Belize City: A Safe Haven For Cruise Passengers?

Belize City is a popular cruise destination, known for its colonial charm and natural beauty. However, it is important to consider safety precautions when visiting this city. While the local population is typically friendly and polite, and tourists are not usually the target of violent crimes, Belize City has a high crime rate, with gang and drug-related violence, including murders and shootings, being common. Tourists should be cautious and avoid walking around the city, especially at night, and stick to well-lit and busy tourist areas. It is also important to be aware of your surroundings, avoid wearing valuable items, and keep your money and belongings secure. Additionally, it is recommended to use licensed taxis or other registered transportation services to get around the city. Overall, with the right precautions and research, a trip to Belize City can be enjoyable and safe.

Crime and safety in Belize City

Belize City is the largest urban centre in Belize, with a population of around 110,000. While the city exudes colonial charm, with its wooden and brick buildings, it is known for not being particularly safe. Tourists should be cautious when visiting Belize City, especially after dark.

Violent Crime

Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. Violent crime is a significant concern in the country, including in Belize City, with gang and drug-related violence, including murders and shootings, being common. Tourists are not usually targeted, but it is still possible to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Petty Crime

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is also common in Belize. Criminals often operate in groups and target individuals travelling alone. It is important to remain aware of your surroundings at all times and avoid travelling after dark. It is also recommended to avoid carrying large amounts of cash and showing signs of affluence.

Safety Precautions

To avoid becoming a victim of crime in Belize City, it is advisable to remain in well-populated tourist areas during the day and take taxis at night. It is also important to carry valid ID at all times and keep your money and valuables secure.

Border tensions with Guatemala

Belize City is known for not being particularly safe, and tourists are advised to exercise a high degree of caution when visiting the country due to high levels of violent crime. However, tourists are usually not targeted, and by taking some basic safety precautions, such as remaining aware of your surroundings, avoiding travelling after dark, and not carrying large amounts of cash, the risks can be mitigated.

Belize and Guatemala have a long-standing territorial dispute that dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries when Britain and Spain signed several treaties regarding territories in the Americas. The area of modern-day Belize was agreed to be under Spanish sovereignty, but British settlers were allowed to use the land under certain conditions. When the Spanish Empire fell, Guatemala claimed that it inherited Spain's sovereign rights over the territory, and since then, it has claimed, in whole or in part, the territory of Belize.

Throughout the 20th century, tensions flared up intermittently between Guatemala and Belize (then known as British Honduras). In 1931, both countries reaffirmed the borders outlined in the Wyke-Aycinena Treaty of 1859, which stated that Guatemala recognised British sovereignty over the region and formed the modern-day boundary lines of Belize. However, less than ten years later, Guatemala renewed its claims on the area, citing Britain's failure to comply with economic assistance provisions in the treaty.

In recent years, there have been several incidents of Guatemalan military personnel confronting Belizean Territorial Volunteers near the border, particularly near Sarstoon Island. In 2018, Guatemala held a referendum in which 95.88% of voters supported sending the claim to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Belize also held a referendum in 2019, with 55.4% of voters agreeing to let the ICJ resolve the dispute. As of 2022, both countries are in the process of settling the dispute at the ICJ, and a ruling is not expected until 2025 at the earliest.

Despite the ongoing border dispute, Guatemala officially recognised Belize's independence in the early 1990s, and diplomatic relations were established. However, criminal activity and violence are prevalent in border areas, and tourists are advised to avoid these regions, including tourist sites such as the Mayan ruins at Caracol.

Drug and human trafficking

Belize is a transit point for human and drug trafficking between South and North America. The country's geographical position makes it an ideal passage for human trafficking throughout Central America. Victims are recruited and exploited both within the country and abroad, with women, children, and migrants from Central America, Mexico, and Asia being among the most vulnerable groups. Migrants are often exploited in agriculture, domestic work, and retail, while women and children are exposed to sex trafficking.

Belize's government has not adequately addressed official complicity in trafficking crimes, and corruption remains a concern, especially among lower-level officials. There are reports of police officers taking bribes to ignore trafficking incidents, fail to report perpetrators, and identify victims.

Belize is also a transit point for drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, which are smuggled into the country by air and sea from South American countries like Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Mexican cartels control the flow of heroin through the country, and local Belizeans are hired to smuggle the drug into Mexico and the US. Belize is also increasingly used as a transit point for the precursors used in synthetic drug production.

Gang activity in Belize City

Gang activity is a significant concern in Belize City, with gang violence on the rise due to increased access to firearms. The city's Southside, south of the Haulover Creek River, has been flagged as a particular hotspot, with the Government of Belize declaring a state of emergency in the area in June 2024 due to high levels of gang and drug-related violence, including murders and shootings.

Gang members in Belize City frequently use weapons to settle disputes, and clashes between rival gangs over territory for illegal activities are common. The police's capacity to respond to these incidents is limited, and many crimes go unsolved. While tourists are not usually targeted, there is a risk of being caught in the crossfire.

To reduce the risk of becoming a victim of gang-related violence in Belize City, it is recommended to avoid non-essential travel to the Southside of the city and to follow general safety guidelines such as remaining vigilant and aware of your surroundings, avoiding travelling after dark, and keeping a charged cellphone with you at all times.

Tourist areas in Belize City

Belize City is not considered particularly safe for tourists, but there are still several tourist areas in the city. The Fort Street Tourism Village, where cruise ships dock, is a safe area with an appealing atmosphere. It is clean and well-maintained, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars. The Museum of Belize, St. John's Cathedral, and the Belize Tourism Board office are all within walking distance of the cruise port.

The north side of Belize City is considered the safest and most prosperous area. Good hotels, casinos, and the Museum of Belize are located in this zone, as are the cruise ship and marine terminals. The south side has a couple of tourist attractions, including the historic St. John's Cathedral and the House of Culture.

Belize City also has a water taxi terminal, from which short commuter flights and water taxi rides take visitors out to the cayes and atolls.

The Old Belize Beach, a couple of miles outside the city, is an artificial beach that is easy for cruise ship passengers to reach.

Frequently asked questions