What Do Things Cost in Belize?

There is a Spanish named brand here in Belize that I bought once and tried.  I did not much care for it.  So it is Kraft Mac and Cheese for me.

People ask, what do groceries and things cost in Belize?  Well this week I had to go grocery shopping to pick up a few groceries, so I thought this would be a good time to give you an idea of what some things cost here in San Pedro, Belize.  In a previous post "Belize, A Day in My Life",  I talked with you about where I do a lot of my shopping.  We tend buy and eat both America and Belizean products.  Of course most Belizean products will be cheaper than US products and things are going to be more expensive on Ambergris Caye where we live than the mainland.

One reason why we shop at several stores is to be able to find certain things we want.  One store may carry a certain butter I buy and another store may carry the meat that I like to buy.  Going to 3 and sometime more stores to get everything I need is not unusual.  Then I still have to go to the Belikin Distributor to pick up my 5 gallon bottles of water and Maria's Fruit and Vegetable stand to get the fruits and veggies we like.

The last four months we had been doing all of our shopping by walking or biking to the store.  We have bikes with baskets on them so that does help when we have heavier items to carry.  Normally we would have to go buy what we need from one store and then bring it home and drop it off at the house.  Then we would head back out to the next store.  However, this week we received our permit for our golf cart and we can now use the cart when we have lots of shopping to do.

Here are some of the items that I purchased this week:

Prices are in Belize dollars below:  So prices below would be half of that in US dollars (It is $2.00BZ dollars to $1.00US)

Morton Salt  $2.95
Kraft Velveeta Cheese  $11.25
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter-Light  $11.98
Caribbean Orange Juice  $3.95
Philadelphia Cream Cheese  $6.50
Hummus (made in Belize) $10.50
Garlic Spread and Seasoning (made in Belize) $3.50
Toasted Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette (made in Belize)  $9.80
Fabuloso  $3.98
Roma Laundry Detergent  $8.50
Kraft Mac and Cheese  $2.75
Pringles  $4.30
Bubble Gum Lollipops (these are for the kids in town, not me)  $9.00
Mueller's Wholegrain Pasta  $6.95
Sunkist Diet Drink and Diet 7Up $1.75
Sausage Factory Canadian Bacon (made in Belize)  $9.95
Sausage Factory Country Breakfast Sausage (made in Belize)  $12.50
Running W Brand Cooked Salami (made in Belize)  $6.75
Running W Brand Boneless Ham Slices (made in Belize)  $7.85
Goya Spanish Olives  $4.95
Patio Frozen Burrito $2.65
All Purpose White Flour (made in Belize) $10.50
Lerskaa Vodka (made in Belize) $18.95
Nail Polish Remover  $4.00
5 Gallon Bottle of water  $3.50
1 case of Belikin (24 bottles)  $49.55
1 case of Diet Cokes (24 bottles)  $34.60

Getting a Golf Cart Permit

Bill and the pups are happy to have their ride.

Our golf cart was shipped over to Belize back in March, but we have not been able to drive the golf cart yet because we were waiting to get a golf cart permit.  Bill turned in the completed application and paid the $50.00BZ application fee six weeks ago.  We already had the golf cart made street legal by adding tail lights, a horn and a rear view mirror.  We just needed our permit. 

List of things we had to submit with our application to apply for a golf cart permit:
1.  Copy of valid driver's licenses (we used our US driver's licenses)
2.  Certificate of title (bill of sale)
3.  Documents showing proof of Permanent Residence (Bill is on the QRP-Belize Retirement   Program)
4.  Pictures of golf cart and where it will be kept when not in use. 

We took several pictures of the golf cart on each side.  We also took pictures showing that it has been made street legal.  We also had to show pictures that we had off road and enclosed parking for the golf cart as well. 

Application for golf cart permit.

We were waiting for the San Pedro traffic department that approves all of the permits for vehicles and golf carts to have a meeting.  There has recently been a new administration that had just been put into office and they had not met yet.  They needed to hire three more traffic officers before approving any more permits.   We had also been told that there were 83 permits waiting for approval (not good) and we were told that they may not get to review all pemit applications in the first meeting.  We knew we would be having our very first visitor, my dad that is coming to the island in two weeks and we really needed to be able to use our golf cart with him here.  It would be too difficult for him to try to walk or bike any where.


So after talking to a friend, Bill decided to go down first thing Monday morning and ask for a meeting with Danny Guerrero, our new mayor of San Pedro.  He is the only one that can approve the permits without a traffic committee meeting.  Bill talked to his secretary Yolanda and set up an appointment for 9:30am Monday.  Knowing we are on Belize time, it was 10:30am before Bill actually got to see the mayor.  Another member of his staff Mr. Santos, brought over our file for Mayor Danny to take a look at.  Bill explained our situation and after a few questions, Danny gave his stamp of approval.  Bill paid another $320.00BZ for the permit and away he went.  Now we had to get insurance.

Ready to see the mayor.

Golf Cart permit approval.

