The border crossing at Chetumal to Belize: I was expecting the worst. Lots of people, cramped quarters, insecure parking, people trying to rip you off, and total chaos.

I could not have been more wrong. This was easier than the US->Mexico crossing. I talked to the Immigration guy (small unofficial looking shack before the border) then he signed off my Tourist Visa and stamped my passport. This was in DaveSpan and I was having a little trouble understanding him. It all worked out great. Then I went to the Banjercito to cancel my Temporary Vehicle Import Permit for my motorcycle. That is the document that I filed for before my trip taking out a bond or garentee that I would not sell my motorcycle without paying taxes. I handed in my sticker and paperwork. Done with the Mexican side in about 20 minutes. No lines. No BS. Tuesday morning at about 10.

I then crossed the imaginary line in the dirt and signs were in English and people were speaking to me in English. Well sorta. Not US English, but it was close enough that I could follow. In Belize, they speak a caribean style english and everyone kept calling me chief, chief.

There was an ambigious turn that went to the Free Trade Zone where Mexicans can buy stuff without paying taxes (duty free) and another turn that went to a VERY unofficial looking shack in the middle of the road. There were no official looking signs, just some guy in a T-shirt flagging me to stop. First thought in my head: They’re going to try to sell me stuff. They were telling me that I had to fumigate the bike. I was very hesitant to believe them that I needed it for the motorcycle, but then I recalled my previous research on Belize: You need to fumigate your vehicle and insurance was mandatory. My perception shifted from annoyed to that of it being quite handy that there was a shack in the middle of the road where I could take care of all my needs to enter into the country. $1.50 US for fumigation and $25 US for insurance for 1 week. It still seemed a little sketchy, but was reasonable atleast and of minimal financial risk. They also gave me some sage advice: “The darker the berry, the sweeter the wine, chief”

They then pointed me to immigration/customs building that was poorly marked on the Belize side. I proceeded to park under the “NO PARKING” sign right infront of a checkpoint. Gotta love motorcycles.

Now I begin starting the process of legally importing myself and my bike temporarly into Belize. No lines. It was awesome. The ratio of customs officials to country visitors had to be 3 to 1. I walked straight up to a gentleman who started at me in spanish. As I answered him in DaveSpan he switched to english, chief. 1 passport stamp and 1 temporary vehicle importation form later, we were off to check the VIN on my bike. Did I mention no lines? We walked to my bike under the NO P sign and he started with the standard battery of questions “how much? how fast?” I try to make up a new story for each time someone asks. After eventually finding the VIN he waved me off. No Lines!!!!!!!

Non-prose version for people planning to cross the border:
Required documents:
* Passport
* Original paperwork that you were issued in Mexico for your Temporary Vehicle Import Permit. This is the backing to the sticker.
* Tourist Visa from Mexico
* Copy (maybe original, I used a REALLY nice copy) of your bike’s title
* Either USD, Belize Dollars, or Mexican Pesos

1. Go to shack right before the last Mexico checkpoint poorly labeled “Migration”, park infront of it
2. Cancel your tourist visa
3. Go straight ahead 50m (cross checkpoint) and take a left at the building poorly labeled Banjercito, park infront of it
4. Cancel permit. Show them the paperwork, then they’ll ask you to remove the sticker and hand it to them
5. Enter Belice by crossing tollfree bridge
6. You can buy insurance (probably) or do it later in step 7. Just keep on the major road straight ahead. There is a casino, insurance places, and other random buildings. Don’t worry. You’re going the correct direction
7. The road Ys and stick to the right. Stop at the fumigation shack. Get sprayed for $1.50 US and buy mandatory insurance
8. Continue ahead 50-100m and stop at building before Belize checkpoint. Park in parking lot or right infront of checkpoint
9. Get passport stamp (visa is on stamp)
10. Watch customs guy fill out vehicle form. Make sure it is correct
11. Check VIN with customs guy, KEEP paperwork to turn into your exit border