Flores to Belize City: Complete Step-By-Step Guide 2023
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Looking for the best ways to get from Flores to Belize City? As this route involves a land crossing (from Guatemala to Belize), it’s a little different to a normal journey in Central America. However, it’s still relatively easy and straightforward!
NOTE: This guide also works in reverse – from Belize City to Flores.
If you have been backpacking Guatemala, Belize is likely to be your next stop. Most backpackers or tourists stop in San Ignacio for a couple of nights when crossing the border from Flores, but some head straight to Belize City for onward travel.
Or, if you’re travelling in reverse, and starting from Belize City to Flores, you may be starting your adventures in Belize. San Ignacio was one of our favourite places in Belize, and you can find out more about visiting in my complete San Ignacio travel guide here!
So, how do you travel from Flores to Belize City? In this post, I explain the best ways to travel between the two locations in Belize. Let’s get started!
Other Belize posts:
- Belize 7 Day Itinerary: One Week COMPLETE Guide! (2023)
- Hummingbird Highway Belize: Ultimate Guide + Stops
- Belize City To San Ignacio: Complete Backpacker Guide
- How To Get From Tulum To Caye Caulker: Backpacker Guide
- Driving in Belize: Ultimate Car Hire Guide
- Xunantunich From San Ignacio: Day Trip COMPLETE Guide
Flores to Belize City: A Summary
In summary, there are three ways to get from Flores to Belize City (or in reverse, Belize City to Flores).
These options are:
- Shuttle bus
- Public bus and taxi
- Taxi, land crossing, taxi
If you’re backpacking Belize or Guatemala, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Flores and Belize City is by shuttle. The shuttles hold around 12 people and is full of other backpackers.
They’re slightly more expensive than the public bus, but involve a lot less hassle and drop you off directly at your hostel or accommodation (or a main point in town). Plus they’re safe, easy and reliable!
1. Shuttle from Flores to Belize City
The easiest way to travel from Flores to Belize City is by shuttle. This will be full of other backpackers, doing the exact same route as you.
⮕ Want to pre-book online? You can pre-book a shuttle from Flores to Belize City here or book this alternate tourist shuttle here.
The shuttle from Flores usually departs near the main bridge, but be sure to check with the company you are booking with where to go, and at what time.
If you are staying on the mainland and not Flores Island, again just be clear with the company you have booked the tickets with (speak to the driver as you board the bus). They will be able to tell you the main meeting point on the mainland.
The journey from Flores to Belize City bus shuttle takes around 6 hours, including all immigration checks and passport control. It departs Flores daily at 6am (but this may change) and arrives in Belize City by 1 pm.
The shuttle costs £20 ($25) per person, plus $30 USD per person at the border for the Guatemalan departure tax. This can be paid in either Guatemalan quetzals, US dollars or by credit/debit card.
If you need a reputable company to use and you’re already IN Flores, I highly recommend Mayan Adventures. The shuttle was full of other backpackers, and we used their services throughout Belize and for travelling to Flores. They have a small office near the bridge in Flores where you can book reliable and safe transport.
🦉 TOP TIP: I only recommend using Mayan Adventures if you are IN Flores whilst reading this blog post. If you would like to pre-book online beforehand, I recommend one of the following shuttle companies:
They’re often the same shuttle buses anyway, and using a third-party website gives you a little more insurance than emailing a random person and confirming a shuttle online!
🤩 Visiting Tikal for the first time? Check out my complete Tikal guide here!
2. Public bus
If you’re on an even tighter backpacker budget, you can get the public bus from Flores to Belize. There is currently no direct bus from Flores to Belize City.
From Flores, you will need to take a taxi or tuk tuk to the Santa Elena bus terminal. From here, you will need to board a public bus/colectivo to Melchor de Mencos, which drops you need to the Belizean border, which you can cross by foot. These buses arrive every 20-30 minutes.
From the border, you can then board a public bus to San Ignacio town, and then another bus to Belize City.
Get ready to use a bit of Spanish, as you will need to communicate where you are going to the bus driver. Most public buses in Belize and Guatemala have a sign at the front of the bus stating where they are going.
If you are arriving in Flores from Belize City on the public bus, you will not be dropped on the island. This means you will need to get a taxi or tuk tuk from where you were dropped off onto the island (if your hostel is there, which it is likely to be).
⮕ Prefer booking online? You can pre-book a private shuttle from Flores to Belize City here.
🤩 Backpacking Belize for the first time? Check out my epic 7-day itinerary here!
