By Car in Belize City

To & from Belize City

There are only two highways to Belize City: the Northern Highway, which stretches to the Mexican border, 102 mi (165 km) away, and the Western Highway, which runs 81 mi (131 km) to Guatemala. Both are paved and in good condition. Signs guide you to nearby destinations such as the Belize Zoo.

In Belize with a Car

Finding your way around the city itself can be confusing. The downtown area's narrow one-way streets, sometimes without identifying signs, often end abruptly due to construction work or an inconveniently located river. However, as part of its effort to become more user-friendly for cruise ship passengers, who now number about a million a year, Belize City has added green directional signs in the downtown area. Big directional signs also are now posted, identifying key turns on the Northern and Western highways. With rare exceptions—the Princess Hotel & Casino is one—hotels in and near the city center offer mostly on-street parking, and you run the risk of a break-in if you leave the car overnight. Hotels in the suburbs north and west of the city usually have fenced or otherwise secured parking. Give your nerves a break and explore the city by taxi or on foot in safer sections like the Fort George area.