The city is officially founded by the military, in 1898, who had the mission of protecting the borders finally (after more than 50 years of disagreements) accorded by the governments of Mexico and Great Britain. A lot earlier, it had been a Mayan realm governed by Nachan Ka án. He was given two Spanish slaves, one of whom was Gonzalo Guerrero. Guerrero assimilated to his new society, learned the language and taught new war tactics to Nachan Ka án's warriors. With this knowledge, the warriors defeated incoming Spanish conquistadors and Nachan Ka án became a great leader. He made Guerrero a captain and gave him one of his daughters, Zazil Há. Guerrero and Zazil Há had many children who are known to be the first mestizos in America by matrimony. For this reason Chetumal is called Cuna del Mestizaje (cradle of the Mestizo).
Chetumal Airport offers a limited selection of flights to major cities in Mexico. It is also possible to fly into airports across the border, in Belize, and cross by land into Chetumal. Another option is to fly into [wiki=fd5a6f048c89ada0ec63459c7d4467dc]Cancun[/wiki] or [wiki=1399d043315471d4177e9ec91671e87e]Merida[/wiki] and take a bus from the airport.
Mexico's Federal Route 186 traverses the sparsely populated southern half of the Yucatán between [wiki=5d88a6b9fb7873a5219322871bddf8df]Escárcega[/wiki] and Chetumal. After [wiki=a3dba9709adab77d01aa11da21d17409]Ucum[/wiki], the only municipality with services such as gas and lodging between Escárcega and Chetumal is [wiki=bcbe5162b47fc7d831d37f034d6a6d10]Xpujil[/wiki]. Federal Route 307 branches off Route 186 to the north towards Cancun, from a point about 30 km west of Chetumal.
Several bus companies offer routes across the Peninsula to Escárcega, or north to [wiki=fd5a6f048c89ada0ec63459c7d4467dc]Cancun[/wiki] and other cities on the [wiki=eb4acadfd6daab84a0a19496c09510f0]Mayan Riviera[/wiki]. The main bus terminal, i.e. ADO terminal, where most buses arrive to is located about two kilometers north of the city center (in the crossing of Av. Insurgentes and Av. Belice). There's an official taxi stand right outside the terminal, and a taxi to the center costs about 20 pesos.
If you're arriving from Belize, your bus might arrive to the New Market (Nueva Mercado). New Market is located about two kilometers northeast of the center, in the corner of 2do. Circuito Periférico and C. Veracruz. The bus fare from Chetumal to Corozal is BZD6 (as of Jan 2015). Bus driver will collect it after passing both the Mexico & Belize Immigrations.
Regarding exit tax at the Mexican border - if you reached Mexico via a commercial flight, you do not have to pay for the USD 25 (332 pesos as of Jan 2015).
There are two companies who will sell you tickets to Chetumal from the Belize Cayes. San Pedro Belize Express [url=http://sanpedrobelizeexpresswatertaxi.com]]and Belize Express Water Taxi's [http://www.belizewatertaxi.com[/url] both supposedly run a daily boat leaving Caye Caulker at 7am & San Pedro, Ambergris Caye at 7:30am. Tickets cost US$47.50 one way from San Pedro, US$55 from Caye Caulker. The return trip from Chetumal departs at 3pm. The terminals are located on the pier in front of Wahoo's Bar and Grill in San Pedro, in front of the basketball court in Caye Caulker, and arrive at the Municipal Pier in Chetumal (GPS 18.491682,-88.299204). Tickets can be purchased online at their websites - although there's probably no point booking ahead as in reality only one boat will run as there won't be enough customers. If you book with the "wrong" company you have the option to pay an extra US$10 to take other company's boat. Beware that these companies do not allow pets on the international runs to Chetumal. You'll have to go by land if you're travelling with pets (not clear on their website).
This trip will require you to pass through two sets of immigration. One to exit Belize and one to enter Mexico. If you travel with Belize Express Water Taxi from San Pedro the procedure is as follows.
