What Airport Do You Fly Into in Belize (and What Are the Customs Regulations)?

Despite not being the country’s capital anymore, Belize’s main hub is the international airport near Belize City, serving everyone coming in and out of the country. Just 30 minutes away from Belize City, the airport provides a central connection to everything the country has to offer the curious.
What Airport Do You Fly Into in Belize
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Customs and other international policies are one thing to plan very carefully when going to Belize, as a minor slip-up could spell a bad initial experience. From liquors to pets, it’s best to look up proper considerations, because small it may be, Belize is one of Central America’s biggest tourist destinations.

What Is the Major Airport in Belize?

Belize’s major airport is the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport located in Ladyville just 10 miles from Belize City. The airport is the country’s premier international hub where it receives most of the people coming and out of the country.

Even though the country’s capital is in Belmopan, further inland, Belize’s busiest and largest city still remains to be Belize City. The city is also a major point in the country where it has transportation and access to anywhere in the country even to the country’s countless off-shore locales.

What Is the Name of Belize International Airport?

Commonly called Belize International Airport, the actual name of the airport is Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, located 30 minutes away from Belize City in Ladyville. Currently, the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is one of the 5 busiest airports in Central America.

It was named after Belizean newspaper editor, activist, and politician, Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson, who died in 2001. The airport was given the name on February 7, 1988, in honor of the deceased politician who has served the Belizean people.

What Is the Airport Code for Belize?

The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport also called the Belize International Airport has an IATA Airport code of BZE and an ICAO Airport code of MZBZ. IATA codes are generally used for airline timetables, reservations, and baggage tags, while ICAO codes are for flight-tracking.

What Can I Bring Into Belize?

It depends on the activities you’ve planned, and the season you’re visiting. Belize only has two seasons, and while they have certain differences, Belize still sees warm, sunny days all year round. It’s best to bring clothes that will help you keep cool, US dollars or Belizean dollars, bug/mosquito repellants, and other necessities like medicine kits, and sunscreen.

Should you bring liquors and other duty-free items, it’s best to be informed of the limitations and conditions. You can look up Belizean online sources for items that are allowed in the country.

Can You Bring Your Dog to Belize?

You can bring dogs, and other pets to Belize as long as you meet the conditions and follow the rules. There are a plethora of things to consider before deciding to bring your pets with you, and make sure to look up online first.

You should consider complying with certain necessary paperwork like the IATA Veterinary Certificate For Domestic & Internation Airline Travel, rabies vaccination, fill out an application form from the BAHA website, extra fees, and many other things.

How Much Alcohol Can You Bring Into Belize?

You can bring liquor and other duty-free items, however, there are limitations. For alcohol, you can’t bring beers, only wine and other hard liquor for a total of 1 Liter with an alcohol content not exceeding 22%. If your load exceeds the limit, you will be charged feed are pay duty, so to say.

How Much Cash Can You Bring Into Belize?

You can only bring a maximum cash equivalent to 20,000 Belize dollars (BZD). If you bring more than that it should be declared upon arrival.

What Do You Have to Declare at Belize Customs?

There are only a few items that are necessary to declare at customs. If your cash exceeds the equivalent of 20,000 Belize dollars, it’s necessary to declare it at customs. Cigarettes, Wine,s and Hard Liquor aren’t necessary to be declared but it’s best to anyway so you can’t have an unexpected duty.

These days, tech-savvy explorers bring an electronic arsenal with them, other than the usual laptops for digital nomad set-ups, sometimes travelers bring drones. Drones don’t only need to be declared, you need to have a license to operate one as well.

If you bring pets, and other domesticated animals, you need to declare it as well. But it’s best to plan and apply months ahead for any authorizations to bring animals as it can take a long time.

What Can You Not Bring to Belize?

Illegal items are the obvious prohibitions, like drugs, weapons, and firearms, counterfeit money, and goods. Other prohibited items are plants, and plant products, meat, poultry, milk and dairy products, and beer. However, beer is cheap in Belize, you can just buy them in duty-free stores at the airport or in town.

What Can I Bring Back From Belize?

Traditional items can be bought in many of Belize City’s markets. The Mayan basket is a must, it’s not only functional, but it’s also a piece of the Mayan culture as this art is an old tradition of the Mayan women. Other artisan crafts like carvings out of exotic woods or slate, hammocks, and wood tableware, all have intricate designs unique to Belize.

And of course, the famous rum of Belize is another important export. You can take home a bottle or two of the famous homegrown Belikin Beer.

How Long Does It Take to Get Through Customs in Belize?

A typical customs transaction can take up to 30 minutes to an hour. If you bring items that need to be declared, it can take more than that, so plan accordingly. And of course, it’s not a Mayan adventure if you don’t bring back Belizean Chocolate, originally, a Mayan invention.

How Long Does It Take to Get Through Belize Airport?

It depends on certain requirements and documents on how long it’s going to take for you to get through customs. Depending on your type of visa, and the country of your origin can be unpredictable at times. Usually, it takes from 30 minutes to an hour.

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