Practical information Belize

French, Belgian, and Swiss nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 30 days. A simple stamp is issued upon arrival, generally at Philip Goldson International Airport, 16 km from Belize City. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date and have a blank page. You will need to present a return or onward ticket, as well as proof of accommodation (our Nomadays vouchers are sufficient). An exit tax of approximately 40 USD is due at departure, usually included in your airline ticket. For longer stays, an extension can be requested on-site at immigration offices, for around one hundred dollars per additional month.

No vaccines are mandatory, except yellow fever if you are arriving from a country where it is endemic (such as stopovers in Colombia or Panama). We recommend being up to date on DTP, and to plan for hepatitis A and typhoid given street food and rural areas. Hepatitis B and rabies can be considered for long stays or jungle activities. Malaria is now residual and limited to a few rural areas in the south, without systematic prophylaxis, but dengue circulates year-round with a peak during the wet season. Anti-mosquito repellent in the morning and evening, long clothing in the jungle. A consultation at an international vaccination center 4 to 6 weeks before departure remains the best approach.

Belize is notably more expensive than its Central American neighbours, partly because many products are imported and tourism there is high-end. Budget between 120 and 180 euros per day and per person excluding international flights, based on comfortable accommodation, transfers, guides and 2 or 3 activities per stage. A night in a lodge in Cayo ranges from 120 to 250 USD, a decent dinner between 15 and 30 USD, a snorkeling trip to Hol Chan around 70 USD, a dive at the Blue Hole between 280 and 350 USD with three dives. Domestic flights cost 80 to 130 USD per leg. Over 12 days combining jungle and cayes, a tailor-made trip starts around 2800 euros per person.

The dry season, from late December to May, remains the ideal window: temperatures of 24 to 30°C, low humidity, clear skies over the reefs, underwater visibility of 25 to 30 meters. February, March and April are the most stable months, perfect for combining jungle and diving. June marks the beginning of the rainy season, with showers mainly in late afternoon, which don't prevent travel but can complicate access to Caracol or Toledo. The period from July to mid-November carries a real cyclonic risk, with a peak in September-October. The south is significantly wetter than the north. For a first trip, we recommend January-April.

The country is small but getting around requires some logistics. Domestic flights with Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are the most efficient solution for reaching the cayes or Placencia from Belize City: 15 to 25 minutes flight time, with several departures daily. For Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, water taxis from Belize City (1 to 1.5 hours) are an economical alternative. On the mainland, car rental remains practical for the Belize City - San Ignacio - Belmopan triangle on paved roads, but a 4x4 is essential for Caracol, Mountain Pine Ridge and the southern tracks. We also organize private transfers with driver, more comfortable for longer journeys to Placencia (4 hours) or Punta Gorda (5-6 hours).

Belize is generally safe for travelers who stick to tourist circuits. The cayes, Cayo, the north and Placencia pose no particular problems. Belize City concentrates most of the country's urban crime, in outlying neighborhoods (South Side) that have no reason to be visited, and we organize transfers so you won't have to stay there. Standard precautions apply: no visible valuables, official taxis (green plates), no isolated walks at night. At sea, follow your dive guides' instructions, as currents can be strong in the passes. Our team is available 24/7 during your stay for any questions or unforeseen situations.