How To Get To San Pedro Belize: Everything You Need To Know

How to get to San Pedro Belize, the way we did it and ALL the other ways too!
We figured out how to get to San Pedro Belize on the fly. In the end, we did not do enough research and ended up taking the long way.
To save you some time, money, and effort, I’ve listed all the different ways to get to San Pedro Belize, no matter where you may be departing from.
San Pedro was one of my favourite destinations in all of Central America, and I really wish we could spend more time there. We just came from Mexico and were passing through to Guatemala. We already had plans for Christmas and New Year in Guatemala, so we couldn’t spend too much time in Belize. Which was a shame, to be honest.

Is it worth visiting San Pedro Belize?
San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is absolutely worth visiting. Like its neighbouring island, Caye Caulker, San Pedro has a very laid-back, Caribbean vibe. It’s a great stop for backpackers on a longer trip, vacationers, and people who just want a break from life and chill on a white sandy beach with a cocktail.
There are loads of different things to do, but the main reason people visit San Pedro (if not for the Caribbean lifestyle) is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. A great place to see wildlife while snorkelling.
How to get to San Pedro From Belize City
This is the way most people will be making the trip. From Belize City. Let’s discuss the journey!
Arriving in Belize
I figured you know how to do this part. But let’s discuss it anyway. To get to Belize City, depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll likely have to fly. If you’re coming from the border with Mexico, the local bus would be your best bet.
In our experience, the taxi drivers that take you from the border to the nearest town are incredibly friendly and are happy to drop you off at the bus station. They also know the bust times from the top of their heads so all the information you need is available with them.
It’s also worth mentioning that they work with the government and have a set price for the trip. No scams there, unlike you get in Mexico.

Anyway, back to flying. No matter where you’re flying from, Belize City will be your destination.
✈️ Planning a trip? We ALWAYS use SkyScanner for flight ticket deals!
From the airport, you have two options:
Belize City to San Pedro by Plane
The easiest, but the least fun I’d say! Prices start at $175 for a round trip, which is not the most expensive ever, but it’s definitely more than the ferry. The $175 does include 1 checked bag up to 50 lbs (22.5kg).
Belize City to San Pedro by Ferry
The ferry is the cheaper and more adventurous option. You’ll take the ferry from the ferry port in Belize City so first of all, you’ll need to make your way down there.
There are two ways of doing so:
Get to the ferry by taxi
You can either pre-book a taxi or find one when you arrive. Either way, the price should be about the same, $35. The plus side to pre-booking a taxi is that you don’t have to haggle for a price, since taxis in Belize do not use a set meter. This could be stressful, although we never had any problems with drivers trying to overcharge us.
Nonetheless, we prefer pre-booking, just because we’re always sure someone is waiting for us to pick us up. It’s just peace of mind, really.
Get to the ferry by shared shuttle
Another good option to try and save a little money is to use a shared shuttle service. Especially if you’re travelling solo, this is the cheaper way of making the trip.

Keep in mind that you have to book these in advance as well, so make sure to book a spot before departure.
🚌 Book your shared shuttle here!
The ferry from Belize City to San Pedro
Once you’re at the ferry port, your bags will be taken by a porter who works for the ferry company. He will give you a part of a tag that is on your bag. Don’t lose this! If you have your ticket booked already, you can just wait for the boarding call at one of the cafes or shops.
The departures will be announced so if you’re early, you have time to get some snacks and such. Once boarding, show your ticket and off you get! All bags are colour-coded for the different destinations (San Pedro or Caye Caulker) so they’ll arrive at the correct spot.
The ferry goes to Caye Caulker first, since that is the closer of the two islands. The trip takes about 45 minutes. After a short stop to let passengers on and off, you’ll continue for another 30 minutes to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.
Once you have arrived, your bags will be unloaded into a wooden cabin. There you hand over your piece of the tag, and voila! You’re in San Pedro!
How to get to San Pedro From Chetumal In Mexico
Back in December 2022, when I and Callie made this trip, we had to take a taxi to the border, cross the border on foot, take a taxi to the nearest town, take a public bus from there, take a taxi to the ferry, and then, finally, take the ferry to San Pedro.
This was all because the ferry only ran twice a week.

