As a single Mum with 2 kids we made our first trip to Belize in 1992. Took the taxi from the International airport to the bus depot in Belize City ~ unlike any bus depot I had ever seen!!
We took the same yellow bus that Jeff talks about and were the only white faces on it! At that time the bus stopped for anyone standing on the road so it was a long trip but a wonderful adventure! 26 trips later I have fond memories of the first one....
Take the bus.