Belize FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

MANTA ISLAND BELIZE FAQ

We have listed our most frequently asked questions below. We have tried to include as much info as possible! If you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

About Our Rates

Kindly note that rates are listed on the All Inclusive Package page in the pricing details section. Rates for packages are per couple (except the Island Rental Package). If you have any question about the rates, simply fill out this form or shoot us a quick email.

Yes. A 25% deposit is due at the time of booking. The non-refundable balance is due 30 days prior to arrival. Except for stays between Christmas & New Year (December 18th to January 5th) which requires payment in full 60 days prior to your arrival. Reservations made less than 30 days prior to arrival are to be paid in full upon receipt of confirmation.

Kindly note, for the Island Rental Package, the deposit requirements are different, contact us for those details.

Yes, Manta Island Resort is an all inclusive resort. Kindly see our Package Page for an overview.

No, we do not include the international airfare from your home town to Belize in the package rates. However, our packages do include the cost of the round trip local airfare between the Belize City International Airport and Dangriga Town as well as the boat ride to the island. All international flights to Belize land at the only International Airport in the country, the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Code: BZE). You will need to book your international flight to Belize City directly through the airline or through an agent of your choice.

No! Once you have made your reservations with us, we will be happy to make the appropriate local flight reservations for you, just email us your international flight itinerary. We generally book this local flight the month prior to your arrival.

Yes, all meals are included in packages as well as unlimited free local beer, soft drinks, and local mixed drinks (mixed drinks made with local gin, local coconut rum, local vodka, and local rum only). Also, we do have brand name alcoholic spirits available for purchase at the bar and we have a Happy Hour most evenings during which drinks are half price.

Imported call drinks (i.e., mixed and frozen drinks made with imported liquor) and wine are not included in the packages, however it is included in the Honeymoon & Romance package add-on. And we do have a Happy Hour most evenings during which drinks are half price.

This is highly unlikely due to the generous portion size of the meals on Manta Island! We also serve complimentary afternoon bar snacks.

Pina coladas are included as a part of the Unlimited Local Bar amenity. Wine is not included, so you may want to take advantage of our daily Happy Hour specials from 4pm to 6pm.

The package rates do not include gratuities. We have developed a suggested gratuities guide in response to guest feedback. Please bear in mind that it is meant only as a guide for you. The actual amount is left totally to your discretion and dependent upon the quality of service. We suggest $450US per couple for a six to seven night stay for the entire staff. Operating Manta Island Resort is a team effort which involves a lot of behind-the-scenes staff along with our awesome front line personnel. We ask that if you choose to leave a gratuity, you leave the entire amount on your signed invoice and pay for it with cash or credit card at check-out. Gratuities are pooled every two weeks and distributed by head office upper management.

Yes, you can split your vacation between Manta Island and one of our sister resorts by adding a Sister Resort Stay
Add-On to your package.

Unfortunately, you are not able to do this as we are all separate resorts and therefore we would require you to cancel with us in writing directly (adhering to our cancellation policy) and thereafter booking with our other sister resorts in accordance with their booking policy.

Getting Here

Kindly refer to our COVID Info Page for this information.
Kindly refer to the Location Page for this information.

Some guests stay with us after (or before) visiting a hotel or resort on the mainland. In those instances, ask your hotel to drop you off at our Dangriga office. It is best to have your hotel call our Dangriga office the day prior to your arrival to arrange a drop-off time.

The directions to the office are as follows:
The office is located at 3 miles on the Stann Creek Valley Road, on the right side of the road if you are driving to Dangriga from Belmopan. The office is a 2-story, blue and white cement building. There is a boat repair yard located just before our office which is also on the right side.

The process once you arrive at the Belize City airport (BZE) is very simple, however please check on updated procedures due to COVID-19 on our COVID-19 page as some of the following info may have changed: The airport has 3 huge rooms – one for arriving passengers, one for departing passengers and one for the airline counters. In one room you will go through Immigration and Customs. When you exit, tell the person at the door that you need to catch a Maya Island Air flight and they will point you to the room on the left where the departing airlines counters are situated.

