Transport in Belize

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Transport in Belize mostly consists of bus transportation on Belize's roads. There are some navigable waterways.

Contents

Public transport

A bus in Orange Walk, Belize Belize Bus in Orange Walk.jpg
A bus in Orange Walk, Belize

Most Belizeans travel the country using public buses as their primary form of transportation. In the larger towns and cities, such as Belize City or Belmopan, there are bus terminals. In smaller places, there are bus stops. However, the most common way of catching a bus is by flagging it down on the road. On the Northern and George Price Highways, bus service is more frequent than on smaller highways and other roads. In some locations, like small towns, buses may run only once a day. Buses are classified as either Regular runs (usual prices) or Express runs (faster, for slightly higher prices). Some Belizeans prefer riding bikes due to traffic, or the time of day. Many buses are Greyhounds or school buses, although newer express buses travel the two main highways.

A new zoning system was implemented on Sunday, October 19, 2008. [1] Accordingly, the country is divided into zones: Northern (highway/rural), Southern (highway/rural), Western (highway/rural). Bus providers are restricted to assigned zones:

The major national bus lines are James, WestLine and BBOC.

Roads

Belize has four major asphalt-paved two-lane roads: the Hummingbird Highway, Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway, George Price Highway, and Philip Goldson Highway. In 2023, upgrading of the Manuel Esquivel Highway to a BST-surface was completed; the road was formerly known as the Coastal Highway. Most other roads are unpaved, rough and in poor condition. Traffic changed to driving on the right-hand side of the road on 1 October 1961. [2]

Waterways

Merchant marine

Belize is often considered a flag of convenience.

Ports

Airports

With paved runways

With unpaved runways

Commercial aviation in Belize

The exterior of Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport.jpg
The exterior of Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

As of 2008, an estimated[ vague ] 44 airports and airstrips were in operation. The international airport is Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville, 9 miles north of Belize City. Currently, the international airport is served by several international and local carriers. A runway expansion program set to be completed in 2007

may allow larger aircraft to land and may encourage new direct or nonstop service from Europe and Canada. There is a smaller airport with local service in Belize City itself.

Two airlines, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, provide service within the country. Both airlines have service originating both the main airport (Philip S. W. Goldson), and Belize City Municipal Airport in the city. From here they serve San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Dangriga, Placencia, Punta Gorda, and to Flores in Guatemala, and one airline serves Savannah at Big Creek. There is also service from San Pedro to Sarteneja and to Corozal Town. The local airlines generally fly small single-engine equipment, such as the Cessna Caravan.

Railways

Belize has no railways. Dismantled lines include the Stann Creek Railway that linked Dangriga and Middlesex Estate; it was abandoned in 1937. Some of its bridges remain along the Hummingbird Highway.

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References

  1. New Bus Transport System [ permanent dead link ], press release, Belmopan, October 17, 2008.
  2. The Rule of the Road: An International Guide to History and Practice, Peter Kincaid, Greenwood Press, 1986, page 50

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.