Chetumal to Belize City

How to Get From Chetumal to Belize City

3Options
3hFastest
$10From
ElaWritten by Ela · Updated 2 weeks ago

Bus · Minivan · Ferry via Caye Caulker

Belize City is the country's biggest settlement and main gateway to the Caribbean cayes. It sits about 110 kilometres (68 miles) down the coast from Chetumal near the Mexican border. The bus is the cheapest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City at $10 (20 BZD), taking 3h 30m - 4h. A ferry also runs by way of Caye Caulker if you'd rather arrive by Water.

Distance from Chetumal to Belize City

Chetumal and Belize City are about 110 km (68 miles) apart, and the overland-and-sea journey covers around 160 km. Depending on the option, the trip takes between 3h and 4h 15m.

~110 km
Distance
~160 km
Overland & sea
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3 ways to travel from Chetumal to Belize City

There are three ways to travel from Chetumal to Belize City. You can choose between the bus, minivan, and ferry. The journey takes 3h–4h and the quickest way is by ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $10 (20 BZD).

Bus4 companiesWith transfersDuration3h 30m+Pricefrom$1020 BZD

Chetumal to Belize City by Bus

The bus is a direct way to travel from Chetumal to Belize City. Travel time takes 3h 30m - 4h by bus. This includes the waiting time at the border to get your passport stamped on both the Mexican and Belizean sides.

ADO runs this route only on and off, so the dependable option is the local “chicken” bus from Chetumal to Belize City. We discuss both options below.

Chetumal to Belize City

3h30mMarlin EspadasStandardMarlin Espadas S.A De C.VMarlin Espadas Belize City08:20$3161 BZDTickets

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore
From
To

Bus tickets are available on Bookaway.

Option 1: Local Bus

4h$10 (20 BZD)

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 $2.90 (50 MXN).

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 $10 (20 BZD).

4hFu We TransportChetumalBelize City13:00$1020 BZDNo Online Tickets
4hSilva’s Bus LineChetumalBelize City14:30$1020 BZDNo Online Tickets

*The schedule is based on Belizean time, which is 1 hour behind Mexico. This means the buses depart at 12:00 and 13:30, respectively, in Mexico time.

Booking Tip

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 $2.50 (5 BZD).

Option 2: ADO Bus*

4h$29 (500 MXN)

*IMPORTANT: ADO runs Chetumal to Belize City on and off. Availability changes without notice, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan. The local bus or the ferry via Caye Caulker are the dependable options.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 $29 (500 MXN). 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.
4hADO BusChetumalBelize City05:1513:30$29500 MXNTickets

*The arrival time is based on Mexican time, which is 1 hour ahead of Belize. This means you will arrive at 08:15 and 16:30, respectively, according to the local time in Belize.

Bus tickets are available on ClickBus.

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 $5.50 (11 BZD).

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)*

4h$10 (20 BZD)
4hFu We TransportChetumalBelize City05:00$1020 BZDNo Online Tickets
4hSilva’s Bus LineChetumalBelize City06:30$1020 BZDNo Online Tickets

*The schedule is based on the local time in Belize, which is 1 hour behind Mexico. This means the buses arrive at 08:00 and 09:30, respectively, according to the local time in Mexico.

Belize City
Minivan1 companyDirectDuration4hPricefrom$61122 BZD

Chetumal to Belize City by Minivan

A minivan ride from Chetumal to Belize City costs around $61 (122 BZD). The minivan journey takes about 4h, depending on traffic.

Adrenalina Tours operates on this route.

Minivan schedule from Chetumal to Belize City

4hAdrenalina ToursStandardChetumal - Any hotelAtlanta Express office at San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi - Belize City08:00$61122 BZDTickets
Available atBookaway

Stations

Belize City
Ferry via Caye Caulker5 companiesDuration3h+Pricefrom$84168 BZD

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

2h 15m - 3h 30m$61 (123 BZD)

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 $61 (123 BZD) 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.

2h15mIslander FerriesSrandardInternational Islander FerriesE-Z Boy Tours10:00$61123 BZDTickets
2h15mWater Jets InternationalChetumalCaye Caulker$811,400 MXNTickets
3h30mMayan OZ TravelStandardMuelle fiscal de chetumalE-Z Boy Tours10:00$105209 BZDTickets

Note the time difference: Mexico is 1 hour ahead of Belize.

Stations

From
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Ferry tickets are available on Bookaway and Sanpedrowatertaxi.

Step 2: Caye Caulker to Belize City by Water Taxi

45m$23 (46 BZD)

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 $23 (46 BZD) 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.

