Loading page content.
Loading Planning Guides
Preparing itineraries, logistics, and practical travel tools.
Compiling planning guides and trip resources tailored for Belize.
Getting Around
belize water taxi
Fast boats, two operators, one corridor. How travelers actually reach Caye Caulker and San Pedro.
The Boats That Run Belize's Islands
Nearly everyone heading to Caye Caulker or San Pedro without flying takes a water taxi from Belize City. Two operators share the corridor: San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter. Between them there are 14 departures a day each way, the crossing stays inside the barrier reef, and the whole system is simple once you know where the terminal is and when the last boat leaves. This guide covers exactly that.
Reviewed by RowanLast reviewed July 14, 2026
See Routes & TimesThe Water Taxi at a Glance
To Caye Caulker
45 min
From Belize City
To San Pedro
90 min
Via Caye Caulker
Fares
US$15-30
One way, by leg
Departures
14/day
Both operators combined
First Boat
6:00 AM
From San Pedro
Last From BC
5:40 PM
Caribbean Sprinter
Luggage
Free
Checked into the hold
Booking
Online
Or at the terminal
Departure Times
Every sailing, both operators
These are the published departure times, kept in sync with our full timetable pages. Coral chips are San Pedro Belize Express, teal chips are Caribbean Sprinter. Both run the same times seven days a week.
Departing Belize City
For Caye Caulker & San PedroSP Belize Express
8:00 AM9:00 AM10:30 AM12:00 PM1:30 PM3:00 PM4:30 PM5:30 PM
Caribbean Sprinter
8:00 AM10:30 AM1:30 PM3:00 PM4:30 PM5:40 PM
Departing San Pedro
For Caye Caulker & Belize CitySP Belize Express
6:00 AM7:00 AM8:30 AM10:00 AM11:30 AM1:00 PM3:00 PM4:30 PM
Caribbean Sprinter
6:00 AM7:00 AM8:00 AM10:00 AM1:00 PM4:00 PM
Caye Caulker → Belize City
Direct sailingsSP Belize Express
6:30 AM7:30 AM9:00 AM10:30 AM12:00 PM1:30 PM3:30 PM5:00 PM
Caribbean Sprinter
6:30 AM7:30 AM8:30 AM10:30 AM1:30 PM4:30 PM
Caye Caulker → San Pedro
Island hopSP Belize Express
7:00 AM8:45 AM9:45 AM11:15 AM12:45 PM2:15 PM3:45 PM5:15 PM6:15 PM
Caribbean Sprinter
8:45 AM11:15 AM2:15 PM3:45 PM5:15 PM6:25 PM
Routes & Times
Where the boats go
One corridor carries nearly all the traffic: Belize City to Caye Caulker to San Pedro, back and forth all day. Add the inter-island hops and the international Chetumal run and you have the whole network. Every route below links to a full timetable page with day-by-day filters, verified against the operators' published schedules.
Belize City → Caye Caulker
~45 min14 combined departures daily from 8:00 AM to 5:40 PM across both operators.
Times & detailsCaye Caulker → Belize City
~45 minThe return leg to the marine terminal for airport and mainland connections.
Times & detailsBelize City → San Pedro
~90 minSame boats, one stop in Caye Caulker. The core route to Ambergris Caye.
Times & detailsCaye Caulker ↔ San Pedro
~45 minFrequent island hops all day; the 6:25 PM Sprinter is the last boat.
Times & detailsCaye Caulker → San Pedro
~45 minThe northbound island hop to Ambergris Caye, with departures across the day.
Times & detailsSan Pedro → Chetumal (Mexico)
~90 min + borderInternational route by San Pedro Belize Express. Passport required.
Times & detailsOperators Compared
Express or Sprinter?
Honest answer: for most travelers the right boat is simply the next one leaving. Prices and ride times are similar, and both run seven days a week. The differences below matter at the margins, like late island hops, flight-day timing, and how you prefer to check in.
San Pedro Belize Express
- 8 daily sailings each way, the most on the corridor
- Departs the Belize Marine Terminal, 111 North Front Street
- Runs the international San Pedro to Chetumal (Mexico) route
- First boat from San Pedro at 6:00 AM for flight connections
Caribbean Sprinter
- 6 daily sailings each way, same schedule seven days a week
- Online check-in with mobile boarding passes
- V-hull vessels the operator markets as the smoothest ride
- Latest island hop of the day: 6:25 PM Caye Caulker to San Pedro
A third operator, Ocean Ferry, also serves Caye Caulker from Belize City at budget fares with a smaller schedule. Worth checking if the main departures are sold out.
