Bus Travel

Several bus lines, including James Bus Lines, Usher's, and El Buen Pastor, run the routes between PG and points north. James buses generally are in the best condition and are the most comfortable. From Belize City to Punta Gorda it's a six- to -seven-hour trip via Belmopan and Dangriga, depending on connections and whether it's an express or local bus. It costs around BZ$15 to Dangriga, BZ$20 to Placencia, and BZ$$22-BZ$30 to PG. Most buses are old U.S. school buses—they're usually crowded and have no air-conditioning. If you have the budget, fly.

Buses run frequently—generally about every one to two hours during daylight hours—on the Southern Highway between Dangriga and PG, but public transportation is very limited off the highway. On market days (generally Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) buses leave the main plaza in PG around noon. Different buses, mostly old American school buses operated by local entrepreneurs, go to different villages, returning on market days very early in the morning. There's no published schedule—you have to ask locally. Fares are modest, BZ$2-BZ$4. As of this writing, buses served the villages of Barranco, Big Falls, Crique Jute, Crique Sarco, Golden Stream, Indian Creek, Jalacte, Laguna, San Antonio, San Marcos, San Miquel, San Pedro Columbia, Pueblo Viejo, and Silver Creek.