Overland Belize, and the Border Crossing from Mexico

Border Crossing Mexico to Belize:

Allow about 2-3 hours.

Fuel is twice the price in Belize so ensure all fuel tanks are full before leaving Mexico.

You will need:

  1. • Passport

  2. • Original Vehicle Documents

  3. • Mexican Temporary Vehicle Import Permit


There is now a new border crossing from Mexico to Belize so some of this information is already out of date !


At the arrival to the border there are a number of hustlers trying to scam insurance and to help you - do not use them.

The process is very possible by yourself and we found the Border Officers quite willing to help with directions etc.


Do NOT buy insurance from the scammers - see below for insurance.


At the outbound Mexican Immigration Office the passports are checked, exit stamped and the (FM-T) Tourist Card removed. The official will then take and cancel the Mexican Temporary Vehicle papers. 






Drive then into the border complex and to the left in this photograph is a parking area and the Banjercito (Mexican Army Bank) where the Vin number is checked against the paperwork and the temporary import sticker removed from the windscreen.


As there was no charges onto our credit card for the vehicle deposit there was no refund. (see entry details in the Mexico section)



Once you officially leave Mexico you drive over the river into no-mans land on the way to Belize.


Although we did not enter the Santa Elena Border Area there is a large Duty Free complex on the left.

Alcohol is less expensive here than in Mexico.






The first stop, and be aware there are no signs, is this small Quarantine spray booth on the right.









The vehicle tyres are given a quick spray.

Cars and Pick-up Trucks $10, SUV’s $11 and Trucks were $13. ( We paid $13)


Remember to keep your receipt.






You need:

  1. • Passport

  2. • Original Vehicle Documents

  3. • Drivers License

  4. • Quarantine Receipt

Park the vehicles on in the Parking lot on the left as you approach the building. In the immigration building the staff are very friendly and helpful. Everything is very casual and holiday style slow.

The passengers pass through the checking and wait on the other side under a big tree whilst the driver stays at immigration for the import papers for the vehicle to be hand completed.


Retain the document until you leave Belize.


Outside drive to the border check point. The Quarantine person checks the quarantine receipt, Customs
checks the passport and vehicle permit, and we experienced a casual inspection walk around the vehicle.


Before you leave the border post area the Insurance Co of Belize building is straight ahead.

The price is B$52/week (US$26)

(The scammers were charging $12/day or $60/week)

Payment by Credit card is acceptable and a sticker is placed on the windscreen.


ATM’s are available in the small town of Corozal only a few kilometres after the border.


Travel in Belize:

It's difficult to comprehend how difficult Belize is from Mexico. Belizians have more of a Caribbean and African background. 


The African Garifunas heritage comes from  a group of slaves that escaped from a slave ship way back in the 1860‘s   

All of Belize is relaxed, very friendly and speak both English and Spanish.

The signs are in English, and travel is easy. 

Do be aware of pedestrians as there are no side walks in the smaller towns and country areas.  We encounter no military check points


Belize is small and although you can drive from Mexico to Guatemala in about 6 hours, we spent 7 days. exploring this beautiful country of waterfalls, jungles, limestone caves and beaches.


Do not forget the boat trip to Lamani





There are also various Mennonite communities with different degrees of commitment. If you get a chance to visit one...do so.












Camping:

Relatively easy to find are good camping spots.  Most times we negotiated to free camp  at an attraction for no more than the price of the entrance fee. The Lamani tour operator offered a beautiful yard next to the river where we could camp, shower and wash.


The most picturesque camp was at the Barton Creek Cave, showers, toilets, free WiFi, coupled with a great underground scull discovery cave canoe trip.








Food:

Food prices vary in this relatively poor country. In the more tourist areas expect to pay around $10 each for dinner. Rice and beans plus chicken or meat are the inexpensive road side meals. Cooked green bananas or plantain is the desert.


Fuel:

Fuel is twice the price that it is in Mexico so if you can avoid purchasing in Belize then do so. Both fuel supply and electricity supply seem to be a monopoly business and prices accordingly high.


Note when leaving Belize into Guatemala DO NOT fill up at the Puma Service Station just across the border in Melchor de Mencos.  On the 13th October 2013 we found their diesel fuel must have been diluted with Kerosene. All three vehicles suffered significant loss of economy and one vehicle had fuel supply problems.

We later learnt that this is a regular occurrence at some unscrupulous service stations.


Water:

All the tourist attractions had good water available.


For more information research :http://www.drivetheamericas.com/belize


For our actual Travel Diary through Belize see: GoannaTracks Across Belize

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DIY Kit For Overland Travel