To Belize and Back Again - On Getting Home

Our ferry from San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize to Chetumal,  Quintana Roo, Mexico was scheduled to leave at 7:30AM.   No problem, most of us were typically up well before that anyway.

7AM and the taxis we needed to get the luggage to the ferry was there.  Just a few minutes after that and everything was being off-loaded at the pier and we were in line at the counter to check in for our departure.

I was going to go in to this long drawn out explanation of the ineptitude that transpired to get us through Immigration, but it is beyond comprehension.

You Better Belize It!! The Exit Fee Scam

Before leaving for Belize I was checking on the fees that would be required for Exit and Entry, of both Mexico and Belize.   The info is confusing, and contradictory, even on the Country web sites.

Corruption, it exists, and what are you really expected to do - make a fuss!

I mean if you Google for info on exit fees you come across all sorts of posts about scams by Border 'Officials' even photos of the Officials, and yet nothing happens.

So everything I had read said that they would charge a Port fee, but that it was illegal.  OK?  So you decide, pay the illegal fee and cross, or don't pay and don't cross.

The fees alone are amazing - First window we paid our Departure Processing Fee 15USD, and the Port fee of 5USD. Then we stepped over to the next window and paid the PACT * which is a Tax for supporting the reef as a preserve 10USD.

Now everything I read on the internet, and recent info, says the Departure Processing fee should be 7.50BZ.  It also states the Conservation fee (PACT) should be 3.75 - whatever!!!!!!!!

So FINALLY, about 9:30 we were departing San Pedro on Ambergris and heading for Chetumal.

*  Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), The proceeds from this fee is distributed and used to sustain the protected areas in Belize.

upon arrival in Chetumal, we decide to find food and headed up 

to Avenida Heroes where we found a great breakfast.  Then 

taxis to the bus station, then the bus home.


It had been raining quite a bit before we go to Merida so there 

was some serious street flooding going on.

well, that's that - There and Back Again!

To Belize and Back Again - on Being There

Upon arrival at Ambergris Caye we proceeded to Immigration, presented our papers, then collected our luggage and headed for Customs.   Esay Peasey!

Then, not knowing the distance, we grabbed a taxi, well with the 8 of us we grabbed 2 taxis, and headed for our hotel, Pedro's Inn.

I guess it was about 7:30pm by the time we got our rooms, and our luggage stowed  - so now time to get to business!

 So that's Day 1, Getting There!

Good Grief!

Belize is expensive!  period!

Ambergris Caye is crowded, and choc a bloc of cars and golf carts - I mean it's like a little train - they are one right after the other.

And it feels closed in, the streets are narrow, the buildings are mostly 2 or 3 floors high so you feel a little claustrophobic.   The colors are awesome! and the gingerbread adornments on many of the buildings is so cute and quaint.

I really liked the tourist map signs - each one topped with a tropical fish

We had rain 2 nights, and one of the days was quite overcast.

Those are the negatives.  These are the positives

We were with a group of friends and we had fun, we walked the beaches, we ate, we drank...

we didn't rent a bike, but we talked about it!

 we saw some pretty beach scapes

We went on a snorkel trip and swam with turtles, tropical fishes, nurse sharks, and rays.  We even saw a big green moray eel.  Hol Chan reef is fabulous, its been protected for quite a while so the reefs are well populated with both flora and fauna.

Six of us rented a 6 person golf cart and toured the island so we got a bit of birdwatching in, we saw an osprey, an eagle, several different herons and egrets, lots of warblers, and assorted other birds.

one day we spent at the hotel pool, reading and visiting.

There's even a Caye (K) Mart - but we didn't shop!

AND we even found a wine bar -

and we saw a frog, but not a one of us women needed to bother to kiss it!

to Belize and back again! Getting there!

A Group of us, and for whatever reason we seem to travel in packs these days, just got back from a few days trip to Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Tom and I, as divers, have been to Belize and the Caye's a number of times, but never Ambergris.   We always shunned it because it was 'the' place to go.

We started off from the local CAME bus station at 7:30 AM.  The ADO buses are quite nice, comfy seats that recline, TV screens where they blast movies at you the entire trip, gotta love those mp3 players and headphones.  Plenty o AC, brrrrrrr!
and an on board bathroom.

The trip from Merida to Chetumal is 5 1/2 to 6 hours depending on travel conditions, with a short stop about midway for potty and snack break.  We chatted, laughed, read, watched silly movies, listened to music or podcasts, snacked, and watched the scenery pass by.  I must say, bus travel is THE way to go!

We arrived in Chetumal, and caught taxis to the muelle (dock) where the ferry to transport us to Ambergris would leave.  Bought our tickets, checked our bags and walked a short distance to a great little seafood place that apparently has a branch here in Merida.

after some fabulous fish tacos and a beer, well that's what I had, we went back to the dock, went through Immigration (leaving Mexico entering Belize) and we were nearly there!

At the dock all our checked luggage was lined up on the side of the dock and we were requested  to place our hand luggage in a line in the center of the dock.  We were then all asked to stand away.  The sniffer dog did two or three passes and we were cleared to retrieve our stuff and board!  Pretty cool!

Oh, current fees for exiting Mexico and entering Belize -
our ferry was 37.50usd p/p
I believe there would have been an Exit the Country fee of some sort except that we are residents of Mexico.
and a port fee of 5usd p/p
I read a lot of forum discussion on these port fees, opinions vary on whether they are legal or not!  Regardless, you want to ride, you pay the fee!

ok, so now we are ready for our hour and a half boat ride!  During the trip the young purser passed around a box of cookies and snacks for us to each take one, and he pushed a cooler into the aisle with water and sodas - full service - although I never looked to see if there was a head!

sit back, relax, and enjoy the very bumpy ride!

arriving at the dock on Ambergris Caye

Manana, Being There!

TS Arthur in Belize

Well Arthur sure has been a good thing for us in Merida, well except that I need to do some laundry and of course it won't dry in this weather. Our temperatures have really cooled down, and the water was much needed

But poor Belize, TS Arthur is really making a mess of things there. You can check it out at Belize's National Emergency Management's webpage. (NEMO) Really a mess.

Buena Suerte a los amigos en Belize!