Atlantic Insurance was recommended, they have their office on Middle Street in with Graniel's Dreamland.  Like most businesses here in San Pedro, people run several different businesses out of one location.  Graniel's Dreamland has some beautiful handmade wooden furniture and accessories and they sell insurance for your golf cart too.

Graniel's Dreamland

Atlantic Insurance Company

Beautiful pieces of woodwork at Graniel's.

Ok, so we go head over to Atlantic Insurance and see about getting insurance on our golf cart.  We had to show that we had a valid drivers licenses.  I had made sure and renewed my US licenses before I left the states in January since I knew my licenses were going to expire on my birthday in February.   Bill still had a few years on his US licenses, so he was ok.  You can drive in Belize on a US drivers licenses for one year. 

Ruby completing our insurance application online.

There is basically one insurance that you get for your golf cart and it covers, well let's just say it covers nothing on your golf cart.  The cost is $65.00BZ.  It does not protect us for fire, collision or theft on our cart.  If we hit someone else's golf cart and we are on a PUBLIC road, it will pay for repairs on their golf cart, any injuries to them and if we happen to kill them in the process up to $400.00BZ ($200.00US) toward funeral expenses.  Now if we are on a PRIVATE road, it pays nothing.  We asked if we could upgrade and Ruby said yes, but Atlantic Insurance would have to insure our home as well to be able to upgrade.  Well we don't own any real estate in Belize, but we asked what would we get if we upgraded.  Rubys answer was all of the above, but it would also include PRIVATE roads. Yipee!!  So our next question was, well what if someone hits us on our golf cart and they don't have insurance.  She says nothing but we could sue them if we wanted to.  I am not sure if this makes you want to cry or laugh. 

Ruby making our insurance labels.

We are insured.

After we left from getting our insurance, we decided to head to the Caribena Gas Station to fill the golf cart up with gas.  They still have gas attendants in Belize that will fill up your car or golf cart for you.  Anybody remember those days back in the US?  The golf cart only had about 3 gallons in it from when it was shipped over from the states.  We had put only enough gas in it so it could be driven on and off the trucks during shipping.  It cost $35.04BZ ($17.52US) for 2.985 gallons.  Gas is currently $11.74BZ ($5.87US) a gallon on Ambergris Caye.  He waived the 4 cents.  That sure beats filling up my Ford Edge in the states. 

Filling up at the gas station.

Waiting while they pump our gas.

Gas is $11.74BZ a gallon.

We went and had our permits laminated at Gecko Graphics.  This is good so they don't get wet and we can attach them to the golf cart seat now.

Our insurance card and golf cart permits all laminated.

Gecko Graphics

They were out of licenses plates on Monday, but the traffic department called this morning and said our new plates were in.  So we went by and picked them up today.  They also issued us a title to our golf cart.  So we are ready to roll.  It rained pretty heavy last night and early this morning, so it is nice to have the golf cart for the muddy roads today.

We Were Scammed at the Mexican/Belizean Border!!

Chetumal, Mexico

Well when we woke up Tuesday morning and didn't have any running water at my house, I should have known it was going to be one of those kind of days.  Bill and I had been wanting to plan a trip to Chetumal, Mexico with our friends Emily and Barry for some time now.  We all had a "wish list" and wanted to do some shopping at the American styled mall and Sam's Club Warehouse just over the Mexico/Belize border in Chetumal, Mexco.  Bill and I mainly needed to go to Mexico to see if we were going to be able to find some prescription medications we needed.  So we all planned to take the 7:30am water taxi Tuesday morning because the earlier water taxi was cheaper, only $50.00US round trip.  Bill and I had been to Chetumal in 2010, so this would be our second trip there.

We had planned to get up at 5:30am.  This would give us plenty of time to walk down to the water taxi and arrive by 7:00am in order to complete all of our paperwork for immigration and customs.  I actually woke up at 5:00am so we even had enough time to grab a johnny cake with cheese and ham at the local deli.  Two sandwiches and a diet coke was $7.00BZ ($3.50US).  Barry and Emily live a little further out from town so they were going to catch the local water taxi to town.  Emily calls at a few minutes after 7:00am to tell us they had missed the water taxi into town and they were on their way walking.  Walking really really fast and hoped to make it in time.  No problem we are on BELIZE time and the boat left 30 minutes late.

On the boat and headed to Mexico

Bill

Barry and Emily

Check out the guy giving the peace sign in the back left.

We arrive in Chetumal, Mexico in just under two hours.  We have all of our forms completed for the Mexican Immigration and Customs so we breezed right on through and headed out walking toward Sam's Club.  Since Mexico observes daylight savings time and Belize does not, we don't have as much time as we thought and really had to rush.  We got everything we needed at Sam's and then caught a taxi and headed to Plaza las Americas, which is an American styled mall that opened in 2004.  It was about a 10 minute cab ride and cost 20 pesos, which was a whopping $1.52US.  Cheap cheap taxi ride for four people. 

Getting every thing ready to be checked by the drug dogs.

Here we go, we are starting the search.

