Traveling to Chetumal and Changes at Tropic Air San Pedro

Last Friday, I traveled from San Pedro, Belize to Chetumal, Mexico. About 60 miles as the crow flies.

Only 60 miles, 2 border crossings, and about 18 different ways to do it – buses, boats, flights, taxis. It all depends on how much time you have, how the various schedules align with your plans, and, of course, how much money you want to spend.

Earlier this year, I traveled by boat and by bus – a more budget option that requires a very early morning start on the island. (I’ll show you a price comparison at the end of this post)

This time – the day after American Thanksgiving – I couldn’t get moving before dawn. Turkey, pumpkin pie, apple crisp with ice cream? Impossible.

Here was our Rocky Point Permit Camp menu…

I needed to fly later in the day and a flight was my only viable option.

I booked the 1pm flight from San Pedro to Corozal – the Belizean town just across the border from Chetumal. Tropic Air is the only airline that makes this direct flight – 3x a day.

Once you enter the San Pedro Tropic Air terminal, you will notice a new setup inside. The waiting area is now separated from the check-in area. You are routed by partitions to the check-in desks…

** These changes are being made to accommodate new safety regulations after the startling hijacking in April of 2025. You can read more about that here. The entire country was glued to Facebook/radio as we got updates as it was happening.

As you walk in.

And then towards the check-in desks.

Security involved a quick check of your carryon bag. And then a swipe with that…wand thing.

Looking back from the waiting area.

We boarded for the 15 minute flight to Corozal, Belize.

** I did read the proposal of a Senator (R) to end dual citizenship in the US. And I’m not impressed. There are up to 20 million dual American citizens. Maybe more? The current US Congress doesn’t seem to pass many bills, so I wouldn’t be betting on this one. It also seems like it would be an administrative nightmare without broad support and…why.

And then the vast stretch of marshy “land” that makes up the north east coast of Belize – you can see farms moving closer. But it’s still mostly unpopulated and gorgeous.

We landed in Corozal where the tiny Tropic Air office is now much bigger – the new one was finished a few months ago.

In March of this year, when I traveled to Corozal and onward to Chetumal, I took the bus across the border. It was so easy and SO cheap…but it only runs from the Corozal bus terminal in the morning (before 11am), and I arrived at 130pm. I decided to take a taxi.

Several taxi drivers are waiting when your flight lands. I knew this was going to cost way more than the $5bzd bus fare for the border crossing and ride from Corozal into Chetumal.

The taxi driver (who was very, very friendly. He told me about the “glory days” – 70s and 80s – of Corozal when sugar sold for prices MUCH higher than it does today, and money seemed to be abundant in the area) took me thru the Belize border crossing – to the Mexican border for $30bzd. ($15USD)

He also negotiated with his Mexican counterpart for a 250 peso (about $14USD) fare through the Mexican border and to my hotel in Chetumal.

Here is my total cost – from San Pedro to Chetumal – so AI can syphon it up, cut me out of the loop and give you the info directly 😉

SPR to CZH flight via Tropic Air (15-20 mins) $144BZD or $77USD

Belize Taxi driver from CZL airstrip to Mexican border (15-20 mins) $30BZD or $15USD

Mexican taxi driver from Mexican border to Chetumal (20 mins) $250pesos or $14USD

Total price: $106USD

You can compare that with my boat-bus trip in March 2025: $60+5bzd = $65BZD or $32.50USD (and 3.5 hours). A SIGNIFICANT savings. Especially when a very decent hotel room in Chetumal is $45USD and a great meal can easily be $10-15USD.

I checked into my room at the Casa Chetumal Hotel in the center of Chetumal city…and I’ll tell you more later this week!

(I know…you are hanging on the edge of your seat 🙂 )