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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

You came to the right blog for Belize Resources and Information.

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Belize Money and Treasure Hunting at Home

by tacogirl 28/05/2012
written by tacogirl 28/05/2012
belize coin

Every so often I decide to go treasure hunting at home. My first finds back in 2007 were a nickle from 1981 that says World Food Day on it and a quarter from 1985 that says To Reap and To Plant, I have found a few more since then. I googled and could  not find much information either of the coins but I did find an  old post Retiring in Belize with a coin collecting hobby on Ambergris Caye Message Board worth sharing.

I have always liked old tings so I decided to keep any coins I find in the change jar that are pre 2000. Dates for the bunch of coins in the picture below include  1974, 1976, 198o, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994.  None of them have any real value but I like the fact that they have been around for 18 – 38 years.

My latest and greatest change jar  find is 57 years old and was a nice surprise, a coin from British Honduras. It was in a bit rough shape and I did a double take when I first saw it as the writing was a bit hard to read.

Belize became independent of British Honduras on Sept. 21, 1981, so my coin dates back to 26 years before that happened. Did you know Guatemala, which had made claims on the territory since the 1800s, refused to recognize Belize’s independence until 10 years later,  Sept, 1991?

belize coin

Old Belize Coins

belize currency

Old Belize Money

british honduras

My latest treasure hunting find - a 1955 British Honduras coin

[divide style=”2″]

What got me started on my last treasure hunt in the first place was the shiny 2012 Belize coins in the picture below. Since Belize currency and spending options is often a subject that comes up around peoples travel plans I decided to include some basic information on Belize money.

Belize uses the Belize Dollars it’s main currency, also referred to as $BZ / $BZD  and Belizean Dollars . The Belize Dollar has fixed exchange rate since the late 70’s of  2 BZD to  1 USD.

US money is widely accepted in Belize,  so it is not necessary to get money changed to  Belize dollars before you come here. When traveling to Belize, consider packing a few spending options –  cash, credit card, debit card. Some people still prefer to use travelers checks but they are not as widely used anymore.

Most major credit cards are accepted in Belize, although MasterCard and Visa are  accepted in most restaurants, hotels, and larger businesses. Smaller shops and restaurants do not generally accept credit cards, so make sure you ask before you get the bill as they will not always have a No credit cards sign.  American Express is not as widely used, Diners Club and Discover are used even less.

Once you are in Belize, the change you receive will most likely be in Belize dollars, although it is not uncommon for it to be a mix of the  two currencies. Travel Tip – It is always good to keep some smaller bills on hand for tips, cabs and local shops that may not be able to change larger bills.

The main banks in Belize are: Belize Bank, Atlantic Bank, Heritage Bank, Scotia Bank and First Caribbean. If you need to get more cash while here it is easy to find automatic teller machines. Cash machine’s are  marked with the Plus or Cirrus logos and you will get Belize dollars.

It does not happen often but sometimes can machines can run dry. This happens more so around Holidays when the bank machines are particularly busy. It can also happen during hurricane season if a storm is coming and people are making extra withdrawals in preparation for the storm. It has happened to us twice in the 6 years we have been living in San Pedro. Once we could not get the full amount we wanted from the machine south of town, taking out a lesser amount worked though. The other time the one at Atlantic Bank did not want to give us any so Paul walked across the road to First Caribbean Bank and got what we needed.

It also happened once where I tried to get money from the machine on front street and nothing came out, when it should have. I booted it to the main Atlantic Bank Branch on middle street for an answer. It was closed but the Security Guard was nice enough to open the door and let me know that the machines were being serviced, that I did not loose any money and could try again in 1/2h.

belize exchange rate

2012 Belize dollar coins

 

since the late 70’s

Related

tacogirl

Laure Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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1 comment

al salter 28/05/2012 - 3:04 pm

Got any stamp pics? Like something with King George V?
P/S You can also get funds from money changers at good rates 🙂

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Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton! I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s... always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and... local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do... what everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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THE ORIGINAL BELIZE BLOG

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation.

If you have any questions or want Belize discounts, Contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

3 childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age.Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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