45mSan Pedro Belize Express Water TaxiWater TaxiCaye Caulker TerminalBelize Marine Terminal (BMT06:3007:3009:0010:3012:0013:30+2$2346 BZDTickets
45mCaribbean SprinterStandardCaribbean Sprinter Water Taxi, Caye CaulkerCaribbean Sprinter - Belize City Ferry Terminal06:3008:3010:3013:3015:30$2550 BZDTickets

Stations

From
To
Via

Ferry tickets are available on Bookaway.

Booking Tip

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.
Belize City

Reach out to our Community

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What are the options to travel from Bacalar to Belize City?
Fabian · August 2022
hello, i am traveling with my girlfriend and we are looking for ways how to get from bacalar to belize city. Can you help us? best regards fabian and esther
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Ela: Hello, Fabian! We checked your concern with the bus company ADO and the van company Marlin Espadas. From what we understand, public transpor

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ElaGeckoRoutes team

Hello, Fabian! We checked your concern with the bus company ADO and the van company Marlin Espadas. From what we understand, public transportation is not yet allowed to cross the border from Bacalar to Belize City. However, you might be able to take a private vehicle. For more info, you can also try to contact the Belize Tourism Board (belizetourismboard.org). We hope this helps and let us know how your trip went! Safe travels!

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LukeSeptember 2022

At the moment the only really viable way to cross by organised transit in one go is to take the boat from Chetumal to Caye Caulker. It’s a bit steep at 1400mxn but doesn’t take too long and the alternative options are a bit sparse

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JESSICAOctober 2022

What about the option to go from bacalar to belize city and then take the ferry to Caye Caulker.

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ElaGeckoRoutes team

Hi Jessica! Great question. This route — Bacalar-Belize City-Caye Caulker — was another option pre-pandemic, with ADO buses operating every day between Bacalar and Belize City. As per our latest communication with ADO, though (September 2022), they have yet to resume operations for this route as well.

But if you really want to travel this route, you can try Travel Mundo Maya, which offers one daily shuttle bus trip from Bacalar to Belize City. From Belize City, you can then take a water taxi to Caye Caulker. Note though that we tried to contact Travel Mundo via e-mail just this October, but we have yet to receive any reply, so we cannot confirm whether they are currently operating.

We hope this answers your inquiry. Do let us know if you know of any other alternative! Safe travels!

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Is the ADO bus from Chetumal to Belize still operating?
Liron Shmerlovski · September 2022
Hi ,the bus is still working? Because I can’t find the way when I try to use the ado app Thanks for the answers.
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Maarten: Hey Liron, unfortunately, ADO buses are currently not operating from Chetumal to Belize. For now, the only way to travel this route is by ta

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MaartenGeckoRoutes team

Hey Liron, unfortunately, ADO buses are currently not operating from Chetumal to Belize. For now, the only way to travel this route is by taking a ferry to Caye Caulker and then a water taxi to Belize. We'll update the page once we confirm that the buses are available again!

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floryDecember 2022

Hi, is this still the case or has this changed in the meantime?

greetings,
Flory

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What are the bus times from Belize City to Chetumal?
Jacob duran · March 2023
Hello please can you tell me the times that the chicken bus does the journey in reverse - Belize city to Chetumal?thanks
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Abegail: Hey Jacob, we reached out to Fu We Transport Service (https://www.facebook.com/fuwetrans07/) and they only have one bus trip from Belize Cit

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AbegailGeckoRoutes team

Hey Jacob, we reached out to Fu We Transport Service (facebook.com) and they only have one bus trip from Belize City to Chetumal daily, departing at 05:00. The other journey we found was via Silva's Bus Line's Facebook post (facebook.com) from March 2023. Their bus leaves at 06:30. Travel time to Chetumal is about 4 hours, but it still depends on the waiting time for passengers at the border crossing.

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Is it dangerous to drive from Cancun to Belize by car?
Fernando · March 2023
Hello, does anyone have information on whether it is dangerous or difficult to go to belice by car, I am from cancun
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Abegail: Hi Fernando, unfortunately, we don't have first-hand experience driving from Cancun to Belize, but we gathered some info for you. Firstly, i

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AbegailGeckoRoutes team

Hi Fernando, unfortunately, we don't have first-hand experience driving from Cancun to Belize, but we gathered some info for you. Firstly, it's best to travel during the day, especially since you're driving this route for the first time. Some of the things that you also need to be mindful of on this route are police checkpoints, speed bumps, and potholes.

Prepare your documents for immigration at the new border crossing (goo.gl), including your vehicle documents. Note that Mexican and Belizean car insurance are both required as well. Lastly, ask for a receipt if you're being asked to pay a tourism fee or exit fee to avoid being charged twice. I hope this helps you on your road trip!

