Belize is a gorgeous Central American country full of jungles, magnificent coral reefs and beaches, and incredible culture. The country receives at least one million tourists annually, with thousands from the United States and Canada alone.
Belize is generally a safe country to visit. However, some places have a reputation for being crime-riddled, like the Southside of Belize City. On the other hand, tourists are targets of petty crimes like pickpocketing. With appropriate safety measures, you can experience a safe stay in Belize.
This article will list some safety precautions to consider when traveling to Belize and data concerning crime rates and high-risk areas, so read on to learn more.
Is It Safe To Travel to Belize Right Now?
It is safe to travel to Belize right now. While the country continues to have historically high crime rates, tourists are not the most common victims. Additionally, there are steps that visitors can take to help with safety.
Belize has a history of high criminality rates; however, it is also a popular tourist destination. That means the authorities are keen on protecting tourists, so they are hardly affected by criminal activity. Therefore, you should consider traveling to Belize right now.
However, employ the right safety measures to improve your safety since you can never be 100% sure.
How To Stay Safe When Visiting Belize
One can take several precautions to stay safe while traveling around Belize. These include avoiding areas known to suffer from rampant crime rates, keeping hotel room doors locked at all times, securing valuable property like your passport and credit card, and avoiding displaying expensive belongings or carrying hard currency.
In recent years, Belize has seen a rise in criminal activities. That includes violent crimes like murders, other illegal activities like drug and human trafficking, and petty crimes like pick-pocketing. Thus, it is vital for tourists traveling to the country to stay vigilant.
Here are some steps you should take when in Belize to guarantee your safety:
Avoid Showing Expensive Belongings
Many people like to take their favorite clothes, accessories, and jewelry when going on vacation to ensure they look good. However, that could be a mistake when visiting Belize since petty criminals always seek to steal from tourists.
Thus, you should avoid displaying your valuables when traveling to Belize to avoid becoming a target of petty criminals. If possible, store them in a safe within your hotel room. You could also consider leaving them at home.
Do Not Leave Luggage Unattended
Petty criminals like burglars often frequent airports, bus parks, hotel lobbies, and entrances to monitor incoming tourists. Suppose you leave your bags unattended. They will likely be stolen before you even check in for your stay.
Thus, it is vital to track the whereabouts of your belongings from the moment you enter the country.
Keep Hotel Room Locked
Your hotel room is one of the places most vulnerable to criminal activity. Burglars are always on the lookout for tourists who leave their rooms unlocked.
When you leave the hotel for your daily excursions, they break in and steal whatever they can. They also break in at night when you are asleep. Thus, it is always essential to lock your hotel room’s doors.
You could also consider investing in a door stop.
For example, the Bhytaki 4 Pack Premium Rubber Door Stoppers Wedge (available on Amazon.com) is made of durable TPR rubber that firmly wedges between the door and the ground. Such a product will prevent forceful entry into your hotel room even if the aggressors have a key.
Avoid Areas With High Crime Rates
Like any other country, certain areas in Belize experience a higher crime rate than the national average. These include the South of Belize City and regions close to the Belize-Guatemala border. Therefore, as a tourist, you should always avoid such areas.
If you have to frequent these areas, ensure you are not alone. Consider working with a trustworthy guide or travel in groups.
Do Not Get Too Intoxicated
Getting excessively drunk in an unfamiliar location is always an ill-advised decision. The same applies in Belize, where you may end up making some poor choices that can put you in harm’s way.
For example, you could interact with potential criminals who steal or injure you or engage in dangerous activities that land you in police custody.
You may also make poor decisions like purchasing illicit drugs, which forces you to interact with hard-core criminals.
Therefore, ensure your alcohol intake is low in Belize to avoid instances of poor judgment you’ll regret later on.
Avoid Carrying Cash
When traveling, you should carry a reasonable amount of cash in Belize, for instance, to purchase a trinket or souvenir from a roadside vendor. However, having a lot of money or all your travel allowance in cash is risky. You may find yourself temporarily stranded in a foreign country if it gets stolen.
Thus, keeping a healthy amount of cash and handling all other transactions using your credit card is advisable.
Be Aware of Your Credit Card’s Whereabouts
Credit cards are the safest transaction mode to use while in Belize. However, they are not without risk since credit card scams are common in the country. Therefore, keep a keen eye on your cards whenever you travel and make transactions.
It would be best to cover the card reader whenever you key in your PIN and regularly check account statements to ensure you authorized all charges. Moreover, avoid keeping an open tab at bars since you will not know where your credit card is and how many people can access it.
Do Not Resist
If you encounter criminals trying to break into your hotel room or steal from you in the streets, do not resist. Let them take whatever they want since putting up a fight will put you at greater risk. For instance, criminals could stab or shoot you if they have weapons.
Therefore, to avoid a trip to the emergency room or worse, do not stand up to criminals since no possession is worth your well-being.
Hire Tour Guides
Belize boasts lush jungles ideal for hikes and treks. However, it is also easy to get lost in said jungles which can be quite dangerous.
It is advisable to hire a tour guide whenever you want to venture into jungles. A tour guide knows appropriate routes to use, reducing the risk of getting lost. Moreover, they know survival tactics that may come in handy even if you do get lost.
