Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Car rental
All the main rental companies offer cars, trucks and
vans, including
four-wheel drive
options, for
around US$70-140 per day and another US$13-17
per day for insurance, depending on the class of
vehicle. Most companies have o
ces at the interna-
tional airport and in Belize City (see p.54).
Avis (
W
avis.com), Budget (
W
budget.com),
Hertz (
W
hertz.com) and Thrifty (
W
thrifty.com)
have franchises in Belize. The local firm Crystal
(
W
crystal-belize.com) offers some of the best
rental prices, can provide clients with mobile
phones for use during their stay and is one of
the few companies that allows you to take its
vehicles to Tikal.
Reserving ahead
of time can
save money and guarantees that a car will be
waiting for you on arrival. One-way rentals
typically aren't available, but your rental company
can provide a pick-up or drop-off at your Belize
City hotel or the airport.
In most cases you'll need to be 25 to rent a
vehicle (if you're aged between 21 and 25 you may
be required to pay a premium), and you'll usually
have to leave a credit card imprint as a damage
deposit when you pick up the car. Before you belt
up and drive off into the sunset, check exactly what
the
insurance
covers, examine the car carefully for
signs of existing damage (making sure it's marked
on the rental contract) and check what spares and
equipment are included. A good
spare wheel
(and
the tools to put it on) is essential - if you do heavy
driving on Belize's roads, a puncture is likely at least
once, if not more.
By bike
Touring Belize by bike is fairly straightforward,
particularly in the north and west where the roads
are well surfaced, and also along the Hummingbird
Highway - if you can manage the hills. Some locals
will be surprised to see you using this form of
transport, but don't assume that you're always
noticed -
stay alert
to tra
c. Cycling on the
highways after dark is not recommended.
Cycling is a popular sport in Belize: citizens
compete internationally, and several annual races, in
which visitors are welcome to take part, are heavily
attended. You'll find cycle
repair shops
in many
towns. Mountain or beach bikes are available for rent
(from Bz$15/half day) at an increasing number of
shops and resorts (sometimes free for guests). Inspect
rental bikes carefully since they deteriorate quickly in
coastal climes, and if you intend to cycle a lot, bring or
buy your own lock, lights and a helmet, which can be
di
cult to find. Top places to
rent
a bike are San
Ignacio, where you can ride along the forest roads in
the Mountain Pine Ridge; Placencia, with a smooth,
sandy resort road that makes for an enjoyable day's
riding; and San Pedro, where you can leisurely pedal
along the main roads, catching glimpses of beach
along the way. Also, renting a mountain bike in Punta
Gorda will give you the freedom to explore the Maya
villages and hills of Toledo.
Bikes can only rarely be carried on top of buses;
few Belizean buses have the
roof racks
so common
in Guatemala. If you're lucky - and if there's room -
the driver may let you put your bike in the back of
the bus.
By taxi
Accommodation
Accommodation in Belize ranges from
world-renowned resorts to basic
clapboard hotels, covering a wide range
of prices and services.
Towns in Belize are so small that you can usually
walk to the majority of hotels to see what's on offer.
For much of the year,
occupancy rates
are fairly
low, and you should have little di
culty finding a
room. The exceptions are Christmas and New Year,
when you'll almost certainly need to
book ahead
in resort areas.
The
cost of accommodation
in Belize is notably
higher than in surrounding countries, but you'll still
find plenty of budget options. Average prices range
from US$30/Bz$60 at a simple budget guesthouse
to US$75-125/Bz$150-250 for a decent mid-range
All taxis in Belize are licensed and easily identifi-
able by their green licence plates. Drivers operate
from ranks in the centres of towns and bus
stations and, particularly in Belize City, will call out
to anyone they suspect is a foreigner. There are
no meters
, so you'll need to establish a rate in
advance, though within towns a fare of around
Bz$7-8 for one or two people usually applies. The
set taxi fare from the international airport to
Belize City is Bz$50.
Many taxi drivers, particularly in Belize City,
offer day-trip fares to the surrounding sights (like
the Belize Zoo or the Maya site of Altun Ha)
that are competitive with the local tour
companies. Also, some drivers (particularly those
at the Marine Terminal in Belize City) are also
licensed tour guides and have been through
tourism training.
