How to Get Around Belize: Flights, Shuttles, Rental Cars & Water Taxis
· Heather Crozier
How to get around Belize—flights, shuttles, rental cars, and water taxis—plus what we actually used between Belize City, Placencia, and the cayes.
How do you get around Belize?
Most travellers mix a few modes: a shuttle or short domestic flight from Belize City, water taxis to the cayes, golf carts on the islands, and walking or bikes in villages like Placencia. A rental car is optional. I usually skip driving and use shuttles plus guided tours so you are not on unfamiliar roads after a long flight.
How to get around Belize—flights, shuttles, rental cars, and water taxis—plus what we actually used between Belize City, Placencia, and the cayes.
One of the questions that comes up when planning a trip to Belize is: How are we actually going to get around once we get there?
Belize may be a relatively small country, but depending on your itinerary, you could find yourself travelling by shuttle, car, small plane, water taxi, golf cart — or a combination of all of them.
We've travelled to Belize twice, and one thing I've learned is that getting from place to place can actually become part of the experience.
Here's what you should know about getting around Belize, along with what we've personally chosen to do.
Getting From Belize International Airport to Placencia
Most international travellers arrive at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), just outside Belize City.
If you're heading to Placencia, you have a couple of main options: fly or travel by road.
Flying to Placencia
You can take domestic flights from Belize International Airport to Placencia Airport (PLJ). It's definitely the faster option and can make a lot of sense if you want to get to the beach and start your vacation as quickly as possible.
We haven't personally flown into Placencia yet, but it's an option I would consider, especially for a shorter trip where every vacation day counts. If you're weighing a long weekend against a fuller itinerary, how many days you need in Belize often decides whether the extra travel time is worth it.
Taking a Shuttle to Placencia
This is what we've done on both of our Belize trips.
We arranged a shuttle from Belize International Airport to Placencia rather than taking a domestic flight.
Is it a long drive? Yes.
Do I think it's worth doing at least once? Also yes.
You get to watch the scenery change as you travel farther south and see a completely different side of Belize than you would from the air. The official Belize Tourism Board getting-around page is a useful overview of the country's transportation options if you want to compare road travel with flying.
One little thing that has stuck with me from both trips is seeing the roadside signs warning drivers to watch for jaguars and tapirs.
Coming from Canada, that's definitely not something you see on your everyday road trip.
Every time we passed one, I couldn't get over it. It's those random little moments that remind you just how far from home you actually are.
If you have the time, I think travelling by road is a really nice introduction to Belize.
Should You Rent a Car in Belize?
We've rented a car during both of our trips to Belize, but probably not for the reason you might expect.
We weren't renting a car so we could drive ourselves to every excursion or attraction.
We have friends who live in southwestern Belize, and having a rental car gave us the freedom to go visit them and explore areas we otherwise wouldn't have been able to reach as easily.
For that purpose, having a car was perfect.
But if your trip is primarily about staying in Placencia, relaxing, eating your way through the village and taking organized excursions, I don't think having a rental car is automatically necessary.
It really depends on how you travel and what you want to see — and on where you decide to stay.
Why I Prefer Group Tours for Excursions
Even when we have access to a rental car, I personally prefer booking guided or group tours for excursions.
Part of it is convenience. I like being able to show up, enjoy the day and let someone else worry about the directions and logistics.
But there's another reason that's important to me.
When you book with local guides and tour operators, you're putting tourism dollars back into the local economy and supporting people who live and work in the communities you're visiting.
And you learn so much more.
A local guide can tell you about the history, wildlife, culture and everyday life in Belize in a way that Google Maps simply can't.
Some of my favourite travel memories aren't just about the place we visited — they're about the people we met along the way. That's a big part of why I'd happily repeat the day trips from Placencia we've done, from Monkey River to the Maya sites inland.
So even if you're comfortable driving in Belize, I wouldn't automatically skip organized tours just because you can get somewhere yourself.
Getting to Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye
If your Belize itinerary includes Caye Caulker or San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, water taxis are one of the main ways to get there from Belize City.
Regular water taxi service connects Belize City with Caye Caulker and San Pedro. You can also fly domestically if you'd rather save time.
The water taxi is a great option if you're not in a rush and want the experience of travelling by boat.
If you're combining destinations — for example, San Ignacio with Caye Caulker, or Placencia with Ambergris Caye — this is where planning your transportation ahead of time becomes especially important.
Getting Around Once You Arrive
How you'll get around locally depends a lot on where you're staying.
Placencia
Placencia Village itself is very walkable, particularly if you're staying close to the centre of the village. Taxis and other local transportation are available when you need to go farther.
Caye Caulker
Walking and bicycles are common ways to get around, and golf carts are also used on the island.
Ambergris Caye
Golf carts are extremely popular, particularly if you want to explore beyond central San Pedro.
San Ignacio
You may find taxis, organized tours or a rental car more useful depending on what you're planning to see.
This is one reason I recommend figuring out your itinerary before deciding whether you need a rental car for your entire trip. A Hopkins stay, for example, has a different rhythm than splitting time between the jungle and the cayes.
So, What's the Best Way to Get Around Belize?
There's no single answer — and I actually think that's part of the fun.
And when it comes to excursions, don't overlook local tours. Having someone who actually knows the area show you around can completely change the experience.
For us, a combination has worked really well: shuttles for the longer trip between Belize International Airport and Placencia, rental cars when we wanted the freedom to visit friends and explore independently, and organized tours for our excursions.
Belize isn't a place where I feel like you need to rush from Point A to Point B.
Sometimes the ride itself is part of the story.
Planning Your Belize Trip?
Not sure whether you should fly, drive, take a shuttle or split your stay between a few different parts of Belize?
That's exactly the kind of thing I can help with.
As an independent Canadian Travel Advisor behind Celovia, I help travellers plan Belize trips based on how they actually want to travel — whether that's a laid-back beach escape, a jungle adventure, island hopping or a little bit of everything. That's the kind of logistics a Belize travel advisor handles so you're not piecing together shuttles and water taxis at midnight.