Belize for Solo Female Travelers
Is Belize Good for First-Time Solo Female Travelers?
by Kate McCulley - Adventurous Kate
It depends — I think Belize is good for some but not all first-time solo female travelers. If you already have a good amount of travel experience and have just never traveled solo, or if you have lived in a big city, you may have a better time in Belize.
Why is this? Because the street harassment is significant, especially on the islands and beaches. It’s hard to go anywhere alone on Caye Caulker without the men yelling stuff at you. It happens day and night, whether they’re on their own or with others, and it can make you feel threatened.
If you’ve only lived in a small town and haven’t traveled internationally before, even with other people, I wouldn’t recommend Belize for a first-time solo trip. You might have an easier time somewhere like Costa Rica, Scotland, or even Thailand.
Is Belize Good for Experienced Solo Female Travelers?
Hell yes — if you’re an experienced solo traveler, Belize is a great choice. When I visited Belize for the first time, I had been to more than 50 countries. And I found Belize to be such a breath of fresh air, so unlike how I thought it was going to be. It’s a beautiful hybrid of Latin America and the Caribbean, so many different cultures living in one place, with amazing people.
Belize also has one experience that you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world: the ATM Caves. It is the single best thing I did in Belize and an experience that will blow away any jaded traveler.
I always encourage experienced solo female travelers to get off the beaten path a bit. In Belize, check out Hopkins, an up-and-coming beach town with a Garifuna community. You might enjoy the tiny island of Tobacco Caye.
Is Belize Safe?
Generally speaking, Belize is a very safe country to travel, even for a woman traveling alone. It’s no more dangerous than the surrounding countries, most of the crimes take place in parts of Belize City where tourists don’t go, and if you stay focused and use common sense, chances are you’ll have a perfectly safe trip to Belize.
While Belize is generally a safe country, though, Belize doesn’t always feel safe to women. The street harassment here can be vile and incessant, particularly on the islands. If you’re used to hearing street harassment on a regular basis, you’ll be accustomed to this; if you’re new to it, it may be jarring or even frightening.
I found that on the islands of Belize, many of the local men will hit on women nonstop — especially if she’s on her own. This usually starts out lighthearted but promptly escalates into increasingly sexual comments.
It’s hard to know how to deal with harassment when it happens, especially since the men in Belize often start out saying innocuous things with a big smile on their face before launching into the gross stuff. It’s particularly a tough dance in Belize, where the people are generally so friendly. I’ll respond to “Hi beautiful!” comments and the like, but the moment they go from friendly to sexual, I ignore them and walk away.
Other than street harassment, the other major safety issue in Belize is watching your drinking. It’s very easy to drink more than what you’re used to here. A lot of people camp out on the Split with beer buckets and spend the whole day drinking; many of the snorkeling and diving tours end with rum punch, which can quickly turn into several glasses, and the juice often masks the alcohol, leading you to believe you’re not getting that drunk.
When you’re traveling solo, it’s smart to keep your drinking to less than usual. I find that two drinks is a good amount. Keep asking yourself, “Do I want to have less control than I do now?” and make your decisions accordingly
One thing I noticed about Belize is that tour operators tend to be stricter here than in nearby countries, like Guatemala. Just days before I got to Belize, I was on a cave tour in Guatemala where people were jumping off high platforms in caves and squeezing through tight crevices with waterfalls, no helmets or life vests. In Belize, they’ll make you wear a helmet and life vest when you need it.
Don’t judge Belize’s safety based on crime rates in Belize City; Belize City is not reflective of Belize as a whole. Most tourists only pass through Belize City while in transit — like from the airport or bus station to the ferry terminal — and it’s perfectly safe to do so. As always, keep a close eye on your belongings while in transit in Belize City.
So is Belize safe? No destination is ever 100% safe, but in Belize, you are usually as safe as you would be in your hometown. The vast majority of travel safety in Belize comes down to common sense. Keep an eye on your belongings, do research in advance, watch your drinking, keep in touch with someone at home.