Just ordered my frequent flyer tickets to come down to Belize next spring. I have a question .. how much does it cost to take the puddle jumber from Belize City to Ambergris Caye ? Where do I get that ticket ?
I will be watching tis board until I get there !! I have a lot on research to do and find local boards a wonderful soucre of information ...

dave

Tropic and Maya Island Air websites are listed here in the business section.

It costs about $120 US round trip from Belize International Airport to San Pedro.

And about US$67 roundtrip from municipal, less discounts you might get for paying cash rather than with a credit card (at times 10 to 25%).

--Lan Sluder

dave -- how many people do you have coming on your trip? If less than 4, it's most economical to fly out of the international airport where you'll arrive. You can also take the water taxi at considerably less money, but time and weather may become a factor. Great information on this site about all options.

Me? I prefer to simply fly from the international airport to San Pedro -- far less hassle and since my trips are short -- the quick trip from international gets me to paradise faster.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info. more questions to follow I am sure ...

As I figure it, if my arithmetic is correct, comparing costs for roundtrip tickets plus cab fares if going to municipal it's roughly a wash with one person and you save money with two or more by flying roundtrip via the municipal airstrip versus international.

With three or four persons you get some fairly serious savings.

Even with just three persons, you save over US$100 total , enough to buy about 30 or 40 Belikins.

Of course it is more of a hassle and coming back it's frustrating (and irrational) to land at international, then fly on to municipal, and then have to taxi back to international.

Figures shown are for current roundtrip flights on Tropic (Maya Island may be slightly different) plus taxi fare to and from municipal (taxi fare is for the cab, not per person). Figures are in US dollars. Air fares don't include any cash discounts or tips for cab drivers (I don't tip cab drivers in Belize unless they handle a lot of luggage.)

International:
1 person: $120
2 persons: $240
3 persons: $360
4 persons: $480

Municipal:
1 person: $67 +25 + $25 = $117
2 persons: $134 + $25 + $25 = $184
3 persons: $201 + $25 + $25 = $251
4 persons: $268 + $25 + $25 = $318

--Lan Sluder

Possible problem.....not enough room for luggage for 4 people in taxi......

there should be. Many of the taxis are mini vans or station waggons. I've riden in taxis with four people and my dog and her huge kennel. You'll find plenty of taxis fitting four plus luggage right outside the water taxi terminal and airports.

If four people have too much luggage to fit in the trunk of a Crown Vic or in the back of a mini van, they've got too much darn luggage!

Plus, they also just blew a bunch of money they paid to the airline for extra luggage.

--Lan Sluder

I don't necessarily agree with that statement...some people travel with lots of luggage if traveling for a long period of time or if bringing in donations. Anyways, you'll fit four with luggage and all just fine.

I certainly stand corrected and thank you Lan. I'm obviously mathematically challenged and so stating the savings in terms I understand (Belikins) makes all the difference.

Cheers!

Lan is correct, however, my personal preference is like Otter's. After I get up at 3 or 4 am fly a couple hours, then get through the airport to make a connecting flight, then fly another two hours, get to International, get through immigraton, pick up my luggage, go through customs, I am damn happy to see the Tropic porter and get a seat at Jets to wait on my plane over to the island. If I was flying from Miami or Houston direct, I might think differently.....JMHO

There is nothing worse than watching people struggle with luggage as they drag it through the sand from the water taxi dock to the taxi stand.
That alone is reason to take the plane.

It really is a matter of personal preference. I generally sleep through the red-eye flight and have never had to drag luggage through the sand - that might change my mind! fortunately we travel light.