Heads up MadTravels contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you book or buy through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more information.
Thinking about a trip to Belize but not sure if it’s safe? I totally get it, and I want to share my experience, so you have a better idea of what to expect.
I spent a week in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye with my family. We did a mix of pool days and two big guided tours, including one to the mainland.
So, is Belize safe? For a typical tourist trip, that was my experience. Everyone we met was so kind, and the things I’d actually prepare for were the sun, a drink-heavy spring break like culture, and a few adventure activities that would not be allowed in the US.
In this post, I cover San Pedro, Secret Beach, Belize City, the travel advisory, tours, and tips. Let’s get into it!
Book your San Pedro trip
Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Is Belize Safe? The Quick Answer
The touristy areas like San Pedro and Caye Caulker are set up for visitors. With normal travel common sense, they’re easy and low-stress to get around.
Here’s the quick version:
- San Pedro (Ambergris Caye): relaxed and vacation-y, with golf carts everywhere and one main road
- Secret Beach: beautiful water and expect more of a party scene
- Belize City: I only passed through, which is what most travelers do
- Tours: going with a guided company meant I never had to figure out transportation on my own (loved this for the type of trip we had)
- Biggest real risks: strong UV and steep ruins with no guardrails (not actually unsafe though. You just have to be careful)
If I could only tell a friend one thing, it would be to plan your transportation ahead of time. Having scheduled, guided transfers made a huge difference on this trip.
Is San Pedro Belize Safe? What It’s Like on Ambergris Caye
San Pedro is the main town on Ambergris Caye, and it’s where most visitors stay. Once we arrived, the whole trip felt easy and very vacation-y.
It’s pretty touristy, which is part of why it feels comfortable. Restaurants, tours, and hotels are all used to visitors, and people were friendly everywhere we went.
One small example: we went back to Rum Dog, a dockside spot right on the water, to buy a T-shirt for my brother. The manager gave it to us for free (plus stickers!).
Where I Stayed and Why It Felt Safe
We stayed at Grand Caribe, one of the nicer hotels in San Pedro. You can also use its sister property, Sunset Caribe, which has better sunsets and a more modern pool.
One thing I didn’t expect was an urgent care in the same building as the hotel spa. It’s about a minute’s walk from the hotel.
The hotel also has its own dock, so our tour boats picked us up right there, even for our super early pickup on the mainland tour day. If you’re still choosing a hotel, I break down the best areas in my guide on where to stay in San Pedro.
📍Compare beachfront hotels in San Pedro, Belize→
Getting Around by Golf Cart
Almost every tourist gets around by golf cart, and I loved it. It’s so fun and makes the whole place feel like a little beach town. I’m not usually into such a touristy vibe, but it was fun.
There’s basically one main road across San Pedro, shared with bikes and motorbikes.
We took our golf cart to dinner at Truck Stop, an outdoor spot with food vendors, a beer garden, live music, and games like cornhole and foosball. It was only about a two-minute ride from our hotel. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Nightlife and the Drinking Culture
This is the part that surprised me most. San Pedro and the nearby cayes have a real spring break energy, even though I didn’t see many college-age travelers when we went.
Drinks are offered constantly, and there were funny signs about drinking all over the place.
Things close earlier than you might think. Truck Stop closes around 9 pm and our hotel pool closed at 10 pm.
I think Purple Pelican stays open later, but we didn’t go out that late, so I can’t speak to late-night bars.
Planning a weekend away?
Get The Weekender: weekend trips, already planned.
Is Ambergris Caye Safe Beyond Town? Secret Beach and Caye Caulker
Secret Beach is about a 20 to 25 minute golf cart ride from our hotel. This is where I’d give the most heads-ups.
The water is shallow, clear, and beautiful, and you can eat lunch at wooden tables with umbrellas set right in the water. That part was so cool, and the food was really good too.
A couple of people were pretty pushy about getting us into their bar. We kept walking and found a quieter spot further down.
Some bars feel very party-focused, and a few lounge chairs were a bit rundown. I think Secret Beach is a little overrated, but it was still worth going for the water. And, if you’re looking for a party scene, it’s great. If I was with my friends, I think I’d be more into it, but I was on a lowkey, relaxing trip with my family.
Caye Caulker, where we stopped on our snorkel tour, has a similar feel. It’s tiny, touristy, and very drink-friendly.
We had lunch at Sip n’ Drink, walked around the cute little town, watched them feed the tarpon, and stopped at a chocolate shop. Just expect a lot of stands selling jewelry and T-shirts.
Is Belize City Safe?
I stayed in San Pedro, so I can’t speak to spending nights in Belize City. We only passed through on the way in, the way out and on our mainland day tour.
On arrival, we took a shuttle to the boat port, had lunch at Old River Bar and Grill, then took the boat to San Pedro. The transfers were a little tricky but not bad.
Belize City is generally known to have higher crime than the cayes, and most visitors use it as a transit stop. If you’re passing through, I recommend pre-booked shuttles or a guided tour rather than wandering around on your own (unless that’s your vibe).
On our tour day, we drove about two hours through the countryside to the ruins (the tour description didn’t mention that). It felt much more local than the islands, and it was nice to see more of the country.
You have two ways to get from Belize City to San Pedro:
- Boat: shuttle plus boat, about 1.5 hours total, with stops along the way
- Small plane: about 15 minutes, fits around 14 people, a bit pricier
I cover both options in detail in my post on how to get to San Pedro.