3. Private taxi from Flores to Belize City
This is the most expensive option when travelling from Belize City to San Ignacio, but if there are a few of you, it could work out as the same amount as a shuttle.
If you really want a private taxi from Flores to Belize City, I recommend using a private driver that you have pre-booked beforehand.
Of course, there is a land crossing in between Guatemala and Belize, so you will need to change drivers at the border.
Our accommodation recommended us an excellent driver in Belize, and he was our taxi driver all week when in San Ignacio! He also runs shuttles and taxis to and from Belize City, as well as into Guatemala, so it’s worth texting him if you are interested.
His name is Teddy, and he is well-known in the San Ignacio (Belize) area.
If you want to book a taxi with Teddy to travel from the Belize border to Belize City, his contact details are:
- Teddy: +501 600-2695
You can either call or text him on Whatsapp!
⮕ Prefer booking online? You can pre-book a private shuttle from Flores to Belize City here.
What is the best way to get around Belize?
The main ways to get around Belize include by car, shuttle or public bus (and hitchhiking if you’re the adventurous type). If you are backpacking Belize for a while, it might be worth hiring a car. We drove all over Belize and found it to be safe, easy and the roads were well-built.
However, when travelling from place to place (such as Caye Caulker to San Ignacio), we used shuttles. These shuttles are full of other backpackers and are safe and easy to use. The shuttle will pick you up from your hostel and drop you off at your destination (either again at your hostel, or at a main central point).
Public buses in Belize aren’t uncommon and can be used if you’re on a tight budget. Hitchhiking is also a popular backpacking mode of transport, although we never tried it ourselves!
How to get from Belize City to Flores?
If you would like to travel from Belize City to Flores, I recommend booking a shuttle. It will be the same shuttle that travels from San Ignacio to Flores.
The shuttle between Belize City and Flores will take around 6 hours. This includes the land border and passport control.
I highly recommend this shuttle company if you want to travel with other backpackers:
- Mayan World: Travel Agency, Tours and Treks
- Manual Alay: +502 4503-6771
- Arabella Valle: +502 4284-1840
- mayanworldagency@gmail.com
- Price from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio: $40 BZ per person (£16/$19 USD)
⮕ Prefer booking online? You can pre-book a private shuttle from Flores to Belize City here.
How long is the bus ride from Belize City to Flores?
The shuttle between Belize City and Flores will take around 6 hours. This includes the land border and passport control.
🤩 Backpacking Belize for the first time? Check out my epic 7-day itinerary here!
How do you get to Flores Island Guatemala?
This depends on where you are coming from. If you are travelling from Belize, the most popular option would be to take a shuttle bus. Flores is around 1.5 hours from the border of Belize and Guatemala.
Is there a public bus from Flores to Belize City?
Not a direct bus, but you will be able to get a series of public buses from Flores to Belize City. Any bus or shuttle that crosses two countries requires a change in vehicle due to immigration and border control.
Where to stay in Flores as a backpacker
If you’re visiting Flores for the first time, I recommend you stay on the island rather than the mainland to get the full experience.
Flores Island in Guatemala is exceptionally small. That means all of the accommodations, hostels and hotels are within walking distance to each other.
Again, my biggest piece of advice is to book hostels in advance. We missed out on so many of the best hostels in Central America as they fill up so quickly – get booking!
- Los Amigos Hostel: This is by far the most popular hostel in Flores, but also the most expensive! A dorm will cost over £20 a night, and a private room up to £120. When we were staying in Flores, there was no availability even 4 weeks in advance, so make sure you book early! ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
- Hotel Peten Express Tikal: Another popular hostel in Flores with a good location on the water. It has a calmer atmosphere than Los Amigos. ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
⮕ View all other Hostelworld hostels in Flores here.
How many days should I spend in Flores, Guatemala?
The biggest activity to do in Flores is Tikal (Mayan ancient ruins), which requires at least one full day. In my opinion, 2 nights is enough in Flores, Guatemala. The other day you can explore the island, head over to the rope swing, enjoy a cocktail at Sky Bar and relax.
There isn’t too much to do in Flores apart from Tikal, so you don’t need much time there.
🤩 Visiting Tikal for the first time? Check out my complete Tikal guide here!
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
How To Get From Flores to Belize City: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about how to get from Flores to Belize City.
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Belize with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Belize posts:
- Backpacking San Ignacio: COMPLETE Guide! 2023
- Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know (2023)
- Where To See Stingrays in Caye Caulker: Complete Guide 2023
- Caye Caulker To San Ignacio: Backpacker Guide 2023
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: COMPLETE Guide!
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
