FAQ

Accommodation : What is it like?
The accommodation in Belize takes on a variety of forms. For the discovery trip you will be in hotels, self catered apartments and the odd hostel (an especially nice one that we really like in Flores, Guatemala). For the hospital rotation we will accommodate you in a hotel also. The hospitals do offer accommodation, but often we feel this does not match the requirements of the Medics Away student, so we often provide this independently. For optional upgrades you can choose to stay in more up market accommodation, but the accommodation Medics Away provides is always comfortable, clean, serviceable, near the Reps and on the whole, very nice.
Arrival : What happens when I arrive into Belize?
There are three possibilities when arriving into Belize.

Option 1

If your flight arrives into Belize City at an unreasonable hour, we will have a stopover organised for you for the night at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel. The hotel staff will have a plaque with your name on it so keep your eyes out for that on arrival. You will stay there one night, and then be taken the next day to the bus station where you will catch a 2 hour bus to Dangriga, where you will be met by the Medics Away Representative and taken to your hotel.

Option 2

If your flight arrives at a reasonable time of day, students should catch a connecting bus (or even a domestic flight) down to Dangriga immediately upon arrival. It is a short coach journey of 2 hours to Dangriga, and our Rep will meet you off the coach. The local bus services in Belize are excellent. They travel regularly, air conditioned, very cheap and very reliable.

Option 3

Quite often the you will begin your elective with the 10 or so day Discovery Trip. If this is the case, then you will catch the first boat out to San Pedro from Belize City. If your Discovery Trip is delayed for other students to arrive, you will go straight into the hospital rotations in Dangriga and therefore you will pursue either Option 1 or 2.
Belize City : How much time will I spend in Belize City?
You will only ever stay one night in Belize City while in transit to or from other locations. You will stay at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza Hotel which is of a high standard with a pool, near the Belize International Airport and a short taxi ride to the Ferry Dock or Bus Station. You will stay here when it is too late to commence the next stage of your journey or if you have to catch a flight early the next day. We recommend that you not spend any time in Belize City, especially at night, due to the high crime risk.
Discovery Trip :
If Medics Away is able, students travelling to Belize start their elective straight into their Discovery Trip. This is usually 8 to 10 days worth and involves quite a lot of fun actiivities over a number of locations. This will be a relaxing period to start your elective with. You will then travel to Dangriga where the clinical rotations begin. This may not be entirely accurate, as we try to time discovery trips so that all students do them together (it's more fun that way). Please do not worry about the time spent doing clinical rotations. You will have plenty of exposure. Extra Activity trips can be done during the weekends between weeks of clinical rotations. Please refer to the Activity Breaks for more details.
Flights : Can you recommend any Airline Companies for Belize?
There are a lot of airline companies travelling to Belize. The two largest airlines that we noticed are Continental Airlines and American Airlines. The flights mostly connect through Miama, but they probably connect through other major cities in the U.S.A. also. We found that American Airlines offered the cheapest deals on flights, so I would start with them. If you are looking to do multiple stops in other countries before travelling to Belize, it is probably worth booking through a travel agent rather than directly with the airlines company, as they can often schedule connecting flights very well and can have you bounce from one airline company to another to get you the best deal on prices.
Hospital : What hospital rotations are (were) available?

Dangriga

Dangrigia is located on the east coast of Belize, just south of Belize City. This is our latest hospital rotation and we have had tremendous feedback from students who have recently travelled there. This rotation is predominantly surgical, but does have a medical and acute medicine facilities also. Food is not included in this rotation. This location is good for a multitude of reasons. The hospital staff are well briefed and experienced with students rotating. The location is perfect for transfers and participating in Discovery Trips. Dangriga is near the coast and therefore has a pleasant feel to it. The Medics Away Rep is based in Dangriga and looks out for the best interest of students travelling.

San Ignacio

San Ignacio is a couple of hours bus ride inland from Belize City. It is a centre for extreme sports and is a popular tourist location. The border to Guatemala is only half an hours drive away, and therefore a great opportunity to visit Flores and Tikal. San Ignacio is generally better connected with the rest of Belize and it is not very difficult to spend the weekends at the islands of San Pedro (North of Belize City) for little breaks away from the clinical rotations. The hospital is run by a Christian group which is made up of a multitude of foreign nationals. This hospital rotation has to be specifically requested for an additional extra. Please refer to the Activities page for more details.

Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda is situated on the south east coast of Belize. It is a small, attractive town with a very friendly population. It is situated on the coast, but it could not be described as a beach location as the coast is generally grassy. The hospital is small but has a full range of specialities. There are also plenty of opportunities to do some community based medicine and even visit a community clinic five miles out of the town. This hospital rotation has to be specifically requested for an additional extra. Please refer to the Activities page for more details.
Language : Does Medics Away offer Spanish Classes in Belize?
The Belize elective can include Spanish lessons. A few groups of students in the past did request that Medics Away organize Spanish lessons for them all. The tuition took place in a town away from the hospital locations so it required people to take perhaps a week out of their elective to participate in them. Medics Away has to consider the predominance of the English language in Belize as compared to Peru, so Spanish classes are not as necessary and so not every student would want them. This is why we have kept the Spanish course as an optional extra. Please refer to the Activities page for more details
Language : What language do the local population speak?
The first language of the people of Belize is English, but a good proportion also speaks Spanish. The doctors speak English and consultations take place in English, so you will have no problem integrating. A knowledge of Spanish is definitely useful and Central America is a good place for those students wanting to improve and practice their linguistic skills.
Transfers : How do we transfer from one location to the next?
Transfers in and around Belize is generally by the very convenient and comfortable coaches that go everywhere. We will adivise you which to travel on, but they cannot be pre-paid, so you will need to purchase the tickets when boarding. There are alternative ways of travelling (i.e. domestic flights) but these are often considerably more expensive and not always as convenient or even as quick.
Visa : Do I need to special visa for an elective in Belize?
You do not need a special visa to participate in an elective to Belize. You will be issued with a tourist visa on entering the country. This is a 30-Day Visa and MUST be renewed during your stay. There is an office in Dangriga and it is very easy to get the extension. You pay a fee and you get an extension for a month. Generally the fee is $50.00 but it does depend on your nationality.