AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Money

On average, how much money do I need per day? Thanks. Kenison1

Depends on the lodging, food requirements, and tours, but anywhere from $100 and up!

Not counting lodging, beverages, and activities, a frugal person could easily get by on $50us a day. Especially if they brought some trail mix or the like. I did spend about $150+ for two daily.

Here's what I wrote in my Fun, Free & Easy Guide to Ambergris Caye in late 1999 about budgets and costs. (Things haven't changed much since then, though we're updating and expanding this guide shortly.) A free copy of this ad-free and candid report is available on our Web edition of Belize First at http://www.turq.com/belizefirst/

--Lan Sluder


WHAT IT COSTS

Is a vacation on Ambergris Caye expensive? Well, yes and no. Compared to a stay in a small village in the Yucatán or on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, San Pedro is fairly expensive. Compared with St. Barts or Anguilla in the Caribbean, is it is inexpensive.

Overall, excluding airfare, I'd say a vacation in San Pedro costs about the same as a vacation in Florida. On Ambergris, as in Florida, there's a range of vacation costs, depending on whether you're staying at budget hotels and eating burritos, or staying in beachfront resorts and dining well.
Here's an estimate of what it costs, for a week's vacation, per person, at budget, moderate and luxury levels. This is based on two people traveling together, in-season (mid-December to Easter). You can get by on somewhat less, or spend a good deal more. Off-season, the hotel will cost 20% to 40% less, but other items will be about the same. Figures shown are estimates and don't include air fare to Belize, international departure fees, any airport transfer fees or gifts. Hotel rates include service, if any, and 7% hotel tax.
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Budget Level

(Per Person based on Double Occupancy for Week's Vacation)
Round-trip ferry from Belize City to San Pedro US$25
Room at a budget hotel US$175
Meals at budget restaurants US$105
Entertainment (informal activities; rum drinks at local bars) US$35
1 snorkel trip US$15
Miscellaneous (tips, personal purchases, fees) US$49
Total: US$404 per person for a week
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Moderate Level

(Per Person for Week's Vacation)
Round-trip air fare from Belize Municipal Airport to San Pedro US$46
Room at attractive mid-priced beachfront hotel: US$385
Meals at moderate restaurants US$175
Entertainment (drinks, dancing) US$105
1 snorkel trip US$17
2 two-tank dives US$95
1 day's golf cart rental US$60
1 day cruise US$55
1 day excursion to Altun Ha US$60
Miscellaneous US$70
Total: US$1,068 per person for a week
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Luxury Level

(Per Person for Week's Vacation)
Round-trip air fare from Belize International to San Pedro US$90
Room at upmarket resort US$700
Meals at expensive restaurants US$350
Entertainment (drinks, dancing) US$175
2 snorkel trips US$34
Atoll/Blue Hole diving trip US$185
2 days' golf cart rental US$120
1 day excursion to Lamanai US$125
1 day fishing charter US$190
1 day trip via air to Tikal US$250
Miscellaneous US$140
Total: US$2,359 per person for a week
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I believe that there is a Belizean legal minimum - it used to be something like each person must have proof of $50.00US per day for each day of your stay.

I agree with Lan's estimated costs, but it is sooo easy to go over budget in paradise!
Belize it!

You're supposed to be able to show that you have US$50 a day for the course of your stay, but I've never actually seen anybody asked to show the money. It's a bit a relic from the days when the PUP government actively discouraged backpacker/hippie travel to Belize. These days, with credit cards widely accepted, even if you were asked to show proof a credit card would probably do it.

--Lan Sluder

Helpful info. I try to make sure I have more than I think I will need because there is always something extra I want to do. Eat, drink, shop, tours, snorkeling. The list can go on. But, that is what a vacation is for!

Lan! I just received your Guide to Mainland Belize from Amazone and it is great. Where can I get your Guide to the Cayes? Thank you for answering all these questions with your wealth of information. This is very helpful!

We are publishing a new Belize First Guide to the Cayes and Coast, a companion to the Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize which will cover all the islands and beach areas of Belize, but it is not out yet.

What I was referring to here was a back issue of Belize First which had a lengthy special report on Ambergris Caye called Free, Fun and Easy Guide to Ambergris Caye. (Some of Marty's photos are in it, too.)

Unfortunately, this issue is now sold out. We are going to repackage this guide in a greatly expanded and updated form sometime later this year.

--Lan Sluder

After traveling through the caribbean, my husband & I both agreed that this was the most affordable vacation we have had. Spending 14 nights on the island and including air fare from L.A., all our meals, dirnk and excursions, it cost about $3500 total. Being there on Holloween I would guess about $300 went to the Holiday Hotel for all the rounds of drinks throughout the night.