Central America · UN member
Belize: Travel Guide & Requirements
· Belice
Belize is a country in Central America with its capital in Belmopan. It has a population of 422,924 (#174 in the world) and covers 22,966 km². The official languages are Belizean Creole, English and Spanish. The currency is the Belize dollar (BZD, $).
Where is Belize? Map of Belize
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico.
- Region
- Central America
- Coordinates
- 17.25° N, 88.75° W
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 386 km
- Belize
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Belize showing Belmopan (capital) and the largest cities: Belize City, San Pedro and Orange Walk.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Belize
- Passport
Belize's Immigration Department says visa applicants must have a passport valid for more than 6 months.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 106 need no visa, 92 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Belize entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Belize's Immigration Department says a visa applicant's flight itinerary must show expected arrival in Belize and the return date to the country of origin (or, if transiting, the date of departure to the country of dest…
- Proof of funds
Belize's Immigration Department lists an employment letter and banking financials among the documents visa applicants need to present, including if they are self-sponsored.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The Government Press Office's Cabinet brief of 14 July 2022 says Cabinet approved the removal of all public health measures at points of entry.
- Customs allowance
The US State Department gives an entry maximum and an exit maximum of approximately $10,000 for Belize, without saying whether larger sums must be declared or are barred.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Belize
- Safety: Belize is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Belize Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: December to March — when daytime highs in Belmopan are around 27–32°C.
- Money: the Belize dollar (BZD) — 1 US dollar is about 2.0136 BZD.
- Plugs: type A, B and G, 110 V / 220 V, 60 Hz — mixed voltage: check the socket before you plug in. Dual-voltage chargers (100–240 V) work everywhere.
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911.
- Language: Belizean Creole, English and Spanish are official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 40 km/h in built-up areas and 88 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-6 in Belmopan.
- Capital: Belmopan. About 422,924 people live in Belize.
- Outdoors: 19 national parks.
Key facts
Belize at a glance
Languages spoken: English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)
Geography & history
About Belize
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992, and the two countries are still involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican a…
Read the full history
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992, and the two countries are still involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.
Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Climate
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Terrain
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Highest point
Doyle's Delight 1,124 m
Natural resources
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Natural hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
National symbols
Baird's tapir (a large forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, black orchid
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Belize
The default speed limits in Belize are 40 km/h in built-up areas and 88 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.8‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 4040 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 8888 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.8‰ blood alcohol (0.08% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)17.5 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Belize safe to visit?
Belize is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Belize Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Removal of information about the State of Emergency, which has now ended ('Warnings and insurance' page).
Updated 12 Jun 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Belize
The best time to visit Belize is December to March, when daytime highs in Belmopan are around 27–32°C. April, July and November are also a good time to go. April is the warmest month (34°C by day), January the coldest (19°C at night), and October the wettest with about 243 mm of rain.
- Jan27°C19°C
- Feb29°C20°C
- Mar32°C21°C
- Apr34°C22°C
- May33°C24°C
- Jun30°C24°C
- Jul30°C24°C
- Aug30°C24°C
- Sep30°C24°C
- Oct28°C23°C
- Nov27°C20°C
- Dec27°C20°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Belize
Plugs & sockets
- Type Atwo flat parallel pins
- Type Btwo flat parallel pins and a round earth pin
- Type Gthree rectangular pins in a triangle
110 V / 220 V, 60 Hz · Mixed voltage: check the socket before you plug in. Dual-voltage chargers (100–240 V) work everywhere.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
19 national parks in Belize
- 1,788 km² protected
- oldest from 1986
Largest: Chiquibul National Park · Sarstoon-Temash National Park · Payne's Creek National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Belize dollar exchange rates today
Belize uses the Belize dollar (BZD, $). One US dollar buys 2.0136 BZD; over the last 30 days the BZD has gained 0.1% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in BZD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Belize ranks
How Belize compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Belize
33 airports and airfields — 1 large, 8 medium and 19 small, plus 5 heliports. 12 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Belize borders 2 countries along 542 km of land borders. Coastline: 386 km.
Military
Belizean armed forces
Belize ranks #139 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $33 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Belmopan (23,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Export partners
USA 22%, UK 14%, Spain 9%, Guatemala 7%, Portugal 5% (2023)
Top exports
raw sugar, bananas, fish, shellfish, refined petroleum (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Belize
Next public holiday
Garifuna Settlement Day — Thursday, 19 November 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Belizean passport
Ranked #97: 59 countries visa-free, 26 with visa on arrival, 4 with an eTA and 35 with an eVisa.
Belizean passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Belize's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Belize
Dial +501 before the local number. Internet domain .bz.
Climate footprint
0.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 1.91 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Belize: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Belize
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Frequently asked questions about Belize
What do I need to travel to Belize?
How long must my passport be valid for Belize?
Where is Belize?
What is Belize known for?
What is the capital of Belize?
What language is spoken in Belize?
What currency does Belize use?
What is the calling code of Belize?
Which countries border Belize?
How strong is the Belizean passport?
What is the speed limit in Belize?
Is Belize safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Belize?
What plug type does Belize use?
How many airports does Belize have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.