Is Belize Safe To Travel To?

Belize is famous for its beautiful coastlines, ethnic diversity, the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization, and dense forests. In this tropical paradise many people are going to ask themselves is Belize safe for travel? Here is what you should know.

The Short Answer

Belize is safe for tourists in most aspects provided the following factors are observed, but the crime index rate is relatively high for the Americas. Tourist places and sites, for instance, are policed than other places, and there are fewer cases of petty and violent crimes compared to other cities. The two primary crimes that are committed with a high prevalence are theft and scams in tourist areas. Less frequent is violent crime. It is recommended to be smart; do not travel at night; do not leave valuables unattended; do not flaunt wealth in order to travel safely. Also do not cruise in quiet zones and country roads where the police do not often patrol.

Crime Statistics

Belize has a higher crime rate; the murder rate stands at 37 per 100,000 population for the year 2018, which is 7.3 times more than the United States. Basic crimes such as break-ins, theft with force, rape, and other types, and theft in the streets like pick pocketing occur relatively often, although not very frequently, most especially in Belize City. Overall, violent crime occurs mostly between citizens, and not with visitors to a country. However, one must remain vigilant always since muggings and cases involving tourists are sometimes reported.

Rates of crime in these specific areas such as Ambergris Caye and tourist destinations are comparatively lower than in the entire country. The crimes foreign travelers are likely to come across are petty theft and tourist-related cons. However, as long as you do not overdo it, you can avoid most risks in these fields. Foreigner solo travelers who have their research on the country’s areas or districts to avoid especially at night, especially areas linked to excessive drinking especially at night will not be at high risk of attack here.

Safety Tips

Here are some key tips for staying safe

• Do not have items such as expensive jewelry, watches, cameras, or anything else that would make the thief’s impulses tingle
  
• Avoid having large amounts of money in your pocket at any given time of the day.
  
• Do not walk in dimly lit areas at night and don’t walk alone at night.
  
• Do not hire unaffiliated taxi drivers, but stick to the registered ones.
  
• Do not leave items such as passports, plane tickets, electronic items within reach
  
• Be cautious of the environment and persons that you encounter.
  
• If you are the victim, do not try to fight back if you are being robbed.
  
• Avoid drinking excessively
• Do not carry your original passport with you at any one time; carry instead, photocopy of the passport.
  
• Lastly, make sure to buy travel insurance for situations such as emergency situations or loss of assets.

In this way, by being alert and not being ostentatious, one will not attract the attention of these people. Employ secure hotel safe where possible and reasonable judgment while selecting items to bring along and areas to visit. Not indulging in alcohol also saves the traveler from becoming vulnerable to certain risks.

Safer Areas of Belize

Major tourist destinations such as Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Placencia, San Ignacio and other areas with tourist attractions inside the mainland close to Mayan ruins are safer than cities. The areas that are frequented by tourists, the tourist destinations, are more likely to be policed than other areas, and also, the crime rates are low.

The crime rate in Belize City is high, and there are few police patrols on the roads and in the countryside, except for tourists’ favorite places. Out-of-towners should avoid visiting rural areas and places that are not popular among tourists, especially if they are inexperienced travelers. For a relatively safer Belize vacation, do not travel to the poorer neighborhoods of Belize City and outlying areas.

Warnings & Border Issues

The US Overseas Security Advisory Council has categorized Belize under Level Two: Exercise Increased Caution due to crime. It says that violent crime occurs more frequently during nightlife hours and in areas that attract tourists, therefore, safety is crucial. Some of the security risks are related to borders with Guatemala and Honduras because of gangs and unauthorized cross-border activities in rather deserted zones. Visitors are warned against using roads close to these borders, particularly during the night.

The U.K. Government also cautions visitors that most of the crimes occur in the night and that tourists should be careful with their belongings in Belize. Canada also recommends that one should be more cautious at night and never to take a taxi that is not accredited. It is advised to consult the current travel warnings issued by the respective governments.

Therefore, Belize is like the Caribbean in terms of beautiful sceneries but also crime scenes. Being cautious when choosing a destination and adhering to travel advisories, staying away from high-risk areas such as cities, avoiding unknown and inaccessible areas in the borderlands, and safe traveling would enable tourists to travel safely here hence being conscious tourism destinations. Limit the travel to established tourist attractions and Belize can be a highly rewarding tropical country to explore.

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