This will be my first time visiting AC. Will be flying into Belize International airport. Will be taking the water taxi to San Pedro. I assume I can take a taxi from the airport to the Water taxi. How much does the taxi cost and how long a ride (time wise) from the airport to water taxi dock. Because of arrival time will probably be taking the San Pedro Express 3:pm, but may be able to take the 1:30 Caye Caulker water taxi. How long is the water taxi ride from Belize to SP?

Thanks
Larry

Taxi from the airport is 25usd or 50bz and is about 20-30min ride.

Water taxi from Belize city is 30bz one way and is an hour and a half ride. There are two water taxi services San Pedro Express and Caye caulker water taxi association. Both are good and run on different time shedules. the two terminals are a couple of blocks apart so you can walk it but not with tons of luggage.

Another option is you can take a small plane from the airport in Belize directly to San pedro with Tropic Air or Maya. A little more expensive but a lot less hassle.

We have done both the water taxi and the flight. Will do the flight every time from now on. What a great view you get coming into AC and it takes minutes instead of an hour and a half. Plus if you go to http://tacogirl.com/ she will get you details on getting you a discount on your flight. Not a paid advertisement. Just trying to help.

Thanks for the info. Due to the amount of luggage my wife is planning on bringing I think the puddle jumper is out of the question.

Any liquor stores on the way from the aiport to the water taxi dock?

the cheapest by far is the duty free in the airport...stop in while you are waiting for your luggage.

I totally agree with taking the flight rather than the water taxi, as for luggage; I never bring anything more than a carry on and I am generally there from 10 days to two weeks.

Tropic Air or Maya Air will take as much luggage as you want.....no extra bag fees!!!

Also, there are no bathrooms on the boat, makes for a long ride! We took the boat the first time and since, have always taken the plane, it only takes 15 minutes by plane compared to 1.5 hours by boat.

I often go down to San Pedro for long periods of time, and take super sized luggage (2 pieces), an extra large carry-on suitcase, as well as, a huge bag that constitutes as a purse.

Never any trouble taking the puddle jumper . . .the carry-on suitcase rarely gets to go with me in the cabin, but I'm allowed to take it to the plane myself, and they put it underneath while I watch.

From time to time, but not that often, my larger luggage arrives on a different plane. Haven't lost a piece yet, never been charged for extra luggage or overweight . . . which is certainly something I can't say for the international carriers.

Take the plane, don't worry about your luggage with the puddle jumper.

Seems to me, you'll have a lot more trouble with all that luggage, trying to take the water taxi.

Tropic will let you check in as much bags as you need. as stated, excess luggage will go space available. If you dont want to wait for it to arrive in San Pedro. Tropic can help you with arrangements to deliver it to your resort. Most times with no fee if other guests are arriving later in the day.
If you need your stuff to fly with you. You can buy an extra seat and they will put it on your flight

"
From time to time, but not that often, my larger luggage arrives on a different plane. Haven't lost a piece yet, never been charged for extra luggage or overweight . . . which is certainly something I can't say for the international carriers.

Take the plane, don't worry about your luggage with the puddle jumper."

Thanks for all the info. Very interesting luggage policies. I'm used to the puddle jumpers to out islands in the Bahamas and they limit you to 1 piece no more than 35lbs.

You can purchase in a duty free shop on an arriving flight??

If you are talking about Alcohol, they have it duty free at the Belize City airport. After you go thru customs, you can walk in and buy it, they also have cheap cigarettes if you happen to smoke.

mawags, I think you meant to say BEFORE you go through customs and after you go through immigration.

Yep, You're right, Sorry!

How is the selection of tequila and wine?

Depends on the day.

Definitely Fly! we dont travel very light (2 fullsize bags and a carryon Per person) and have never had a problem. As mentioned we have occasionally had our luggage come in on a second flight.

The thing about Tropic and the flights is they List one fight at say 4 pm, but they just keep flying until everyone and everything is where it wants to be. We have been the only passengers on occasion because they filled up our plane, so they re-routed another, and we arrived 15 mins behind the one we were sposed to be on.

Try it!

Take the plane. If you have alot of luggage the land taxis will charge for xtra pieces, the plane wont. We just came in with 300lbs of luggage no problem with puddle jumper. The land taxis are charging now more than $25, as I have heard.

We moved to San Pedro this week with 2 large suitcases each, 2 fairly large hand luggages each and a 80 lb dog in a giant crate. I emailed both Tropicair and Mayaisland air through their website. While Tropic air wanted to charge us 3 seats for our dog and send our luggage on 2 differant flights. Maya Island air wanted to only charge us for 2 seats.
We read on this board that you can ask for a 10 % discount and we might get it. Tropicair would not give us a discount since we were only going one way to San Pedro. Maya Island air gave us a 10% discount (62 instead of 68 dollars) and since we had all this luggage and the dog flew a special plane in to take only our family and luggage to San Pedro. The service was outstanding. We will always fly Maya Island air from now on and recommend them to everyone.

Thanks for all the info on flying. I work for a major airline and fly all the time, so I am always interested in other means of transportation (water taxi) rickshaw, camel, etc but may take the flight on the way back.

Has anybody taken the water taxi and enjoyed it?

Other than the local water taxi is there any way to get from Sueno Del Mar to San Pedro on a regular basis other than the Sueno boat that picks up guests.

Sometimes we do get too caught up in reaching our destination and forget to enjoy the road there...

Gridguy I agree it is not the destination but the journey.

Sundancer, the local water taxi, Coastal Xpress, does not go as far north as Sueno del Mar.

Thanks Casa. Do you know of any other way of getting back and forth from Sueno to SP other than the Sueno boat picking up/dropping guests off?? Other than walking. LOL

In dry season you could rent a golf cart but the drive would probably take about an hour and a half. The "road" is nearly impassable in places and very rough now due to rain.

Check with the Cart rental regarding traveling up North. My last two trips (Feb and Sept 2011) I had to sign a separate letter from the contract stating that only travel as far a Las Terrazas (3.78 mi) would be covered where they come and get you if you get in trouble. Beyond that point you are totally responsible.

Hi, I've been to San Pedro 21 times and after the first time taking the taxi/ferry route, I've used air travel ever since. Of course, the first trip was $89.00 round trip and now it's $128.25. Still worth it to me. Remember to tip your baggage handler around $1.00 US per bag. That is your luggage fee. Enjoy your trip!

A few years ago on Maya Air I was headed to the States, use to always use them because of the discount if you pay cash, this trip they had too much luggage onboard. So they started piling it in on passangers laps in the plane. Each of us had very large bags on our laps. No way we could have evacuated the plane in an emergency. As my husband watched this, as I took off he now forbids me to fly Maya. The $10, isnt worth it.
Neither Tropic or Maya have ever questined our 6 suitcases for two people.
You have to buy a seat for your onboard pet as the planes are small. You dont want, and they wont put your pets in luggage..Unless they are pocket puppies

Cooper what you descibed is a typical weight and balance issue, every airplane from a Cessna 150 to Boeing 747 has a center of gravity. They were just putting things where the belonged to achieve that balance. Unfortunately in these planes when you have to evacuate in an emergency there are normally several extra exits created that were not originally marked as such.

WHAT?????? LOL ! You are kidding arent you ?

This will also be my 1st time to Belize. What is the cost of the puddle jumper? Sounds like the way to go to me. Planning on seeing the sights in and around the city then spend the majority of our time on Ambergris Caye.

Sue no sent me a primtout showing that Coastal does go to Sue o twice a day.