Am I Safe in Belize?

I often get questions about safety in Belize from people contemplating a trip to the tiny country.  I always found it interesting how concerning this is for people since I have never felt unsafe in Belize but at the same time I understand that there are concerns because of the statistics showing that Belize is a crime-riddled country.  Most of the crime is centralized in Belize City and not aimed at tourists or foreigners, not to say it never happens, but for the most part the crime is domestic.  It was pretty big news if someone was killed in Corozal (the town I lived in) and again, almost always was a domestic crime.

Today I was reminded that no matter where you are in this world there is a possibility of danger.  I have a part-time job waiting tables at a brewpub in Portland, OR and had just stepped outside to take some orders when a block up gunshots went off – it was a drive by shooting one block away.  No one was hurt thankfully but it was a shocking reminder that in America, in a relatively nice neighborhood, there is a danger of random crime and violence.  It’s not a very good feeling either.  I immediately thought of all the concerned emails I have received about the safety of Belize and I thought to myself that unless there are legitimate warnings against visiting a place you shouldn’t use the possibility of crime occurring as an excuse not to see a gorgeous country such as Belize.

Be appropriately cautious but don’t let that fear hinder your potentially incredible experiences.