:15 and another at 13:30.
It took 4h from Chetumal to Novelo’s Bus Terminal in Belize, including the immigration checks at the Mexico-Belize border.
We will update the post once ADO resumes its operations. In the meantime, you can check ClickBus to see if departures are available again. You can also reach out to ADO via their Facebook page for the latest updates.
Crossing the Mexico-Belize border
The border between Mexico and Belize is marked by the Hondo River. To get from one country to another, you must cross the bridge at Santa Elena, a small bordering town 20 minutes away from Chetumal.
The bus will stop at the immigration office on the Mexican side and wait until you finish having your passport stamped. Once you’re done, the bus will cross the river and take you to the Belizean Immigration Office.
Your bus will be waiting for you outside the immigration office to take you straight to Belize City. It is not allowed to pick up passengers at the border.
Border crossing when taking the indirect bus
If you took a bus or taxi only up to the border crossing, you will have to walk on your own from one immigration office to the other.
After you finish your paperwork in Belize, you need to go to Corozal Bus Terminal, located some 15 km southeast of the border. You can find taxis and microbuses waiting in front of the casino near the Belizean border.
At Corozal Bus Terminal, you can transfer by bus to Belize City with BBOC or Valencia’s Bus Line with fares from 11 BZD ($5.50).
Vice-versa route: How to get from Belize to Chetumal by Local Bus
The same local bus companies offer bus trips the other way around, from Belize to Chetumal. The only bus departures are both in the morning, at 05:00 and 06:30. See the schedule below:
Local bus schedule from Belize to Chetumal (the way back)*
Chetumal to Belize City by Minivan
A minivan ride from Chetumal to Belize City costs around 120 BZD ($61). The minivan journey takes about 4 hours, depending on traffic.
Adrenalina Tours operates on this route.
Minivan options from Chetumal to Belize
Chetumal to Belize City by Ferry via Caye Caulker
Another option when travelling from Chetumal to Belize City is by ferry. This option can be quite pricey, but it will give you the chance to explore the island of Caye Caulker, located some 40 km northeast of Belize City.
Note that ferries operating this route are not available daily.
Step 1: Chetumal to Caye Caulker by Boat
Water Jets International operate four boat trips from Chetumal to Caye Caulker every week. These boats are available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
A boat ticket costs 125 BZD ($61) and travel time is around 2h 15m - 3h 30m.
You’ll need to board the ferry at Chetumal Marine Terminal on the southern edge of Chetumal city centre.
Ferries arrive at the EZ Boyz Dock in the centre of Caye Caulker.
Step 2: Caye Caulker to Belize City by Water Taxi
You can stay in Caye Caulker for a few days, overnight or just for a few hours. If you want to leave on the same day, keep in mind that the last ferry to Belize City departs at 15:30.
San Pedro Belize Express operates four water taxi trips daily from Caye Caulker to Belize City. A ticket costs 46 BZD ($23) and travel time is around 45m.
Boats depart from the San Pedro Belize Express Terminal in Caye Caulker city centre. They will drop you off at the Water Taxi Port in Belize City centre, just 500 m south of the Museum of Belize.
There are limited slots for water taxis, so we advise booking your tickets online beforehand via BookAway to secure a seat on your desired date and time.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Chetumal to Belize City. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Chetumal to Belize City
What is the distance from Chetumal to Belize City?
The distance from Chetumal to Belize City is 160 kilometre (99 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City?
The fastest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City is by ferry via Caye Caulker and takes 3 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City?
The cheapest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City is by bus with ticket costs starting from 20 BZD ($10).
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.