Serious warning about Belize City

I normally try to avoid spending unnecessary time in major Central American cities but 10days ago I spent 2 nights in Belize City at the end of a trip. It has become increasingly and precariously unsafe in ALL areas of this city now. I purposely chose to stay at the Seaside Guesthouse due to it's location which was previously known to be generally safe during the daytime hours. This guesthouse is located on a very short street looking on the shoreline, a couple blocks south of the swing bridge. After arriving in the early afternoon I dropped off my pack and made my way to the water taxi terminal area to book an excursion to Lamanai for the next day. When I returned, I was informed that in the hour before I arrived, there was a seemingly unprovoked murder of the neighborhood fruit/vegetable vendor in which his throat was sliced in broad daylight on the street just 15seconds walk from the guesthouse entrance. Additionally, there had been 3 other separate murders in the preceding week within the same proximity. Apparently, from the guesthouse, neighborhood gunshots have been audible most weekend nights for the last few months. The American owner was closing up the guesthouse the day after I arrived as it was becoming too unsafe for her to exist in the city any longer. She reported that the last 3 months have become particularly violent in the city and that a lot of the murders aren't reported by the media. The next day I checked into the Radisson as it seemed like the safest option for me (I had a flight early the next morning). If I could do things different I would have avoided any overnight stay in Belize City altogether by doing the following:

1. I would have booked the excursion to Lamanai through the same travel vendor near the water taxi terminal. The excursion leaves at 8am and is back by 4pm. I would have over-nighted in Caye Caulker and taken the 1st boat off the island at 6:30am (arrives at the water taxi terminal at 7:30am) in order to make the excursion departure time. I originally was trying to book the Lamanai excursion using one of the Caye Caulker travel reps when I was staying there but they didn't have enough people to do the excursion 3 days in a row.

2. I would have booked my departing flight out of Belize City for around noon. This later departure would have allowed me to stay overnight on Caye Caulker, Dangria etc and still have enough morning transit time to make my morning flight.

Hope this information helps.

Thanks for posting.....I can't stand Belize City and I live in San Jose!

You say all areas of the city are dangerous which worries me.

I figured the central harbour area was sketchy, but would you say the area on the outskirts, around D'Nest Inn (Chetumal Street) is of concern? It looks, at least on Google, to be a quiet residential neighbourhood.

I am not actually planning to go anywhere near the inner-city area.

haha, belize city is the worst city i've ever been too. the hype is definately warranted!

Hey John500,

Quick question about the city. I will be bussing in from Tikal with plans to go to Caye Caulker. Is the bus stop that I will be dropped at close to the docks? Walking distance? Is it safe to walk this route or should I flag down a cab? Thanks in advance for the info.

Matt

Thanks John, great info. Sounds like we will be fine no matter where we end up!

Matt

No question about it, Belize city is getting super dangerous. I would always dread going to the city. I would try to get in and out in as little time as possible. But it's not just Belize city that's getting more dangerous. It's happening in Cayo and in the north. I have spend the last 3 years there because my wife is Belizean, and we have thankfully left for good this past spring. I hope to never have to go back again, and neither does my wife. The problems in Belize are just beginning. It's only going to get worse as time goes on. While the violence can be found in most of Belize, it's just so much more visible in Belize city. Just walking there during the day gives me the creeps, let alone after dark. If you can, avoid Belize city completely, all the better.