Guatemala To Belize Border Crossing Made Easy 2025

Crossing from Guatemala to Belize? You’ve got three options: by land, ferry, or plane. Shared shuttle is the most convenient way to get across the border without too much hassle.

I’ve done this border crossing many times, so I’ll walk you through exactly how it works, what to expect, and how to avoid common scams. For the cheapest option, public bus wins — with shuttles coming in as a close second.

If you’re looking for a more scenic or comfortable ride, the ferry and plane are solid alternatives. Just be extra careful at the Guatemala border, which is notorious for local taxi scams — I’ll explain how to navigate it safely.

And while this guide focuses on the Guatemala to Belize route, I’ve also included Belize To Guatemala via bus for those doing the reverse route.

Here’s how to cross the border stress-free (and on budget).

Border Essentials

Belize Border Hours

4:00AM—10:00PM

Guatemala Border Hours

6:00AM—10:00PM

Belize Exit Fee

$20.00 USD

Border Crossing Time

1 Hour

Cheapest Way To Cross

By Public Transport

Guatemala Belize Border Route Map

Border Crossing Requirements

1. 🛂 Valid passport: with at least 6 months beyond intended stay
2. 🎫 Visa Entry: review if your passport has visa-free entry
3. 💵 Local Currency: travel with some U.S. dollars just in case

Jump to the border crossing by car section for those requirements.

Border Crossing Options

While there are 3 main ways of crossing the border — bus, shuttle and ferry. As a bonus I included the plane option.

Border Crossing Tips

1. 🏣 Don't miss getting your passport exit stamp: while Belize's border is much clearer with signs, the Guatemalan side can feel a bit disorganized and daunting so make sure you find the blue building at the Guatemalan border and get your stamp to avoid unnecessary fees.
2. 🔎 Watch out for Guatemala people scamming travelers: sadly Guatemala is notorious for scamming and it begins at the border so don't take any taxi rides here or let anyone help you in exchange for money.
3. 👀 Keep an eye on your bus/shuttle while crossing: there have been instances where the bus or shuttle company forgets passengers or leaves passengers because of lengthy border processes.
4. 💵 Change money at the border: to avoid being stuck with currency you can't use, I highly recommend changing all your left-over cash at the border where men with fanny packs will ask if you need to convert money.

Crossing By Bus

Flores To Belize City By Bus

1. From Flores, take a tuk tuk to Santa Elena Bus Terminal $1.50 USDQ10
2. From Santa Elena Bus Terminal in Flores, take a colectivo from Flores to Melchor de Mencos Terminal is roughly which leaves every 20 minutes. $5.00 USDQ40
3. From Melchor de Mencos Terminal, you can cross the border into Belize by foot (8-minute walk) by walking towards Belize Western Border. Free
4. From Belize Western Border, you can simply walk out and find taxi colectivo (green license plate) parked outside and head towards San Ignacio Town. $3.50 USD

Belize City To Flores By Bus

1. From the Novelo's Bus Station in Belize City, take the local bus all the way to San Ignacio Town. $8.00 USD
2. From San Ignacio town, take a shared colectivo to the Belize/Guatemala Border. These taxis can be found circulating in front of Martha's Guest House throughout the day. $3.50 USD
3. Prepare to pay the Belize Exit Tax. $20.00 USD
4. After passing through the Belize Western Immigration in Benque Viejo Town, walk over the bridge to the Melchor de Mencos Immigration. Free
5. After passing Guatemala Immigration, head over to Melchor de Mencos Terminal and grab a colective (shared vans) to Flores which leaves roughly every 20 minutes. $5.00 USDQ40
6. The colectivos will take you to Santa Elena Bus Terminal where you can take a tuk tuk to your lodging in Flores – a 20-minute walk to the island. $1.50 USDQ10

Crossing By Shuttle

Tour agents & hostels in Flores offer shuttle services to Belize for roughly $35.00 USD. This is by far the most stress-free way to cross the border. As usual, I advise most travelers to shop around and go with shuttle services that have a good track record.

Guatemala, especially Flores, is ultra touristic and known for scams. Exercise much caution!

The same service is offered in Belize at hostels and at the ferry terminals. Shuttles at the San Pedro Belize Express terminal offer daily offer shuttles to Guatemala.

Crossing By Car

Crossing the border from Belize to Guatemala is fairly simple and fast.

There are only a few requirements:

1. Border Crossing Permit (From Car Rental) - Free
2. Fumigation Fee - Q18
3. Car Permission Fee - Q160
4. Car Insurance - Not Required

Some important notes about the border crossing:

• Car insurance is not mandatory amazingly
• Cancel your temporary import permit (TIP)
• Only cash is accepted and not cards

Crossing By Ferry

There are only a few ferries that run between Guatemala & Belize. Each country has their own ferry service which is a 45-minute boat ride roughly.

I've written all the details concerning the Guatemala—Belize Ferry which has updated schedules, fares and info.

Crossing By Plane

Tropic Air is a Belize airline that runs between Belize & Guatemala City. It runs daily and only takes 1 hour. Please note that the plane arrives at the Belize International Airport (BZE) in Ladyville and not Belize City Municipal Airport (TZA).

Belize Guatemala Border Fees

There is only one fee to be wary of when moving between Belize & Guatemala. While both borders accept card, it's highly advisable to take USD or local currency to pay your border fees. There will be money exchangers up crossing either border.

Belize Exit Fee Breakdown

Final Thoughts

While there are a few ways to cross the border, the easiest way is by Shuttle which is budget friendly enough even for backpackers. The cheapest way is by bus and colectivo which gives you the full experience but exposes you to the elements of the Guatemalan scams.

For those with very specific routes, the ferry might make sense. And for those with limited time frame and sufficient budget, the plane is an excellent option. Always make sure you check the amount of days the Immigration officer gives you on your visa just in case.

My final advice would be to write down the last day on your calendar, actually.

About Author

Everything written on this blog is based on first-hand experience or knowledge as a local living in Belize. No fluff, just honest information.