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 received the historical past of Mayan ruins to expertise at websites like Altun Ha. Basically, we completely perceive why you wish to go to. Belize is in a league of its personal.
Unfortunately, you have to to take some further security precautions, although. Staying secure in Belize requires you to transcend the same old “check general travel advice and book basic travel insurance.” The nation has fairly a number of cases of crime, gang violence, and medicines, which might leak into vacationer areas.
In this information, we’ll put together you for staying secure in Belize. We simply returned from a go to to Cay Caulker, Ambergris Cay, and San Ignacio and felt actually secure. If you are taking the appropriate precautions you may 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 it’s essential know.
Is Belize Safe? A Quick Summary
We know that not everyone has the luxurious of time. If you’re in a rush, take a look at these major bullet factors for a fast overview of security in Belize.
Belize experiences a notably excessive crime price for violent crime, together with murder, sexual assault, and armed theft.
Belize has a number of gang violence, which often ends in shootings in public locations.
The border areas, Caracol, and Belize City (notably the inner-city area of Southside Belize City) all expertise a excessive crime density.
Belize has a number of pure disasters like hurricanes, so guests ought to take warning when touring throughout hurricane season.
Road requirements in Belize are thought-about poor by worldwide requirements.
There have been incidents with water actions ensuing from poor security procedures and measures.
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 for those who go to Belize.
The US Travel Advisories for Belize recommend that you just train elevated warning all through the nation, escalating its considerations 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 infrequently 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 just like the US advisories. Belize normally has an Exercise a excessive diploma of warning warning as a result of excessive ranges of violent crime all through the nation. There can be a warning to Avoid non-essential journey to Southside Belize City, south of the Haulover Creek River, as a result of gang and drug-related violence, together with murders and shootings.
Tourists mustn’t even enterprise to this a part of Belize metropolis. Gang warfare is absolutely prevalent right here, and it’s simple to be caught within the crossfire.
The UK journey advisories for Belize echo an nearly equivalent 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 notably 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 towards 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, notably in Belize City, which is susceptible 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 ranking has elevated over the previous three years. Crime in Belize is frequent, and sadly, it looks as if it’s going to remain.
The most typical crimes in Belize are:
Dealing of medication
Theft from property, which incorporates inns and vacationer lodging
Sexual assault
Murder and grievous bodily hurt
Verbal or bodily abuse
Muggings and armed theft
Moreover, there are considerations over policing, too:
Corruption and bribery
Lack of inefficiency of police response
We’ll focus on police effectiveness in a second, however many crimes go unsolved. Corruption could also be concerned in your police interactions, though you may nonetheless name 911 for help from native authorities in an emergency.
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 bother, 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 typically underfunded and lack the capability to really punish or react to many legal instances.
Local authorities and shops are overrun. Your greatest technique of safety from petty crime is superb journey insurance coverage.
On a barely totally different word, you need to just be sure you are sticking to the appropriate aspect of native legal guidelines, like holding an IDP for those who lease a automobile and avoiding any unlawful medication.
Natural Disasters in Belize
Belize has a foul rep on the subject of pure catastrophe threat. The nation has a shoreline that opens onto the Caribbean Sea, so you need to train warning throughout hurricane season, between June and November, notably from August to October.
These months are fraught with hurricanes and extreme storms. As a knock-on impact, Belize typically 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 a number of years again.
We suggest attempting to not journey throughout these months or no 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 resolve to go to Belize throughout this high-risk interval, we’d recommend visiting pre-armed with a listing of how to remain secure in case of pure disasters. Here are a number of suggestions you should utilize to maintain secure within the face of disasters like flooding and hurricanes:
1. Have an Evacuation and Shelter In Place Plan
It’s smart to have a plan to evacuate (this might be journey insurance coverage to get compensation if you need to e book an early flight house or a “go-bag” to evacuate to a distinct area in Belize). You also needs to have a shelter plan, checking forward of time together with your lodging to see what assist they provide.
2. Know The Area
Do some fundamental analysis on the realm you’re staying in beforehand. You ought to know the place the closest police stations, hospitals, and sensible locations like the best floor (in case of flash floods) are. Knowing this structure will show you how to in case of emergency when each minute issues.
3. Subscribe to Alerts
Subscribe to alerts from the US Embassy in Belize, native media, and disaster-related alerts from firms just like the National Hurricane Center Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.
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, you need 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 more in-depth look, although.
Spring: March to May
March to May in Belize is usually dry, with temperatures between 75 and 90 levels Fahrenheit. May is the warmest selection, whereas late March to early April is the busiest time with all of the spring break crowds.
Summer: June to September
This is Belize’s official moist season. Despite temperatures sitting at their highest between 80 and 90 levels Fahrenheit, coastal areas could discover a drop with all of the winds. This is when Belize has its highest dangers of hurricanes and floods. We’d suggest giving it a swerve.
Fall: October to November
Fall remains to be somewhat iffy, with frequent rain regardless of the drop within the threat of hurricanes. Temperatures hover at round 75 to 85 levels Fahrenheit, however you need to nonetheless anticipate a slight chill within the blustery coastal areas. Only a number of vacationers hassle visiting right now of yr, because the rain may cause flooding and, normally, doesn’t make for a nice keep.
Winter: December to February
Winter marks the start of the dry season—hooray! December is at all times a sluggish begin, with the rain dragging its toes somewhat earlier than disappearing. However, January and February are notoriously dry and are the months when tourism picks up once more.
