How To Travel From Bacalar To Belize City: All Options Explained

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🚗 How I Book Ferries & Shuttles In Belize: GuateGo

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How Far Is Bacalar From Belize City?

Now, compared to a lot of overnight journeys, you will find yourself on through Central America, this is not one of those.

Thankfully it is only 240 kilometers / 150 miles between Bacalar and Belize City.

However, just be aware it isn’t as simple as just jumping on a bus because you will have the deal with a border crossing between Mexico and Belize.

@backpackerswanderlust Welcome to paradise #belize #ambergriscaye #sanpedro 🇧🇿 #beach #mexico #traveltiktok #solofemaletraveler ♬ original sound – Tasha I Backpackers Wanderlust

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How long Does It Take To Travel To Belize City?

Typically you can expect it to take 5 to 6 hours to travel from Bacalar to Belize City.

Depending on traffic and wait times at the border, you may find it to be a little bit longer. This is especially true on buses where there will be more people to be processed all at once.

The best thing you can do is be prepared, make sure you know what is required for the border crossing and the infamous Mexico departure fee, and do your research in advance.

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1. Book A Tourist Shuttle

A popular option during Covid, the tourist shuttles commonly operated this route when buses did not. The positive is that it would include door-to-door service. The bad side is they can be crazily disorganized!

For example, I was waiting on the sidewalk for 2 hours after check out for mine to arrive!

Nevertheless, if you are leaning this way, generally, it is a comfortable experience with air conditioning blasting and plenty of space since they really don’t get sold out on this route.

Your driver will know the roads super well, and it will be faster to travel in a smaller vehicle rather than in a large bus. Also, there will be fewer travelers to wait for when crossing the border, which honestly can take a while when there are huge lines.

Of course, they are one of the pricier options, so for me, it isn’t worth booking one over a cheaper bus.

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How To Book A Tourist Shuttle

So, booking a tourist shuttle was a lot trickier than I thought. I assumed it would be a piece of cake. Especially since I was staying at Yak Hostel, and they had so many other backpackers coming and going.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of unhelpful information online, and even the staff at the hostel weren’t 100% sure.

I won’t recommend the exact shuttle company I used since I was literally forgotten, but there are still some great alternatives.

Looking on GotToGo you can book with Marlin Espadas for this route. The price is $66.00, departing at 7 am and arriving at 12 pm. As you can see, there will be plenty of time to catch a ferry to one of the islands.

Thy are a popular shuttle company for tourists operating from the Yucatan in Mexico down to Flores in Guatemala via Belize.

This is an excellent option if you know what day you want to travel and would prefer a pretty chill journey from point A to point B, without all the crowds you will find on large buses.

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My Experience Taking The Tourist Shuttle

So options were super limited to get from Mexico to Belize thanks to buses or ferries not running yet post covid. Luckily this isn’t the case anymore, so you don’t need to worry about that!

It took a lot of effort, but I eventually found one agency with a shuttle service from Bacalar to Belize City. Without hesitation I booked it in, seemingly as this was literally my only option apart from doing the whole taxi thing, but that seemed like more of a hassle.

The following day, I checked out of the hostel and waited out the front for my 10 am pick-up. 10.30 am passed, still waiting, then 11 am.

Luckily, I had a friend in Chetumal who had booked the same shuttle service, so I messaged her. Turns out she has been at the border for the past hour just waiting. I Whatsapped the travel agency, and they assured me the taxi driver was coming.

Now if you haven’t been to Bacalar yet, it is pretty damn small, and when it was going on for 2 hours, I was growing concerned. Is this a scam? But no money has changed hands yet, so how would this be possible?!

Eventually, a random taxi turned up and told me they would take me to the border, where the shuttle bus was waiting. It turned out the original driver had forgotten about my pick-up.

I hoped for an easy and chill travel day, but I had barely even left the hostel, and it was already becoming a lot of unnecessary stress. However, I had to remind myself that this is backpacking, and things like this do happen.

Rolling up to the border there was a shuttle bus waiting, and my friend was inside. I got stamped out of Mexico and showed proof that I had already paid the tourist fee. Then off I jumped into the van where the other two people had been waiting for me for over an hour.

A short drive down the road, we arrived at the Belize Immigration. This was a lot more relaxed, and the staff were super friendly! With just the 3 of us in line, it was a crazy fast process, and another country was ticked off the bucketlist.

From there, it was straight to Belize City. We drove through the countryside and small villages on pothole-filled roads.

On arrival in Belize City, the shuttle dropped us off at the ferry terminal. From there, I headed to Ambergris Caye for my first night in Belize.

