Belize is attractive. 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 need 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 couple of cases of crime, gang violence, and medicines, which may 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 suitable precautions you’ll be able to take pleasure in 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 must know.
Is Belize Safe? A Quick Summary
We know that not all people has the posh of time. If you’re in a rush, try these essential 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 quite a lot of gang violence, which sometimes ends in shootings in public locations.
The border areas, Caracol, and Belize City (significantly the inner-city area of Southside Belize City) all expertise a excessive crime density.
Belize has quite a lot of pure disasters like hurricanes, so guests ought to take warning when touring throughout hurricane season.
Road requirements in Belize are thought of 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 broadly suggested to take elevated warning if you happen to go to Belize.
The US Travel Advisories for Belize counsel that you simply train elevated warning all through the nation, escalating its considerations particularly for Belize City. It advises that you simply “reconsider travel”, marking 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 sensible 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 on account 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, on account of 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 straightforward 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 damaging 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 growing danger 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 reasonably nasty mixture of crime scattered all through the nation, significantly 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 widespread, 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 lodges 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’ll be able to 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 usually function out of vacationer areas, affected areas are shut sufficient to 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 overall consensus with the Belizean police is that they’re usually underfunded and lack the capability to really punish or react to many felony circumstances.
Local authorities and shops are overrun. Your greatest technique of safety from petty crime is superb journey insurance coverage.
On a barely completely different word, you need to just be sure you are sticking to the suitable aspect of native legal guidelines, like holding an IDP if you happen to lease a automobile and avoiding any unlawful medication.
Natural Disasters in Belize
Belize has a nasty rep in relation to pure catastrophe danger. The nation has a shoreline that opens onto the Caribbean Sea, so you need 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 current historical past, just a few warnings a couple of years again.
We advocate attempting to not journey throughout these months or no less than subscribe to climate warning alerts. On common, the nation experiences seven hurricanes a 12 months, 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 counsel visiting pre-armed with an inventory of the way to remain secure in case of pure disasters. Here are a couple of suggestions you should use to maintain secure within the face of disasters like flooding and hurricanes:
1. Have an Evacuation and Shelter In Place Plan
It’s sensible to have a plan to evacuate (this may very well be journey insurance coverage to get compensation if it’s important to ebook an early flight residence or a “go-bag” to evacuate to a special area in Belize). You must also have a shelter plan, checking forward of time along with your lodging to see what assist they provide.
2. Know The Area
Do some fundamental analysis on the world 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 make it easier 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 corporations just like the National Hurricane Center Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration.
Weather in Belize
Of course, the easiest way to grasp the chance of seasonal pure disasters is to grasp 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 12 months spherical.
We’ll take a better 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 advocate giving it a swerve.
Fall: October to November
Fall continues to be a bit of iffy, with frequent rain regardless of the drop within the danger 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 couple of vacationers trouble visiting at the moment of 12 months, because the rain could cause flooding and, basically, doesn’t make for a nice keep.
Winter: December to February
Winter marks the start of the dry season—hooray! December is all the time a gradual begin, with the rain dragging its toes a bit of earlier than disappearing. However, January and February are notoriously dry and are the months when tourism picks up once more.
Temperatures are delicate, between 70 and 80 levels Fahrenheit, however the barely cool, drier climate is good for sightseeing. A win is a win, proper?
5 Tips For Staying Safe in Belize
As talked about, journey insurance coverage alone received’t lower it when visiting Belize. An effective way to remain secure 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 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 free 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 received’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, supply an alternate that doesn’t actually influence you.
2. Don’t Scrimp on Transportation
There are so many nations the place you’ll be able to lower prices by taking public transport. Belize isn’t one in every of them. Skip low-cost transportation and all the time select the safer choices. We opted for personal transfers which had been safer and sooner. This is non-negotiable in Belize, particularly in relation to issues like evening buses.
3. Leave Your Luxury Fashion Sense At Home
Flashy jewellery and even significantly eye-catching outfits may look superb, however we’d advise leaving them at residence. 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’re not sure whether or not you’re feeling assured taking energetic security measures, simply skip it. There are simpler locations to remain secure in Belize, like Caye Caulker. It’s straightforward 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 adjustments on a month-to-month foundation regardless of its total dry versus moist season. It’s greatest to keep away from the height hurricane danger months.
You must also remember that rainier and low season months entice fewer vacationers. This means fewer crowds and extra remoted vacationer areas, which may truly put you at extra danger 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.
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’re 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 remember that it could be a greater vacation to take with older kids who you’ll be able to clarify fundamental security precautions to.
For households with out that pre-existing journey expertise, we advocate selecting a special place to go to. Save Belize for a bit of later after you’ve had a couple of apply 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 an ideal hostel scene for making new associates. Experienced solo vacationers are sometimes much more 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 ebook issues like group excursions and guided day journeys that will help you keep secure whereas touring to Belize alone. If visiting solo, keep away from non-essential journey at evening, 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 evening.
Choose well-located lodges 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 rooster buses are brightly painted public buses working in suburban and concrete areas. They are usually packed however an affordable method to get round. Be a bit of conscious of pickpocketing, altercations, and bag snatching, however in any other case, this technique of public transportation is secure.
At evening, throw all that out the window. You ought to keep away from public transportation at evening in any respect prices, because it creates a a lot larger danger for violent crime. Get a registered taxi as an alternative, or keep away from pointless evening journey.
The most secure method 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 turn out to be your subsequent greatest good friend. You positively desire 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 can even lease a automobile and drive round Belize in personal automobiles comparatively simply. However, you need to train a excessive diploma of warning at evening, ideally avoiding all nonessential journey after darkish. You must also be ready for normal police checkpoints, the place you have to show a type of ID and your International Driving Permit. Be conscious of solely ever utilizing official border crossings and pay attention to 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 usually a greater choice as they’re higher funded, so that they have higher medical provides and extra to put money into adequately skilled professionals. However, entry to both might be critically restricted, particularly if you happen to’re staying in rural areas.
We’d counsel checking the place your nearest hospitals are earlier than visiting. Ensure you’re 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 residence. This is especially the case if the hospital doesn’t have a particular, area of interest kind of treatment or remedy out there on fast demand. Belize’s greatest hospitals are nice for minor accidents, however if in case you have a extra significant issue, 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’re feeling assured utilizing all the knowledge above to plan a secure journey? Belize receives almost one million guests every year, 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 nations make this tougher than others. Belize is difficult however not unattainable. We adore it.
Here are a couple of 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 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 intend 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 strategy each nations 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’ll be able to expertise probably 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’ve gotten? What are the present updates, and what time of 12 months 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 if you happen to’d like some inspiration.
Stay secure and luxuriate in. The greatest security precaution is information, and we hope you’ve gotten a improbable time.