Corozal Town
Discover Corozal Town
Corozal Town in Northern Belize lies on the Caribbean Sea, 9 miles from the Mexican border. It has a population of approximately 8,100, and is the capital of the district of Corozal. The people tend to be very friendly. Corozal is a small and sleepy town with great views of the bay. Advantages of this small town is that it has less rain than most areas in the south meaning that it has the same tropical climate with less of the tropical rain. Real estate prices in Corozal are much less than you will find in many other areas in Belize. The area is home to several hundred year round American retirees, and many more seasonal "snowbirds" who regularly spend the winter months in and near Corozal Town. In addition, Corozal is less than thirty minutes from the lively Mexican border city of Chetumal. The duty free zone at the border features a WalMart, Sam's Club, and modern shopping mall. If you want a laid back village vibe, Corozal is a great stop. If you arrive on Sunday, you'll find most businesses closed, although a few of the small restaurants and general stores will be open. There are very few tourists, so it is a good place to see Belize off the beaten track, and consequently accommodation, food and drink, and other items are cheaper than in better known places.
Taste of Corozal Town...
As Corozal is easily reached from Mexico, many travellers from Mexico will cross the border to here, in order to re-enter Mexico and obtain a new tourist visa for additional time there. Corozal therefore has a very large amount of accommodation relative to its size and attractions. Since the town is not very big, one is sure to find several places after wandering around the center for a few minutes. The Free Zone area next to the Mexican border is 9 miles north of the town and features a large casino, hotel, and an American style shopping mall. It is free of some taxes and popular with Belizian and Mexican citizens and American expats.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe 18.393-88.388191 Main Bus Station is on the Northern Highway (Phillip Goldson Highway or the main road) and 1st Street near center of town with the following: Corozal is small enough to go around on foot. There are also taxis at the bus station. You can also join other by riding your bike as you go enjoying the calm and serene bay. The town has a fairly wide selection of shops, it is possible to buy clothing, food, kitchen and garden equipment, electronic goods, bicycles and more. During the day there is a market close to the bus station selling a variety of local products, such as fruits, local food, arts and clothes. There are three banks in Corozal, two of them foreign with ATMs, but these will only accept Visa or Mastercard. The local 'Belize Bank' also has an ATM and will accept other cards such as Maestro, but its reliability is questionable; you may end up having to wait inside the bank for an hour before they give you back your card and tell you it's not working today....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Corozal is small enough to go around on foot. There are also taxis at the bus station. You can also join other by riding your bike as you go enjoying the calm and serene bay. The town has a fairly wide selection of shops, it is possible to buy clothing, food, kitchen and garden equipment, electronic goods, bicycles and more. During the day there is a market close to the bus station selling a variety of local products, such as fruits, local food, arts and clothes. There are three banks in Corozal, two of them foreign with ATMs, but these will only accept Visa or Mastercard. The local 'Belize Bank' also has an ATM and will accept other cards such as Maestro, but its reliability is questionable; you may end up having to wait inside the bank for an hour before they give you back your card and tell you it's not working today. Within the banks you are likely to find very long queues.
Where to Stay
As Corozal is easily reached from Mexico, many travellers from Mexico will cross the border to here, in order to re-enter Mexico and obtain a new tourist visa for additional time there. Corozal therefore has a very large amount of accommodation relative to its size and attractions. Since the town is not very big, one is sure to find several places after wandering around the center for a few minutes. The Free Zone area next to the Mexican border is 9 miles north of the town and features a large casino, hotel, and an American style shopping mall. It is free of some taxes and popular with Belizian and Mexican citizens and American expats.
Money & Budget
The town has a fairly wide selection of shops, it is possible to buy clothing, food, kitchen and garden equipment, electronic goods, bicycles and more. During the day there is a market close to the bus station selling a variety of local products, such as fruits, local food, arts and clothes. There are three banks in Corozal, two of them foreign with ATMs, but these will only accept Visa or Mastercard. The local 'Belize Bank' also has an ATM and will accept other cards such as Maestro, but its reliability is questionable; you may end up having to wait inside the bank for an hour before they give you back your card and tell you it's not working today. Within the banks you are likely to find very long queues.