But not anymore.
The trip is easier than ever! The ferry from Chetumal to San Pedro (and Caye Caulker) now runs daily in holiday seasons. Making the trip has not been this easy before.
In the off-season, the ferry runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Still loads of options.
To book a ferry ticket, simply go to the Belize Express Water Taxi website and fill in your information.
Make sure to be at the ferry terminal 90 minutes before departure to sort out customs and immigration. Make sure you have proof of payment of your entry fee (if applicable), and have CASH for a 500 peso exit fee each.
After you ‘pass’ the Mexican border, you hand your bag to one of the porters. Make sure you keep the tag they give you, as this is needed to retrieve your bag at San Pedro!
Then on the Belizean side, you’ll have to pay a $2.50 entry fee (port tax) as well.
To total journey with the ferry takes between 1 hour 30 and 1 hour 45 depending on weather conditions.
How to get to San Pedro From San Ignacio
The only difference between the trip from San Ignacio and Belize City is the initial journey to Belize City. From Belize City, it’s all the same.
To get from San Ignacio to Belize City there are three different options:
- By public bus
- By shared shuttle
- By taxi
This is in order from cheapest to most expensive option.
By public bus
The cheapest, but longest way to make the trip. The total journey will take up to 3 hours depending on how busy it is that day. After travelling all over Central America, it doesn’t sound bad to me! It will only cost $3-$5 which is a bargain for the duration of the trip.

Buses leave regularly and from very early on in the day. Find the full schedule here.
Buses depart San Ignacio from the Cayo Welcome Center.
Once you have arrived in Belize City, you will be at the bus terminal. From there you need to take a taxi to the ferry. This will, again, cost about $3-$5.
If you’re taking a bus I suggest leaving enough time to catch your ferry. Although there is a set bus schedule, this is Central America, and things rarely depart and arrive on time!
If you’re not travelling in high season you can just rock up and buy a ferry ticket on the spot.
By shared shuttle
A slightly more comfortable way of travelling. This is better if you have a set schedule and want to be as sure as you can that you arrive on time. Shared shuttles are a good option all over Belize and are widely available.
To book a shared shuttle, pick a date as the departure times are set by the companies.
Trips range from $40 to $125 depending on group size and if you want a shared or private shuttle.
The trip should take about 2,5 hours and will drop you off at the ferry to San Pedro.

By taxi
Last but not least, you have the option to take a taxi all the way to Belize City. It’s a 2-hour drive so be prepared for a relatively high price. We were quoted $150 which is very high.
On the plus side, you will get dropped off right at the ferry port. I don’t recommend this option due to the steep price and the fact a shuttle (even a private one) is just as comfortable and about the same price.
How to get to San Pedro From Corozal
The most common way to make this trip is by taking yet another ferry. But this time from Corozal to Ambergris Caye. The trip is very straightforward since you’re already in Belize and don’t have to do any immigration stuff, unlike when you go from Chetumal.
The downside to this trip is that the sea is often a little choppy. The ferry runs once a day at 7 am, and you buy your tickets at the pier. Just search for ‘Thunder Bolt Water Taxi’ on Google Maps and you’ll be there in no time.
One-way trips cost $50 Belizean so $25 US.
The way we did it, which is A LOT longer than taking the ferry from here, is by taking the public ‘chicken’ bus to Belize City. It was not a bad trip, but by then we did not know about the ferry.
We would’ve missed it anyway which meant we would have had to spend a night there which wasn’t really an option since we made bookings for diving and a hotel already.
If you’re in the same boat, you’ll have to take the public bus from the bus terminal down to Belize City. A journey that took us about 3,5 hours and cost us $6 BZE.
You’ll end up at the bus station in Belize City, from where you can easily find a taxi to get you to the ferry. From there, follow the steps described in the ‘From Belize City‘ part of this post.