When you land at the Dangriga airport/airstrip, you will be greeted by a member of our staff. It is a very small airport and very few people deplane, so recognizing you is not a problem. However, for your peace of mind, the driver will either be wearing a Manta Island or EZ Investments uniform. Please also keep in mind that the employees of the local airline are also very familiar with our staff members, so you can always ask them if you have any questions. If you are early for the scheduled boat out to the island our staff member you will take you to a nearby restaurant for a snack, otherwise, they will drive you to the boat dock (about a 10 minute drive) to depart for a 75 minute boat ride to the island…soon to be greeted by a famous Mosquito Bite cocktail!

A valid passport for no less than three months after your intended period of stay for citizens of the following countries: U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Venezuela, CARICOM member states, nationals of European Community countries. Kindly note, this info is subject to change, please refer to the Belize Tourism Site. Belize requires citizens from the following countries to have an entry visa: China, Cuba, Honduras, Haiti, South Africa, Taiwan, India, Libya and more. We do not keep an exhaustive list, for more up to date info see check this website.

Belize City is only a two-hour flight from several major U.S. cities such as Miami, Houston, or Dallas. All international flights to Belize land at the only International Airport in Belize, Phillip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Code: BZE). You will need to book your international flight to Belize directly through the airline or through an agent of your choice. Please note: international airfare is not included in the package rates. 

There are daily flights offered to and from the following cities (this info is subject to change so be sure to check with the airlines or your travel agent):
• Air Canada from Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
• American Airlines via Charlotte, N.C. (CLT), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and Miami (MIA)
• Delta via Atlanta (ATL)
• Southwest Airlines via Houston (HOU), Denver (DEN), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• SUN Country via Minnesota (MSP) *seasonal
• United Airlines via Houston (IAH), Chicago (CH), and Newark (NJ (EWR- Liberty)
• WestJet from Toronto, Canada (YYZ) and Calgary, Canada (YYC)
• Avianca via El Salvador (SAL)
• COPA via Panama (PTY)
• TACA via San Salvador (SAL) and Guatemala City (GUA)
• Tropic Air via Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
• Tropic Air via Flores, Guatemala (FRS)
• Tropic Air via Roatan, Honduras (RTB)

Manta Island Resort is located at the southernmost tip of Glover’s Reef Atoll approximately 36 miles off the coast of the culturally-rich, southern coastal town of Dangriga Town, Belize. Centuries ago, the infamous pirate, John Glover, used this strip of land on the far side of the Belize Barrier Reef as a base of operations. Rising from the deep in an oval shape, Glover’s Reef has a huge 100-square mile lagoon, home to dozens of smaller reefs. Home to vibrantly colored underwater plants and a rich abundance of marine life, Glover’s Reef is part of the National Marine Reserve.

About Belize

The rainy season traditionally runs from June to November. On the cays, the rainy season is usually manifested in squalls, leaving plenty of time for all your activities. 

If you want to make calls to the U.S. from your cell phone, we suggest that you call your cell phone provider and ask for international roaming (there is a monthly fee). Guests who use Sprint, Cingular, and T-Mobile have done this and it works well.

Belize is a parliamentary democracy. The government is headed by the prime minister while the nominal head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by a governor-general. Belize was a British colony in the late 19th century. In 1964, it became self-governing and independence followed in 1981. Belmopan is the capital. The population of Belize is approximately 390,000.

English is the official language of Belize, although a number of dialects are spoken among the country’s 350,000 citizens, including the main dialect spoken countrywide, Kriol. This is the result of Belize’s rich and multicultural heritage. However, you won’t have any problems conversing with locals and getting around as mostly everyone speaks English.

No, U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in Belize, but not U.S. coins. It is best to bring smaller denominations as change in U.S. currency may be limited. The majority of all hotels, restaurants and shops in the major towns and tourist areas accept major credit cards. Street vendors and smaller establishments in remote areas may accept only cash.

We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. We gladly accept U.S. currency at Manta Island.

The Belize dollar has an exchange rate of roughly two Belize dollars to one U.S. dollar. It is your responsibility as a traveler to a foreign country to investigate these variances/fees. Manta Island Resort will not issue refunds for any currency variances and/or bank fees.
Time observed year round is the same as United States Central Standard Time however, Belize does not observe Daylight Saving Time. This means that Belize does not “spring forward” as the US does, therefore during the spring, Belize is one hour behind US CST.