PD: Esta respuesta está escrita en inglés para que sea útil para los viajeros de todo el mundo. Recomiendo usar Google Translate para traducir esta respuesta al español.

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Where can I find microbuses at the Belize border after flying to Chetumal?
Rene Navarro · February 2023
Hi! Due I am arriving by air to Chetumal airport and from there going to Belize right away, I would take the indirect bus option. After crossing the border into Belize: the cheapest option is to take a microbus to Corozal? Where can I grab that transport?
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Abegail: Hi Rene, we read on this website (https://belizebus.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/transportation-between-belize-chetumal-and-flores/) that microb

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AbegailGeckoRoutes team

Hi Rene, we read on this website (belizebus.wordpress.com) that microbuses and taxis wait in front of the casino near the Belizean border. You can easily find them once you cross the border.

If you're planning on taking a taxi from Chetumal Airport to the border, you can ask the taxi driver to drop you off at Corozal instead. The taxi will wait for you to cross the border.

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Is the chicken bus the cheapest option for Guatemala-Belize-Chetumal?
Fernanda · February 2023
Hi guys, I will be going Guatemala-belice-chetumal, the cheapest option is to do it with the chicken bus, making several stops, right?
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Abegail: Hi Fernanda, the local (chicken) bus is indeed a very cheap way to travel overland in Latin America. Given the distance between Guatemala, B

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AbegailGeckoRoutes team

Hi Fernanda, the local (chicken) bus is indeed a very cheap way to travel overland in Latin America. Given the distance between Guatemala, Belize, and Chetumal, you'll need to make several transfers, which will have varying wait times between buses. You'll definitely save money by taking this bus, but be prepared for a longer journey.

PD: Esta respuesta está escrita en inglés para que sea útil para los viajeros de todo el mundo. Recomiendo usar Google Translate para traducir esta respuesta al español.

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Is there a bus from Chetumal to Belize City as of January 2023?
Vincent Burkholder · January 2023
Any update (Jan 2023) on whether there is a bus from chetumal to Belize city?
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Abegail: Hi Vincent, as of January 2023, we have confirmed that local chicken buses have resumed their operations from Chetumal to Belize, but the mo

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AbegailGeckoRoutes team

Hi Vincent, as of January 2023, we have confirmed that local chicken buses have resumed their operations from Chetumal to Belize, but the more comfortable ADO buses have not. We've updated the route with the most recent information on these buses. Have a safe trip!

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Have buses resumed between Mexico and Belize since the border closure?
Flory · December 2022
Hello, do you know whether the buses are still not running across the border between Mexico and Belize, or has anything changed yet?
M

Maarten: Hello Flory, according to ADO's Facebook page, their bus journeys from Chetumal to Belize are still suspended. The available option at the m

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MaartenGeckoRoutes team

Hello Flory, according to ADO's Facebook page, their bus journeys from Chetumal to Belize are still suspended. The available option at the moment is by ferry to Caye Caulker and then a water taxi to Belize.

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Is it possible to take a direct public bus from Belize to Mexico?
flory · December 2022
Hello, do you know whether it is still not possible to cross the border between Belize and Mexico by direct public bus? or has this changed in the meantime? Best wishes, Flory
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Guillermo · August 2022
Falta info, la pagina linekada para comprar pasajes solo vende pasajes nacionales en mexico
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Ela: Hello, Guillermo. Based on our recent communication with companies operating from Chetumal to Belize, public bus and van services are still suspended (as of Sep

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ElaGeckoRoutes team

Hello, Guillermo. Based on our recent communication with companies operating from Chetumal to Belize, public bus and van services are still suspended (as of September 2022). But if you're interested in entering Belize via Caye Caulker, you can take a boat for $70. These boats are operated by Water Jets International (sanpedrowatertaxi.com). You can book a ticket directly through their website. From Caye Caulker, you can then take another ferry (1-hour) to Belize City. A ticket costs $21 when you book with BookAway (bookaway.com). Thank you and have a safe trip!

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Rounding it up

That's the full picture for getting from Chetumal to Belize City, roughly 110 kilometres (68 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $10 (20 BZD). The quickest trip takes 3h.

Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from Chetumal to Belize City?

The distance from Chetumal to Belize City is 110 kilometres (68 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Chetumal to Belize City?

Journey times from Chetumal to Belize City overlap: bus 3h 30m - 4h, minivan 4h, ferry via caye caulker 3h - 4h 15m. Depending on the departure, no single option is always the fastest.

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.

About the Author

Ela
Ela

Senior Travel Writer

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.

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Ferry Schedule Notice

Ferry schedules can change due to weather, sea conditions, or seasonal adjustments. We recommend confirming departure times directly with the operator, especially during monsoon season.

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