Firstly we'd like to note that is very unlikely that the way we did this was the simplest way. There are two border crossings at Chetumal very close together, only one of which deals with vehicle imports and exports. Of course we unknowingly started our crossing at the one that didn't, so had to visit both in our exit from Mexico.
Carrying on on the trusty 307 from Bacalar it only took about half an hour to get to Chetumal (or just west of Chetumal where the border crossings are). The 307 turns into the 186 just before the border and we just followed the signs for Belize. On the way to the border there was a choice between right or left, both going to the border. If you find yourself going through a little town you are heading for the one that doesn't do vehicles, so turn around and go the other way! But I'll explain how we did it so you can learn from our mistakes and have a quicker route through to Belize.
Once through the town we arrived at the border crossing and stopped at the little booth on the right hand side to get our passports stamped. We had to pay a tourist tax of $25 each which we weren't expecting, and contested. But alas he had our passports in his hand and wouldn't give them back until we paid. He only accepted cash and we watched him put it straight in his pocket - frustrating! There is a line on the immigration card you get when you enter Mexico saying tourist tax has to be paid, so if you have already paid it on entering the country make sure you have the receipt when it comes to exiting. Without contesting the payment this part would've taken no time at all, so if there's no line and you have all your paperwork in order this will be a 5 minute job. We then headed over a bridge but could see no vehicle Aduana and within moments were already facing the entry to Belize.
When we asked the man at the gate about getting the bike stamped out -he informed us that we had to go to the other border down the road and over another bridge. So if you find yourself in our situation - facing entry to belize without the bike having been stamped out - once you come over the bridge (after getting your passport stamped) there is a road off to the right before the entry to belize. Go down here and stay right, following signs to the Mexico border. It takes you to a different one where you will go over another bridge and come up to some white buildings ahead. You need to go to the Banjercito, which is a long rectangular building behind the first cluster of buildings.
The lady we dealt with was very friendly and helpful. She checked the VIN, took some pictures and went through some paperwork, and told us the $200 deposit we paid for the vehicle import permit would be put back in our account the next day. This stage took about 15 mins. Then it was back the way we came towards where we first entered to get the bike fumigated. When heading back towards the other border there is a little shack on the left. Again the guy was very friendly, the process was quick and it only cost $5.
Then we turned back and round the roundabout to Belize immigration. The usual form and passport stamp for us, and then on to the 'something to declare' part just behind the passport desk where they look through all the vehicle paperwork, including the stamped Mexican vehicle import permit. Then you get a stamp in your passport for the vehicle and nothing needs to be paid.
Just after you get out of the border on the Belize side, you'll see a big white insurance building on the right. You have to have insurance in Belize and this is the official insurance company so make sure you stop here. Again a very friendly man, process took about 10 mins and we only needed 7 days of insurance which cost us about US$20.
Then we were off! The change was pretty instantaneous, the roads drastically decreased in quality and we couldn't believe we were on the main highway! However it was still perfectly rideable and it was great taking in the new landscape with the smell of sugar cane wafting through our visors. Our GPS kept trying to take us the longer route which we ignored, eventually figuring out that it was because the quick route is a toll road. However when we arrived at the booth the guy just waved us on! The man we spoke to at the insurance centre said that the direct route is the only good road - the alternatives are dirt tracks - so we'd recommend taking the route through Corazol and Orange Walk towards Belize City. That's enough for now - I'll save what we got up to in Belize for the next post!