Dangriga, the largest town in the Stann Creek District, is located 55 miles from Belmopan (the Capital) and 105 miles from Belize City. With a population of 8,100, it is one of the largest Garifuna (or Black Carib) communities in the world. Dangriga takes its name from the local Garifuna language, loosely meaning ‘here, the sweet water is close at hand.’ It lies peacefully along the banks of the North Stann Creek River, whose water is legendary. The town’s drinking supply is refreshingly cool and arguably the best tasting in Belize. The town’s dreamy atmosphere still harks back to a past age. The houses are made of weathered wooden planks and raised on stilts. Fishing dories lie tied up along the banks of the river. – Belize Tourism Board

Please be aware that all visitors to the country of Belize are subject to a departure tax to be paid at the airport upon departing. The fee is USD$38 per person (subject to change and can be paid in US currency only or VISA/MasterCard). Some airlines do include the tax in your ticket price, but we suggest you check with your airline for further details and information.

About the Island

Children of any age are allowed to stay at Manta Island Resort. Finding a magical place where the entire family can bond while spying giant sea turtles, exploring hidden beaches and sandy bays, and sharing unique island experiences is extremely hard to come by. At Manta Island Resort, there are no gimmicks — say goodbye to your typical family vacation of water slides, crowded buffets, but rather enjoy a peaceful idyllic setting in a life changing environment.

Based on detailed guest feedback from our sister property, Coco Plum Island, which is adult only, an overwhelming majority of our guests recommended that children be allowed to stay on Manta Island.

Rest assured, we have all the capabilities and intentions to provide guests with a full range of the private island experience. Couples wanting a romantic experience, will be able to enjoy privacy on this 12 acre island paradise. Even while dining at our huge indoor restaurant, we are able to provide you with reserved seating on the veranda, on the pool deck, and on the beach. We do hope you will take the plunge with us in encouraging the next generation of island explorers! After all, with only 9 cabanas on the entire island, our secluded and spacious island locale allows each and every guest to be as private or as social as they wish.

Yes! The infinity pool is located just off the Black Coral Bar & Restaurant area.

Keep in mind that when you travel to the tropics, bugs (mosquitoes and sand flies) can be expected. So, the short answer is yes. We attempt to curtail the sand fly activity on the island (the sand flies are less active during times of high wind). If you are sensitive to biting insects, it is very advisable to bring Deet-based insect repellent for use on the inland tours and for use on the island as needed. You may also want to bring a citronella candle for your veranda in case the bugs are active. As well as Hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl Tablets.

It is recommended that guests purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy at the time of your booking to protect you against illness, injury, loss of personal items and baggage, cancellation, and other travel contingencies. At this time, we do not offer travel insurance through the resort.

Seaweed can be an issue along our beaches during certain times of the year. There is no way to predict when it will wash ashore in larger quantities or how long it will last as it has to do with the tides.

Though seaweed may not seem ideal, it is perfect for our ecosystem since it serves as a home to an amazing variety of marine species, including our endangered sea turtles. As an eco-friendly destination, we are committed to preserving and protecting our country’s natural beauty by keeping it as pristine as possible. We would like to make note that we do maintain our beach daily by raking excess deposits on the shore and moving it away from the beach.

Yes, each cabana has a 5 gallon container of bottled water. Our island restaurant also serves bottled water and we provide purified water for tours and activities.
Yes, we have a generator which runs 24 hours a day. The outlets are just like yours in the US (110V)! So no need to bring a converter.

Due to its remote location, there is no cell phone service on the island and WiFi is only available at the Manta Welcome Center/Lobby. We ask that you download music, books, movies, etc prior to coming to Manta Island so you can enjoy listening, reading, watching without interruption. We do have a satellite phone available at the Front Desk from which you can make calls to inform your family of your safe arrival or to use in the case of an emergency.

Check-in time is 3:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am.
Please refer to the contact us page for those hours.
Currently we have a no pets policy at the island.
We are a fairly casual resort, so we do not have a dress code for dinner. We recommend shorts, tank tops, slippers and little summer dresses for women, but be sure to pack a light cardigan for the evenings, in case it gets a little chilly during your stay; shorts, t-shirts and casual shirts for men.

Yes, we have a hairdryer in the bathroom of your cabana.

We sure do, each Cabana is equipped with body soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion.
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“The beach cabana was so much better than being in a crowded hotel and it was sparkling clean!”