Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about getting to and staying at Cocotal.
This may provide some additional information and links to help plan your visit to San Pedro,
Ambergris Caye.

If you are wondering about something that is not covered here please email us at
info@cocotalbelize.com. We welcome your questions anytime. Above all we want you to have a
great vacation!
Transportation:

Q: How do I get to San Pedro from the International Airport?
A: You can either fly on Tropic Air (www.tropicair.com) or Maya Island Air
(
www.mayaislandair.com).  Our office manager can make your flight reservations when you
book with us. Another option is to  take a land taxi to Belize City (about a 20 minute ride,
$25 US) where you pick up the water taxi to San Pedro  
www.cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com or
www.belizewatertaxi.com
.

Q:
How do I get to Cocotal once I am in San Pedro?
A: You will need to provide us with your arrival information. We will have our driver pick
you up at either the San Pedro airstrip or at the water taxi terminal. You can then have him
stop at a grocery store for your supplies before taking the short ride up the coast to Cocotal.
Transfers from San Pedro are complementary with a minimum 4 night stay, one round trip
transfer per rental for up to 4 persons.

Q:
How do I get around the island ?
A: We have 10 bicycles available for our guests to use at no charge. The ride into town takes
about 15 to 20 minutes. There is a Coastal Express water taxi stop at the White Sands pier
just to the south of our property. They make scheduled runs into town and to points north.
Weekly and 4 day passes (unlimited use) are available for purchase. Another option is a golf
cart rental. We can provide you with  some contacts to check various rates and rental policies.
Approximate cost is from $15 an hour to $300 US a week. We usually have a cart on site for
hourly rentals.
Food:

Q: What are our dining options while staying at Cocotal?
A: There are several restaurants within walking distance of our property. All the Cocotal
units have either full kitchens or kitchenettes, so you can make your own meals and snacks, or
pick up some Belizean "fast food" to go from local vendors.

Q:
How about dining out in town?
A: There are many places to eat in town - everything from street vendors to nice sit down
restaurants. We can make some suggestions depending on what you are looking for. There are
some copies of menus in the office as well as a street map of San Pedro to get you started.  

Q:
Where do we get groceries?
A: There are a couple of small grocery stores nearby (short bike ride), and several larger
groceries in town. You will have a chance to stop in town on arrival to pick up some initial
supplies. For larger groups/longer stays we suggest using the services of Lagniappe
Provisioning (www.lagniappe-belize.com) or Mate Grande Grocery
(www.mategrandegrocery.com), for delivery prior to your arrival. Groceries are generally
higher priced with less variety than what you may be used to.
Booking:

Q: How do I book with you?
A: Once we determine the dates and availability, we will send you a credit card authorization
form for the initial deposit and final payment. There is a two night deposit payable with the
reservation (50% for Christmas/New Years weeks).  The balance would be charged 30 days
prior to your arrival; 45 days prior to arrival for holiday and group bookings. Please see the
"Rates and Reservations" page for our cancellation policies.
Money:

Q: Will I need to exchange my US dollars for local currency?
A: You can use US dollars most everywhere for cash purchases. Credit card charges and ATM
withdrawals will be processed as Belize dollars and you will be charged the bank exchange
rate and a foreign exchange transaction fee.
Passports:

Q: What kind of travel documents do I need?
A: For travel from the US and Canada you will need a valid passport for entry into Belize.
There are no additional visa requirements for these countries. For other nations, please see
the immigration information provided by the Belize Tourist Board on their website:
http://www.travelbelize.org/about-belize/getting-here/entry-requirements
What to bring:

Q: What should I pack?
A: Pack casual and pack light: shorts and lightweight tops, shoes that can get wet (Crocs or
Tevas, beach sandal, water shoes or equivalent), lightweight hiking shoes for mainland trips.
Don't forget your bathing suit, camera, sunscreen and insect repellent, motion sickness meds,
hat or visor and sunglasses. A long sleeved shirt or light windbreaker in the cooler months for
evenings might be handy. A sundress for the ladies and a pair of lightweight pants and a shirt
for the guys if you want to "dress up" for an evening out or a nice dinner. You will be fine
with half of what you think you need to bring! We do have laundry service available.
Please bring a small flashlight or headlamps for walking at night (and the occasional power
outage) - the sun goes down at 6PM all year.
What we provide:

Q: How are your accommodations equipped?
A: All our units have a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette: pots & pans, dishes, flatware
and glasses, sink, hotplate or stove, microwave, fridge, coffee maker and filters, blender,
bottled water (free refills at the bar dispenser), salt & pepper, Seasonall, sweeteners,
cooking oil, dish detergent, paper goods (paper towels, tp and napkins), hand soap, and bath
soap. We do not provide shampoo or lotions of any kind. In addition to regular linen service
(maid service and fresh towels every other day, sheets mid-stay), we also provide beach
towels for our guests. There are hair dryers, and DVD players to borrow if needed (see the
office manager).
Electric service is 110 V, same as in the US and Canada (no converters needed).

Q:
What amenities are there?
A: We have a 25,000 gallon swimming pool, free use of our kayaks (four tandems and a
single), and free use of our bicycles (we have a total of 10).

Q:
What extra services can be arranged?
A: Laundry service: $10 US a load (washed, dried and folded). Please contact our office
manager at guestservices@cocotalbelize.com for any special requests.


For current weather conditions check here:   http://hydromet.gov.bz/
or contact us at:
info@cocotalbelize.com