Somewhere in the Terminal 1 concourse at O’Hare, a traveler stares at the departures board looking for a Belize City line that is not there. The answer is a connection. Airlines reach Belize City from several U.S. hubs, and a Chicago trip is built around one of them before landing at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport.
How do you get from Chicago to Belize?
You get from Chicago to Belize by connecting through another airport, because the airlines that serve Belize City fly from other cities, and every route the airport lists begins somewhere other than Chicago. The useful question is which hub you want to change planes in, and the airport’s list of carriers answers it.
Four U.S. carriers fly to Belize City year-round, each from its own hub: American from Miami, Delta from Atlanta, Southwest from Houston, and Copa from Panama. A Chicago itinerary is therefore a two-leg trip, with the first leg taking you to Miami, Atlanta or Houston and the second landing in Belize. Copa’s route runs through Panama, which makes it a longer way around for a traveler starting in the Midwest.
Connecting through Miami, Atlanta or Houston
Miami, Atlanta and Houston are the three U.S. hubs with year-round service to Belize City. Each gives you a first leg out of Chicago on the same airline or a partner, then a second leg that touches down in Belize.
Choose by the airline you already favor, the loyalty program you collect miles in, or the hub whose connection times suit your departure from Chicago. These three routes run year-round, including in October, February and July. Allow a generous layover, since a missed connection can unsettle a trip like this.
Seasonal routes from farther afield
Winter adds extra choices. Sun Country flies from Minneapolis from December through April, which can be a natural stop for a traveler leaving Chicago in the Midwest cold. Alaska flies from Seattle from November through April, and Air Canada from Toronto from December through April, though those two start in the opposite direction from Chicago. In October these seasonal flights are not yet running, so the year-round hubs are the ones to plan around.
Arriving at the airport and getting to town
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport sits in Ladyville, 10 miles from downtown Belize City, and its single asphalt runway handles every international arrival. A paved access road to the passenger terminal was completed from the George Price Highway in mid-2020. Roadwork and dredging are currently underway on that road, so traffic can be slower and the surface uneven.
Taxis wait outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and they run from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. The airport itself keeps the same daily hours, with services beyond them available upon request. If your connection lands near the end of the day, that window is worth having in mind as you pick a flight.
Which airlines connect the United States and Belize?
The airport’s route map lists American from Miami, Delta from Atlanta, Southwest from Houston, Sun Country from Minneapolis and Alaska from Seattle as serving U.S. cities. Alaska adds Seattle in winter, Air Canada adds Toronto, and Copa links Belize with Panama.
| Airline | Departs from | Season |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Miami | Year-round |
| Delta Airlines | Atlanta | Year-round |
| Southwest Airlines | Houston | Year-round |
| Copa Airlines | Panama | Year-round |
| Sun Country Airlines | Minneapolis | December through April |
| Alaska Air | Seattle | November through April |
| Air Canada | Toronto | December through April |
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
Check-in counters for all airlines are in Terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 1 hosts Copa and Sun Country, along with Transportes Aereos Guatemaltecos (TAG) and the two domestic carriers, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air.
Terminal 2 is the home of Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United and Westjet. If you fly American, Delta or Southwest out of Chicago through a hub, you will use Terminal 2 on the way home, while a Sun Country winter flight checks in at Terminal 1.
Domestic flights from the same airport
The airport is also the hub for Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, which operate domestic flights within Belize. That matters if your plan continues past Belize City, since the same airport serves as the point where international and domestic travel meet. Both domestic airlines check in at Terminal 1, so a traveler who lands at Terminal 2 with American, Delta or Southwest will move between terminals for a connecting hop within the country.
Leaving Belize City
Departing passengers are expected to arrive at least 3 hours before the scheduled flight, and the airport encourages 3 to 4 hours. TSA PreCheck is not available at the airport, so plan on standard screening.
Two departure charges are listed for the airport: a passenger service fee and a Protected Areas Conservation Trust fee. The amounts are in the table in Good to know.
What do you need for entry?
U.S. citizens need a U.S. passport valid for the length of their stay, and nothing else in the way of a visa for a short visit, since tourists staying less than 30 days do not require one. Every traveler must also show proof of an onward or return ticket.
Passport, ticket and visa
The core of the entry rules is short. Your passport must cover the whole stay, you need an onward or return ticket in hand, and a stay of under 30 days does not call for a Belizean visa. Belize does not require special immunizations for visitors.
Because you are connecting from Chicago, the ticket you show can be your connecting itinerary back to the United States. Keep it where you can reach it, since it is one of the items an immigration officer may ask to see.
Funds and a place to stay
Non-resident passengers arriving at the airport must present at least US$60.00 per day for the duration of their stay. Travelers must have sufficient funds to cover their entire stay, and officers must be satisfied about a specific address or hotel reservation.
In practice that means having your first night’s lodging written down before you land, whether it is a hotel in Belize City or a lodge farther on. The address is what the officer wants to see.
Customs forms
One Customs Declaration Form may be filled out for family members traveling together when the children are under 18. Passengers over 18 need to complete their own form, so a couple fills in two and a family with young children fills in one. Items that attract tax or duty may be paid for in cash, VISA and MASTER cards or certified cheques.
If you cross by land
A land entry works differently from an airport arrival. Different fees are charged depending on whether the stay is less than or more than 24 hours. A Chicago traveler flying in will not meet this rule, but it applies to anyone who adds a border crossing to the trip.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Belize Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because of crime, and says the south side of Belize City has historically had the highest concentration of violent crime.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so a trip in October falls inside it, and a flexible itinerary is a sensible companion. Airport parking, if you drive to the terminal, is charged per day, with a separate rate for overnight stays. The departure charges below are collected at the airport.
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Service Fee | US$53.50 | Departing passengers |
| PACT (Protected Areas Conservation Trust) fee | US$20.00 | Departing passengers |
| Parking, per day | US$2.00 | Drivers leaving a car at the airport |
| Overnight parking | US$9.00 | Drivers leaving a car overnight |
Sources
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Airlines flying to Belize (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/airlines-flying-to-belize/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Route map (https://www.pgiabelize.com/route-map/), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_S._W._Goldson_International_Airport), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Quick facts (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/quick-facts/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), Passenger info (https://www.pgiabelize.com/passenger-info/), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Information, Entry and exit requirements (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
- Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize), FAQ (https://www.pgiabelize.com/about-us/faq/), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Advisory, Level 2, March 11, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 11, 2026