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Voykit pocket guide · Belize
Belmopan
Spend 1–2 days in Belmopan to see the zoo, market and nearby caves; longer only for guided day trips.
Belmopan, Belize's inland capital, offers a compact city centre, a weekly market, the Belize Zoo and easy access to caves and Blue Hole National Park. One full day covers the main sights; a second day lets you join a guided cave tour.
- Country
- Belize
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BZD
- Money
- Currency is the Belize dollar (BZD, $), fixed at 2 to 1 US dollar; US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Check which dollar a price is in.
- Daily spend
- Budget BZD 120–180 excl. bed · Mid BZD 200–300 excl. bed · High BZD 350+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Digi (Belize Telemedia) and Smart sell SIMs at the airport and in towns; bring your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · General emergency 90
- Plugs
- Types A, B, G · 110 V (some 220 V) · 60 Hz · US plugs usually fit.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15% if no service charge.; Tour guides and boat crew: BZ$20–40 per person per day.; Taxi drivers: Not expected; round up.
- Water
- Treated water in Belize City and San Pedro; most visitors drink bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; bring paper for bus stops.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | BZD 2–3 |
| Meal (local restaurant) | BZD 8–15 |
| Taxi (per km) | BZD 2 |
| Belize Zoo entry | US$15 (≈BZD 30) |
| Bus Belmopan → Belize City | BZD 12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BZE · Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport
- about 60 km (37 mi) east, 1 h by bus or taxiabout 37 mi (60 km) east, 1 h by bus or taxi
Typical fares
- Belmopan → Belize City bus
- about BZD 12 per person
- Taxi Belmopan center → zoo
- ≈BZD 30
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or take a short taxi ride in town; intercity buses run the Hummingbird and George Price highways; car hire is cheap for cave trips.
See and do
Known for
- Belize Zoo
- St. Herman’s Cave
- Weekly market
- Government district
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Belize Zoo | Bus or taxi north on George Price Highway, ~32 km (20 mi), 40 minBus or taxi north on George Price Highway, ~20 mi (32 km), 40 min | ≈1 h total |
| St. Herman’s Cave (Blue Hole NP) | Taxi west on Hummingbird Highway, 21 km (13 mi), 30 minTaxi west on Hummingbird Highway, 13 mi (21 km), 30 min | ≈1 h total |
| Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave | Taxi east 45 min (≈45 km (28 mi)) to San Ignacio, then guide pickupTaxi east 45 min (≈28 mi (45 km)) to San Ignacio, then guide pickup | ≈2 h total |
| Blue Hole National Park (Mountain Cow / Crystal Cave) | Taxi west 30 min, then guided hike | ≈1.5 h total |
Sleep
- Banana Bank Lodge
- Lodge outside town, pool and horseback riding
- Belize Jungle Dome
- Garden cottage and villa, 4 mi north
- Bullfrog Inn
- Standard hotel in town centre
- Yim Saan
- 12‑storey hotel with restaurant
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / SorryExcuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?Where is the bathroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'good morning' or 'good evening' when entering shops and buses; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Pace: Relax; service is slow; avoid: Showing impatience
- Photography: Ask first; avoid: Photographing Mennonites and Maya villagers without consent
- Dress: Cover up away from the beach; avoid: Swimwear in town
Scams and watch-outs
- Heat peaks mid‑day; carry water.
- Tour companies often need a minimum group; confirm availability the night before.
- Pickpocketing is low but keep valuables out of sight on buses.
Belmopan is generally safe with low violent crime; keep an eye on belongings on buses and in markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Belmopan yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Belize Zoo
- St. Herman’s Cave
- Weekly market
- Government district
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Belmopan: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Belmopan, revision 5203002 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5203002
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/belmopan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.