Paris1972-Versailles2003

This is something I had hidden in older posts and really need to share it with you with more details and a post of its own. One of the nicest experience of traveling in the Americas was crossing the border at Belize to/from Mexico!!! Let me tell you a bit about with new text and same old photo. Hope you enjoy it.

The land border between Belize and Mexico is an international border of 193 km by land and 85 km by sea. Its current route, almost entirely delimited by rivers such as the Río Hondo or the Río Azul, dates back to 1893. Oh yes this is Central America in the Americas folks.

A bit of history I like

The border between Mexico and Belize was very difficult to explore and demarcate around 1860 because of its isolated position, in a very sparsely populated region, on the borders of the Mexican State whose capital is located several hundred kilometers to the north. The weak Mexican presence in the region allowed the British to form the colony of British Honduras in 1871, currently Belize.   From that time on, the Mexican position shifted due to the government’s desire to end the smuggling of arms from Belize which fed the rebel Mayans fighting against Mexico in what was called the War of the Castes between 1847 to 1901.

The treaty between the two countries to minimize the above was signed on July 8, 1893 in Mexico City, and an additional convention was added to it on April 7, 1897. It is made up of four articles: the first fixes the border; by the second the United Kingdom undertakes not to supply any more weapons to the Mayan rebels, the third establishes the obligation for each state to prevent the Amerindians of their respective territories from engaging in incursions into the neighboring country and, finally, the fourth establishes the ratification of the treaty by the respective governments . The additional convention of 1897 established the freedom for Mexican merchant ships to navigate without restriction through the Boca Bacalar Chico and within the entire Chetumal Bay. On the other hand, the military navy could not do it, and, to allow its access to the bay through Mexican territory, it was decided to dig the Zaragoza Canal.

And the road warrior trip Mexico/Belize!

There are two entry points between the two countries. The main one being located between Subteniente López, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Santa Elena, in the district of Corozal, Belize. It is close to the capital of Quintana Roo and main town in the region, Chetumal 10 km away. This is how I got in and out.

The second crossing point is located between La Unión, Mexico, and Blue Creek Village, in the Orange Walk District, Belize, near the confluence between the Río Azul and the Río Bravo, which form from this place the Río Hondo.

Significant commercial and legal tourism activity has also taken place, especially in Belize, which has established a free zone at the northern crossing point and authorized the construction of casinos, which are prohibited in Mexico, and which constitute an important tourist attraction. And we stop here to eat , see , shop and rest on both ways.

I came by rental car from Chetumal but there were local friends who did this so the paperwork I was not involved. There is a fee at about 7 dollars to enter and again out of Belize per person and you need a copy of your passport. I have heard there are other fees like for fumigation, insurance etc but not my experience so cannot tell you; just check it out from official sources.

However, did see and acknowledge bus service into Belize from Chetumal, Mexico. The bus station I saw are ADO and first class buses,located at Av. Insugentes at Calle Palermo (close to Plaza Las Americas and my hotel way back for one nigh see post) , and the old ADO bus station, located at Calle Salvador Novo near Av. Insurgentes and Av. Belice.

As said, we rented a car in Chetumal done by my friends and before we came by air from Mexico city. This way is cheaper than if flying from CDMEX to Belize City by air! Somehow I was told.

As I read in local newspaper, the dredging of the Zaragoza canal (see above) will allow tours from Islas Mujeres and other points in the Caribbean to Chetumal!! This should be ready by mid 2022. I invite you to see my other posts on Belize, Chetumal, Bacalar Mexico in my blog.

Some webpages to help you plan your trip are:

The official Free Zone of Belize webpage: https://www.belizecorozalfreezone.com/

The Duty Free Zone independent webpage: https://dutyfreebelize.com/duty-free.php

There you go folks, really an off the beaten path road trip between two countries with lots of memories forever. We stay in Chetumal on the way back and see my posts. In Belize , we stay by Plasencia and rode most of it and see posts. Hope you enjoy this post of the unique border crossing between two countries .

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!