|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 11/26/2012 12:14:31 PM
|
|
|
tmbutler
Posts: 2066
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline
|
Finally found reasonably priced accomodations in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye Belize, for several nights. Kindda worried tho about leaving rental vehicle(probably some suitcaases locked in trunk) near water taxi pier in Muelle Fiscal in Chetumal. And how about driving instructions to get to water taxi pier? Any good maps? Directions?
TMB
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 11/27/2012 3:13:46 PM
|
|
|
florida girl
Posts: 1816
Joined: 9/19/2007
From: orlando/new smyrna beach/chemuyil
Status: offline
|
take 307, when it starts splitting off in Chetumal stay to the left, turns into Avenida Insurgentes...go down a wasy, turn right on Avenida juarez...goes all the way down to Bahia Bld near where the ferry dock is...right before Bahia the parking lot is on the right. Very convenient , 50 pesos a day!!!
Don't get lost, nobody speaks English as learned in a previous visit( well they DO at the ferry dock) !!!! It's a really busy city!!!
The ferry ride is pretty long but the boats now have upholstered seats...It was about $35 US one way.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 11/28/2012 2:23:30 PM
|
|
|
tmbutler
Posts: 2066
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline
|
Muchas Gracias FG!!!! Looks like (from the zoom in Mapquest) Avenida Independencia and Avenida Juarez are adjacent and parellel to each other. Thanx! Can't wait for this part of the adventure.
I'm assuming you had to go thru customs and immigrations both entering and leaving San Pedro. Last year, on a San Pedro day trip via panga from XTC dive center in Xcalak, we only had to do C&I entering, but not leaving.
TMB
|
|
|
|
|
. - 11/28/2012 3:17:42 PM
|
|
|
Steve O
Posts: 708
Joined: 8/10/2004
From: Chicago
Status: offline
|
When you purchase your water taxi ticket at the pier you are supposed to go right around the side of the ticket office to Mexican customs and surrender your Mexican tourist card then pay an exit fee. This we had to do last March but not the year before. This coming March I was going to try not giving up my visa and just get on the boat. That way I would still have it when I came back into Mexico and I would walk around the customs stand when I arrived back and not have to pay the exit fee. It seems like it would be easy to do. I forget what the exit fee was but it seemed a little pricy. If I got caught I would just tell them that I didn't know I was supposed to give it up. The worst that will happen is they will charge you then or let you go on.
You do have to go through customs when you reach San Pedro. It's usually a small line and goes quickly. Nothing to be paid when you enter Belize but $37.50 BZ when you leave the country.
You'll want to be at the pier around 2:30 pm. There are two companies selling tickets and both will be trying to get you to buy from them. One boat leaves at 3:00 and the other at 3:30 but neither leave on time. Put your suitcase on the baggage cart and let them bring it down to the boat for you. It's a long walk down the pier. Dogs will check the luggage. Bring something to drink with you on the boat. It's a long trip and I believe only one company gives out bottles of water. I recommend sitting as far back in the boat as you can as the ride can be rough at times. It's a little over a 2 hour ride. You should arrive at the dock on back street. Just walk to the righ when you clear customs and you will hit Middle street then Front street where most of the ocean side hotels are. Only 3 main street so it's hard to get lost. It takes about 5 minutes to walk across the island.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/5/2012 12:29:44 PM
|
|
|
crazzyivan
Posts: 21
Joined: 11/1/2012
Status: offline
|
Let me know how you make out , my wife and I are making the the trip next may , Cancun to Ambergris caye ..
We where looking at staying at the holiday inn and parking the car for a few days there , but I was told they charge 10us a day , alot more than 50 peso's, I would also recommend printing out road maps of chetumal just in case you get lost , I hear the drive is about 6 hours , we look forward to making the trip next year.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
RE: . - 12/5/2012 3:00:27 PM
|
|
|
tmbutler
Posts: 2066
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Steve O
When you purchase your water taxi ticket at the pier you are supposed to go right around the side of the ticket office to Mexican customs and surrender your Mexican tourist card then pay an exit fee. This we had to do last March but not the year before. This coming March I was going to try not giving up my visa and just get on the boat. That way I would still have it when I came back into Mexico and I would walk around the customs stand when I arrived back and not have to pay the exit fee. It seems like it would be easy to do. I forget what the exit fee was but it seemed a little pricy. If I got caught I would just tell them that I didn't know I was supposed to give it up. The worst that will happen is they will charge you then or let you go on.
You do have to go through customs when you reach San Pedro. It's usually a small line and goes quickly. Nothing to be paid when you enter Belize but $37.50 BZ when you leave the country.
You'll want to be at the pier around 2:30 pm. There are two companies selling tickets and both will be trying to get you to buy from them. One boat leaves at 3:00 and the other at 3:30 but neither leave on time. Put your suitcase on the baggage cart and let them bring it down to the boat for you. It's a long walk down the pier. Dogs will check the luggage. Bring something to drink with you on the boat. It's a long trip and I believe only one company gives out bottles of water. I recommend sitting as far back in the boat as you can as the ride can be rough at times. It's a little over a 2 hour ride. You should arrive at the dock on back street. Just walk to the righ when you clear customs and you will hit Middle street then Front street where most of the ocean side hotels are. Only 3 main street so it's hard to get lost. It takes about 5 minutes to walk across the island.
