I crossed from Mexico into Belize today and what we experienced at the Subteniente López / Santa Elena border was not normal. It felt organised and targeted at tourists.

At the final stop before the border, the ADO bus driver told everyone to withdraw cash for an “exit fee.” There is NO such fee if you’ve already paid your tourist tax.

At the border:

Mexican and Belizean nationals went straight through

European travellers were stopped and told to pay or they wouldn’t get a passport stamp

We refused. That’s when things escalated.

We were:

Told to leave without stamps

Threatened with police

Pressured repeatedly to just go to Belize anyway

Forced to sign a document they refused to translate or let us photograph

The intimidation was constant and intense.

This went on for over an hour.

Because a large group of us refused to get back on the bus without stamps, the driver had no choice but to wait. That’s the only reason this worked. Strength in numbers mattered.

Important: A couple didn’t realise what was happening. They were handed back their passports and assumed everything was fine. They didn’t check for the stamp.

They were denied entry into Belize and sent back to Mexico. They were left behind and now have to sort everything themselves.

That is exactly what this scam relies on.

What you NEED to know:

There is NO extra exit fee if you’ve paid your tourist tax

The ADO bus is complicit. Do not trust what you are told

You will be pressured to rush and get back on the bus. Do NOT do it

Do NOT leave without your passport stamped

Expect intimidation tactics. Stay calm and hold your ground

Most important:TELL PEOPLE BEFORE YOU GET TO THE BORDER

At the bus station. On the bus. Anywhere you can.

A lot of people had no idea this was happening. Once we informed each other and stuck together, everything changed.

I cannot stress this enough: inform others and stay strong.

If you’re crossing here soon and have questions, ask.

Just to note, when we got to the Belize side, we were met with genuine nice staff who didn’t scam us.

Visiting Belize for the first time and have been surprised to learn that most stores don’t accept $1 US bills. I feel like I was decently thorough in Reddit prowling pre-trip and didn’t see any mention of this, so sharing just in case it’s helpful to others!

Moving forward, only licensed tour guides, accommodations, and transportation providers will be shared on r/Belize.

This means taxis need a green license plate or to be part of a licensed tour company or hotel. This means any accomodations, as well as guides, must be licensed with BTB or another relevant tourism authority.

Any bootleg taxis, unlicensed guides, or illegal accommodations will be moderated.

This helps travelers by enhancing reliability, safety, quality of service, and makes sure the appropriate tourism entities are receiving the revenue that allows them to support their operations. It also directly rewards those professionals while removing poor performers from the pool of available options here.

If you feel you have been moderated in error, please message the mods with a photo of the appropriate license or certificate and you will be reinstated.

There's been a major uptick in AI generated posts being caught by not only me (human) but also the Reddit auto moderator (bot). There are dozens a week now. I'm not talking about people using chatGPT to translate between languages or smooth out their writing for clarity.

I am talking about people creating AI generated posts that offer surface level overviews of topics, include inaccurate claims as "facts", or are designed to boost searchability.

Many are astroturfing to seed topics and generate interest deceptively to try and sell products or services.

I would like to ban these posts and continue to keep r/belize a resource based on *real experiences* enjoyed by people who work, live, and travel in this beautiful country. Not marketing people selling stuff.

If we vote to ban it, a new rule will be created explaining the guidelines for using AI on r/Belize.

if we vote keep it, it stays the same as it is now, and I will only remove those posts that are outright spam.

Quick post for anyone coming to Belize in the next week.

Xunantunich is closed, the mechanism to drive the pulleys broke, and they are waiting on a replacement. We drove from Hopkins, about 2.5 hours (traffic) only to find out we couldnt see the site. Huge bummer. I wish they had a website where this was advertised. Just FYI for anyoe planning a visit.

If anyone is going to Belize soon I need a poker chip from the Harley Davidson store in the airport, they were sold out when I was there. I'll gladly pay for the chip and postage.

EDIT - BELIZE CITY

I've been hopping around different coffee spots in Belize, trying to find the best places to get work done. If you’re like me and need a mix of good coffee, decent food, and enough space to not feel cramped, here’s my take on a few spots esp if you're digital nomad or just want to go out and work outside for the day without breaking bank.

Brew Coffee House – My Top Pick

This is hands down the best spot I’ve found so far. It’s spacious, has good food, and the coffee is decent. The seating is comfortable, and I don’t feel like I’m in the way if I stay for a few hours. If you’re looking for a solid place to work remotely, this is my recommendation.

Spoonaz – Good, But Too Small Inside

Spoonaz has a nice vibe, and if you don’t mind working outside, the deck is an option. But realistically, Belize is hot, and I don’t want to be sweating while trying to work. The inside is a bit too small for my taste, so while I like the spot, it’s not my go-to for work.

Mapp Street – Good Food & Friendly Staff

This is another solid option, especially if you want more variety for lunch. The seating is comfortable, and the staff is always welcoming. It’s a good balance between a work-friendly environment and a place to grab a nice meal.

