North and Central America and Caribbean
Belize
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Still current at: 08 January 2009
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Updated: 18 November 2008
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This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and Natural Disasters section (amendment to information on severe flooding). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
- Travel Summary
- Safety and security
- Local laws and customs
- Entry requirements
- Health
- Natural disasters
- General
See entire profile
Travel Summary
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You are advised to exercise caution when travelling by road as recent flooding has caused major infrastructural damage.
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The hurricane season in Belize normally runs from June to November. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and Tropical Cyclones for more details.
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Around 10,225 British Tourists visited Belize in 2007 (Source: Belize Tourist Board). Most visits to Belize are trouble-free. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Belize in 2007 were for replacing lost or stolen passports (14 cases); hospitalisations, mainly due to road traffic accidents (2 cases); and dealing with arrests or detentions (2 cases). However, you should be on your guard and exercise caution, as there have been occasional violent incidents against tourists.
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There is a low threat from terrorism in Belize. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign nationals.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism in Belize. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
There is a low threat from terrorism in Belize. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.
Crime
There have been incidents of violent crime and physical assaults, including armed robbery and rape, targeted at tourists. Armed criminal gangs have been known to operate in and around densely forested areas of Belize and close to a number of tourist sites. For more general information see Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad.
Mugging is a risk to travellers especially in Belize City and other urban and tourist centres. Muggings can occur at any time: day or night. Avoid dark alleys, keep valuables out of sight, do not wear jewellery. Where possible you should travel in groups. You should use a qualified guide for trips off the beaten track.
When a crime is reported to the police they will take a statement and investigate the matter. This may take several weeks. You can pay a fee at any point during the process to receive a copy of the report on completion. Regardless of where you gave a statement, payment for a copy of the report can only be made at the main police stations: Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, San Pedro, Belmopan, San Ignacio, Benque Viejo, Dangriga and Punta Gorda.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Political demonstrations can occur in Belize City and Belmopan, often at short notice. Though most are peaceful, some demonstrations have resulted in civil disorder. You should avoid getting caught up in demonstrations.
You should monitor local media and avoid large gatherings of people or demonstrations.
Local Travel
You should monitor local media and avoid large gatherings of people or demonstrations.
Local Travel
There has been a number of sports-related incidents resulting in injuries to and fatalities of foreign tourists. Some of these incidents involved water sports such as snorkelling and diving. Severe weather conditions and inadequate safeguards being applied by local tour operators have been cited as causes. You should consult weather forecasts locally and ensure that you use registered and licensed operators before undertaking any sporting activities.
You should exercise particular care when travelling in the Belize/Guatemala border area because of the ongoing dispute between the two countries. You are strongly advised to use only the officially recognised border crossings.
You can find more information on local travel on the Belize Tourism Board's website.
Road Travel
You can use your UK Driving Licence or an International Driving Permit to drive in Belize for visits under three months. For longer stays, an International Driving Permit is required.
Road traffic accidents are a common occurrence and local driving standards are poor. You should take great care when driving.
For more general information see Driving Abroad.
Local laws and customs
You should not become involved with drugs of any kind: possession is still considered a serious crime in Belize and can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment.
Homosexuality is generally considered to be socially unacceptable and some homosexual acts are illegal.
You are not required to carry identification whilst in Belize. However, it is advisable to do so.
You are not required to carry identification whilst in Belize. However, it is advisable to do so.
For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
Visas
British nationals can normally visit Belize for up to 30 days without needing to obtain a visa. However, you must ensure that your passport is stamped on entry as failure to do so can result in either a fine and/or imprisonment when you come to leave the country.
Passport validity
Your passport should have at least six months’ validity before travelling to Belize.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Health
Medical facilities throughout Belize are limited. Serious cases are normally evacuated to the United States at the expense of the patient. Your insurance policy should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance.
Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. In 2007 there was an increase in the number of reported cases of dengue.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 3,400 adults aged 15 or over in Belize were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 2.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Belize and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see Travel Health.
Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. In 2007 there was an increase in the number of reported cases of dengue.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 3,400 adults aged 15 or over in Belize were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 2.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Belize and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see Travel Health.
Natural disasters
You are advised to exercise caution when travelling by road. Recent flooding has caused major infrastructural damage on the Northern and Western Highways. In the south of the country, particularly to the districts of Stann Creek and Toledo, several temporary bridges and causeways are in low lying areas which tend to flood during severe weather conditions.
The hurricane/tropical cyclone season in Belize normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the National Hurricane Centre. For more general information see Tropical Cyclones.
General
Insurance
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Passports
The British High Commission in Belmopan does not issue passports and, before setting off, you should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity and a plentiful supply of unused pages. Applications for new passports are accepted but forwarded to the British Embassy in Mexico City for processing. This may take up to six weeks. If a courier is used, the cost will have to borne by the applicant.
Money
ATMs are readily available in the larger towns. However, credit cards and travellers cheques may only be used in large tourist facilities.
Travel advice for this country
- Travel Summary
- Safety and security
- Local laws and customs
- Entry requirements
- Health
- Natural disasters
- General
See entire profile
Change country
contacts
Belize, Belmopan, British High Commission
Address:
British High Commission
PO Box 91
Belmopan
Telephone:
+ (501) 822 3146 - Consular direct
+ (501) 610 1045 - Duty officer
Fax:
+ (501) 822 2761
Email: brithicom@btl.net
Office hours:
GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 1400-1800/1900-2200
Fri: 1400-2000
Local Time:
Mon-Thurs: 0800-1200/1300-1600
Fri: 0800-1400
Consular section opened 9 am to noon and 1-3 pm Monday through Thursdays and 10 am to 2 pm on Fridays
