Traveling to Belize, a Step by Step Guide of COVID-19 Protocol
Most recent updated found here.
Are you considering a visit to Belize soon?
Concerned about the entry requirements? Don’t be! The entry process is much easier than it sounds.
The flight from Houston to Belize City was nearly full, which was a surprise. United sent a message the morning of the flight to let me know that the flight was nearly booked, and if I wasn’t comfortable with that, they would put me on a different flight with no change fees.
Of course, I wasn’t going to wait another day to get on the flats!
I got lucky. My row was the only one that didn’t have someone sitting in the middle.
I took the liberty to ask any friendly looking co-traveler the standard Q’s: Is this your first time to Belize? What part of Belize are you traveling to?
Most of the answers I received where from ex-pats who left Belize in the spring. They didn’t want to get caught in Belize if the pandemic erupted. Now with time and knowledge, most wished they had stayed. There were also a number of Belizeans repatriating home to Belize.
The most common other response to my inquiry from my fellow travelers was that they had rescheduled a trip planned for earlier in the year, often having rescheduled multiple times. They were as eager to finally get to Belize as I was!
Sadly, none of the 20 or so people I asked had booked their trip within the last month.
Also, it is important to note, that I was one of four other travelers who were obviously traveling to go fishing. The rod/reel bags and Orvis, Simms, or Patagonia clothing was my tip off. I did speak to one other angler who was headed to San Pedro.
The boarding process and flight was smooth. Nothing out of the ordinary for a trip down to Belize. The attendants handed out customs/immigration forms midway through the flight. Those still need to be filled out as usual.
Once the plane landed in the Belize, the exiting process was very orderly. They called rows/sections. Each person exited doing their best to socially distance. As we departed the plane we were greeted by a number of workers, covered in PPE, who directed everyone on how to line up and be properly distanced. There were markers on the ground of where to stand. All other passengers followed the instructions well. The line moved slow… but that was expected. Everything was well marked and there was plenty of signage to help even a first time traveler navigate the arrival process.
The next steps to the entry process were extremely easy. Many workers helping direct everyone where to go, what to do, what to provide, and where to stand.
The first step is to go into a screening area.
(Sadly, this is the far end of the departure area, the same area that the famous Jet’s Bar is located. Sorry… no inappropriate photo ops with Jet on your next visit to Belize. If you know, you know.)
In the line, you’ll see stickers of where to stand for proper social distancing. Half way through the line, a representative from Belize Tourism Board will greet you and ask if you are a resident or a visitor. If you are visitor, you’ll get you tourist “ID”… a bright yellow wrist band. (If you’ve ever been to an ‘all inclusive resort” in Cancun, the wrist band may confuse you… this one won’t get you free drinks.)
The wristband will let everyone in Belize know that you are a tourist. Since there are certain areas a tourist will not be able to access without a guide, this bracelet will be an important identifier. Tourism is limited to Gold Standard Approved resorts, tours, and transportation. Visitors should not expect to have much freedom to leave the resort they choose to stay at. That is unless you are fishing, diving, snorkeling, or doing other tours with a Gold Standard approved tour operator.
After receiving my tourist wristband, I was ushered further down the line. Eventually, I was greeted by another set of screeners. They took my body temp (97.1… I run a little cool), asked if I had a COVID-19 PCR Test with proof that I was negative, then asked to see my QR code from the Belize Health App (that’s your ‘brand’ while in Belize).
Once I complied with all of these items, I was given a new piece of paper. This one was more important than I knew at that moment… it had the coveted ‘Green Stamp” on it.
I was then ushered outside into another set of lines. One with green dots to stand on. And one with red dots to stand on. You don’t want to be in the red dot line! The red dots mean that you did not arrive in Belize with a valid negative COVID-19 PRC test and that you will be given a test at the airport.
Luckily (again) I was in the green dot line. I was invited into the next and final screening room. I’m honestly not sure what this step was for… other than checks and balances. I gave them my test results, my passport, my QR code, and my cell phone number. Then they welcomed me to Belize!
From there I entered the familiar immigration lines. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was zero line. I walked right up to the immigration booth. I said hello. The officer asked the normal questions. I answered. They stamped and gave me my passport.
When I entered the baggage claim area, my luggage was waiting for me. I grabbed it. Cleared customs. Boarded my Gold Standard Approved transportation. And the rest is history.
