Getting to the Island

There Are Two Ways to Get to the Island

Boat Ferry to Ambergris Caye

Puddle Jumper Flight to Ambergris Caye

Most international flights will arrive early to mid-afternoon to the Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize. Once you have arrived, you will need to decide how you will get to the island (Ambergris Caye), from the Belize mainland. The water taxi, is typically about 1/3 the cost of flying to the island and most of our guests choose this option.

BOAT FERRY OPTION
If you choose the boat ferry, you will need to take a taxi from the Philip Goldson International Airport to a boat ferry terminal. There are two boat ferry terminals 1.) San Pedro Express & 2.) Ocean Ferry. We suggest taking San Pedro Express. A taxi ride from the airport to the boat terminal will take about 1/2 hour and cost roughly $35.USD for 1-2 people. You purchase your boat ferry tickets, once you arrive at the terminal. The boat ferry schedule has been provided further down in this thread.

PUDDLE JUMPER OPTION
If you choose what we call the "Puddle Jumper" option, you will simply walk from the immigration's/customs area (through two large swinging doors), to the local airline ticket counters (located within the Belize International Airport). The walk from customs to these ticket counters is not far, just around the corner. A porter will ask to assist you with your luggage, bear in mind they charge about $1.USD per bag as a handling fee. For families traveling with small children, this may be a very helpful option. If traveling simply, you may want to decline and carry your own luggage.

Boat to Island

TRAVEL TIME FROM BELIZE MAINLAND
Boat Ride Duration: 1-1/2 Hours

While a flight may be the quickest way to get to San Pedro, the water taxis that service the area are both cheaper and a better way to indulge yourself in the natural scenery. The majority of our guests, choose the boat ferry, and have been very happy with it. We recommend San Pedro Express as the ferry of choice. You'll find that a round trip ticket will cost about 1/3 of the price of a "puddle jumper" flight. Water ferries do not carry cars, so renting a car on the mainland and bringing it over on ferry is not an option.

Plane to Island

TRAVEL TIME FROM BELIZE MAINLAND
Plane Ride Duration: 15-20 minutes

Both traveling by sea and air is a great way to experience and see Belize. The air traffic routes, allow you to get some of the best views possible when traveling to the island. You'll want to make sure you have your camera ready for this leg of the trip. The pictures can be breath-taking. The flight will take you about 15-20 minutes, and for those who don't want to spend 1-1/2 hours on a boat ride, this is a great option (though a bit more expensive).

Fare Comparisons

San Pedro Water Taxi
ONE WAY
Belize City to Ambergris Caye - $30. USD

ROUND TRIP
Belize City to Ambergris Caye - $55. USD

Note: Prices are subject to change without notice. These are the prices quoted, as of December 2021.

Puddle Jumper Flights
ONE WAY
Belize Int'l Airport to San Pedro-$90 USD

ROUND TRIP
Belize Int'l Airport to San Pedro - $158 USD

Note: Prices are subject to change without notice. These are the prices quoted, as of December 2021.

If you book through our office, we can get you 10% off puddle jumper tickets on the above figures.

Boat Ferry to Island

BY SEA
If you prefer to travel by sea, there are two ferry companies located in Belize City that offer daily service to Ambergris Caye; the San Pedro Belize Express and Ocean Ferry Belize. This is a longer journey, taking up to 90 minutes. The boats are large, covered and often operate at or just below passenger capacity.

To get to the water taxi terminal, you will need to hire a taxi at the PGIA to the water taxi dock. Taxi’s will be waiting right outside of the airport, are part of the Airport Taxi Union and have standard rates. They are licensed to carry up to five passengers and their luggage, the ride is about 25 minutes. Both water taxis are within a couple of blocks of each other and offer regular daily runs to and from Ambergris Caye.

Puddle Jumper to Island

BY AIR
The quickest and most popular option is to take a local hopper flight from PGIA to the island’s only airstrip, located in San Pedro Town. There are currently two airline providers offering this service, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. Both operate of out of the PGIA as well as other locations throughout Belize, providing service to San Pedro. The daily schedule has flights leaving PGIA hourly beginning at 7:30am with the last flight of the day leaving at 7:30pm.

This is a quick flight, less than 20 minutes, with breathtaking views. You’ll get a glimpse of Belize City before settling in across the Caribbean Sea with the Belize Barrier Reef off the right side of the plane. The passenger capacity varies between aircrafts but you are sure to have a vantage point from which to take in the sites. The plane will land in the heart of San Pedro Town, where taxi’s are available for further transport to your final destination on the island.

Transportation on Island

ISLAND TRANSPORTATION METHODS
Everyone knows the expression “they’re on island time.” What about “traveling island style?” The transportation methods common on Ambergris Caye may be different than what you enjoy in your work-a-day life. The island itself is just 25 miles in length and less than 10 years ago, had no paved road north of town. With the creation of the bridge at the edge of town and the paving of the road north to Mile 3 at Coco Beach Resort and Belizean Shores Resort, more options have become available. Many visitors and residents of the island choose golf carts as their preferred way to zip around the island. There are many vendors that offer rental services hourly, daily or weekly. Remember to always have your driver's license on you while driving a golf cart and that open containers are prohibited on golf carts, just as in a regular vehicle.

For shorter trips within town taxis do exist and are part of a taxi union which regulates rates and policies. As fuel and upkeep costs are higher on our island where everything must be brought over from the mainland, taxi’s are not the most economical to use for travel north.

Bicycles are a great way to explore the island, at a much leisurely pace. A bike rental is not only cheaper, but many tourists prefer it in keeping their vacation costs to a minimum. The island terrain is flat, so getting around is fairly easy.