This post details my experience of how I crossed the Belize-Mexico Border at Santa Elena, from Orange Walk to Bacalar in October 2022.
The journey from Orange Walk to Bacalar via the Santa Elena Border Crossing is done in four stages:
- Orange Walk to Corozal
- Corozal to Santa Elena
- Santa Elena to Chetumal
- Chetumal to Bacalar
Orange Walk to Corozal:
I took the 9 am chicken bus from Orange Walk to Corozal. An easy 5B$ 55-minute trip:
Corozal to Santa Elena:
Buses from Corozal to the border at Santa Elena seem to go only very early in the morning, and I had missed them. But I could take a taxi or a shared combi-van. Guess which option I took?
So we arrived at the Belizean immigration. You pay the 20 USD departure tax, then get your exit stamp, then jump back in the combi-van, which then takes you to the old bridge where you walk across to Mexico.
Crossing into Mexico at Santa Elena
I was ill-prepared. I had assumed the border would have been hassle-free. But it wasn’t.
Tough rules had been introduced for a variety of reasons. The migrants coming up from all countries to the south, especially from Venezuela, meant the authorities were reluctant to give away the 180 days willy-nilly.
Whereas the migrants give nothing to the countries they pass through, except more trash which they lob out the bus windows and piss in the street, tourists like me spend money.
There should be a distinction, but there is not.
So, without a hotel reservation, my request for 120 days was refused. The immigration officer was only going to give me 30 days.
But he also suggested I try the new bridge, the crossing for those with vehicles. I set off walking, but was told it wasn’t possible to walk across the bridge, so I stuck my thumb out.
Some guys picked me up and said they’d take me to Bacalar if I bought a round of beers.
Mexico Immigration
Immigration took a while.
I queued up for my FMM card. And thus began the negotiation for how long they would be prepared to give me.
Seven days was all.
Really? Yup.
I asked why. He called his colleague. Without a flight out, it was seven days or nothing. I fought my corner.
I am not working illegally, and nor do I overstay.
Unlike the migrants coming up from the south, I spend money here. And I am going on vacation with my girlfriend to Zipolite.
Where’s your hotel reservation in Mexico City? I have a Novia there, no need for a hotel. It wasn’t illegal to have friends, as far as I knew.
She ran my passport. The entrance stamp for Mexico was easy to see.
Where’s your exit stamp? They don’t stamp passports at CDMX airport anymore. I smarted. Trying to make it my fault when it’s their new procedure.
I showed her my El Salvador entry stamp.
90 days. No more.
She noted that on the FMM card, and I joined the queue for immigration. I paid my 638 pesos.
The same woman officer dealt with me again. No smile, no eye contact. Just opened my passport at a random page and stamped me in.
Santa Elena to Chetumal
Seems like the Mexican immigration officers get their attitude from their neighbours to the north. All border crossings to the south are easy and friendly, with only Nicaragua being a long and drawn-out process.
The guys who had given me a ride had not waited. I started walking. I didn’t get far. It was prohibited to walk further through the customs area. A female army officer told me so.
I stuck out my thumb.
Her male colleague wanted to know what I was doing.
Well, if I wasn’t allowed to walk through, I would just stand there and wait for a ride. They sure love making things difficult here!
I got a ride pretty quickly. He took me to Chetumal, dropping me off at BanCoppel, one of the cheapest ATMs in Mexico.
This is the location of the Bus Station in Chetumal as seen on Google Maps.
Back in Mexico after four months away (photo from Chetumal):
Chetumal to Bacalar
40 pesos for the ride to Bacalar:
An hour later I was in Bacalar.
