Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hours of the reservations office?

Call the reservation office Toll free at 1-800-763-7360 during the following times:
Monday thru Friday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm ET
(closed on Weekends)

You can also contact us via email with general questions, questions about reservations or to check for availability 24/7, at contact@cocoplumcay.com. Additionally, you may choose to use our handy reservation inquiry form.

Where is Coco Plum Island Resort?

Coco Plum Island Resort is located just off the coast of Belize, on a privately owned 16 acre cay. It is one of the three cays of the Coco Plum Range. It is the only facility on the cay and is just eight miles off the coast of the culturally-rich, southern coastal town of Dangriga. Coco Plum is a quick 10-minute boat ride from Belize’s amazing Barrier Reef where you can enjoy fabulous snorkeling and diving and it is only a 30-minute boat ride from the mainland, giving guests the option to participate in mainland adventure tours.

Where is Dangriga?

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 8100, 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

What are the Belize Cays?

In Belize, a ‘cay’ is an island. Coco Plum is a series of Belize Cays. Coco Plum Cay, is commonly known in other parts of the world as Coco Plum Island. People in different parts of the world also spell Caye as Cay. You are welcome to call us Coco Plum Island, Coco Plum Caye or Coco Plum Cay - whatever you like!

Which airlines fly to Belize City?

Belize City is only a two-hour flight from Miami, Houston, or Dallas. There are daily flights offered to and from these cities.

There are also 1-stop multiple carriers from New York and Los Angeles to Belize. This info is subject to change so be sure to check with the airlines or your travel agent.

Special Note: If you are staying with us during December and/or January be sure to schedule your international flight to arrive in Belize City (BZE) by 4:00 p.m. Why? The last flight from Belize City to Dangriga departs at 4:30 p.m. as daylight is an issue during the months of December and January.

Is international airfare included in the package rate?

No, we do not include the international airfare from your home town to Belize in the package rates. However in the Honeymoon/Lovers' Getaway package, we do include the cost of the local airfare from Belize City to Dangriga and back.

How do I get to Coco Plum from Belize City?

Most guests opt to fly on a local carrier from the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City to Dangriga. The cost of this local flight is NOT included in the package rate for the All Inclusive, the No Frills, or the Dive packages. It is included in the Honeymoon/Lovers' Getaway and the Fishing packages. We will set up this local Belizean flight for you, no matter which package you choose. At the Dangriga airport, a Coco Plum staff member will greet you and drive your party to our boat. Then, it is only a 30-minute boat ride to Coco Plum Island Resort, your small, private island getaway.

Am I responsible for booking my flight from Belize City to Dangriga?

No! Once you have made your reservations with us, we will be happy to make the appropriate local flight reservations for you, just e-mail us your international flight itinerary. The cost of the local round trip flight to and from the international airport in Belize City and Dangriga is approximately $137.50 US per person and flight time is approximately 20 minutes. We generally book this local flight a month before your arrival.

What if I am not flying into Dangria?

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 (M-F 8:00am-12:00pm, 1:30pm-5:00pm-Belize time) at 522-2200 (local Dangriga number) 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 cement building which is painted light green. There is a boat ship located just before our office which is also on the right side.

When is check-in time?

Check-in time is 2:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am, but if there is a boat leaving the island at a later time you can take it!

What is the monetary exchange in Belize?

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. Coco Plum Island Resort WILL NOT issue refunds for any currency variances and /or bank fees. Payment made with a credit card goes through our Belize office so if you prefer to pay with a check (no extra bank fee), just let us know and we will give you those instructions.

Do I need to bring Belize currency?

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

We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, travelers' checks and U.S. currency at Coco Plum Cay.

Do I need a passport to travel to Belize?

A valid passport for citizens of the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Venezuela, CARICOM member states, nationals of European Community countries is all that is required. Belize requires citizens from the following countries to have an entry visa: China, Cuba, Columbia, Honduras, Haiti, South Africa, Taiwan, India, and Libya and more. To see a complete list please go to:

http://www.belize.gov.bz/

What can I expect upon my arrival in the Belize City Airport?

The process once you arrive at BZE is very simple! 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, you will be greeted by a member of the Coco Plum staff. It is a very small airport and very few people deplane, so recognizing you is not a problem.  From there you will be driven to the boat dock (about a 5 - 7 minute drive) where you will be taken on a 30 minute boat ride to the island.

What type of government does Belize have?

Belize is a parliamentary democracy. The government is headed by the prime minister Honorable Dean Barrow, while the nominal head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by a governor-general (Sir Colville Young). 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 279,000.

