Bus station Belize

The bus is the most popular means of transport for Belizeans to get around the country. Most buses leaving Belize City do so from this terminal, located south of Haulover Creek. The main line is Blue Bird, which serves all the district capitals and most important towns in the country; from dawn to dusk, many other companies criss-cross the country. Go to the terminal one hour before your bus leaves to make sure you get a seat. Keep an eye on your luggage.

It's an understatement to say that Hopkins isn't bursting at the seams with public transport traffic. A bus leaves for Dandriga Monday to Saturday at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., and only at 2 p.m. on Sundays. If you want to reach Placencia, ask to stop at the intersection of the main road from Dandriga to Punta Gorda; from there, many buses run directly to Placencia or drop you off at Independence to catch the ferry. From Placencia, there is a direct bus to Dandriga via Hopkins at 10.30 am and 5.30 pm. Ask locally for timetables.

Several Ritchie's buses to Dandriga, Belmopan and Belize City leave the village every day by the road that goes up the peninsula and then reaches further along the main north-south axis. The James Linebuses that connect Belize City, Belmopan and Dandriga to Punta Gorda do not take the Peninsula Road but stop at Independence, on the other side of the lagoon: you must then take a ferry to make the short crossing. There is also a direct connection to Dandriga with Bebb Bus Line, which stops at Hopkins twice a day.

Easy access on foot from your hotel or by cab. Buses run from dawn to early evening to Belmopan and Belize City, or the other way to Punta Gorga. For Hopkins, there is a direct service Monday to Saturday at 10.15 a.m. and 5.15 p.m.; Sundays only at 5.15 p.m. For Placencia, there's a Ritchi'es bus that takes the Peninsula route (so you don't have to take the ferry from Independence): departures at 11am, 2pm, 4:30pm and 6:15pm. Make sure you get all the information you need to avoid untimely changes.

The Corozal bus terminal provides access to Belize City to the south and the Santa Elena border crossing to the north. Buses from Belize City pass through Orange Walk and run from dawn to dusk, and in the opposite direction; allow 3 hours for the journey. Their terminus is not Corozal, but Santa Elena, the border post with Mexico. For local travel, there are intermittent buses to Sarteneja, a 2-hour drive to the east.