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🚗 How I Book Ferries & Shuttles In Belize: GuateGo

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2. Take The Bus *RECOMMENDED*

Finally, having returned post covid, the ADO bus is now operating down to Belize, and thank god for that. It is a great choice for backpackers looking to save money, with tickets costing you just $25.00 per person.

Plus, from my experience, the ADO bus is always great. It is comfortable, good air conditioning, on time, organised well, I surprisingly enough have never had a bad journey!

However, in terms of getting to Belize City, they only operate this route once a day, departing at 12.00 pm from Bacalar. You will arrive at 4.35 pm

The literal only downside of taking the bus is that it can take a little while for everyone to be processed at the border. However, there will usually be a bus attendant ushering everyone around and ensuring it doesn’t take ridiculously long.

• Departs 12.00 pm from the Bacalar ADO office.
• Arrive in Belize City at 4.35 pm.
• You will be dropped off at the Belize bus station, a 5-minute taxi ride or a 15-minute walk from the water taxi terminal.
• Prices start from $25.00 per person

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How To Book Your Bus Tickets

It is super easy to book with ADO. However, do note it will be easier if you can read Spanish, as sometimes the translation on the website can be a bit glitchy.

There is also an app called ADO Movil where you can book and this is what I found easier.

If you do have trouble with the language, you can always screenshot the page and upload the photo the Google Translate. From there, you should be able to figure out what is being asked, and after doing it a couple of times, you will be an expert!

Another important note when booking with ADO is I never ever had any luck doing so with my credit or debit card. Luckily they do take Paypal and I could use this with no issues.

Here are some screenshots from the app you will see when booking the bus to Belize City:

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3. Enjoy A Flight With Ocean Views

Honestly, taking a flight is another option I would not recommend. The nearest airport to Bacalar is the Chetumal airport, about a 40 minute drive away.

From Chetumal, you can take a flight to Belize City. However, there are no direct options, so you may have to make multiple stopovers.

All in all, when you already have to get to Chetumal, pay for multiple expensive flights, and get to the airport 3 hours before, it seems like a waste of money and time.

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4. Private Taxi To Belize City

Last but not least, we have a taxi, but unfortunately, again, it isn’t really something I would recommend. It will be more expensive than a bus or shuttle, plus you will have to take multiple different cars.

Of course, in Bacalar, you will find numerous taxi drivers who will be more than happy to take you to the border. This is an easy and straightforward drive for them.

They will be able to take you as far as Belize immigration before needing to turn around. So, once here, you will need to negotiate with a new taxi driver to take you the rest of the way to Belize City.

However, if you are desperate for a ride, stuck at some random border, and have no other option, drivers will likely take advantage and rip you off. You will certainly have to bring out those expert haggling skills, and if you don’t have these, perhaps look at something else.

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Best Tips For Crossing The Mexico Belize Border

Obviously, when traveling to Belize from Mexico, you will need to cross the border. This always involves some paperwork and a bit of preplanning to ensure everything is in order.

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Steps For Crossing From Mexico To Belize

To make your journey as easy as possible, here is a breakdown of what to expect when you cross the border:

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Step 1. Do Your Research & Make Sure You Have Everything

Before heading to Belize City, you must first check that you have everything required. Obviously, your passport goes without saying, but also whether or not you require a visa.

If you have already paid for your Mexico tourist permit, print out proof of this. Your airline receipt breakdown if you arrived via flight (it must be the receipt or invoice with fee and tax breakdowns, not the ticket), or the receipt if you arrived at a land border is enough.

This fee is 1,136 MXN / $56.00, so if you haven’t paid it or don’t have proof, have some cash handy as you will be asked.

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Step 2. Arrive At The Mexican Border & Pass Through Immigration

When you arrive at the Mexican side of the border, follow signs for immigration.

You will need to present your passport, where they will check your length of stay and stamp you out of the country.

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Step 3. Pay For The Mexico Tourist Fee

As mentioned you will likely be asked to pay for the Mexico tourist fee.

From my experience the border officials won’t ask for proof or indicate that you may have actually already paid it. Instead it is up to you to know.

When they ask for the payment, just show them your receipt, whether from the airline or land border from when you arrived.

However, if you stayed less than 7 days in Mexico, this fee is not required. Again, it is unlikely the officials will tell you this, and instead, it will be up to you to advise.

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Step 4. Cross The Border To Belize

Finally you can then cross the border to Belize.

The immigration buildings are a few minutes drive apart, so I recommend jumping back onboard your shuttle, bus, or taxi.

Definitely do not walk this, especially since there is minimal shade and the days can be crazy hot.

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Step 5. Go Through Belize Immigration

On arrival in Belize, you will need to fill out an arrival form, so make sure to bring along a pen! You will then hand this over with your passport to the immigration officer.

