Unspoiled, but not remote

Punta Gorda is the southernmost town in Belize, and the 'capital' of the Toledo District. Once an outpost reachable only by boat, PG is today easily accessible by car or bus on the Southern Highway -- probably the best road in Belize -- or by commuter flights on the 75 minute trip from Belize City.

Getting to Belize

Belize is served by a number of airlines, with direct international flights from both the US and Central America, including:

American Airlines (Miami and Dallas)
Continental Airlines (Houston and Newark)
Delta (Atlanta)
TACA (Houston and El Salvador)
US Air (Charlotte)

For those flying from Europe, take a look at TACA's flight from Houston for a possible 'same-day' connection, or why not take the opportunity of a stop-over in the US? At some times during the year, American Airlines also offers a weekend same-day connection travelling from Heathrow to Belize via Miami - ask you travel agent to investigate the best options for you.

A European alternative is to fly to Cancun (www.AirEuropa.com offers great fares from Madrid) and travel south overland. There are regular busses from Cancun to Chetumal, just over the border from the northern Belize town of Corozal, which also has a water taxi service (the Thunderbolt) to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, for those looking for a reef-jungle two-centre holiday.

For those coming from the West Coast of the United States, TACA now offers and overnight flight from Oakland to Belize, via San Salvador.

Getting to Toledo

PG is served by several daily commuter flights with both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. We can offer you a 5% discount on any flights with Tropic Air: simply contact us with your requirements, and we will make the arrangements and provide you with a reservation reference - you can find details of times and the discounted prices in the linked MS Word document.

Please bear in mind, however, that flights are non-refundable and will therefore be charged in full to your credit card at the time of booking. Keep an eye out for a bird's eye view of Hickatee Cottages as you come in to land at PG, as shown in the photo on the right! If you are captained by Andrea, Tropic Air's lady pilot, then mention you are staying here and she will try and fly you directly overhead.

For those that prefer the freedom of a hire car to explore the District at leisure, your four to five hour journey from Belize City will take you along probably the best paved road in Belize - the Southern Highway - with only a nine-mile stretch through the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve unpaved.

Hire cars are readily available for collection at Belize City Airport, including Crystal and Budget, and are also available locally in PG. Please email us for details of local vehicle rental (usually minimum three-day hire, from US$75 per day).

If you are travelling to or from Guatemala, there are three daily boat crossings between Punta Gorda and Puerto Barrios, with onward connections to the Honduran border. There is also a twice-weekly water taxi service to and from Livingston, Guatemala, which operates on Tuesdays and Fridays. Check further down the page for details of El Hotelito Perdido for superb jungle accommodation in the Rio Dulce area of Guatemala!

USEFUL LINKS
Call in the experts!

If you want peace of mind, then a travel specialist can match your needs to provide your dream holiday. UK-based specialists include Reef & Rainforest based in Totnes, Devon, and Trips Worldwide based in Bristol.

Placencia-based Mary Toy at Destinations Belize has a wealth of knowledge of the country, offers a range of tours and accommodation to suit every interest and every pocket, and can arrange your perfect tailor-made itinerary.

Barbara Kasak, based in New York, is another Belize expert who can arrange your dream bespoke vacation. Visit Barb's website for more information!

You might also want to visit the BookBelize website, with its international list of Belize travel experts, as well as other useful information on Belize!

Moving around?

For those of you travelling overland, then we are delighted to introduce you to our partner 'Bed & Breakfasts', which also feature among TripAdvisor.com's top rated B&Bs in Belize!

Corozal
The Copa Banana Guest House, on Bay Shore Drive in Corozal, is a perfect place to kick back and relax. For those of you flying into Cancun and travelling overland to Belize, the Copa Banana is an ideal location to break your journey, with its great sea view and beach access. Simply hop on one of the comfortable busses from Cancun to Chetumal at the Miexican border, and arrange for the Copa Banana transfer service from Chetmual! Guests can borrow bikes from Connie to explore the local area, or hire one of their vehicles for your self-drive adventure through Belize!

Belize City
D'Nest Inn is located on the outskirts of Belize City, in a quiet residential neighbourhood, with great access to both the International Airport and Belize City. A tranquil base for visits to the sights in Belize City, such as the Museum and the historic Fort George District, D'Nest Inn has three beautiful 'nests', and is set in lush tropical gardens. The property borders a canal which leads to the Belize River only 50 feet away, and you're just a few blocks away from the Caribbean Sea.

Rio Dulce, Guatemala
The twice-daily water taxi service between Puerto Barrios and PG, and twice-weekly direct water taxi service between Livingston and PG makes the beautiful Rio Dulce area of Guatemala an obvious choice for travellers moving on to explore more of the region.

El Hotelito Perdido is located in the middle of the rainforest on the Rio Lampara near Livingston. Aska and Chris have created a beautiful rustic jungle hideaway with cozy bungalows, close to hot springs, a waterfall, and the manatee reserve.

Take a look at their website for more details of the Hotelito and the tours they offer!

Worlds Together - travel immersion network

Take a look at Dave and Dianne Birney's excellent www.worldstogethertravel.com website for more information on the Maya Homestay Programme in Na Lum Ca, Toledo District, their immersion travel philosophy, and a wealth of great places to stay.

South America

For those of you visiting France, take a look at Bill Graham's superb bed and breakfast in the Champagne region, and details of the Paris apartments.. Or for those touring the US, the Ash Trail Lodge run by Deb and Steve Wieber offers fishing, snowmobiling, and much more, in northern Minnesota. Or in Arkansas, try the Mary Elizabeth Bed & Breakfast, in Western Grove.

For general listings of accommodation throughout Belize and Central America, try visiting www.ppbo.com with international listings of 'paradise properties', or visit www.willgoto.com.

CURRENCY CONFUSION?

US$ are readily accepted in Belize with a 'street rate' of around BZ$2 to US$1, and a bank rate of BZ$1.9825. The British Pound continues to remain strong against the US$, giving Brits great value for money (around US$2 to the Pound). The Canadian Dollar is also performing strongly, giving snowbirds a bargain sunshine break! For today's exchange rate, try this link!

ATMs, or "cashpoints"

An ATM service is available at both Belize Bank and Scotia Bank in Punta Gorda, and their counter service allows you to make credit card withdrawals or change currency and traveller's cheques