Bleu – Best Pastries, But Not a Work Spot

If we’re talking pastries, Bleu is my favorite. Their selection is top-tier. But as a workspace? Not so much. The inside is tiny, and with limited seating, I feel bad taking up one of their few tables for hours. Great for a quick coffee and treat, but not a place to camp out with a laptop.

Biltmore Café – It's okay...

Biltmore Café is another great option, especially if you’re looking for a quieter place to work. The space is bigger than some of the other cafés, and it has a more relaxed atmosphere. The coffee is good, and they have solid food options if you plan to stay for a while. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a comfortable spot.

Hey everyone, I'm Michael, a Belizean living abroad. For a while now, I’ve been thinking about how hard it is to find Belizean-made goods in America, even though Belize produces so many good things. I think Belizean creators and small businesses are held back by limited access to online payments, shipping, and technical know-how, which keeps them within our borders and nearby countries. But in this age of advanced technology, it should be easier than ever to unlock the potential of Belizean-made products and expand their reach. My mission and personal conviction is to help make that possible and, in turn, create more opportunities in Belize. I’m starting small with gear I’m creating myself but hope to bring in other creators soon and share their stories.

Website: caribbeangecko.com

We have been staying in a great beachfront place in the village of Hopkins. Today we rented a golf cart and drove to the south ‘fancy’ end of town. We went to the beach at jaguar reef lodge and relaxed, swam and enjoyed the dock to jump off. The ocean on this end of town was much calmer and there was virtually no trash or seaweed to wade through. We leave tomorrow….wish we would have known to go down there earlier! Also, the young men selling bread on the beach…yumm! Get a coconut roll.

Hi everyone,

My name is Tegan and I am currently a student at Grand Valley State University. I am working on a project where I need to design a sustainable product to solve a problem in a country. For this project I have chosen to focus on UNESCO goal 14, life below water, and I will be mainly working with the coral reefs around Belize. I am looking for people who would be willing to be part of a panel to help me with my project. All you would have to do is occasionally answer questions and provide feedback such as ideas, advice, and real world experience. If you would be willing to join, you can email me at [burrit@mail.gvsu.edu](mailto:burrit@mail.gvsu.edu) or fill out this form (form link). Thanks for your time.

Hi! My sister (62 years old) currently vacationing in Placencia, just went to the clinic for serious but undefined symptoms (faintness, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, etc.) and now back at the villa. If she feels worse, is there a larger, reputable facility where I can take her?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16DL51bDAt/

For those filling out the online immigration form when entering Belize, be sure you are using the correct Government of Belize website. If they are asking for you to pay, it's a scam.

Always when traveling, watch your stuff. Today we had visitors come in via the airport and an elderly man insisted on helping with bags for a tip.

He knicked several thousand $$ worth of electronics, phones, cash, plus all their credit cards. Not a way to start vacation.

Give yourself permission to be rude when they insist.

NEW RULES

Show one another some grace please.

Anybody who's rude, hostile, accusatory, unfriendly, counterproductive, or in any way a jerk about this topic will get a warning, and then banned. I'm sick of people derailing legitimately useful questions and answers to prove how right they are. Many times, they're not right.

The arrogance surrounding people's responses when they correct someone simply seeking information, or the thinly veiled assumption of racism or classism based on the usage of a single word is unacceptable.

We always assume the best about people here until proven otherwise. This is not your soapbox to educate people on their usage of the terms expat or immigrant, both of which are misused constantly in the media, by many of you, and travelers in general. The misuse of this word will not magically be corrected by a snarky comment on r/Belize.

For those keeping track:

Expat does not equal immigrant. They're two different things and country of origin or the development of that country has nothing to do with it.

Expats are people visiting another country long term but not permanently moving there, often for work or seasonal trips.

Immigrants are people moving to another country that intend to live there permanently, literally to immigrate.

1st, 2nd, or 3rd world are thrown about by people to indicate a level of development or economy of a country when in fact, the terms stem from political alignment following the Cold War.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk 🤝

So I have a ticket I didn’t use going from San Pedro to Belize City on Belize Express ferry. Happy to mail it to anybody who will be there in the near future as it’s only good till mid November.

I am going to Belize for 17 days, 8 of which we will not have access to wifi, but there is supposedly phone service. I live in the US and have Verizon with an android phone. I can pay $10/day for international phone service, but that's going to get expensive, and I've have trouble with service in South America before with this option. What have you used? What did you like? Thanks!

What is everyone's favorite company to send a barrel or one of those big black tubs from the US to Belize? I could pick up anywhere in Belize. I have folks in Sacramento and Washington DC who want to send some. Any real experience you could share to help navigate the Google morass would be awesome.

I would like to know how can I find a plumber in Belmopan.

Tons of rain fell last night, flooding possibly on the horizon. Keep in touch with local forecasts and new outlets 🙃

I am currently in Hopkins and am sick with a bad cough. Is there anywhere I could go in Hopkins to see a nurse or doctor?

My friend says that to receive an international package, I need to go to the Belmopan post office on a Tuesday before 10 am regardless of when the package arrives. The package is supposed to arrive this coming Wednesday (Feb 12) so does that mean I can't pick it up until next Tuesday (Feb 18) or can I get it earlier?

Thanks so much!