Ooops, the drug dog got a scent.  Oh no that is Barry's bag.  Could it be drugs?? Nah, it's peanut butter bars.  At least we know the dog can find your stash of food too.

Immigration Officer

Waiting in line and filling out paperwork for immigration.

Watch out, Barry just grabbed someone else's backpack.  Maybe they have better stuff in their bag.

After a 5 minute walk from the water taxi we arrived at Sam's.

Looks pretty much like the one back home in the states.

Look at all of those pastries.  Can you say sugar and calories??

Cheese anyone?

Check out all the wines they have from Mexico.

They even had an organic section.

Got Meat??

More breads.

We arrived at the mall and headed straight to a store called Chedraui.  It is a grocery/department store.  You can find just about anything you want here.  Designer clothing, pet items, gifts, stuffed toys, food items, wines, liquors, toiletries and fake crocs.  You name it, they have it at Chedraui's.

Chedraui

The cashiers at Chedraui liked Bill's beard and beads.

After a shopping extravaganza at Chedraui's we headed over to the food court for lunch.  Barry and Emily decided on the fajitas.  Bill had a McDonald's cheese burger and I had the chicken nuggets.  We had planned on finding a nice Mexican restaurant but there just wasn't enough time on this trip.  After lunch, our next stop before we left the mall was at the casino for $1.25US coronas. 

The food court at the mall.

Mcdonalds pricing in pesos.

McDonalds, it's whats for LUNCH!!

Barry's fajitas.

Having lunch at the mall food court, only the finest food for us!!

It is illegal to bring these beers back in to Belize.

Barry's favorite beer is Corona, can you tell?

It was now time to find a cab and head back to the water taxi.  It was 1:30 and we were told that the taxi would be leaving at 2:00pm Belize time.  It was only like a 15 minute cab ride and remember we are on Belize time...so we figured we would get there and have plenty of time.  Boy were we wrong. 

A little cab decor hanging there in the window of the cab.

We tell the cabbie that we need to go to the water taxi.  We can tell he really doesn't understand and we say San Pedro.  He goes, oh ok no problem.  We are having fun and laughing, then the cab driver pulls over and we look up and we are at the bus station.  We go no, no.  We need to go to the water.  Some how between the four of us, we get the cab driver to understand where we need to go.  It is ten minutes till 2 now.  Sure enough though in a few minutes we can start to see water, so we know at least we are heading in the right direction.  Then we see the boat dock and the water taxi and we know we are good. 

Bay of Chetumal where the water taxi docks.

We jump out of the cab, grab our big suitcase that we have decided weighs about 75 pounds and head to immigration.  We are the last four to have to go through.  We show our passports and then we are told that we have to pay a $25.00US exit fee per person.  We look at each other because we know this is not right, there are no exit fees from Mexico unless you have stayed over 7 days.  So we argue with this guy and tell him we are not going to pay it.  He is getting madder and madder and tells us we have no choice.  He is speaking Spanish most of the time, so we understand very little of what he is telling us.  We do manage to get out that he is telling us we have to go to some bank down the street somewhere to pay this fee.  By this time one of the guys from the boat comes up.  We tell him what is going on and while he agrees we are right, there is nothing he can do about it.  He tells us if we have to walk to the bank, we are going to miss our boat.  We ask him to try to please wait for us and we would hurry.  So then this girl appears and she says she will show us where the bank is.  So off we all go to this bank to pay our monies so we can get on the boat back to Belize.  Just as soon as we crossed the street, the guy from the water taxi hollers for us to come back.  Now there is a girl from immigration who is going to gladly take our money and she will go to the bank and pay our fees for us and we can go ahead and get on the boat.  Although we were not happy about it, Bill and I finally just decide to pay the money so we can get on the boat.   This guy from immigration was not going to back down. 

Mexican Pesos

Now we are finally on the boat and heading back to Belize.  We decided once we arrived back home we would get on the Internet and see what we could find out.  Sure enough Barry finds something on the Internet that states it is a big SCAM and has been going on for years.  We knew there was something up because there were other Americans on the boat and they were not charged this fee.  Because we were running late and trying not to miss the boat, they saw an opportunity and we were taken advantage of and scammed!!! 

Belize

This is what I found:  According to a press release dated January 25th, 2012 from the Embassy of Mexico to Belize and reported by the San Pedro Sun on January 25th, 2012.  There is an entry fee called DNI ((Derecho de No Inmigrante) and it is $294.00 pesos, approximately $45BZ ($22.50US).  It also states that the following are exempt from this fee:  Tourists who stay in Mexico less than 7 days and holders of the FMVL border card staying less than 3 days are exempted from this charge, as well as FM3 and FM2 holders.  We were in Mexico approximately 4 hours. 

The good news is our water finally came back on around 8:00pm Tuesday night.  The bad news is our electricity will be temporarily interrupted tomorrow between 8:30am and 11:30am this morning to conduct urgent repairs and install infrastructure on the distribution system in the area.  Good thing WE LOVE Belize!!