If you're starting at Caye Caulker you will first take the boat to San Pedro where you will disembark. At San Pedro you will formally exit Belize. To do so you must pay 40 BZD (30BZD exit fee then two other port fees which make up the remaining 10BZD), this can be paid in USD ($20) but the notes must be in good condition. If you don't have this money with you, there is a cash machine in San Pedro not far from the port.
You will then re-board the boat and leave for Chetumal. On arrival at the Mexican boarder you will have to complete arrival cards and pass through Mexican boarder control (this involves a very keen sniffer dog being present who is shown all luggage and passengers - don't risk it). Entry to Mexico will cost 336 pesos. This can be paid in USD ($25) or in pesos. It can not be paid in BZD.
There are a number of things that can help make this trip easier. Firstly, have the money ready before you leave Caye Caulker. If you have no USD or Mexican Pesos to pay your entry fee to Mexico, a staff member from the water taxi company will change your BZD in to Mexican Pesos on the boat. If push really comes to shove, when you get to the Mexican boarder explain at the window that you have no cash and need to visit the ATM. They will hold your passport and allow you to exit the port and use the ATM which is at the bottom of the street (cross the road and there are two ATMs in an official looking building to the left).
If you are going on to Tulum, Playa or Cancun from here the water taxi company will reserve you seats on shuttles which run straight from the port. Expect to pay $25 USD for Tulum and $30 USD for Playa. You can do this on the boat, then when you clear customs there is a small desk on the right where you pay your money. The vans will depart when everyone has cleared customs and they're sure there are no more customers!
There are many archeological sites near Chetumal and they're relatively close to each other. The ones below are open 8-17 daily, admission only until 16:20. Bring a lot of water and some snacks with you as many of the sight stores are not always open. A mosquito repellent doesn't hurt either.
* A maya city which includes small temples, palaces, plazas etc. about a kilometer from the bay line.
* Famous for its grand stone carved masks and exotic species of flora and fauna. The temple of the masks was built on the 6th century and is one of the most noticed amongst the Mayan culture.
* Mayan city ruins. The temple VI was built around 200 BC, and about five hundred years later Dzibanché developed into a greater city.
* Partly well preserved town. It was originally lesser in hierarchy than Dzibanché. Principal pyramid consists of three levels with a wide stairway that leads to two other temples.
* Largest Mayan settlement belonging to the region of the lakes.
Cenote Azul and the Laguna de Bacalar are a 20 minute bus trip from the second class bus station. Tickets cost ~ 60 pesos although you may be able to pay less in a colectivo and just get dropped off at the spot along the highway. Entry to the cenote costs ~ 10 pesos. There is a restaurant and free wifi.
The public access point for swimming at Laguna de Bacalar is a long walk (>45 mins) from the cenote. There is a private property with stromatolites that charges a fee of 25 pesos for access to the water which is not far at all from the cenote, if you would like to swim in the lagoon without walking a long way, paying the fee at the private property would be strongly recommended.
To get back to Chetumal, return to the highway and hail down any one of the numerous colectivos returning to the city (25-35 pesos).
Family business. Staff speaks English and French. Safe, Clean and Comfortable Hostel with Breakfast Included, and Free Wi-Fi Access.
* Clean and well located budget hotel.
* Refurbished villa with well equiped big kitchen, a garden, computer and a small swimming pool. Room 6 is huge with 2 double beds. They also serve a nice breakfast including fruits, juice, coffee, yogurt, cereals and eggs or quesadillas for 40 pesos. They don't respond to email, call for a reservation or just show up. Prices on booking sites are double the normal rate
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There no departure tax when leaving Mexico, although charging a 200 pesos tax unfortunately is quite common. Look on the web for Mexican Belize Exit Fee Scam. Look at your airline ticket, which will show all required Mexico fees that have been paid and show this to the individuals at the border crossing. If they demand payment, tell them you will walk across the road to the big immigration building to notify someone in charge and they will usually hand back your passport and FMM papers and allow you to proceed across the the border.