When You Arrive In San Pedro, Belize
Once you’re in the beautiful town of San Pedro, it’s time to get to your hotel. If you’re staying within the town it’s probably quite easy to walk to. If not, there are taxis in the shape of golf carts to take you to where you need to be.
Where to stay
No trip to San Pedro is complete without a place to stay, right? I mean, it doesn’t get cold at night, but sleeping outside is not very comfortable!
📍Budget Option – Sandbar Hostel
Part of the Sandbar Beachfront Restaurant and Bar. Great atmosphere, a pool, and airconditioned rooms for relatively cheap. This is where we stayed and had a great time.
🏠 Check out Sandbar Hostel here!

📍Mid-range Option – Best Western Grand Baymen Gardens
Best Westerns are always a good shout for mid-range accommodation. Nothing too fancy, but always good quality and in a decent location.
📍Luxury Option – Margaritaville Beach Resort
When I said luxury, I meant luxury. Honestly, the fanciest, prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s just perfect. If you think the Maldives are too far, go here instead.
Where to eat
There are some great options for different types of food. Since it’s the Caribbean, barbecue and fish are found everywhere.
These are some of the best places to eat that we’ve encountered:
- Lily’s Treasure Chest – great Caribbean and other food
- Blue Water Grill – Perfect mix of cuisines
- The Fry Jack House – Belizean Fry Jacks
- Sandbar Beachfront Restaurant and Bar – Amazing pizza
If you like spicy food, try out the Marie Sharp’s Habanero hot sauce. I love spicy foods and have tried all the different hot sauces in Central and South America. This one is still my very favourite. Bring me back a bottle when you go!
Things to do
There are a whole bunch of great things to do on the island. I’ll name a few:
Visit the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
From San Pedro, this barrier reef is only a short boat ride away. Visit the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and spot incredible wildlife, such as turtles, nurse sharks, manta rays, and a variety of tropical fish.

Hire a golf cart
You’ll quickly notice that people use off-road golf carts to get around San Pedro and the rest of the island. It’s great fun to do and it’s a very convenient way of getting around. You can use it to visit the next thing on the list!
Visit Secret Beach
This not-so-secret beach is called secret beach because it’s only been accessible for a short time. There was no road before. Since then, this beach has become one of the most popular spots on the island. Due to its crystal clear waters and shelter from the wind, it’s now a hotspot for both tourists and locals.
Day trip to Caye Caulker
One of my favourite islands we’ve visited on our 10-month Latin America trip. Caye Caulker is the less developed, even more laid-back version of Ambergris Caye. Head over to hurricane-made Split, which has split the island into two pieces, for cocktails, sunshine, and sea.
Compare San Pedro and Caye Caulker in our comparison guide.
Fly over the Blue Hole
Probably the most famous site in Belize: The Blue Hole. It’s got its name from the fact that it’s a, you guessed it, big blue hole.
Right, there is a little more to it than that. This hole is underwater, and because of the immense depth the water seems darker. Creating a massive dark blue hole in the otherwise turquoise waters.
How to get to San Pedro Belize – FAQs
Let’s go a little off-topic and discuss the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions;
When is the best time to visit San Pedro?
The best time to visit San Pedro is in the dry season, from December to May. In this time you’ll experience the least rain and the best weather overall.
What airport do you fly into to go to San Pedro Belize?
You’ll need to fly to Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. From there you can follow my instructions to get to San Pedro!

How many days do you need in San Pedro?
I’d say at least 3 nights. Depending on the reason for your visit, that is. If you’re on a longer trip like us, 3 nights is enough to get a good feel of the island. But if you’re on vacation and not moving around, I’d stay at least 6 days!
How to get to San Pedro Belize – Final Thoughts
Well. That’s it! That’s how you get to San Pedro Belize. Easy, am I right? We’ve discussed getting to San Pedro from a placenta of different locations. After reading this post, you’ll be confident to make the trip for yourself.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to let us know!