Flights

You are responsible for booking your own flight. We will have one pick-up time and drop-off time at the Belize airport on arrival and departure day. Your transportation between the Belize airport and the program location is provided and included in your tuition. Please note that you are responsible for booking your flight and for entering your flight information into CampDoc correctly. Please double-check that the airport is correct, the days are correct, and the times are correct. Please ensure you have spelled your name EXACTLY as it is written on your passport. If you are concerned that you may be unable to travel, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance on your ticket. 

Your flight should arrive at and depart from Belize City airport (Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport; Airport code BZE). The Belize City airport is quite small, so if you arrive early on arrival day or depart late on departure day, you should expect that there may be a lot of waiting time as we coordinate picking up and dropping off students. If you miss the Arrival Day transport or your flight is significantly delayed on departure, you will be responsible for your own transportation from the airport and any housing and meals that you incur when you are not with the group.

The Welcome Dinner on arrival day won’t be until later in the evening, around 7-8pm (dependent on your program location). The airport in Belize City is extremely small with few, or potentially no food options. Please don’t forget to pack snacks, particularly if arriving early! When staff arrive at the airport at 11 am, they will provide water. 

Programs start on SATURDAY and end on SATURDAY. (NOTE: If you are part of a private group and your program dates are not Saturday to Saturday, please wait for instructions particular to your group). (Except for Marine)

If you arrive early on arrival day or depart late on departure day, you should expect that there may be a lot of waiting time as we coordinate picking up and dropping off students. If you miss your flight or your flight is delayed such that you miss the group transport, you may be responsible for transportation to the program location, which can be very expensive depending on your program location (up to $600). Transport and gasoline in Belize are very expensive. We highly recommend booking your flight to arrive and depart within the designated time frames. Flight delays and/or cancellations causing arrival or departure outside of the designated windows will result in additional charges for private transport and potentially accommodation (depending on the situation), not covered by CELA. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to reimburse these charges.

If you miss the Arrival Day transport or your flight is significantly delayed on departure, you will be responsible for your own transportation from the airport and any housing and meals that you incur when you are not with the group.

TRAVEL DAY INFO

CELA staff will be available on travel days by phone for any flight delays or arrival problems. It is important that you arrive at the airport on time. You should schedule your inbound flight so that if you miss it or if it is cancelled or delayed, the next scheduled flight on that airline would still get you to the airport on time. It is a good idea to check with your airline for on-time percentages and choose your flight accordingly. Once through baggage claim in Belize, students will be met by CELA staff. We will collect your passport and store it safely for the duration of your trip.

Two days prior to departure, you will receive additional information about airport arrangements and emergency contact numbers. Please read this information carefully as it may answer any additional questions you have about your travel.

Your first meal included in your tuition will be dinner on arrival day and your last meal included in your tuition is breakfast on departure day. If you are going to be arriving earlier or departing later, you will be responsible for your own meals. 

SOLO TRAVEL

If you choose to travel on your own within or outside of Belize before or after the program ends, you are solely responsible for your own safety during that time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you arrive to meet your group on the first day of the program and that you have any travel documents you need to complete your individual travel plans.

CELA cannot pick you up from any location other than the airport at the start of the program, and it cannot drop you off at any location other than the airport at the end of the program. This includes any parents or friends transporting you in Belize bringing you to the airport, NOT the program location. If your flight upon departure is delayed past departure day, you will have to arrange for your own housing and transport after departure day.