US $1 = BZ $2. U.S. currency is accepted throughout San Pedro and Belize. Most hotels quote rates in U.S. dollars. Local currency is the Belize Dollar. U.S. dollars can be exchanged directly with your hotel,  in purchasing goods and services;  banks tend to charge a fee (currently is at .0125) to exchange U.S. to Belize dollars. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in Belize, though some companies may not be able to change larger bills. In this case, your hotel concierge will be happy to assist.

Common paper-money denominations are the 100-, 50-, 20-, 10-, 5- and 2-dollar bills, with the one-dollar bill occasionally still seen. Belize coins come in one-dollar, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 Belizean cent units. The 25-cent piece is called a shilling. U.S. dollars (bills, not coins) are accepted everywhere in Belize, although you often will receive change in Belizean money, or in a mix of Belizean and U.S. money. There’s no need to exchange U.S. currency for Belize dollars at banks, and if you do you will lose a percent or two in conversion fees.

Canadian dollars, Mexican pesos and European currencies are not widely accepted. These should  be exchanged at banks.

Traveler’s checks in U.S. dollars are accepted by most hotels and at some stores, restaurants and other businesses. You usually need to show your passport or driver’s license when paying with a traveler’s check.

Upon your departure, if you still have Belize dollars, the only way to change these will be at Philip W. Goldson International Airport. At the airport, there are banks who will change your Belize dollars to U.S. Currency if you present a copy of your departure ticket, and your passport. The availability times of these banks at the airport will depend on the time of your arrival and departure in/out of the country, so be sure to change over most at one of the banks on island.