AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Liqour and wine prices

I appreciate all the feedback I have gotten on this forum! We are making our 4th trip to Belize in June for our wedding and are trying to make some decisions.....

Can someone tell me how the wine and liquor stack up price-wise compared to the US? As I recall it was $$$...but that has been several years ago..we are trying to decide whether or not to bring some wine with us or just purchase it there. We will need tequila and rum as well.

Thoughts?

Rum is cheap and good in Belize.
Wine is expensive, but there is a lovely selection at Wine de Vine, and you may find an interesting selection that would not be available where you live. They also feature some great sale items. I'd recommend stopping in if you are a wine fancier, as it is a lovely spot with excellent products, including gourmet meats, pates and cheeses.
Other hard liquors are quite expensive (average of 2X's what you may pay stateside).
The GOOD news is that at the international airport, right by the luggage carousel there is an incoming duty free shop with premium products at excellent prices. Much easier than carrying the goods, unless you need tons and tons of adult beverages.

Would it be cheaper in Belice City in wedding quantity ?

Imported Wines and Spirits are Luxury items that are taxed highly. Probably a better choice on the Caye than in Belize City and generally the same prices. Both main suppliers are on the Caye and mainland. Wine de Vine is great and Premium Wines and Spirits are in the same league, next to Fido's in the middle of town with a different selection.

As a heads up every arriving visitor can buy 4.5 litres of Spirt Duty Free at the arrivals hall where your baggage is collected - an unusual and unexpected bonus compared to most International arrival airports.

I would assume you will have enough people coming through to be able to load up at Duty Free. Excellent selection and prices on premiums. The local rum can be purchased inexpensively on the island...

That is awesome info. We are mainly interested in Tequila. Last time we were there (2 years ago) I remember it was horribly expensive.

Each person can buy 4 liters (maybe 4.5) at the Duty Free right there in the airport, and it is BY FAR, the BEST deal you can get anywhere! (The flight attendants on the airlines always say Belize airport duty free has the best prices on the circuit.) That means you and your fiancé' can bring in 8 liters. You can also have your incoming friends and guests do the same. You should definitely take advantage of the opportunity and the prices. And they have great tequila there. Here's a link (although from back in 2012, is still fairly accurate - http://www.sanpedroscoop.com/2012/06/buying-liquor-on-your-way-into-belize.html )

On a side note, I travel back and forth to the US just about every week, and I don't have the need to buy 4 liters every week. If you want to contact me, I'd be more than happy to help you stock up well before your wedding in June.

Wow thanks for that info Maya House!!!! We did not know that option was available to us. We are bringing 12 bottles of some special wine with us, but wanted some lesser expensive wine to add to and some liquor of course. I think we will encourage our traveling guests to do the same--some folsk dont want to mess with it and I get that but at least they have the option!

Surely your guests will help if all they have to do is purchase it here when they arrive. It will be packaged and sent with their luggage to the island. Pretty painless.