Is Belize Safe To Visit In 2024? Your Guide To Belize Travel Safety

Belize is beautiful. We ought to know; we simply returned from a two-week journey. The mainland is roofed in a dense, tropical jungle, whereas offshore, it has the Belize Barrier Reef—an acclaimed spot to scuba dive and snorkel. As if that wasn’t sufficient, you’ve additionally acquired the historical past of Mayan ruins to expertise at websites like Altun Ha. Basically, we completely perceive why you need to go to. Belize is in a league of its personal.

Unfortunately, you will want to take some additional security precautions, although. Staying protected in Belize requires you to transcend the standard “check general travel advice and book basic travel insurance.” The nation has fairly just a few situations of crime, gang violence, and medicines, which might leak into vacationer areas.

In this information, we’ll put together you for staying protected in Belize. We simply returned from a go to to Cay Caulker, Ambergris Cay, and San Ignacio and felt actually protected. If you are taking the proper precautions you’ll be able to get pleasure from this nation worry-free like we did. So, don’t rule out scuba diving and sightseeing Mayan ruins simply but; right here’s what you’ll want to know.

Travel Advisories: Officially Speaking, Is Belize Safe?

Officially talking, Belize is feasible to go to and never barred as a “red list country” or “do not travel” space by the USA , Canada or the UK. Instead, it’s extensively suggested to take elevated warning in the event you go to Belize.

The US Travel Advisories for Belize recommend that you just train elevated warning all through the nation, escalating its issues particularly for Belize City. It advises that you just “reconsider travel”, marking the town as a Level 3 zone regardless of the remainder of Belize securing a milder Level 2 warning.

The US advisory acknowledges that gang violence in Belize City tends to happen under the Haulover Creek River and barely crosses into vacationer areas. However, as an entire, it advises that dangers are excessive, particularly given the historic crime within the metropolis.

The advisory emphasizes that violent crimes like sexual assault and armed theft can – and do – happen in daylight, even in public areas. It’s smart to take excessive security precautions when touring all through Belize.

The Canada Travel Advisories for Belize are fairly much like the US advisories. Belize basically has an Exercise a excessive diploma of warning warning resulting from excessive ranges of violent crime all through the nation. There can also be a warning to Avoid non-essential journey to Southside Belize City, south of the Haulover Creek River, resulting from gang and drug-related violence, together with murders and shootings.

Tourists shouldn’t even enterprise to this a part of Belize metropolis. Gang warfare is admittedly prevalent right here, and it’s simple to be caught within the crossfire.

The UK journey advisories for Belize echo an virtually an identical sentiment. They advise that Belize has “one of the highest murder rates in the world” and trace at insufficient policing, saying that “police capacity is limited and many crimes remain unsolved.” Like the US and Canada advisory, they significantly emphasize the harmful nature of journey round Belize City, particularly the Southside.

The UK advisory additionally warns of muggings throughout Belize, together with San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and San Ignacio. It highlights the rising threat of sexual assault and rape, too, warning in opposition to solo journey and venturing down quiet streets.

Violent Crime in Belize

As you now know, Belize has a fairly nasty mixture of crime scattered all through the nation, significantly in Belize City, which is vulnerable to gang-related violence. It has an total crime index of 53.15, notably larger than the US at 49.34 and the UK at 47.61. Most regarding is the truth that this crime score has elevated over the previous three years. Crime in Belize is widespread, and sadly, it looks like it’s going to remain.

Belize City experiences a disproportionate quantity of gang-related violence and crime, so guests ought to train a excessive diploma of warning. While gang members sometimes function out of vacationer areas, affected areas are shut sufficient to the town middle that unsuspecting vacationers could wander into hassle, or battle could spill over.

The remainder of Belize nonetheless requires you to train warning, with excessive ranges of theft and opportunistic crime, a few of that are violent.

Police in Belize

Onto the police in Belize, as promised. Well, you already know that the final consensus with the Belizean police is that they’re usually underfunded and lack the capability to really punish or react to many prison instances.

Local authorities and shops are overrun. Your finest methodology of safety from petty crime is great journey insurance coverage.

On a barely totally different be aware, it’s best to just remember to are sticking to the proper facet of native legal guidelines, like holding an IDP in the event you lease a automotive and avoiding any unlawful medication.

Natural Disasters in Belize

Belize has a foul rep in terms of pure catastrophe threat. The nation has a shoreline that opens onto the Caribbean Sea, so it’s best to train warning throughout hurricane season, between June and November, significantly from August to October.