✈️Find direct flights from New York to Belize City→
Belize Travel Advisory: What to Know Before You Go
The US State Department has typically listed Belize at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution,” mostly because of crime. Levels change, so check the current Belize travel advisory before you go.
Level 2 is the same category as a lot of popular destinations. It doesn’t mean don’t go, it means stay aware, especially in cities and at night.
A few practical habits that apply almost anywhere:
- Don’t leave phones, wallets, or bags sitting in your golf cart
- Keep an eye on your drink in busy bars
- Be aware of your surroundings
I also recommend travel insurance for Belize. Between snorkeling, zip lines, caves, and steep ruins, this is an active trip.
🛡️Get travel insurance for your Belize trip→
The Safety Risks I Actually Noticed
For me, the real risks in Belize were more about nature and adventure than people. Here’s what I’d prepare for.
The Sun Is So Strong
The UV index gets up to 10. I burn easily, and I definitely got burnt.
Mosquitoes and Bugs
I got mosquito bites at dinner at Coconut Café, which is close to the water (the fresh fish there was still my favorite meal of the trip!). I also got a few at Rain, the rooftop on top of our hotel.
You’ll want it on jungle tours too.
Snorkeling With Nurse Sharks
We snorkeled with Tuff E Nuff and saw colorful fish, stingrays, a turtle, and a nurse shark at the first stop. At the second stop, the guide tossed fish into the water, and so many nurse sharks showed up.
Swimming so awesome and felt safe, but it’s something that may be out of a lot of people’s comfort zones. Our guide was great and took us to the best spots.
A quick heads up: this is the second-largest reef in the world, and tours only visit a couple of spots to protect the rest. That means more boats and people, though we mostly had space once we swam away from the start.
Life vests are available if you’re not a strong swimmer. We had one guide for our group of six, and it felt very personal.
If it’s cloudy, bring a sweatshirt for the boat. I regretted not having one once the wind hit.
🎟️Book a snorkel tour from San Pedro→
Climbing Mayan Ruins
On our full-day tour, we climbed the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich. It’s steep with no guardrails, which definitely wouldn’t be allowed in the US, but it really was fine.
My dad is afraid of heights and was just fine. If heights really bother you, you might sit this one out.
We also saw a couple of tarantulas in holes in the ground, so watch where you step! If you want help picking a site, check out my guide to the best ruins in Belize.
Cave Tubing and Jungle Hikes
After a zip line stop (touristy but so fun), cave tubing was one of my favorite parts of the trip. You hike 20 to 30 minutes through the jungle and cross a river first.
Wear water shoes like Chacos. Parts of the cave are fully dark, so you’ll wear a headlamp, and our cave guide was great.
Our guide said it gets really crowded when cruise ships are in. We lucked out and had the caves mostly to ourselves.
Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Belize
I traveled with my family, so I can’t speak to going solo from experience. But a few things from my trip are worth knowing.
Our guide on the mainland day tour made bad jokes and was a little sexist. He was knowledgeable, and I still recommend the tour, but I’d read reviews and see if you can find out which guide you’ll get.
A few other tips:
- Book tours through an established company that covers your transportation
- Stay in a hotel with its own dock or tour pickup, so early starts are easy
- Save your hotel’s number and know your address
Group tours are also a nice way to meet people. On our mainland tour, we spent the day with a group of 14, and it was fun getting to know everyone.
What I’d Do Differently
Belize is a great trip, but a few things would’ve made it smoother. Here’s what I’d do next time.
- Fly instead of taking the boat. It’s pricier, but 15 minutes beats 1.5 hours of transfers
- Check guide reviews for the long mainland tour
- Pack a sweatshirt for the snorkel boat
- Plan around seaweed season
We went the last week of March, and the seaweed was heavy and smelled pretty strong. The hotel did a good job cleaning it up, but it changes the beach experience a lot. My guide on the best time to visit Belize goes into this month by month.
Tuff E Nuff is popular, so it’s smart to book tours ahead (even just a couple days ahead). We booked both a few days out through our hotel concierge, and it worked out.
Last, adjust your expectations. The hotels feel elevated, but the island is casual and touristy, not ultra-luxury, and the beaches are smaller than you might picture.
FAQs
Is Belize safe for tourists?
In my experience, yes. San Pedro and Caye Caulker are very set up for visitors, and the main things I had to watch out for were sun and bugs.
Is San Pedro Belize safe at night?
We took our golf cart to dinner and back at night, and people were friendly everywhere. Just know many places close early, so it’s not a big late-night scene.
Is Belize safe for solo female travelers?
I traveled with family, but I think it’s very doable with normal awareness. Book reputable tours and read guide reviews.
Is it safe to swim with nurse sharks in Belize?
Our Tuff E Nuff tour felt well run, and our guide was awesome. It was one of my favorite experiences.
Should I stay in Belize City?
Most travelers only pass through Belize City on the way to the cayes. I didn’t stay there, so I’d recommend pre-booked transfers and staying on the islands.
Final Thoughts
So, is Belize safe? For a typical beach and adventure trip, that was my experience.
It’s an easy getaway, and we enjoyed pool days and adventures with no safety concerns. For more ideas, check out my list of things to do in San Pedro.
I hope you have the best time!
I hope you have the best trip!
Everything here comes from my own time in San Pedro. Take what’s useful and make the trip your own.
