Chetumal to Belize

There are two ways of approaching Quintana Roo (and the Yucatan Peninsula) via air - one is Cancun and the other is Belize City. Depending on where on the coast you are going, one approach may be better (shorter) then the other.

For a destination south of Tulum, it makes more sense to approach from the South. It is possible to rent a car from Crystal Auto (at Belize City airport) or Continental. They allow entry into Mexico (Quintana Roo only) and Guatemala. For Mexico, it is necessary to purchase (from car rental company) additional car insurance of roughly $3/day. You may be asked to present the document which demonstrates that.

From Belize City airport, it is roughly 72 miles to the Mexican border. The first 35 or so go relatively quickly, through townless areas. The next 30 or so miles are much slower (via lots of small villages and towns). If you are in a hurry back to catch a flight, plan on covering this entire distance in 2 hours or slightly more. (There are two gas stations before Belize airport where you can fill up for cash or credit card.)

Exit out of Belize:

1. You come to the Belizian border. Park your car, if you have one.

2. Go inside the building there, with your passport and cash. It is roughly $15 (american) or $30 Belizian to exit Belize, per person. (did not have to pay for a small child)

3. The driver will be directed to retreive the car, and go through the guarded gate. The rest of the group goes out the other side of the building and is picked up by the car.

Entry into Mexico:

1. After going through the border zone (casinos), stop at the building right after the bridge (before going through the customs gates). It is on your right, and comes rather abruptly. There is a small parking lot there. Exercise continuous braking after you cross the bridge.

2. Bring your passport and obtain a FMM card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple), which is a tourist card that is good for up to 180 days.

3. You do not need cash because money is not taken/exchanged at the border. You will have to go to a bank and pay the debt on the card (roughly $26/person). They stamp the FMM as being paid. This is important because you will have to show the paid FMM card when you exit Mexico.

4. Once you have your passport stamped and your FMM card in hand, return to your car and drive through customs.

5. Get your car sprayed (this is after your leave the immediate border area) - for roughly $10 dollars.

Exiting Mexico:

1. Once again, stop at the extremely small one-man booth with a tiny opening on your right before you go through the gates. Park your car and present your passport and paid FMM card.

2. If you lost your FMM card, you will have to incentivise yourself out of Mexico or pay roughly $75 for a lost card. No money is exchanged/taken at the border, if all seems right. But have cash.with you. If a person insists on saving you, your small child, and grandma from going to a Mexican jail (which as you drive into town is pointed is out to you), you may have to pay the piper. (Don't worry, you will laugh about it later.) Be warned there are corrupt border guards that are interested in charging something even when they are entitled to nothing. The way they do this is to firstly tell you that you do not have a problem with them but with the Belizean border guards, for plausible deniability one would assume...they are "advising" you to pay not forcing you. The guard might try and convince you to pay the Mexican Exit fee and get the stamp or the Belizeans will not let you in the country...this is not true. The other alternative the guard will give you is to pay about 3500 pesos and return to Mexico...this is especially targeted if you are renewing your FMM form. i.e. you end up with a choice, pay the Exit "bribe" or pay over 3000 pesos...but bottom line is you don't cross without paying...although the guard will never actually say this directly.

3. Once your documents are all clear, return to your car and go through the customs gates.

Returning to Belize:

1. Park your car once again.

2. Take all belongings (small and large bags) to the border building.

3. Present your passport and go through customs. (no fees are paid)

4. The driver of the car returns to the car, goes through the border gate, and picks up all passagengers/luggage on the other side of the building.

Other tips:

1. Keep the FMM card with you at all times. There are regular checkpoints in Mexico where you may be asked to present it.

2. Do not lose your FMM card (make a photocopy just to be safe, if you can) - or a photo of it.

3. Always carry cash everywhere.

4. There are no gas stations along the road (expect near the Belize airport) to Chetumal except near Corozal. You should with any car be able to make it to the Chetumal border with a third of a tank of gas and then there are plenty of Pemex (gas) stations once you get there. (Most gas stations in Mexico only take cash.)

5. If you are coming in by air to Mexico, then the process is slightly different in that your airfare more than likely includes the FMM card. But be sure to check ahead of time.