Belize’s Newly Relaxed COVID-19 Regulations: What To Know When Traveling

by Carolee Chanona
female fly fish belize muyono

Belize reopened to tourism in October 2020, and continues to be easily accessible for Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its petite size of bite-sized adventures allows travelers to venture from end of the country to the other within a day or less, making it ideal for families, couples, groups, and even solo travelers. Since safely reopening the country to visitors, Belize continues to have a number of COVID-19 regulations and restrictions in place to protect both guests and citizens. While newly relaxed COVID-19 regulations come into effect February 1, 2021 in Belize, here’s what to know when traveling.

Editor’s Note: This blog was updated February 3, 2021 to reflect the updated entry requirement of a 72-hour PCR test.

Testing Requirements to Travel to Belize

Photo courtesy BTB

Download the Belize Health App and complete the required information within 72 hours of your flight to Belize. Additionally, travelers can take a PCR test within 72 hours of travel. A negative test will provide a “fast track” arrival process. Please note that you may be selected for random secondary testing during your health screening. Alternatively, Belize also accepts a negative result of the Rapid Antigen, Sophia, SD Biosensor, or ABBOT (Panblo) test in the 48 hours prior to travel. If no PCR test is presented, you can take a COVID-19 test at the airport at a cost of $50 USD per passenger. Testing at the airport will be done on a “swab and go” basis for visitors that are staying at Gold Standard hotels. Only positive cases will receive notification from the Ministry of Health within 24 hours. Tourists with positive results can quarantine at their Gold Standard hotel.

Regulations While In Country

San Ignacio Belize night

Photo via Meritt Thomas/Unsplash

Belize currently has a national curfew in place, from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am the following morning. For unaccompanied minors, the national curfew is 6:00 pm. Additionally, liquor sales were previously required to cease as of 6:00 pm, which has since been lifted; bars, casinos, and night clubs remain closed. Additionally, there are no inter-district travel bans. Looking to stay active in either faith or fitness? Gyms and churches may now open at 50% capacity.  Thanks to a steady decrease in active cases and infection rates, the newly relaxed COVID-19 preventative regulations in Belize will come into effect on February 1, 2021 with a new Statutory Instrument.

Besides a national curfew, othеr preventative measures in Belize rеmаіn thе ѕаmе, іnсludіng:

  • Mаndаtоrу wеаrіng оf face mаѕkѕ (except for when eating, swimming,
  • Mаndаtоrу ѕосіаl dіѕtаnсіng оf ѕіх fееt
  • Lіmіtѕ оn mаѕѕ gаthеrіngѕ tо tеn (10) реrѕоnѕ оr fеwеr аnd bаnnіng оf ѕосіаl еvеntѕ ехсерt fоr funеrаlѕ, wеddіngѕ, аnd раrtіеѕ аmоng fаmіlіеѕ аt а rеѕіdеnсе
  • No contact sports
  • Rеgulаtіоnѕ and capacity restrictions fоr рublіс trаnѕроrt

All other COVID regulations remain in place. Those who breach Public Health regulations will be ticketed and fined $500 per person.

Header photo courtesy Blue Horizon Lodge, a Muy’Ono Resort 

Related Articles