Rent a car and drive around Belize.

ABOVE: I guess it would have better to rent a car. Hitchhikers in downtown San Ignacio, Belize.

Belize is only 185 miles from North to South, and 70 miles from East to West. So picking up a car rental and hitting the road is an attractive option for visitors who do not want to be tied down by public transport.

There are three main highways. The Northern Highway starts at the northern border with Mexico, then runs for 12 miles to Corozal Town, then 32 miles to Orange Walk down, then finally 60 miles to Belize city. The Western Highway runs 52 miles from Belize City to Belmopan, then another 30 miles to San Ignacio, then another 14 miles to Benque Viejo del Carmen and the Western Border with Guatemala. The Hummingbird Highway runs 50 miles from Belmopan to Dangriga. Then becomes the Southern Highway which runs from Dangriga to Punta Gorda. There is a new shortcut from the Northern to the Western Highway. This is a well-paved and well-marked road from the Burrell Boom cutoff that exits at Hattieville. This road has some sharp curves and embankments so travelers should resist the urge to speed on it. 

Pedestrians, dogs and cyclists compete aggressively with motor vehicles for use of the highways. It is not uncommon to come across cyclists leisurely pedaling in the middle of a highway lane.

Those planning to get an auto rental and drive around Belize need to be aware of another challenge – unmarked traffic bumps. Traffic bumps come in all sizes, shapes and colors. A few are of the vibrating type (with ridges to cause a vibrating sound when a car’s wheels roll over them), some are an interesting mix of both vibrating and pedestrian crossing.

So, is it worth the while to rent a car and drive though scenic Belize? Yes, just take note of the above and drive carefully. Most of the big car rental companies are represented in Belize – including Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty. There are also several home-grown auto rental companies, for example Crystal, Pancho’s, Kia, Lewis and JRs.

The quality of vehicles offered by the auto rental companies in Belize varies a lot. Because of the high cost of vehicles, some companies offer very small vehicles which wise visitors tend to avoid.

We do not recommend picking up hitchhikers - unless they are your friends.

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