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

Belize is attractive. We must always 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. Principally, we completely perceive why you need to go to. Belize is in a league of its personal.

Sadly, you’ll need to take some additional security precautions, although. Staying protected in Belize requires you to transcend the standard “examine basic journey recommendation and ebook primary journey insurance coverage.” The nation has fairly a couple of situations of crime, gang violence, and medicines, which may leak into vacationer areas.

On 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. In case you take the proper precautions you may 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 it is advisable know.

Journey Advisories: Formally Talking, Is Belize Protected?

Formally talking, Belize is feasible to go to and never barred as a “pink record nation” or “don’t journey” space by the USA , Canada or the UK. As an alternative, it’s broadly suggested to take elevated warning in the event you go to Belize.

The US Travel Advisories for Belize counsel that you just train elevated warning all through the nation, escalating its considerations particularly for Belize Metropolis. It advises that you just “rethink journey”, marking the town as a Degree 3 zone regardless of the remainder of Belize securing a milder Degree 2 warning.

The US advisory acknowledges that gang violence in Belize Metropolis tends to happen under the Haulover Creek River and infrequently crosses into vacationer areas. Nevertheless, as a complete, 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 on the whole has an Train a excessive diploma of warning warning as a result of excessive ranges of violent crime all through the nation. There may be additionally a warning to Keep away from non-essential journey to Southside Belize Metropolis, south of the Haulover Creek River, as a result of gang and drug-related violence, together with murders and shootings.

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

The UK travel advisories for Belize echo an nearly an identical sentiment. They advise that Belize has “one of many highest homicide charges on the planet” and trace at insufficient policing, saying that “police capability is proscribed and lots of crimes stay unsolved.” Just like the US and Canada advisory, they notably emphasize the damaging nature of journey round Belize Metropolis, 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 danger 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, notably in Belize Metropolis, which is liable to gang-related violence. It has an total crime index of 53.15, notably increased 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 like it’s going to remain.

Belize Metropolis experiences a disproportionate quantity of gang-related violence and crime, so guests ought to train a excessive diploma of warning. Whereas gang members sometimes function out of vacationer areas, affected areas are shut sufficient to the town heart that unsuspecting vacationers might wander into bother, or battle might 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. Properly, you already know that the overall consensus with the Belizean police is that they’re typically underfunded and lack the capability to really punish or react to many legal instances.

Native authorities and retailers are overrun. Your greatest methodology of safety from petty crime is great journey insurance coverage.

On a barely completely different word, you must just remember to are sticking to the proper aspect of native legal guidelines, like holding an IDP in the event you hire a automotive and avoiding any unlawful medicine.

Pure Disasters in Belize

Belize has a nasty rep with regards to pure catastrophe danger. The nation has a shoreline that opens onto the Caribbean Sea, so you must 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 stage rises. There may be 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 making an attempt 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 solely.

How To Keep Protected in Belize in Case of Pure Catastrophe

In case you determine to go to Belize throughout this high-risk interval, we’d counsel visiting pre-armed with a listing of the way to remain protected in case of pure disasters. Listed here are a couple of suggestions you should use to maintain protected within the face of disasters like flooding and hurricanes:

Climate in Belize

In fact, one of the simplest ways to know the chance of seasonal pure disasters is to know the climate in Belize. Realizing the nation’s climate breakdown by season can actually assist decrease the dangers of journey.

General, you must know that Belize has a subtropical local weather, largely break 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 Might. Temperatures sit between 70 and 90 levels Fahrenheit all 12 months spherical.

We’ll take a more in-depth look, although.

5 Suggestions For Staying Protected in Belize

As talked about, journey insurance coverage alone gained’t minimize it when visiting Belize. A good 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). Nevertheless, as a basic rule, you need to construct on the fundamentals with extra specialised methods to remain protected in Belize.

1. A Spare Pockets is Your Greatest Good friend

When visiting Belize, carrying a spare pockets with outdated (or lesser-used) playing cards and unfastened money is a superb concept. That is largely 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 need to by no means resist a mugger. So, as a substitute, provide an alternate that doesn’t actually impression you.

2. Don’t Scrimp on Transportation

There are such a lot of international locations the place you may minimize prices by taking public transport. Belize isn’t one among them. Skip low-cost transportation and at all times select the safer choices. We opted for personal transfers which have been safer and quicker. That is non-negotiable in Belize, particularly with regards to issues like evening buses.