Temperatures are gentle, between 70 and 80 levels Fahrenheit, however the barely cool, drier climate is right for sightseeing. A win is a win, proper?
5 Tips For Staying Safe in Belize
As talked about, journey insurance coverage alone gained’t minimize it when visiting Belize. A good way to remain secure is to tick all of the fundamentals (journey insurance coverage will be extra useful than ringing 911 if a digicam will get swiped). However, as a common rule, you have to construct on the fundamentals with extra specialised methods to remain secure in Belize.
1. A Spare Wallet is Your Best Friend
When visiting Belize, carrying a spare pockets with previous (or lesser-used) playing cards and unfastened money is a superb thought. This is usually for if you’re 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 an alternative, provide another that doesn’t actually influence you.
2. Don’t Scrimp on Transportation
There are so many international locations the place you may minimize prices by taking public transport. Belize isn’t one in every of them. Skip low-cost transportation and at all times select the safer choices. We opted for personal transfers which have been safer and sooner. This is non-negotiable in Belize, particularly on the subject of issues like night time buses.
3. Leave Your Luxury Fashion Sense At Home
Flashy jewellery and even notably eye-catching outfits would possibly look superb, however we’d advise leaving them at house. You wish to keep away from drawing consideration to your self with something designer or expensive-looking. Instead, gown down and make your aim 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 not sure whether or not you are feeling assured taking lively security measures, simply skip it. There are simpler locations to remain secure 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 discovered 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 greatest to keep away from the height hurricane threat months.
You also needs to needless to say rainier and low season months entice 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, normally, peak months are higher to keep away from being remoted for extra violent crimes.
Belize Emergency Numbers
Police (Countrywide): 90/911
Fire and ambulance (Belize City solely): 90
Police (Belpoman): 822-2222
Is Belize Safe for Families?
We’d say that areas like Caye Caulker and Ambergris Cay are secure 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 secure for households. Just needless to say it might be a greater vacation to take with older youngsters who you may clarify fundamental security precautions to.
For households with out that pre-existing journey expertise, we suggest selecting a distinct place to go to. Save Belize for somewhat later after you’ve had a number of follow runs.
Tips:
Take lodging critically when touring as a household, and chorus from scrimping on safety or location.
Choose your vacation spot in Belize fastidiously, choosing historically “safe” areas like Caye Caulker.
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 a fantastic hostel scene for making new associates. Experienced solo vacationers are sometimes much more acutely aware of security precautions than these in a bunch, so Belize can truly be higher suited to solo journey in that sense.
Still, as a common rule, Belize is greatest skilled in a bunch 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 can assist you keep secure 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.
Tips:
Take group excursions the place doable and keep away from strolling alone at night time.
Choose well-located inns or hostels.
Is Belize Safe to Take Public Transportation?
Public transportation is comparatively secure in Belize, however be ready for an intense expertise. So-called hen buses are brightly painted public buses working in suburban and concrete areas. They are sometimes packed however an inexpensive strategy to get round. Be somewhat aware of pickpocketing, altercations, and bag snatching, however in any other case, this technique of public transportation is secure.
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 an alternative, or keep away from pointless night time journey.
The most secure strategy to get round Belize is by registered taxis, which you’ll acknowledge from inexperienced license plates. Uber doesn’t exist right here, so inexperienced license plates will undoubtedly turn out to be your subsequent greatest buddy. You positively desire a registered taxi driver, because it affords an additional safety layer. It is a good suggestion to take a look at the Government Of Canada’s advice on public transport.
You may lease a automobile and drive round Belize in personal automobiles comparatively simply. However, you need 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 have 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 visitors lights in city areas or opportunistic crime on distant roads.
Are Medical Facilities Safe in Belize?
Medical amenities in Belize are combined. There are two varieties of amenities: private and non-private hospitals. Private hospitals are typically a greater possibility 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 critically restricted, particularly for those who’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 ensure you 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 selected, area of interest kind of remedy or remedy out there on instant demand. Belize’s greatest hospitals are nice for minor accidents, however you probably have a extra major problem, it might be advisable to hunt remedy elsewhere.
Is Belize Safe? Top FAQs
We’ll depart that query as much as you—do you are feeling assured utilizing all the knowledge above to plan a secure journey? Belize receives practically one million guests annually, the overwhelming majority of whom journey the nation with no points. It is all about selecting locations the place you really feel snug taking duty to your security, and everyone knows some international locations make this more difficult than others. Belize is difficult however not inconceivable. We like it.
Here are a number of frequent 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 secure 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 secure tourism. It is dependent upon the place you propose to journey.
Is Belize or Costa Rica safer?
Costa Rica is marginally safer, as it is just 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 greatest to method each international locations with elevated warning.
When to not go to Belize?
August and October are the worst occasions to go to Belize. These are the months when you may expertise essentially the most storms and hurricanes, which might be harmful. It is smack in the midst of hurricane season.
What is the most secure a part of Belize?
Caye Caulker and San Pedro are the darlings of Belize, two areas identified for being comparatively “safe” throughout the nation.
So, Is Belize Safe To Travel In?
No, Belize isn’t a historically secure 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 keen to take water-tight security precautions, Belize vastly rewards your further efforts. There’s no denying the nation is gorgeous. We have a excellent one-week itinerary right here for those who’d like some inspiration.
Stay secure and revel in. The greatest security precaution is information, and we hope you may have a implausible time.