While sailing up north on the Rum Punch 2 a few days ago, I noticed a boat I’ve never seen before, the Tropic Ferry.
More investigation and I found out this: it is the newest way to travel to and from the International Airport outside of Belize City to Ambergris Caye. And they drop off customers all along the island. At your home or resort’s dock.
You have a few options when you land at BZE and want to get to our island. They are:
1. Flights to the Island
- At the International airport, you can take one of the hourly flights to Ambergris Caye. You can take either Maya Island Air or Tropic Air. They leave every hour, the flight takes about 20 minutes and costs about $125USD round trip.
- Once on the island, you need to get to your hotel. It could be a short walk across the street or a $5 USD taxi ride a few miles south or north or, if you are staying north of the bridge, you often need to take a taxi cab to a water taxi to bring your destination. Going up north could take anywhere from 20 minutes to hours if you need to wait for the next water taxi.
The view out the window is fantastic also. A great way to see all the islands on your way to Ambergris Caye.
2. The Water Taxi from Belize City to the Island
- This is your cheapest option. And can make sense if you have the time and if you are part of a larger group.
- Leave the International Airport and take a taxi cab to Belize City proper and to one of the water taxi terminals depending on your schedule. This should cost about $25 USD. A boat leaves every hour to hour and a half so you might have to wait.
- Take the water taxi to San Pedro. This costs about $55bzd round trip (or $27USD) and takes an hour and 15 minutes. For the schedules see: Caye Caulker Water Taxi and San Pedro Belize Express.
- Once on the island, you need to get to your hotel (same process as above).
3. The Tropic Ferry
- When you arrive at the International Airport, you will be met by someone with a sign with your name on it. You will take a short 3-5 minute shuttle ride to a restaurant called The Oar House in Ladyville where you will board the boat on the river. The boats are 40 person water taxi type boats.
- On the trip, you enjoy free refreshments and rum punch and a little music.
- An hour and 15 minutes – 45 minutes later (depending on your location) you are dropped off on your dock.
- The price is $75USD one way or $125USD round trip.
According to management, the boat is getting more and more popular with people that are staying far south (maybe at a private house) or farther north. It would also be useful if you are travelling with a larger pet.
They are going 1-2 times a day right now and 5 days a week but it is all reservation driven.
For more information about the boat, check out Tropic Ferry. And if you have already tried it out (it’s been up and running since July 2011), let me know how the trip was. This is definitely something I am going to have to test out.
And quickly…here is the sun coming up by Banyan Bay today. The winds of yesterday have died down and today should be a beautiful mix of sun and clouds.
So it’s the same price as the plane but only takes 3 times as long…Hmmm…
But if you are staying at a private home, miles north or south of town, it drops you off at your DOCK. No extra $$ for water taxi or road taxi. Not bad.
Yes, we pay $35 BZD for a land taxi from Tropic Air or ferry terminal to get to our place north of the bridge, when loaded down with luggage, so I call this a deal. Especially when you factor in the free rum punch and refreshments. C’mon people! 😉
A note to add to anyone reading this thinking about taking a taxi to get to the water taxi or this Tropic Ferry taxi…
If you are traveling with say maybe one other person, and want to catch a taxi to the water terminal, the cab drivers will only allow you to split a taxi with people you know.
So, to save money, find someone else that’s there waiting to go to the ferry and pretend to be cousins on the same trip. Then you can split the $25 between 4 people or so instead of just two.
They didn’t allow my girlfriend and I to ride with another couple because they heard us working out the deal and knew we weren’t together.
Excellent taxi tip…thanks for posting!