These months are fraught with hurricanes and extreme storms. As a knock-on impact, Belize usually experiences flooding and sea degree rises. There is the specter of tsunamis, however there has by no means been one in latest historical past, just a few warnings just a few years again.

We suggest attempting to not journey throughout these months or not less than subscribe to climate warning alerts. On common, the nation experiences seven hurricanes a yr, so it pays to keep away from the season fully.

How To Stay Safe in Belize in Case of Natural Disaster

If you determine to go to Belize throughout this high-risk interval, we’d recommend visiting pre-armed with an inventory of the way to remain protected in case of pure disasters. Here are just a few suggestions you should utilize to maintain protected within the face of disasters like flooding and hurricanes:

Weather in Belize

Of course, one of the best ways to know the chance of seasonal pure disasters is to know the climate in Belize. Knowing the nation’s climate breakdown by season can actually assist decrease the dangers of journey.

Overall, it’s best to know that Belize has a subtropical local weather, largely cut up right into a dry and wet season. The wet season lasts from June till November, coinciding with its hurricane-prone season. The dry season runs from February till May. Temperatures sit between 70 and 90 levels Fahrenheit all yr spherical.

We’ll take a better look, although.

5 Tips For Staying Safe in Belize

As talked about, journey insurance coverage alone gained’t reduce it when visiting Belize. An effective way to remain protected is to tick all of the fundamentals (journey insurance coverage will be extra useful than ringing 911 if a digital camera will get swiped). However, as a normal rule, you need to construct on the fundamentals with extra specialised methods to remain protected in Belize.

1. A Spare Wallet is Your Best Friend

When visiting Belize, carrying a spare pockets with outdated (or lesser-used) playing cards and free money is a good thought. This is generally for in case you are touring within the bigger cities. Mugging can get everybody. There’s no assure you gained’t fall foul of this unfortunate crime, so why not be ready?

You ought to by no means resist a mugger. So, as a substitute, supply an alternate that doesn’t actually affect you.

2. Don’t Scrimp on Transportation

There are so many international locations the place you’ll be able to reduce prices by taking public transport. Belize isn’t one among them. Skip low-cost transportation and all the time select the safer choices. We opted for personal transfers which had been safer and quicker. This is non-negotiable in Belize, particularly in terms of issues like night time buses.

3. Leave Your Luxury Fashion Sense At Home

Flashy jewellery and even significantly eye-catching outfits would possibly look superb, however we’d advise leaving them at house. You need to keep away from drawing consideration to your self with something designer or expensive-looking. Instead, gown down and make your purpose to mix, not catch eyes.

4. If In Doubt, Skip Belize City

Belize City is by far the riskiest place within the nation. If you might be uncertain whether or not you are feeling assured taking energetic security measures, simply skip it. There are simpler locations to remain protected in Belize, like Caye Caulker. It’s simple sufficient to chop it out of your itinerary.

5. Do Your Season Research

Finally, do your season analysis. As you realized within the part above, Belize’s local weather modifications on a month-to-month foundation regardless of its total dry versus moist season. It’s finest to keep away from the height hurricane threat months.

You also needs to understand that rainier and low season months appeal to fewer vacationers. This means fewer crowds and extra remoted vacationer areas, which might truly put you at extra threat of opportunistic crime. It’s a little bit of a catch-22 when heavy crowds tempt pickpocketing. Still, basically, peak months are higher to keep away from being remoted for extra violent crimes.

Is Belize Safe for Families?

We’d say that areas like Caye Caulker and Ambergris Cay are protected for households with travel-savvy mother and father. If you might be an skilled traveler and are spending the cash to remain in extra-secure, beautifully-located lodging with respected excursions and transfers, Belize is protected for households. Just understand that it could be a greater vacation to take with older kids who you’ll be able to clarify primary security precautions to.

For households with out that pre-existing journey expertise, we suggest selecting a unique place to go to. Save Belize for slightly later after you’ve had just a few follow runs.

Is Belize Safe for Solo Travelers?

Belize is a little bit of a problem for these visiting solo, however equally very rewarding. If you’ve had loads of solo journey expertise, you’ll discover it manageable, and there’s an ideal hostel scene for making new buddies. Experienced solo vacationers are sometimes much more acutely aware of security precautions than these in a gaggle, so Belize can truly be higher suited to solo journey in that sense.