3. Go away Your Luxurious Trend Sense At House

Flashy jewellery and even notably eye-catching outfits would possibly 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. As an alternative, costume down and make your aim to mix, not catch eyes.

4. If In Doubt, Skip Belize Metropolis

Belize Metropolis is by far the riskiest place within the nation. If you’re uncertain whether or not you are feeling assured taking lively 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 Analysis

Lastly, do your season analysis. As you realized 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 also needs to take into account that rainier and low season months appeal to fewer vacationers. This implies fewer crowds and extra remoted vacationer areas, which may really put you at extra danger of opportunistic crime. It’s a little bit of a catch-22 when heavy crowds tempt pickpocketing. Nonetheless, on the whole, peak months are higher to keep away from being remoted for extra violent crimes.

Is Belize Protected for Households?

We’d say that areas like Caye Caulker and Ambergris Cay are protected 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 protected for households. Simply take into account that it could be a greater vacation to take with older youngsters who you may clarify primary security precautions to.

For households with out that pre-existing journey expertise, we advocate selecting a unique place to go to. Save Belize for just a little later after you’ve had a couple of apply runs.

Is Belize Protected for Solo Vacationers?

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

Nonetheless, as a basic rule, Belize is greatest skilled in a gaggle to restrict the chance of muggings and extra sinister crimes like sexual assault. You possibly can ebook 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 evening, take care in rural areas, and don’t take pleasure in extreme alcohol consumption.

Is Belize Protected to Take Public Transportation?

Public transportation is comparatively protected 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’re sometimes packed however an affordable method to get round. Be just a little conscious of pickpocketing, altercations, and bag snatching, however in any other case, this methodology of public transportation is protected.

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

The most secure method 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 into your subsequent greatest good friend. You positively desire a registered taxi driver, because it affords an additional safety layer. It’s a good suggestion to take a look at the Government Of Canada’s suggestion on public transport.

You too can hire a automotive and drive round Belize in personal autos comparatively simply. Nevertheless, you must train a excessive diploma of warning at evening, 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 Worldwide Driving Allow. Be conscious 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 Services Protected in Belize?

Medical services in Belize are combined. There are two varieties of services: private and non-private hospitals. Non-public hospitals are usually a greater possibility as they’re higher funded, in order that they have higher medical provides and extra to put money into adequately educated professionals. Nevertheless, entry to both might be severely restricted, particularly in the event you’re staying in rural areas.

We’d counsel checking the place your nearest hospitals are earlier than visiting. Guarantee 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 concept to fly residence. That is notably the case if the hospital doesn’t have a particular, area of interest sort of remedy or remedy out there on rapid demand. Belize’s greatest hospitals are nice for minor accidents, however when you’ve got a extra significant issue, it could be advisable to hunt remedy elsewhere.

Is Belize Protected? Prime FAQs

We’ll depart that query as much as you—do you are feeling assured utilizing all the data above to plan a protected journey? Belize receives nearly a million visitors annually, the overwhelming majority of whom journey the nation with no points. It’s all about selecting locations the place you really feel snug taking accountability to your security, and everyone knows some international locations make this more difficult than others. Belize is difficult however not unimaginable. We like it.

Listed here are a couple of widespread FAQs to assist clear the query of “do you have to, shouldn’t you” up.

Is Mexico or Belize safer?

Mexico and Belize are roughly on a par. Mexico has some Degree 4 areas (marked as “don’t journey”) however has a clearer space for protected tourism in Cancun and alongside the Mayan Riviera shoreline. Belize has just one Degree 3 space (“marked as rethink journey”) however much less clearly marked areas for protected 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 Degree 2 by the US Journey Advisory. In distinction, Belize Metropolis is marked as a Degree 3. Nevertheless, each Belize and Costa Rica are flagged for violent crimes, together with sexual assault. It’s greatest to strategy 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 probably the most storms and hurricanes, which might be harmful. It’s smack in the midst of hurricane season.

What’s the most secure a part of Belize?

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

So, Is Belize Protected To Journey In?

No, Belize isn’t a historically protected place to go to. Nevertheless, there are ranges to the dangers you are taking; are you planning a visit to Southside Belize Metropolis 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 additional efforts. There’s no denying the nation is gorgeous. We have now a perfect one-week itinerary right here in the event you’d like some inspiration.

Keep protected and revel in. The very best security precaution is information, and we hope you’ve gotten a unbelievable time.