Planning a trip to Belize? Whether you are a backpacker looking for adventure or a traveler seeking a luxurious honeymoon, understanding the local costs is essential for a stress-free getaway. From navigating the Belizean Dollar to budgeting for island hopping and world-class diving, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Discover how to manage your daily expenses, find the best accommodation options, and enjoy authentic local cuisine without breaking the bank. With our practical tips on transportation, tipping, and seasonal pricing, you will be fully prepared to experience the best of this Central American paradise.
How Much Does a Trip to Belize Cost?
To determine the cost of a Belize vacation we will break the budget down into categories like getting there, hotels, activities, food, and more. The currency is the Belizean Dollar. This converts to $0.50 USD per Belizean dollar or 2 Belizean dollars per $1 USD. Many places do actually take USD too, so you don’t always need to get Belizean currency out. The time of year matters. Basically, from December-May it is the dry season, and June-November is the rainy season. Expect cheaper prices during the rainy season as it is a less popular time to visit.
On a mid-range budget of about 250-280 BZD, you can stay in a budget hotel or a private room at a hostel, grab meals at restaurants, do more intercity travel, drink out more, take the occasional taxi, and enjoy some tours like sea kayaking or manatee watching.
For a luxury budget of about 630+ BZD, you’ll be able to stay in 4-star hotels or resorts, enjoy fancy restaurant meals and all the drinks and seafood you want, and participate in activities like diving. This is just the starting price for luxury though — the sky really is the limit!
No matter what budget you embrace, remember that your daily average is going to go up, up, up the more dive activities or expensive tours you do so if you’re traveling on a budget, keep the diving and historical tours to a minimum.
Getting around
Flying: You could fly airlines like Tropic Air or Maya Island Air to your destination. These flights are typically between 15-25 minutes long and cost between $50-100 per person, each way. Check Skyscanner for flights!
Shuttle: If you have a specific resort that you’re staying in, you can arrange transportation with them to get you from the airport to your hotel. If your hotel doesn’t offer pickup, you can get an airport shuttle starting at $60-200 per person, each way.
Rental Car: You could hire a car for your time in Belize, and this could cost around $50-60 per day. Be sure to also budget for gas, parking, etc. as needed.
Ferry: If you are staying in Caye Caulker or San Pedro, then you can take the Belize Express Water Taxi to your destination. This costs between $31.50-51.50 per person, round-trip depending on whether you’re going to Caye Caulker or San Pedro. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of getting to the ferry too. It is $25 per couple and $5 for each additional person.
Total Cost of Getting Around Belize: $44-400 per person round-trip depending on your destination and how you choose to get there.
Accommodation
Midrange: BZ$120–500. Double room with private bathroom: BZ$120–350. Luxury accommodations per double: from BZ$350 and upwards, the sky is really the limit!
Food
Belizean cuisine leans heavily on beans, rice, cheese, and tortillas. Rice and beans is a common lunch choice, and you can always find tamales, panades (fried meat pies), onion soup, chicken stew, and ganaches (beans, cheese, and onion in a fried tortilla) pretty much everywhere you go. Expect to pay around 10 BZD for a quick meal at a restaurant serving traditional cuisine. A meal at a restaurant with table service and drinks costs between 50-100 BZD. For fast food, expect to pay around 13 BZD for a combo meal. Expect to pay around 4-5 BZD for a beer, 8 BZD for a latte/cappuccino, and 1.50 BZD for a bottle of water. If you’re on a budget, snack on fruit here—it’s cheap, abundant, fresh, and delicious!
Activities
Entrance to most Mayan ruins and national parks cost around 10-30 BZD. Full-day diving trips cost around 150 BZD for a full day. A half-day manatee-spotting tour ranges from 75-100 BZD. A visit to a wildlife sanctuary costs around 10 BZD. A day of sea kayaking in Placencia starts around 70 BZD. Entrance to the Belize Botanic Gardens in San Ignacio costs 15 BZD.
Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory but is always appreciated if guides, drivers, or servers have provided you with genuinely good service. Some hotels and restaurants add an obligatory service charge to your check (usually 10%).
- Hotels: No tipping is required but baggage porters appreciate a small gratuity.
- Restaurants: Round up the check between 5% and 10%.
- Taxis: Tips are not expected.
- Tour guides: Used to receiving tips.