They may ask you questions about your stay, but in my experience, they are super chill. I literally got asked, “How long are you staying?” I was honest and said, “1 week to 10 days,” and he simply replied, “Hmm, that’s not good. It should be longer. Let’s give you 30 days in case you change your mind.”

This mentality and sense of humor are the things I love most about Belize.

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Is There An Exit Fee For Mexico?

No, there isn’t actually an exit fee for Mexico. However, this can sometimes be construed as the tourist fee, which you will need to confirm you have paid already or pay on departure.

However, this is only if you stay for more than 7 days. Otherwise, this fee should already included in your international flight into Mexico or collected when you arrive at a land border.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty common for border staff to try to charge you again when you’re leaving, taking advantage of the fact that you might not have proof of payment.

At 1,136 MXN / $56.00 per person, this adds up fast and is quite a nice little side hustle.

Ultimately, the only way you can avoid paying it is with a printed receipt from your airline or from the border if you arrived overland.

Lastly, depending on the mood of the border agent, sometimes, digital copies on your phone might not be accepted, so better to print them off.

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Can I Catch The Ferry On The Same Day?

You have no doubt heard Belize City isn’t worth visiting, and I hate to say it, but I agree. There are much nicer places to visit, and since it is such a small country, it doesn’t take long to travel from A to B.

If you are keen to head to the islands, consider making a detour to Chetumal in Mexico. This is a short 30-minute drive from Bacalar, and here, you can find an international ferry terminal to take you to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

I have written an entire post on the ins and outs of traveling from Chetumal to Caye Caulker via Ambergris Caye, so if that sounds like a good option, check that out.

Now, back to Belize City. If you are determined to minimize your time on the water and prefer to travel overland, you can catch the ferry here.

Though the problem is catching the public ADO bus, you will cut it too close to the ferry departure time, so a 1 night stay will be necessary.

Alternatively, the tourist shuttle with Marlin Espadas is the only option that allows you to get a ferry on the same day.

Departing Bacalar at 7 am and arriving in Belize City at 12 pm you will have plenty of time. The problem is you will need to splash some cash as this isn’t the cheapest choice.

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🚗 How I Book Ferries & Shuttles In Belize: GuateGo

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Belize Travel Tips

Now that you know how to get to Belize and start your adventures, here are some tips for where to go!

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Best Places To Visit In Belize

Belize is an amazing country with its stunning beaches, lively coral reefs, and ancient Mayan ruins.

These are some of the best places for backpackers:

Ambergris Caye: This beautiful island is the largest in the country and is a popular honeymoon destination for a romantic holiday. It is a little bit more resort orientated, but still has a great hostel and plenty of free things to do.

San Ignacio: Located in the western part of Belize, San Ignacio is known for its adventure activities. Surrounded by lush jungles, caves, and incredible ruins, it is a must-visit.

Placencia: This charming coastal town is known for its chill, laid-back vibe. Here, you can find plenty of beautiful beaches, incredible snorkeling, and even the occasional whale shark if the season is right.

Caye Caulker: Another popular island, Caye Caulker, is a budget-friendly option for backpackers looking to enjoy the Caribbean without breaking the bank. Honestly, as a solo traveler, this place had such a homely and social hostel vibe. Plus, with stunning beaches, great seafood, and a relaxed atmosphere, you can’t go wrong!

Bellas Backpackers Caye Caulker The most popular hostel on the islands. Rooms start from $14.00 for a dorm and make sure to upgrade if you want air-con. BOOK NOW	Blue Wave Guesthouse Caye Caulker An excellent choice if you are wanting a bit more privacy. Fan-cooled rooms here start from $30.00 per night. BOOK NOW
Sandbar Beachfront Hostel San Pedro A comfortable and modern hostel that has a pool. Air-conditioned dorms start from $20.00 per night. BOOK NOW	Ambergris Sunset Hotel San Pedro An affordable choice with a pool to relax in. Rooms here start from $50.00 per night. BOOK NOW

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FAQs About How To Travel To Belize City From Bacalar

Below are some frequently asked questions about traveling to Belize City:

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Wrap Up: Traveling From Bacalar To Belize City

Of course, if you are in the South of Mexico, you need to cross the border and explore Belize!

It’s an easy enough route, especially thanks to the ADO bus, which makes this trip daily and is super affordable at $25.00!

If you are simply keen to head to the islands, change up your plans a bit and head to Chetumal instead. From here, you can take a ferry to Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, which is the quickest way.

Just make sure you are prepared for the border crossing and immigration officers with questionable ethics, and have a few podcasts downloaded to help pass the time.

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Any Questions? Let me know in the comments!

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost. As always, all opinions are my own, and your support is much appreciated.

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