The United States Department of State has reaffirmed its travel advisory for Belize, retaining the Central American nation at a Level 2 classification, which urges travelers to ‘Exercise Increased Caution.’ This assessment, reissued on March 12, 2026, continues to identify criminal activity as the predominant risk for visitors.
The advisory underscores that while violent incidents can transpire in zones frequented by tourists, the epicenter of such crime remains concentrated on the south side of Belize City. The spectrum of offenses highlighted encompasses sexual assault, armed robbery, residential break-ins, and homicide, with a significant portion of this violence being attributed to ongoing gang conflicts.
Compounding these security challenges, the update points to systemic issues within local infrastructure. Belizean law enforcement agencies are noted to operate with constrained resources, which frequently impedes criminal investigations and often results in cases remaining unsolved. Furthermore, the capacity for emergency medical response is characterized as limited. In instances of severe injury, medical evacuation to another country is frequently necessitated due to inadequate local treatment facilities.
A distinct and more severe Level 3 advisory—’Reconsider Travel’—is applied specifically to the south side of Belize City. Consequently, U.S. government personnel are under strict directives to avoid travel south of the Haulover Creek Canal to Fabers Road. An additional security protocol prohibits them from inter-city road travel after nightfall.
The advisory concludes with standardized safety recommendations for all visitors, which include avoiding walking or driving during nighttime hours, being discreet with valuables to not attract attention, and complying with assailants without physical resistance in the event of a robbery.