Terminals, Fares & Booking
Finding the boat and paying for it
In Belize City, San Pedro Belize Express departs the Belize Marine Terminal at 111 North Front Street, downtown beside the Swing Bridge. Caribbean Sprinter's terminal is on the same street a short walk away. From the international airport it's a 25 to 30 minute taxi, about US$25 to $30 through the official airport taxi counter. There is no direct bus or shuttle between the airport and the docks.
Fares run roughly US$15 to $30 one way per adult depending on the leg, cheaper for kids and round trips. Book online at belizewatertaxi.com or sprinter.bz, or pay at the ticket window in Belize dollars or US dollars.
Insider tip
Sit toward the middle or rear of the boat if you want to stay dry, and grab the shaded rows early. The bow rows get the bounce and the spray, which is fun for exactly one crossing.
Boarding checklist
- Arrive 30 minutes before departure for check-in and luggage tagging
- Photo ID for online bookings; passport for the Chetumal route
- Cash or card both work at the ticket windows
- Keep electronics in a dry bag or wrapped in your day pack
- Confirm the day's last sailing if you have a same-day connection
- Around holidays, book a day or two ahead
Flying instead? Twenty minutes, reef views included
Tropic Air and Maya Island Air hop from the international airport to San Pedro in about 20 minutes. Compare the flight against the ferry for your arrival day.
Read the BZE Airport GuideBelize Water Taxi FAQs
How long is the water taxi from Belize City to San Pedro?
About 90 minutes, with a stop in Caye Caulker at roughly the 45 minute mark. Belize City to Caye Caulker alone is about 45 minutes, and the Caye Caulker to San Pedro hop is another 45. Both main operators run the same corridor, so the ride time is the same; what differs is departure times and onboard experience.
How much does the Belize water taxi cost?
Budget on the order of US$15 to $30 one way per adult depending on the leg, with round trips slightly cheaper per ride. Kids travel at reduced fares. Buy at the terminal or online in advance at belizewatertaxi.com (San Pedro Belize Express) or sprinter.bz (Caribbean Sprinter). Prices change, so treat the operator sites as the source of truth.
San Pedro Belize Express or Caribbean Sprinter: which should I take?
Take whichever leaves next. Both run the Belize City, Caye Caulker, San Pedro corridor daily with similar ride times. San Pedro Belize Express runs more sailings (eight per day each way, plus an international Chetumal route). Caribbean Sprinter runs six, sells mobile boarding passes with online check-in, and its 6:25 PM Caye Caulker to San Pedro boat is the latest island hop of the day.
What time is the first and last water taxi?
From Belize City, boats run from 8:00 AM until 5:40 PM (Caribbean Sprinter's last departure; San Pedro Belize Express's last is 5:30 PM). From San Pedro, the first boat leaves at 6:00 AM on both operators, which is the one to take for an international flight. From Caye Caulker to San Pedro, the latest option is Sprinter's 6:25 PM sailing.
Where does the water taxi leave from in Belize City?
The Belize Marine Terminal at 111 North Front Street, downtown next to the Swing Bridge. It is about 25 to 30 minutes by taxi from the international airport (BZE); the official airport taxi runs about US$25 to $30. Caribbean Sprinter departs from its own nearby terminal on North Front Street as well. Arrive 30 minutes before your boat for check-in and luggage loading.
Do I need to book water taxi tickets in advance?
In high season (December through April) and around holidays, book online a day or two ahead because popular midday boats fill. The rest of the year you can usually buy at the terminal. Booking ahead also speeds up check-in: Sprinter passengers can check in online and board with a phone, and Express online tickets skip the ticket window line.
Can I bring luggage on the Belize water taxi?
Yes, and on regular sailings it is free on both operators, limited to what you can reasonably carry yourself. Big bags are loaded into the cargo hold and handed back at the dock within minutes of arrival. Keep valuables and anything water-sensitive in a small bag on your lap; the boats are fast and open-sided, and spray happens.
Is there a water taxi from Belize to Mexico?
Yes. San Pedro Belize Express runs an international route between San Pedro and Chetumal, Mexico, taking about 90 minutes plus border formalities. It is a practical link if you are combining Ambergris Caye with the Mexican Caribbean coast. Bring your passport and expect exit fees; check the current schedule before planning around it.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Boats run in most conditions inside the reef, but operators delay or cancel sailings in rough weather and post notices on their websites and Facebook pages. If a front is coming through, take an earlier boat than you strictly need, especially the day before an international flight.
Boats Sorted. Now Pick the Island.
Caye Caulker or San Pedro first? Compare the islands, then lock in the rest of the route.