Currency, voltage, tipping, weather. The small details that make the first day feel like the third.
A short list of practical knowledge. Read once before you fly, glance at again on the plane.
Belize Dollar, pegged 2:1 to the US Dollar. Both circulate everywhere. Carry small US bills for taxis, vendors, and tips.
ATMs work in San Ignacio and San Pedro. They're sparse in between. Credit cards work at resorts and most San Pedro restaurants; cash only in the markets and on the boats.
$1 USD = $2 BZDEnglish is the official language. Kriol on the street, Spanish in the west. The easiest country in Central America to navigate without translation.
"Belikin" is the national beer. "Stew chicken with rice and beans" is the national dish. Both are also greetings.
120V, US-style plugs. No adapter required. Both properties have outlets at every bedside.
Bring a small power bank for the seaplane and the long boat days. Lamanai and Tikal are full days off the grid.
120V · Type A / BDrink bottled or filtered. Both properties supply ample bottled water.
The tap is fine for showering and brushing teeth — but if you'd rather not, the bottled service runs constantly. Don't drink directly from the river, even where the lodge is upstream.
Late June marks the start of the green season. Mid-80s and humid, with brief afternoon storms in Cayo. The reef stays warm and clear.
Pack a light rain layer for jungle days and a sweater for the seaplane. The boat days are sunny; the seaplane is air-conditioned.
85°F · 65% humidityBelize prohibits oxybenzone and octinoxate inside marine reserves. Pack mineral (zinc) sunscreen for the snorkel days.
They'll check at the Hol Chan ranger station. Bring extra — the boats sell at tourist prices.
Belize is a tipping economy. Tip guides 15–20%, drivers 10%, lodge housekeeping $5–10 per night.
Restaurants in San Pedro often add a 10% service charge automatically — read the bill before adding more. Otherwise tip in cash on top.
USD bills are fineCentral Standard Time, year-round. No daylight saving. Same as Houston in summer, two hours behind LA, two hours ahead of Honolulu.
The country runs slower than the clock. Schedules are suggestions. Build in buffer for every transfer.
CST · UTC−6Casual everywhere. Resort casual for Hidden Treasure (collared shirt or sundress, not shorts). Sandals for everything else.
The jungle is humid — pack light cotton or linen. The seaplane is cool. The boats get wet.
Both properties have reliable Wi-Fi. Most of the rest of the country does not. Buy a Digicell tourist SIM at the airport for $25 if you need data away from the lodge.
WhatsApp is the default messaging app. Even the resort uses it for guest comms.
Digicell · @BZE arrivalsBelize is generally safe. San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and the Cayo lodge zone are very safe. Belize City is the exception — don't linger there beyond the airport transfer.
Carry a copy of your passport, leave the original in the room safe. Mosquito spray every dawn and dusk in Cayo.
U.S. passports get a 30-day visa on arrival, no application needed. Departure tax is bundled into the airline ticket.
A return ticket is technically required at immigration but rarely checked. Yellow fever vaccine not needed.
30 days · no visaThe shared list goes for both legs; the leg-specific lists handle what's particular to the jungle and the island.