Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO BELIZE

CAPITAL

Belmopan

LANGUAGE

Spanish is the official language of Belize.

RELIGION

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion of Belize, though some of the population is members of the Protestant and Church of England sects.

LOCAL TIME

The standard time for Belize is calculated from Belmopan. Central Standard Time (CDT) is 6 hours behind GMT.

ELECTRICITY

220/110v – sockets take the twin prong round European and twin prong flat US plugs.

Belize electrical outlets

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access our link to the Travel & Visa Requirements Section in our Before You Go page available in each itinerary web page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting.

Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit in Belize is the Belizean Dollar (BZD). XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM

US dollars are accepted in Belize. Visa, Plus, and Cirrus/Maestro are accepted in most ATMs, as long as you have a 4 digit pin number. ATM machines will ONLY give you local currency. You should also be able to get a cash advance on a Visa Card at the bank. Note that some banks will require a copy of your passport. Credit cards are accepted in some shops/restaurants/hotels. The most accepted credit card is Visa, although authorization can sometimes be denied due to poor computer connections or other problems. Although bank cards are often the easiest way to go, there are times where they will not work for you even if your bank at home tells you it will. Do not rely on your card as your only source of money. Always have a few back-ups with you.

CLOTHING

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In the hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon. Be prepared for cooler evenings - for this reason you will generally find it better to pack several thin layers rather than one thick layer. A fleece can be invaluable. Water resistant jackets are essential during the rainy season between June and September.

COMMUNICATIONS

Internet
In Belize, internet cafés are not as numerous. When they can be found, prices are generally upwards of $US 5 per hour.

Tourists visiting Belize can access the internet in several ways, including:

SIM card

Purchase a prepaid SIM card from a retail store, convenience store, or authorized reseller. You'll need your passport for identification. You can also purchase a DigiCell Tourist SIM from a Digi Store, which offers temporary data, talk, and text allowances.

eSIM

Purchase an eSIM before you depart to avoid roaming charges.

WiFi

Many hotels, restaurants, parks, and museums offer free or public WiFi. You can also rent a MiFi device to connect multiple devices to the internet.

Satellite internet

Several American and Canadian providers offer satellite internet services, but these may be more expensive.

Belize has a relatively small population and an undersea cable that connects the country to the United States, so it performs well in terms of internet bandwidth per user. However, rural communities and undeveloped areas may have limited coverage and rely on slower, more expensive satellite

Phone
The telephone network in Belize is often criticized for being ineffective but things are improving. Payphones and card phones are common in Belize City and some of the bigger towns. An international call to the US will cost approximately $US 2 per minute.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

The wet season throughout Central America starts around May/June and gradually finishes in September or October. The only place where rain is almost guaranteed is Rio Dulce, located in the middle of the rainforest. Here the rainy season sometimes continues until February. The temperatures in Belize are like other northern hemisphere countries, where it's warmer in summer (July/August) and cooler in winter (December/January). In the highlands, temperatures at night are quite cool. December/January nights in the highlands can drop to freezing. Generally, the hottest time in Belize will be the months of April to May (before the rain comes!).

Belize City: (approx)

MEALS

Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 5-10
• Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course - $US 40 - 75 
• McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) - $US 6 - 10

DRINKS 

Tea and coffee is provided with breakfast but all other drinks (i.e. bottled water and soft drinks) are at your own expense. Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below but note that prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• Domestic Beer (0.5-liter draught) - $US 4.00 
• Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) - $US 5.00
• Cappuccino (regular) - $US 5.00
• Coke/Pepsi (0.33-liter bottle) - $US 2.00
• Water (0.33-liter bottle) - $US 1.00

Local tap water is drinkable in Belize’s major towns and resorts; however, the same cannot be said of the smaller villages. Caution should be taken not to drink surface water in remote regions. Bottled water, soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available throughout the country.

FOOD 

People are often surprised by the quality and variety on offer in Belize. This is partly due to the number of ex-pats who have opened a range of different international restaurants. There is also local cuisine to suit every budget. Chicken, pork, and beef are available throughout. Most meals come with corn tortillas and sometimes salad, but often lack hot vegetables. Although you might expect the food to be spicy in this region this is not usually the case. Corn (maize) is the staple diet of Belize’s indigenous people, and you will certainly get a lot of it. Mostly it comes in the form of tortillas which are flat pancake-like objects made of corn dough and grilled. Belize’s’ burritos are some of the best in the world. You can get vegetarian, chicken, shrimp or lobster fillings. If you have any allergies to foods, please come prepared with a list to give to your guide who can then translate it into Spanish for you to show every waiter who takes your order.

TIPPING & GRATUITY GUIDELINES

Belize’s hotels and resorts, many of which are upmarket, tend to add a 10% service charge automatically to guest’s bills. This charge is divided amongst porters, chambermaids and other service personnel and you would not be expected to leave any further gratuity. However, you should check your bill and if the charge is not included then it’s always appreciated to give a small 5-10% gratuity.

Restaurants are different and they do not tend to add a service charge to the bill and, in fact, actively encourage diners to tip waiters & waitresses to boost their salaries. The “going rate” for tips is between 10% - 15% of the bill.

Taxi drivers do not expect tips but if they help you with your luggage then at least tip 10 % which would be appreciated.

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.