Chetumal to Belize

Overview Compare Bus Ferry via Caye Caulker

Important COVID-19 Update: Belize has opened its borders to foreign tourists and locals. You only have to show your proof of vaccination, but a negative COVID test is still required for unvaccinated tourists. Staying in Gold Standard accommodations and bookings to be presented upon entry are no longer required. Belize Travel Health Insurance that costs 339 MXN ($18.00) is no longer mandatory, but it is highly recommended for tourists. For updated information, you can check the Travel Belize website.

How to get from Chetumal to Belize

Belize City is the former capital of the homonymous country in Central America. The city serves as an important port and a stop for many cruise ships visiting Latin America.

You can visit most of the sights within Belize City in a day but it’s highly recommended to extend your stay. There are many exciting activities to enjoy the tropical air around the city — cave networks, jungle expeditions, diving spots, Mayan ruins, just to name a few.

Belize City is also a popular base camp for those who want to go on a day trip to renowned sites like the Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Lamanai Mayan archaeological sites, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, and Caye Caulker.

For serious divers, it’s a must to explore The Great Blue Hole of Belize – a one-of-a-kind diving site located 100 km off mainland Belize. To get the best Caribbean experience, try out the coconut drinks sold around Belize City. Either soft or alcoholic, these are tasty and refreshing. If you want to take it a level further, join a rum tour where you’ll learn about the manufacturing process of Belize’s famous rums.

3 ways to get from Chetumal to Belize

Transport Mode	Duration	Costs		Availability
Direct Bus	4-5.5 hours	20 BZ$ ($10)		Read article for more info
Bus via Corozal	5 hours	300 MXN ($15.50)		Read article for more info
Ferry via Caye Caulker	4.5 hours	1,820 MXN ($96)		Check Ferry Tickets

The best way to travel the 160 km (100 miles) road distance from Chetumal to Belize is a 4 to 5.5-hour direct bus that costs around 20 BZ$ ($10). Alternatively, you can take a 5-hour indirect bus via Corozal or a 4.5-hour boat via Caye Caulker.

The only direct transport from Chetumal to Belize is the bus. ADO buses haven’t resumed their operations yet for this route, but local “chicken” buses are available with fares from 20 BZ$ ($10). It takes 4 to 5.5 hours to reach Belize.

If you don’t mind making a stopover, then you can take a boat via Caye Caulker. This option is quite expensive with fares from 1,820 MXN ($96), but it’s a good alternative when travelling from Chetumal to Belize.

There are no railways connecting these two destinations and even though Chetumal has a small airport, there are no direct flights from Chetumal to Belize.

Indirect flights are available but have at least two stops – one in Mexico City and another one in Panama City. Taking a flight from Chetumal to Belize doesn’t make sense because it takes at least 24 hours and is quite expensive with fares from $440.

Why we don’t recommend the indirect bus route via Corozal

We recommend the direct bus over the indirect bus as it’s safer, more comfortable, and more convenient. The direct buses are well-equipped and only make authorized stops. They also wait for you while you have your passport stamped at the border.

The indirect bus option from Chetumal to Belize via Corozal requires many stops. You will have to take a taxi to the border, cross it on your own, and look for a taxi or microbus from the border to take you to Corozal.

Once in Corozal, the local buses to Belize City are not always reliable and change the schedule often. Mainly used by locals, these buses are also slow and make many stops on the way so the journey can take much longer.

Itinerary from Chetumal to Belize

Chetumal to Belize by Bus

Duration: 4-5.5 hours

Cost: 20 BZ$ ($10)

Duration: 4-5.5 hours

Cost: 20 BZ$ ($10)

The bus is a direct way to travel from Chetumal to Belize. Travel time takes 4 to 5.5 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. We discuss both options below.

Option 1: Local Bus

Duration: 4-5.5 hours

Cost: 20 BZ$ ($10)

Duration: 4-5.5 hours

Cost: 20 BZ$ ($10)

The local “chicken” buses are colourful, non-airconditioned buses mainly used by locals. You can find them at Nuevo Mercado Bus Station. If you’re staying in the city centre, you need to take a 10-minute taxi to the bus station. Rates start from 50 MXN ($2.60).

The estimated travel time from Chetumal to Belize is 4 hours. 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 Fe Wu Transport and Silva’s Bus Line. Bus tickets to Belize cost 20 BZ$ ($10).

Local bus schedule from Chetumal to Belize*

Bus Operator	Schedules	Costs
Fu We Transport	13:00-17:00	20 BZ$ ($10)
Silva’s Bus Line	14:30-18:30	20 BZ$ ($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 BZ$ ($2.50).

Option 2: ADO Bus*

Duration: 4 hours

Cost: 500 MXN ($26.50)

Duration: 4 hours

Cost: 500 MXN ($26.50)

*COVID-19 UPDATE: The last time we checked (March 2023), ADO buses from Chetumal to Belize 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 ($26.50).

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 4 hours from Chetumal to Novelo’s Bus Terminal in Belize, including the immigration checks at the Mexico-Belize border.

ADO bus schedule from Chetumal to Belize*

Bus Operator	Schedules	Costs
ADO Bus	05:15-09:15 13:30-17:30	500 MXN ($26.50) Check Bus Tickets

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 BZ$ ($5).

Chetumal to Belize by Ferry via Caye Caulker

Duration: 4.5 hours

Cost: 1,820 MXN ($96)

Duration: 4.5 hours

Cost: 1,820 MXN ($96)

Another option when travelling from Chetumal to Belize is via ferry. This option can be quite pricey but 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

Duration: 3hrs 15m

Cost: 1,400 MXN ($74)

Duration: 3hrs 15m

Cost: 1,400 MXN ($74)

Water Jets International operates 4 boat trips from Chetumal to Caye Caulker every week. These boats are available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

A boat ticket costs 1,400 MXN ($74) and travel time is around 3 hours 15 minutes.

You are 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.

Boat schedule from Chetumal to Caye Caulker

Boat Company	Schedules	Duration	Costs
Water Jets International	Once every MWFSat from 10:00-12:15	3hrs 15m	1,400 MXN ($74) Check Ferry Tickets

Step 2: Caye Caulker to Belize City by Water Taxi

Duration: 1 hour

Cost: 420 MXN ($22)

Duration: 1 hour

Cost: 420 MXN ($22)

You can stay in Caye Caulker for a few days, overnight or just for a few hours (before the last ferry bound for Belize departs at 15:30).

San Pedro Belize Express operates four water taxi trips daily from Caye Caulker to Belize City. A ticket costs 420 MXN ($22) and travel time is around an hour.

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.

Boat schedule from Caye Caulker to Belize City

Boat Company	Schedule	Costs
San Pedro Belize Express	07:00-08:00 10:30-11:30 13:30-14:30 15:30-16:30	420 MXN ($22) Check Ferry Tickets

There are limited slots for water taxis. We advise booking your tickets online beforehand via BookAway to secure a seat on your desired date and time.