What are the requirements for getting married in Belize?

You are required to be in Belize 72 hours prior to applying for your marriage license at the Solicitor General’s office in Belmopan (the capital). Please note that the Solicitor General’s office is open Mondays-Fridays and is closed for all Belize legal holidays. On the fourth day, you can marry on your own private island. Both the trip and the license fee are included in the Wedding package rate. Blood tests are not required, but you are required to provide a valid passport, the original divorce certificate with a raised seal and the original death certificate, if applicable. We will assist you with your marriage license and the formal registration of your marriage by arranging to get you to Belmopan, the capital of Belize. For additional information on marriage requirements in Belize, go to travelbelize.org. There is a minimum stay of seven nights for this package. If you will be accompanied by a wedding party, we recommend that you reserve the island at least eight months in advance of your stay.

Can I use my cell phone in Belize?

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. In addition, you can purchase phone cards at Coco Plum and use them to call the states on the Coco Plum cell phone which is available for use in the Coco Plum Cay office on the island. The country code for Belize is (011) and the area code for Dangriga is (501). However, it is difficult to keep the phone cards in stock as the island staff frequently uses them to call home. You can ask your Coco Plum driver to stop in Dangriga before taking the boat to Coco Plum to purchase phone cards.

Is there internet service on Coco Plum Cay?

Yes! We do have wireless internet access on the island. Reception can be sporadic around the island. If you plan to bring your own computer (we DO NOT recommend bringing any large electronic equipment to the island) please make sure it is in a waterproof container as the boat transfer from the mainland can be wet! Coco Plum will not be responsible for any damage to your equipment. There are inexpensive internet cafes in Dangriga. You can also access the internet at the Coco Plum Dangriga office which is open M-F 8:00am-12:00pm; 1:30pm-5:00pm.

What is the difference between the Honeymoon/ Lovers' Getaway Package and the All Inclusive Package?

If you decide on the All Inclusive package, the current cost per person of the round trip ticket to and from Belize City and Dangriga is $125.00.  These fees are included in the rate for the Honeymoon/Lovers' Getaway package.  Additionally, if purchase the Honeymoon/Lovers' Getaway package you will receive a bottle of wine and one romantic candlelight dinner served on our beach or veranda.

What beverages are not included on our packages?

Imported call drinks (ie, mixed drinks made with imported liquor), wine (other than the bottle of wine included in the Honeymoon/ Lover’s Getaway package) and frozen drinks are not included in any of our packages. We do, however, have a Happy Hour most evenings during which drinks are half price.

Are gratuities included in the package price?

The package rate does 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 up to your discretion and dependent upon the quality of service. We suggest $200 per couple for a six to seven night stay for the entire staff. You can either tip each staff member individually or put the entire amount on your signed invoice and pay for it with cash or credit card at check-out. We suggest (if you are happy with the service you received of course) a total of around $200 US total for a seven night stay.

Is there electricity on the island?

Yes, we have a generator which runs 24 hours a day. The outlets are just like ours in the states (110v)!

Is there drinking water on the island?

Yes, each cabana has a 5 gallon container of bottled water. The dining rooms also serve bottled water and we provide purified water for tours and activities.

What if I get hungry after meals have been served?

This is highly unlikely due to the generous portion size of the meals on Coco Plum! Please go to the Dining page for details about the delicious meals we serve. We also serve complimentary afternoon bar snacks and generally have a pastry available mid-morning.

How often do the tour boats leave the island for the mainland?

It will depend on which mainland tours are scheduled for that day. Click the tour schedule to take a look at the times.

Are the tours scheduled on a particular day or do we get to choose what day to take a tour?

Click the tour schedule.

Are there bugs on the island?

Keep in mind that when you travel to the tropics, bugs (mosquitoes and sand flies) can be expected. We have been able to curtail the sand fly activity on the island but if you are sensitive to biting insects, it is advisable to bring insect repellant 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.

When is the rainy season?

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 it rains too much in the rainforest, then some of the hiking trips on the mainland tours may be a bit challenging. We are flexible and if we consider an inland tour too dangerous, we will substitute it for an activity on or around the island.

Is there departure tax when leaving Belize?

Yes. However, sometimes this departure tax is included in your international airfare ticket. It is best to check with the airline when purchasing your ticket. The total international departure fee is approximately $38 US payable in cash or travelers' checks only.

For more info about island vacationing at Coco Plum Island Resort, see our Cabanas and Amenities page.