So if we do have to surrender customs / immigration papers for Mexico at the Chetumal water taxi before going to San Pedro, Is that where we get the mexico paperwork again upon return (the stuff we gotta give to check in at Cancun airport upon return flight to U.S.)? Or is there customs / immigration at the water taxi in San Pedro, where we do this. Seems like last year, we had to walk about 4 blocks from where we got off the XTC dive center panga, to customs / immigrations. I think it was across the street from the airport bldgs??
Also, I think the water taxi from San Pedro to Chetumal leaves 8:30 AM. Do we need to go to Customs / immigration in San Pedro before that? If so, when do they open?
TMB
< Message edited by tmbutler -- 12/5/2012 3:06:58 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/6/2012 6:33:11 AM
|
|
|
MM
Posts: 933
Joined: 8/11/2004
From: Utah
Status: offline
|
TMB, where did you decide to stay?
_____________________________
Enjoy!
Mike
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/6/2012 8:17:38 AM
|
|
|
Steve O
Posts: 708
Joined: 8/10/2004
From: Chicago
Status: offline
|
When you leave San Pedro to go back to Chetumal the pier you leave from is on the hotel side. You'll walk by it a dozen times while out exploring on the beach. It's right next to the Tckle Box Bar where I am sure you will stop in a few times. I do believe the water taxi back to Chetumal leaves either at 7:00 or 7:30 am. Custome office is right on that pier and that is where you pay to leave Belize.
When you arrive in Chetumal, Mexican Customs will have table set up where you fill out your papers and get your new visa to enter Mexico. Make sure to get your visa stamped otherwise you will have problems at the airport when you leave the country.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/6/2012 10:38:22 AM
|
|
|
tmbutler
Posts: 2066
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: MM
TMB, where did you decide to stay?
Banana Beach Hotel. South part of town. Garden view priced down to $105 from $210. Most other hotels seemed to start ~200, but there are cheaper ones out there.
Wouldda had more options if I started searching earlier.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/6/2012 10:40:09 AM
|
|
|
tmbutler
Posts: 2066
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Steve O
When you leave San Pedro to go back to Chetumal the pier you leave from is on the hotel side. You'll walk by it a dozen times while out exploring on the beach. It's right next to the Tckle Box Bar where I am sure you will stop in a few times. I do believe the water taxi back to Chetumal leaves either at 7:00 or 7:30 am. Custome office is right on that pier and that is where you pay to leave Belize.
When you arrive in Chetumal, Mexican Customs will have table set up where you fill out your papers and get your new visa to enter Mexico. Make sure to get your visa stamped otherwise you will have problems at the airport when you leave the country.
Thanx Steve,
This helps, and makes sense.
TMB
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/6/2012 6:33:50 PM
|
|
|
Steve O
Posts: 708
Joined: 8/10/2004
From: Chicago
Status: offline
|
You'll have a good time down there. Not sure what type of hotels you like but Ruby's is on the beach and centrely located. A couple of beds, hot water shower, toilet, clean, and nice decks to sit out on and meet people. It seems to be a gathering place in the mornings for a lot of people . They have a nice little breakfast and lunch place out front where you can get juices, breakfast wraps, home made cinnamon rolls, along with other items. One of the bussiest places on the island in the morning. The rooms are $40 US a night. Right next door is the Wild Mango. That is a place that has great food and always crowded. $2 US rum drinks. There was one little Chinnese take out restaurant called the Sun or something like that which was very good. I also think you should try out the panuchos (sp) at Wawagumba. Excellent and cheap. For original home cooked over an open fire Beize food try out El Fongo. They are a little hard to locate but close to the airport. They are usually open for lunch.
On Caye Caulker I don't have very many recommendations. Stay away from the pig roast. It looked and smelt great the first time I went but we didn't stop. The next time I went the pig roast was one of the major reasons I went back. They had changed locations and weren't on the beach anymore. They were also run by new people and I sent my dinner back. There is also a small place a couple of blocks in town that looks like a house. They serve breakfasst and it's great. I can't remember the name but I believe the house was blue and built on stilts. There is one other breakfast place with a long wooded patio out front on front street that serves a good breakfast. You can sit outside or inside. Make sure to try the fry jacks.
In the next year or so I am going to try to make it down for Lobster Fest. If you liked Punta Allen you will love Caye Caulker. Not a lot to do but sure is a nice place to be. Ambergris Caye has a lot more night life and is great to visit but Caye Caulker is my idea of a tropical island.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Guarded or gated parking near water taxi in Chetumal?? - 12/8/2012 7:31:23 AM
|
|
|
MM
Posts: 933
Joined: 8/11/2004
From: Utah
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: tmbutler
quote:
ORIGINAL: MM
TMB, where did you decide to stay?
Banana Beach Hotel. South part of town. Garden view priced down to $105 from $210. Most other hotels seemed to start ~200, but there are cheaper ones out there.
Wouldda had more options if I started searching earlier.
I have never stayed at BB but their restaurant, El Divino is excellent! For a great beachbar and beach head S to Carribean Villas, and dont forget N to the Palapa bar, good food and fun.
Enjoy!
_____________________________
Enjoy!
Mike
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Printable Version
