Save money, meet Belizeans, and see the countryside in an unrushed trip between towns. The motley fleet of buses that serves the entire country ranges from your typical run-down, recycled yellow school bus to plush, air-conditioned luxury affairs. Belize buses are relatively reliable, on time, and less chaotic than the chicken-bus experience in other parts of Central America and Mexico.

Even so, most buses make many extra stops, including a requisite break in Belmopan for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes for all buses traveling between Belize City and points west and south; it’s a good bathroom and taco break.

Your best up-to-date resource for all Belize bus schedules and information is www.belizebus.wordpress.com, an independent website that pays impressive attention to travel details. Another website with bus schedules is www.guidetobelize.info. Travel time from Belize City to Corozal or San Ignacio is about two hours, to Dangriga 2–3 hours, and to Punta Gorda 5–6 hours. Fares average US$2–4 to most destinations, US$7–12 for the longer routes.

In Belize City, nearly all buses still begin and end at the Novelo’s Terminal (it’s still called that even though the company no longer exists; tel. 501/207-4924, 501/207-3929, or 501/227-7146), located on West Collett Canal Street in Belize City. Reach it by walking west on King Street, across Collett Canal, and into the terminal—definitely use a taxi at night when departing or arriving at night. Another walking route from the downtown area and water taxi is to go west along Orange Street, cross over the canal, then turn left and continue a short distance to the terminal.

James Bus runs the most reliable daily Punta Gorda service, using the block in front of the Shell station on Vernon Street (two blocks north of the Novelo’s) as its terminal.

There are at least a dozen booths to buy a ticket on the various international express bus services to Guatemala and Mexico. All are located inside or in front of the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Terminal and Swing Bridge. Boat-bus connections are convenient and easy to make, but it all happens in the middle of one of Belize’s busiest intersections.