Make the most of your dollars in the Chetumal-Belize Free Zone
The Chetumal-Belize Free Zone, also known as the Corozal Free Zone, is a duty-free business zone located halfway between Mexico and Belize. Here’s everything you’ll need to know about going there.
What does it mean?
Free Zone or Free Trade Zone means that cities with this denomination offer duty-free imported products. This is reflected in much cheaper prices on a variety of imported goods. These include generally luxury items, such as perfumes, cigars, clothing and accessories.
The Chetumal-Belize free zone: A little history
Chetumal, the city of Quintana Roo and the gateway to the Grand Costa Maya, had been a Free Zone since 1934. With some modifications until now. Thousands of tourists have transited through Chetumal and returned with a considerable number of duty-free items from Hong Kong, China, and Panama.
Some tips
It is not essential to go through any extra immigration processes or even display a passport in order to get there. The Chetumal- Belize Free Zone currently has over 300 stores where you can buy anything. From a sports t-shirt to chocolates to electrical goods, as well as play in a casino, as casinos are permitted in the Free Zone. International flights to Belize are available from a number of countries, primarily the United States, though there are also daily flights from Mexico and Flores, Petén, Guatemala.
Bring your dollars
The Princess Hotel & Casino Free Zone and the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, both 5 minutes apart, are two possibilities for lodging. You can use both US money and Mexican pesos to shop here. The national currency of Belize, the Belizean dollar, is rarely accepted.
The Chetumal-Belize free zone: How to get there
The Chetumal-Belize Free Zone is located on the Rio Hondo Bridge, which connects Mexico and Belize. It is around 15 minutes from downtown Chetumal, around 6 miles. You can either drive or take an ADO bus to get there (the ones that go to Santa Elena). The Belize Free Zone is six hours by car from Cancun.
