Belize is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central America. However, this does not mean that there are no safety concerns for visitors visiting the country and experiencing what it has to offer as a tourist.
In general, visitors should be quite careful when visiting Belize, but it is certainly possible to enjoy a safe tourist trip to the country.
However, tourists should follow some guidelines and avoid certain areas of the country when visiting Belize. Like any country, there are certain parts of Belize that are safer than others.
Read on to learn what you need to know about visiting Belize safely.
Suggested: Is it safe to visit Guatemala?
How Much Crime Happens in the Nation of Belize?
Belize is a fairly small country in terms of total land area, with only 8,867 square kilometers of territory. This means that Belize is smaller than the state of Maryland in the United States and is only the 152nd largest country in the world.
The nation of Belize is also small in terms of population. The total population of Belize is only about 400,000 people.
Despite these facts, Belize has a pretty high murder rate. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime lists Belize as one of the five countries with the highest murder rates in the world.
This is also a consistent ranking for the nation of Belize. According to the most recent data, the homicide rate in the country of Belize in 2021 will be 29 murders per 100,000 inhabitants of the country.
Murder is also not the only common form of violent crime in the country of Belize. Armed robberies are also quite common in the country, as are home burglaries and other crimes.
These violent crimes don’t just happen at night or in bad neighborhoods. Even in a safer area, one should be careful during the day.
View the latest Level 2 travel alert of the United States Department of State
LATEST UPDATES / NEWS from BELIZE:
August 23 – The leader of the opposition urges the government to take action against crime
Moses ‘Shyne’ Barrow, the Leader of the Opposition, did insisted the government to tackle the crime problem after a series of murders and the arrest of suspected drug traffickers. Two men and two minors were killed this weekend. Three of the men were killed by gun violence, Barrow said, showing GOB is failing.
The LOO claims that, to make matters worse, a new threat is currently emerging in the north. Barrow today commented on the arrest of suspected sicarios in Corozal and what he sees as a lack of urgency on the part of the government in dealing with the situation.
“We have a prime minister who is chairman of the National Security Council. In any other developing country, even in our region, the prime minister takes the safety of the citizen to heart. It’s a priority. I believe this is the first prime minister I don’t know when he met with his National Security Council. When we have crises, when we have emergencies, like the South Side stream emergency, he doesn’t say anything…” Barrow said.
July 13 – Tourism in Belize launches rewards for travel agents
In an effort to “give something back” to the industry, the Belize Tourism Board has developed its first rewards program for travel agencies.
Travel agents can earn points for every booking that includes at least one night in Belize, with 100 points available per night.
Points are awarded on the day of departure and a booking confirmation must be posted on the Tourist Office website.
After that, the points are valid for another 24 months and can be used for the purchase of merchandise and hotel room nights.
June 9 – JetBlue expands the Caribbean network with flights to Belize
JetBlue Airways announced Tuesday that it will add new routes and fly to two new locations: Philip SW Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City, Belize, and Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) in St. Kitts and Nevis.
On December 6, the airline will launch a new route from JFK to Belize City. JetBlue operates three flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Flight 2781 departs New York at 8:29 AM and arrives in Belize at 12:14 PM. Flight 2784, the return flight, departs at 1:30 PM and arrives at 7:00 PM. JetBlue will be the sole operator on this route.
April 19 – Haitians and Jamaicans lose their access rights to Belize
As a result of new immigration rules, Haitians are no longer allowed to enter Belize without a visa, while Jamaicans must now prove that they have paid for their accommodation before entering the country.
This was announced by the government of Belize after a cabinet meeting to discuss how citizens of the two island states of the Caribbean Community are using Belize as a transit point for illegal entry into the United States.
“Following a thorough discussion of the increasing number of visitors using Belize as a transit point to reach the United States, the Cabinet has decided that Belize will invoke Article 226(a) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, allowing the Minister of Immigration to immediately impose a visa requirement on Haitians wishing to visit Belize and to require Jamaican citizens to provide proof of fully paid, non-refundable hotel reservations before boarding flights to Belize,” the spokesperson said. said the government.
Dangerous areas to avoid
As mentioned earlier, some areas of Belize are more dangerous than others. This is the case with any country, but it is even more true when it comes to the nation of Belize.
The neighborhoods south of Belize City and close to Belize’s border with Guatemala are generally quite unsafe, especially for tourists.
Tourists should avoid these dangerous neighborhoods so they have the best chance of staying safe.
What are the safest parts of Belize?
While there are some dangerous areas in Belize, there are also some safer areas. One of the safest areas in Belize for tourists is the island of Caye Caulker.
Besides the safety, tourists with a smaller budget will also appreciate this island because they can travel well without spending too much money. It’s also worth pointing out that Caye Caulker is one of the more relaxing parts of Belize due to its lower cost and generally high level of safety.
You do have to watch out for pickpockets.
Corozal Town is another part of Belize that is quite safe for tourists. Quite a few foreign residents live in Corozal Town and this is one of the reasons it is one of the safer areas in the country of Belize.
Corozal Town is Belize’s northernmost municipality.
Many tourists like to visit Corozal Town when they come to Belize because of the high level of security and the laid-back, peaceful nature of the area. However, you still need to pay attention to their belongings.
Despite the general security of Corozal Town, pickpocketing can still happen if you’re not careful.
Final thoughts
Belize can be a fun place for tourists to visit. While there are some dangers in the country, tourists can generally stay safe if they avoid bad neighborhoods and travel at night.
Also, make sure you only take a taxi with the right license. As long as tourists follow the safety guidelines and pay close attention, they can have a great and safe time in the country of Belize.
Update Archives:
Mar 15 – The Belize Tourism Board has launched a Civic Pride Jingle contest with a $3,000 prize
Last week the BTB launched the competition, which stated that the jingle must be between 30 and 45 seconds long in MP3 format, be highly recognizable or “catchy”, and have the words “Civic Pride” and “Belize” in the lyrics.
“He can cherish values such as fair and appropriate to us, no small matter, with regard to our nation and flag, consideration for our flora and fauna, and respect for each other,” the ВТВ said.
“All entries should be submitted to рr@bеlіzеtоurѕmbоаard.оаrd.оrg with the subject: “ВТВ ЈІNGLЕ СОМРЕТ ІТІОN” via Google Drive, Werаnѕfеr or Drорbох and the most important things should be listed in a separate document.”
The end is April 17.
