Belize is a small, diverse country located in Central America, bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. As the former British colony named 'British Honduras', Belize is the only Central American nation where English is the official language. Additionally, the country is known for its vast rainforests with wildlife like jaguars and howler monkeys, along with the Belize Barrier Reef — part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, ancient Maya ruins such as Caracol and Xunantunich, and a multicultural population including Creole, Mestizo, Maya, Garifuna, and many more.
Its capital, Belmopan, is a small, planned city built specifically to serve as the political and administrative centre after the former capital, Belize City, was left vulnerable by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, which destroyed over 75% of the coastal capital. Located inland near the Belize River, Belmopan is a safe, quiet and relaxed place, surrounded by lush countryside, close to national parks and nature reserves, and home to government buildings such as the National Assembly.
Due to its low-lying coastal geography and climate change, Belize experiences hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding and coastal erosion.
For traffic/driving offences;
Police may issue a ticket, for which you pay at a traffic department, police station or court — not on the spot. Unpaid fines can delay you leaving the country.
For other violations;
The official language of Belize is English, but Belizean Creole, Spanish and Mayan are also spoken.
Driving takes place on the right-hand side in Belize, where left turns can involve pulling over to the right shoulder and waiting until clear before turning. The minimum age to drive is 18 years, but drivers have to be at least 21 – 25 to rent, depending on the company, where drivers under 25 would often face young driver surcharges or higher deposits. UK drivers don't strictly need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Belize for tourism, as a valid UK photocard driving licence is accepted for up to 90 days. However, one is recommended to help streamline interactions with local authorities during police checkpoints.
Roads in Belize can range from paved highways to rough dirt tracks, with common hazards such as potholes, uneven surfaces, unmarked speed bumps, poor lighting at night, narrow or single-lane bridges, and pedestrians, cyclists, and animals on roads. Also, police checkouts are common, as well as overtaking vehicles, especially motorcycles, and roadside assistance is rare or unavailable. Be sure to drive defensively, avoid driving at night, and have your documents ready.
The most common types of fuel are regular (unleaded), premium (unleaded) and diesel. Fuel prices are government-controlled, so they’re similar across the country, and that cash — both US and Belize dollars — is widely accepted, where card is accepted at many stations, but not ones in rural areas. Fuelling is usually attendant-served, not self-service. While an attendant fills up, stay in your vehicle, and don't smoke or use your phone.
Stations are easy to find in main areas like Belize City, San Ignacio and Placencia, but are sparse in rural/jungle areas and along smaller roads. The opening times are usually 6am to 8pm, where some rural stations would close earlier or close all-day on holidays, and 24/7 stations are limited to major towns. Make sure to top-up before travelling outside towns, always have cash with you, and refuel whenever possible — especially when tank drops below half. Most rentals use a 'full-to-full' policy where you must return the vehicle with a full tank. Always check level at pickup, and take a photo as proof.
The legal limit is 0.08%
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants.
Child car seats are not legally mandatory in Belize, but travellers are advised to bring their own car seats if they feel it is necessary for their children/child.
Check out more of our Country Guides: