Flying to Belize City and driving north is the most obvious way to visit Orchid Bay. If you are flexible, however, there is another way and you may find it to be less expensive.

The airport in Cancun is larger and offers more connections than the airport in Belize City. As a result, you can frequently find less expensive fares, greater selection of flight times and more direct flights. Check airline service from your area for special fares and discount airlines. Broaden your search a little to find even greater bargains. Sometimes driving to an airport a little further away gives you access to much lower fares.

You can take a bus from Cancun to Chetumal, Mexico - just across the bay from Orchid Bay. The buses are modern and comfortable. Buses depart every hour during the day or every two hours in the early morning and evening. The trip is approximately 6 hours, but, depending on your flight/layover schedule; you might find yourself reaching Orchid Bay in almost the same amount of time for less money.

You will need to make arrangements for transport from Chetumal to Orchid Bay. If you are attending one of our Insider's Tours, we'll pick you up in either Chetumal or Belize City. If you are arriving on your own, we'd be happy to help you make arrangements. Just give us a call!

Upon Arrival at the Cancun Airport:
You will be approached by assertive sales people wanting to provide transportation services. Unless you are taking a taxi to the Central Bus Station, walk directly to the bus and purchase your ticket. (See #3 below)

Exchange rates at the airport are not the best, but consider getting a few pesos before heading out. The bus station and bank ATM machines provide pesos.

At any newsstand/convenience store, you can buy a TelMex phone card for 30 pesos/$3 US. You'll find these stands in the airport and the bus station. Use the card in any TelMex public phone to call us and let us know you have arrived and when to expect you. To call Belize from Mexico, dial 00 before the number. Dial 00-501-678-6229 to reach Orchid Bay. To use the card to call US and Canada from Mexico, dial 001 + area code + number.

Directions for Bus Transport from the Airport in Cancun, Mexico Airport to Orchid Bay

1. Buses departing the airport do not go directly to Chetumal. You must take either a bus ($3.50 US) or a taxi ($18.00 US) to Cancun's Central Bus station.
2. If you elect to take a taxi to the Central Bus Station, you will find plenty of them waiting for you as you exit customs. These drivers accept dollars.
3. If you elect to take the bus, exit the airport terminal and turn to the right (South) and walk to the end of the sidewalk. Look for the large ADO buses. At the bus, purchase a ticket to the Central Bus Station.
4. At the Central Station, purchase a ticket on ADO for Chetumal for approximately $27 US. You can purchase your ticket using Visa or Master Card. The buses have assigned seats and you can check your luggage. ADO suggests you arrive at the terminal 30-45 minutes before departure.
5. If you aren't having us pick you up in Chetumal, you may want to consider having a Belizean transport company pick you up and take you to Corozal. You won't have to change conveyance or do your own luggage wrangling and you will have help clearing customs. You may want to contact Get Transfers from US 011-501-422-2485 or from Mexico 00-501-422-2485. Tell George and Ester we sent you.
6. From the bus station in Chetumal, it is about 15 minutes to the border. You can take a taxi by asking for "Belize frontera". It will take approximately 15-30 minutes to clear customs.
7. Once inside Belize, it is another 15 minute taxi ride to Corozal.

We have given you the simplest and most direct route. There are other options you may want to consider.

The Cancun Central Bus Station is 30 minutes north of the airport. Playa de Carmen is one hour south of the Cancun Airport. Chetumal is a five hour bus ride from Playa de Carmen Main Bus Station. If you are willing to make one additional transfer, you can knock a little time off the trip. (See step 2 below.)

If you are arriving in Cancun late in the day and want to stay overnight before heading south, consider the following:

1. Take a taxi ($18 US) to a hotel near the Cancun Central Bus Station, OR
2. Take the "Playa Bus" from the Cancun Airport ($8.50 US). You will be taken to the "Beach Bus Station" one hour south of the airport.

   Across the street from the station is a bank for exchanging currency. There are numerous hotels within walking distance, ranging in price from $40-$200 US, depending on the time of year and proximity to the beach.

   To take the bus to Chetumal from Playa de Carmen you must go to the Main Playa Bus Station. Take a taxi ($5 US) from the stand outside the Playa Beach Bus Station to the Main Bus Station - a ride of 10 blocks. Buy a ticket on ADO for Chetumal (about $20 US).

We've provided these instructions as a guideline - a way of making you aware of alternatives. When you are ready to make specific travel plans, give us a call.