Area Code 8 – Cayo District

Overview of the Cayo District Area Code

In the Belizean national numbering plan, the digit 8 serves as the National Destination Code (NDC) for the Cayo District, one of the six administrative districts of Belize. This geographic area code is assigned to fixed-line (PSTN) services within the district, which includes the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, as well as the district capital, Belmopan (the national capital). The code covers the western region of the country, bordering Guatemala, and includes communities such as Benque Viejo del Carmen, Spanish Lookout, and the Mountain Pine Ridge area.

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in the Cayo District from within Belize, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 8 and the subscriber's seven-digit local number. The national significant number (NSN) for Belizean fixed lines is seven digits, with the first digit being the area code. Thus, a local call within Cayo is placed by dialing 0-8XX-XXXX.

For international callers, the ITU-T E.164 format requires the full country code +501, followed by the area code and subscriber number, without the trunk prefix. Therefore, an international caller would dial +501 8XX-XXXX.

Example: To reach a fixed line in San Ignacio with the local number 222-1234, a caller from the United States would dial 011 501 8222-1234 (using the US exit code), while a caller from the UK would dial 00 501 8222-1234.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The Cayo District is the largest in Belize by land area and is known for its agricultural production, eco-tourism, and the ancient Maya ruins of Caracol and Xunantunich. The area code 8 is administered by the Belize Public Utilities Commission and is allocated to the incumbent operator, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), which provides fixed-line services. As of the latest numbering plan updates, there are no overlay codes in Belize; each geographic district retains a unique area code.

Caller Instructions

Local callers within Cayo must always include the area code when dialing another fixed line in the district, as seven-digit dialing is not permitted. Mobile callers in Belize dial the same format as fixed-line callers. For international callers, it is essential to omit the leading 0 of the national prefix and use the +501 country code. Calls to Cayo District numbers from abroad are charged at standard international rates, which vary by carrier.