Is Belize Safe? What Travelers Need to Know

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Belize is a Central American country that’s relatively tiny—fewer than 500,000 citizens—but has big tourism, with more than a million cruise visitors and nearly 500,000 overnight visitors each year. 

What draws those throngs of tourists to Belize? It’s the gorgeous wildlife, clear waters, rich hues, and lively culture. English is the official language of this former British colony, which makes communication easy. Also, Belize has largely avoided the rampant development to which many of its neighbor countries have capitulated; Belize’s government is committed to protecting its nation’s spectacular natural wonders so that travelers continue to come—and continue to bring their dollars with them.

But is Belize safe? The U.S. Department of State currently has a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel advisory for the country, warning, “Violent crime—such as sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murder—are common even during the day and in tourist areas. A significant portion of violent crime is gang related. Due to high crime, travelers are advised to exercise caution while traveling to the south side of Belize City. Local police lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious crimes. Most crimes remain unresolved and unprosecuted.”

Overall, whether or not Belize is safe depends largely on where you visit. 

Tips for Staying Safe in Belize

How dangerous is Belize? That depends on where you choose to go. Belize safety is highest in popular tourist destinations like Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. On the other hand, areas along the Guatemalan border and parts of southern Belize City are the most dangerous.

Key information will help keep you safe, including knowing which are the poisonous spiders in Belize (see below), taking the typical precautions to deter thieves, and steering clear of places where the Belize crime rate is highest.

Safe and Dangerous Places: Belize City, Ambergris Caye, and Beyond

In recent years, there have been some high-profile killings of U.S. citizens in Belize’s tourist areas, including in Ambergris Caye, Hopkins, and Corozal, although most of the incidents that have contributed to Belize’s increasing murder rate happened in and around Belize City. In most instances, tourists were innocent bystanders who got caught in gang altercations. 

Though caution is warranted in most of Belize’s tourist spots, it’s prudent to entirely avoid certain parts of the country, particularly parts of Belize City and areas near the Guatemalan border. The U.S. Department of State has a separate travel advisory for Belize City—Level 3: Reconsider Travel, warning, “U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to Belize City. Historically much of the violent crime in Belize occurs in the Southside of Belize City and is gang related. This area (south of Haulover Creek Canal and continuing south to Fabers Road) does not overlap with the typical tourism areas. All visitors should maintain an elevated level of situational awareness, exercise increased caution, and practice good safety and security practices.”

It’s worth noting, however, that the greatest decrease in Belize crime occurred in the tourist-friendly areas of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye—though even when spending time in these regions, travelers should take steps to keep themselves and their belongings secure. Avoid isolated areas after dark.

The U.S. State Department advises that travelers:

• Remain aware of their surroundings
• Avoid walking or driving at night
• Do not resist robbery attempts
• Exercise caution when visiting banks or ATMs
• Do not wear expensive jewelry or flash electronics
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
• Have an emergency plan

How to Get Around Safely in Belize

The Belize safety issues you should be most aware of include pickpocketing, burglary, and hotel-room theft, all of which happen throughout Belize. 

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Some tips for staying safe in Belize include keeping your hotel room door locked, including when you’re in there, and using your room’s safe whenever possible. Cooperate if you’re confronted by a thief. Stay away from deserted areas, don’t hitchhike, don’t buy or do drugs, don’t drink too much, and keep all valuables out of sight—or, better yet, leave them at home. (In particular, don’t leave anything valuable on the beach while swimming.)

Don’t run a tab at bars, and try to keep your credit card within view since “skimming” is a common scam that happens when bartenders or waiters steal credit card information during a legitimate transaction.

Note, too, that Belize’s roads, although they’re improving, are often in poor condition, and traffic fatalities remain a real danger in Belize, especially during the rainy season. 

Belize’s buses aren’t particularly safe either, as they’re often poorly maintained, and drivers are notorious for unsafe passing.

Taxis—identifiable by their green license plates—are your safest option for getting around Belize. However, you’ll want to insist that the driver does not pick up additional passengers during your ride and negotiate the fare in advance since there are no meters. Uber and Lyft do not currently operate in Belize.

As for natural disasters, it’s hurricanes and tropical storms that you should be wary of if you’re planning to travel to Belize. The region’s hurricane season spans from early June through late November, with September and October being the most heavily affected months. Although Belize does have a hurricane response plan, it’s considered insufficient should a Category 1 storm hit; resources would be quickly exhausted, and roads are likely to flood, according to the U.S. State Department.

Another concern to remember is the presence of poisonous spiders in Belize. Although wildlife is a key attraction here, some of Belize’s animals can be dangerous. Look out for spiders like black widows and brown recluses, amphibians like the poisonous dart frog, and snakes like the tommygoff or fer-de-lance, which will often stand its ground rather than slithering away. Be careful where you step and use a flashlight when walking at night.

Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends travelers to Belize be up-to-date on all routine vaccinations. Additionally, there has been evidence of chikungunya (a virus that is spread by mosquito bites) transmission in the last five years. Certain high-risk travelers may want to get the chikungunya vaccine before visiting. 

Be aware that some dogs in Belize may carry rabies, as do other wild animals. Do not approach or pet any wildlife, including stray dogs. 

Prostitution in Belize and San Pedro

Belize is a transit country along known drug and human trafficking smuggling routes, and this increases the number of Belize prostitutes, many of them—especially foreign-born children and women—victims of the sex slave trade. In particular, San Pedro Town, in southern Ambergris Caye, is a Belizean stop-off point for drugs and trafficking.

Any engagement with Belize prostitutes is highly inadvisable. Though prostitution is technically legal in Belize, contracting a sex worker’s services is not. And though enforcement remains weak (many officials look the other way), sex tourists still risk getting HIV or other STIs since testing here is strictly voluntary. They could also face severe legal consequences should officials decide to prosecute, and they contribute to a violent, corrupt system that condones human slavery. It’s not worth it.

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