The fastest and easiest way to Chetumal is by taking a direct 20 passenger coasterbus. The ride from Flores to Chetumal takes approximately 7 hours. In Chetumal you will have connections to Cancun and Tulum.
This direct bus to Chetumal leaves daily at 5.00 am from in front of the island at 50 meters distance from the bridge at the office of San Juan.
We recommend to buy your ticket at least one day in advance. Tickets are available at this hostel. The price is Q 200 or $ 25. Buy your ticket al Los Amigos and earn yourself a free cuba libre at our bar!
Total travel time: 7 hours
Price: Q 200
Option 2
The second option is to do the whole trip by your self. You leave from the new bus terminal in Santa Elena, which is located next to the new market. It is quite easy to get there: You cross the bridge and keep on going strait ahead. The bus station is at the end of the street. It is a 20 minutes walk. You can also take one of the red tuk tuks for Q 5 (per ride, not per person).
Once at the bus terminal you have to ask for the minibus to Melchor de Mencos. This is the city at the Belizean border. The ride to Melchor takes approximately 2 hours and costs Q 20.
Arriving at Melchor you walk for 1 minute to the border of Guatemala with Belize. Officially you don`t have to pay an exit fee when leaving Guatemala, but they always try to charge you Q 10. Asking for a receipt might help.
Once you crossed the border and are on Belizean soil you have to take a taxi to the nearest village, El Benque. The taxi ride will cost you US $ 3.00. From el Benque chicken buses leave frequently to Belize City and will cost approximately US $5.00
In Belize City you have to change to a bus to Chetumal, which will cost you about US $ 7.00.
Total travel time: 8 to 9 hours
Total price: US $ 18.00
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Important
The bus to Chetumal drives through Belize. Therefore all travelers taking this route have to pay an exit fee when leaving Belize of US $ 15.00. The entrance fee of Mexico is free, but one must pay an exit fee of 220 Mexican pesos when leaving Mexico.
Keep in mind:
Most nationalities don`t need an entrance visum to Belize but this is not always the case. If your not sure, you can check this on the website of the Belizean embassy.
Change quetzales to Belizean dollars at the Belizean border for the best
rate.