Obtain Copies of Vital Documents
One of the most important documents you carry when traveling is your passport, which allows you to enter and leave your destination. Therefore, to avoid inconveniences like losing it, you should consider having copies of your passport and other documents necessary to guarantee your safety.
You can put the original documents in a safe in your hotel room, or somewhere you believe no one will have access to them.
Avoid Traveling at Night
Night travel in Belize is risky due to several factors.
First, most criminals operate at night, meaning you are less likely to be aware of their movements before they strike.
Second, the road infrastructure in Belize is not that good, meaning you are increasingly more at risk of experiencing an accident if you travel at night.
Other precautions you should consider when visiting Belize include:
- Get your vaccines before traveling to reduce the risk of getting sick.
- Buying mosquito repellent to avoid mosquito bites that cause malaria.
- Apply sunscreen to prevent sunburns.
- Stay hydrated, especially if you plan to take hiking trips.
- Educate yourself on disaster preparedness measures since Belize experiences hurricanes.
Statistics About Crime Rates in Belize
Belize has a reputation as a high crime rate country. For instance, violent crimes like murder, burglaries, and sexual assault are prevalent throughout the day. The country also has links to drug trafficking and human trafficking, which contributes to gang culture.
The following are some statistics about crime rates in Belize:
Murders
Belize consistently has one of the highest murder rates per capita globally. The latest data shows the country’s murder rate in 2021 was 29.06 per one hundred thousand people. The total murder count that same year was 125 people for a country with a population of 430,191.
2021 and 2020 had exceptionally low murder rate figures compared to the previous five years between 2015 and 2019, when the lowest recorded figure was 32.31 per one hundred thousand residents. The decline is attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the country to impose measures to limit its spread.
However, easing restrictions has caused a rebound in the murder rate. For example, the murder count in 2020 was 102 people compared to 125 people in 2021.
Such figures put Belize in the top five countries with the highest per capita murder rates, with Jamaica, South Africa, Mexico, and St. Lucia being the only countries with worse rates.
Other Major Crimes
Other significant crimes monitored by the Belize Police Department include rape, robbery, burglary, theft, and unlawful sexual intercourse. The following is a breakdown of the statistics about each of them.
- Rape: There were 12 reported cases of rape in 2021 compared to 25 in 2020.
- Unlawful sexual intercourse: The police department registered 46 cases in 2021 compared to 55 in 2020.
- Robbery: There were 167 official cases in 2021 compared to 160 cases in 2020.
- Burglary: Burglary is the most common major crime, with 456 cases reported in 2021 compared to 479 in 2020.
- Theft: There were 77 instances of theft in 2021 compared to 67 in 2020.
Therefore, based on those two years, most of the major crimes seem to be at a low point, but it is mainly due to the strict COVID-19 curfews that were in place in 2020 and most of 2021.
Highest Crime Areas in Belize
Though Belize has a high crime rate, as noted in the statistics, the level of crime is not evenly distributed throughout the country. There are areas with a higher crime rate than the national average, with most of them being large cities and tourist hotspots. These areas include:
- Belize City
- Caye Caulker
- San Pedro.
Within Belize City, crime is often gang-related, especially South of the Haulover Creek, with these groups known to traffic drugs and humans.
Gangs also operate in the jungles to the country’s west, close to its border with Guatemala. They use the area as a route to smuggle drugs and people due to the porous nature of the border.
Places To Avoid When in Belize
Most of Belize is worth exploring since it offers great exposure to nature and local culture. However, there are locations not worth the risk due to increased safety concerns. Some of those locations include:
South Side of Belize City
The south side of Belize City has historically been a hub for criminal activity. Gangs control the area; thus, it is not advisable to frequent it. Though gang-related crimes primarily affect only gang members, it is prudent to take extra precautions and avoid the area entirely since you may become a victim.
Western Border of Belize
Tourists should avoid Western Belize, close to its border with Guatemala. Drug and human traffickers use the area as transportation routes, and encounters with them may not be pleasant.
Moreover, Belize and Guatemala have an ongoing border dispute. Therefore, if you’re in the area, ensure you use official border crossings to avoid encountering authorities.
Dark and Empty Streets or Paths
You should avoid walking along dark or poorly lit streets because you cannot correctly see your surroundings. That puts you at risk of an attack and hinders a swift escape. In addition, empty streets are dangerous since the number of people present to witness crimes is minimal, meaning you are less likely to receive assistance.
Overall, whenever you travel to Belize, avoid the above-listed areas since the Belize police are also not well staffed or equipped to handle the high crime rate.
Conclusion
Belize is a beautiful tropical country worth visiting. It boasts incredible beaches, coral reefs, jungles, Mayan pyramids, and ruins. However, it is also a high-risk country. Therefore, you should keep an eye on your surroundings and belongings while in the area.
FAQs
1. Is there easy access to hospitals in Belize?
Yes. Each District of Belize offers it’s own public hospital. The main and largest hospital in Belize is located in Belize City.
Belize also offers several private hospitals throughout Belize if you prefer.
2. How can I fly into Belize?
Belize has one international airport in Ladyville (close to Belize City) called Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport. From here you can move onto anywhere else in Belize you would like.
3. When is the best time to visit Belize?
The best time to visit Belize is between December to February. This is the high tourist season and is also the cooler months of the year.