Still, as a normal rule, Belize is finest skilled in a gaggle to restrict the chance of muggings and extra sinister crimes like sexual assault. You can e-book issues like group excursions and guided day journeys that will help you keep protected whereas touring to Belize alone. If visiting solo, keep away from non-essential journey at night time, take care in rural areas, and don’t take pleasure in extreme alcohol consumption.

Is Belize Safe to Take Public Transportation?

Public transportation is comparatively protected in Belize, however be ready for an intense expertise. So-called rooster buses are brightly painted public buses working in suburban and concrete areas. They are sometimes packed however an affordable strategy to get round. Be slightly aware of pickpocketing, altercations, and bag snatching, however in any other case, this methodology of public transportation is protected.

At night time, throw all that out the window. You ought to keep away from public transportation at night time in any respect prices, because it creates a a lot larger threat for violent crime. Get a registered taxi as a substitute, or keep away from pointless night time journey.

The most secure strategy to get round Belize is by registered taxis, which you’ll be able to acknowledge from inexperienced license plates. Uber doesn’t exist right here, so inexperienced license plates will undoubtedly grow to be your subsequent finest buddy. You positively need a registered taxi driver, because it presents an additional safety layer. It is a good suggestion to take a look at the Government Of Canada’s advice on public transport.

You also can lease a automotive and drive round Belize in personal autos comparatively simply. However, it’s best to train a excessive diploma of warning at night time, ideally avoiding all nonessential journey after darkish. You also needs to be ready for normal police checkpoints, the place you need to show a type of ID and your International Driving Permit. Be aware of solely ever utilizing official border crossings and concentrate on the chance of armed robberies at locations like site visitors lights in city areas or opportunistic crime on distant roads.

Are Medical Facilities Safe in Belize?

Medical services in Belize are blended. There are two sorts of services: private and non-private hospitals. Private hospitals are typically a greater choice as they’re higher funded, in order that they have higher medical provides and extra to put money into adequately skilled professionals. However, entry to both might be significantly restricted, particularly in the event you’re staying in rural areas.

We’d recommend checking the place your nearest hospitals are earlier than visiting. Ensure you might be up-to-date with all of your vaccinations and routine well being checks earlier than departure. And be sure to have good journey insurance coverage if it turns into a greater thought to fly house. This is especially the case if the hospital doesn’t have a particular, area of interest sort of medicine or remedy accessible on rapid demand. Belize’s finest hospitals are nice for minor accidents, however if in case you have a extra major problem, it could be advisable to hunt remedy elsewhere.

Is Belize Safe? Top FAQs

We’ll go away that query as much as you—do you are feeling assured utilizing all the data above to plan a protected journey? Belize receives practically 1,000,000 guests annually, the overwhelming majority of whom journey the nation with no points. It is all about selecting locations the place you really feel comfy taking duty to your security, and everyone knows some international locations make this more difficult than others. Belize is difficult however not not possible. We adore it.

Here are just a few widespread FAQs to assist clear the query of “should you, shouldn’t you” up.

Is Mexico or Belize safer?

Mexico and Belize are roughly on a par. Mexico has some Level 4 areas (marked as “do not travel”) however has a clearer space for protected tourism in Cancun and alongside the Mayan Riviera shoreline. Belize has just one Level 3 space (“marked as reconsider travel”) however much less clearly marked areas for protected tourism. It is determined by the place you intend to journey.

Is Belize or Costa Rica safer?

Costa Rica is marginally safer, as it’s only marked as Level 2 by the US Travel Advisory. In distinction, Belize City is marked as a Level 3. However, each Belize and Costa Rica are flagged for violent crimes, together with sexual assault. It’s finest to strategy each international locations with elevated warning.

When to not go to Belize?

August and October are the worst instances to go to Belize. These are the months when you’ll be able to expertise probably the most storms and hurricanes, which might be harmful. It is smack in the course of hurricane season.

What is the most secure a part of Belize?

Caye Caulker and San Pedro are the darlings of Belize, two areas recognized for being comparatively “safe” throughout the nation.

So, Is Belize Safe To Travel In?

No, Belize isn’t a historically protected place to go to. However, there are ranges to the dangers you are taking; are you planning a visit to Southside Belize City or Caye Caulker? Are you visiting on a tour? Or are you going solo? How a lot journey expertise do you may have? What are the present updates, and what time of yr are you going?

For these prepared to take water-tight security precautions, Belize vastly rewards your additional efforts. There’s no denying the nation is gorgeous. We have a excellent one-week itinerary right here in the event you’d like some inspiration.

Stay protected and revel in. The finest security precaution is information, and we hope you may have a unbelievable time.