Driving Mexico - Belize
 

Thinking of driving from Playa del Carmen to Belize as a day trip? Wise not wise?

If its a rental car you can't take it over the border. It's also a very long day trip.

Some rental car companies will let you take a car across the border. For me, it's really too far for a day trip though. The bus ride is about five hours, I don't think a car would be all that much faster. Then you have immigration and customs to deal with coming and going.

You sure wouldn't have much time to see anything in Belize.

Caribbean rent a car lets you take it out of the country.

Driving from Playa del Carmen to Belize is possible, but probably not worth the time and effort if you're going to try and do it in one day.

It takes approximately 4 hours to drive from Playa del Carmen by bus. A little longer by car. Much of the highway consists of narrow two lane roads. There is also quite a bit of construction as a new larger highway is being put in between here and Belize.

In addition, it is not a ride that you want to make at night. Most areas of the highway do not have lights, and you'll be fighting for space with larger traffic like buses and trucks.

We have driven to Belize and back and enjoyed the experience very much. However, it was to spend a couple of days in Ambergris Caye. Northern Belize, near the border with Mexico, is pretty unimpressive. The nicest part of that area are the islands just off the coast, primarily Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. There is a small one strip quonset hut airport just across the border where you can take a short 15 minute flight over to Ambergris Caye. The Cayes are a delightful place to spend a couple of days. However, it basically takes a whole day to get there so not worth doing if you're not going to spend some time.

In the past we have driven there and then left our car locked up in a secured parking lot in Chetumal. We then took a taxi to the border, walked across, and took another taxi to the air strip.

We should also say that we have no personal knowledge but have heard that driving around northern Belize is not wise. Crime and drug trade seems to have made it a little unsafe.

If you're looking for a day trip to a tropical isle type setting, think about going to Isla Mujeres for the day, as an alternative.

Hope this helps.

Tony & Cheri
Luna Blue Hotel & Garden
Playa del Carmen, Mexico