Nothing has impacted travel and the lives of the people who work at Cotton Tree Lodge like the Covid-19 pandemic. We don’t know when this pandemic will end and we don’t know what things will look like when “normal” returns. Right now we do know that you can travel in Belize and we feel strongly that we can live safely in the jungles of Belize. This page is set up to answer your questions about Covid-19 and how it might affect a trip to the jungles of Belize.
Covid-19
Staying Safe
Belize is Open!
First things first… is Belize open to foreigners for leisure travel? Yes! Belize reopened it’s borders in October of 2020 for leisure travelers. We reopened Cotton Tree Lodge in December of 2020. Covid might be all over the news, but here in the jungle it is still listening to howler monkeys, eating fresh cacao and lounging in hammocks that we focus on. That doesn’t mean we aren’t working to keep you safe and healthy. It just means that if there was ever a time you may want to consider a vacation to a remote jungle lodge now might be that time!
(Covid Testing)
Getting in and out of Belize
When Belize reopened in late 2020 they immediately instituted a testing process. For a few months you had to get tested to enter Belize but not to enter the US. In January of 2021 that changed. Now you have to get tested going both directions. It is somewhat annoying, but not difficult. It doesn’t matter if you are vaccinated or not, you have to get tested. Here are the current details…
When you go to Belize you have 2 choices. You can take a test up to 72 hours prior to arrival and bring the results or you can get tested at the Belize International Airport. If you decide to get tested in the US get a PCR test. Places like Walgreens make this pretty easy. You can go to a drive in testing center and they will email you your results. Simply print off the test results (assuming they are negative) and bring them with you. When you arrive in Belize you will have to show the test. If you choose to do it in Belize it will cost you $50 USD. They will take a nasal swab and send it off to a lab. They will collect a phone number and email from you and contact you if you test positive.
Leaving the country is a little different. The US keeps changing the regulations. At the moment all international travelers returning to the US must have a negative test in hand within a day of getting on a plane for the US. Prior to Omicron it was 3 days if you are vaccinated. Either way, it isn’t a problem. We can help you get a covid test in Belize.
To get a covid test you have two choices. We can take you to the clinic in Punta Gorda or you can do it at the international airport when you fly home. If you are flying on Tropic Air and have an 11:30 flight it is easy to get tested in Punta Gorda. We take you there in the morning, you pay the $50 USD fee, get swabbed, wait 25 minutes, they print out your test and we take you to the airstrip. If you want to get tested in Punta Gorda you have to fly out on Monday-Friday. Otherwise you can get tested at the airport. Please keep in mind that the Punta Gorda clinic only accepts cash.
What about at the lodge?
Belize has a vaccine mandate for all tourism workers and a mask mandate countrywide. This means that everyone you come in contact with at the international airport, the Punta Gorda airport, the car rental place and of course at Cotton Tree Lodge will be vaccinated. Whether you agree with mandates or not, that is the law in Belize. And yes, we know that this doesn’t mean it is impossible to get infected, we do hope that you will feel safer knowing that you won’t be approached at the airport by someone unmasked or unvaccinated.
So does that mean you have to wear a mask all the time?! No. Cotton Tree Lodge is a very remote location (5 miles from the nearest paved road) and sits not only on 100 acres of private land but is surrounding by miles of untouched jungle. Only employees and other guests will be onsite. Because of our remoteness and the open air nature of the resort we do not require vaccinated guests to be masked. Our main lodge building, where you will have meals, is not enclosed. We are a small operation, this means we aren’t crowded and have plenty of space for social distancing. We take cleaning seriously so you can try to relax when you are here.
What about when we are on a tour. When you go to a public place, such as a Mayan ruin, you will be asked to wear a mask. If you have a tour that takes place in the home of a local family (such as tortilla making) please respect the home. If they are masked, you should be too. They will be vaccinated (same law applies to them) but they may feel more comfortable being masked. If you want to be masked you are welcome to do so, no one will be offended. Trips to the ocean (snorkeling or fishing) are not required to wear a mask.
What does this all mean?
We aren’t going to force anyone to come to Belize. But if you are ready to get out, we would welcome you to Cotton Tree Lodge. Belize is a wonderful place with amazing people. They need you. Like anywhere that is dependent on tourism, people in Belize are hurting right now. Tourism is way down. Likely you will be one of a handful of people willing to travel international for the time being. We hope that you will consider visiting Belize and staying at Cotton Tree Lodge.