Avoid Caye Caulker Water Taxi

[GTJ]

Advice to avoid using Caye Caulker Water Taxi between Belize City and San Pedro has been posted at the Belize Forums (http://www.belizeforum.com/belize/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=175271). The advice appears to be well-founded and has also been cross-posted to the BelizeBus Blog (http://belizebus.wordpress.com), a reliable source of information regarding travel in Belize.

 

Apparently, the ferry company employees go through passengers' belongings when tendered for transportation, and steal anything valuable. As part of the scam, the ferry company has security cameras installed at the water taxi terminal, but these cameras only give passengers a false sense of security since the security people employed by the ferry company do not actually know how to use the cameras (for that matter, it appears to be routine that security people are not even present at the water taxi terminal). As a result the ferry company employees have an easy time swiping the belongings of passengers without fear of getting caught. The ferry company itself is part of the scam because it knows that the people it employs will steal valuables from passengers (but the company is indifferent since it knows that most passengers are not local and will not be able to pursue the company).

 

The strong recommendation is to not utilize Caye Caulker Water Taxi while in Belize.

[mdrobtx]

Thanks for the report. We're planning on visiting Ambergris and Caulker in the near future and I was looking at using the taxi for a day trip between the two. We will only be carring a small backpack but now we'll be super aware.

[crewsweeper]

Thanks for the posting. Seems like good advice. Appears that this affects longer term visitors with bags more than cruisers with maybe a back pack or small bag they can keep with them. And remember there is another water taxi service to Caye Caulker, San Pedro that is closer to the Toruist Village where you'll tender in.