Is it better to pay taxis in Belize with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Taxis in Belize are definitely cash-only. The drivers I met all wanted immediate payment in either Belize dollars or US dollars. It’s convenient that both currencies are accepted, but you still need physical bills. I never saw a driver using a card machine. While card use is growing in hotels and restaurants, taxis are still far behind in that respect. To make things smoother, I carried $5 and $10 bills so I wouldn’t have to deal with change issues.
My trip in Belize included lots of short taxi rides, and every one of them was cash-based. Drivers were friendly and flexible with either Belize dollars or US dollars, but there was no card acceptance. Apps aren’t widely used either. I actually found it easier to stick to local currency because the exchange rate was always in the driver’s favor when I paid in USD. The key is to keep some cash handy, especially smaller notes, since drivers don’t carry a lot of change.
My personal experience in Belize was that taxis ran on cash only. No one had a card reader, and payment apps weren’t an option. It wasn’t a problem since both USD and Belize dollars were fine, but I’d recommend carrying small denominations to avoid change issues. Some hotels can arrange transfers where you pay with a card in advance, but if you’re hailing a taxi from the street or airport, cash is expected. That’s just the way the system operates there.
In Belize, taxis are almost always cash-based. When I was in Belize City and San Ignacio, none of the drivers accepted cards. US dollars and Belize dollars are both commonly used, and drivers will usually accept either, though they often prefer cash notes rather than larger bills. Don’t expect machines or apps to be available. It’s very straightforward: you agree on the fare and pay in cash. For peace of mind, carry small notes in both currencies if you have them.