Belize has a bad reputation for crime , but while it's true that Belize City has a relatively high crime rate, it certainly doesn't live up to some of the stories you might hear, while crime against tourists in the country as a whole is very low, especially in comparison to other Central American countries. Violent crime against tourists is very rare, even in Belize City.

In Belize City , theft is now fairly common, the majority of cases involving break-ins at hotels: bear this in mind when you're searching for a room. Out and about there's always a slight danger of pickpockets , but certainly no greater than in the surrounding countries, and with a bit of common sense you've nothing to fear. The atmosphere on the streets is much less intimidating since the introduction of the tourism police , but nevertheless it pays to be aware of the dangers. There's also a chance of something more serious happening, such as a mugging . During the daytime there's little to worry about. However, at night you should stick to the main streets and avoid going out alone, especially if you're a woman. If you arrive in Belize City at night, take a taxi to a hotel, as the bus stations are in a fairly derelict part of town - though not bad enough to worry about for daylight arrivals. Having said all this, muggings are really not that common, and your greatest fear is likely to be the mood of intimidation on the streets, which makes Belize City feel far more dangerous than it actually is. If you do need to report a crime , your first stop should be the tourism police, where they exist - crime against tourists is taken very seriously in Belize. The police emergency number in Belize is 90; to contact the tourism police in Belize City call 02/72222 ext 401.

Verbal abuse is not uncommon, especially in Belize City, where there are always plenty of people hanging out on the streets, commenting on all that passes by. For anyone with a white face, the inevitable "Hey, white boy/white chick - what's happening?" will soon become a familiar sound. At first it can all seem very threatening, but if you take the time to stop and talk, you'll find the vast majority of these people simply want to know where you're from, and where you're heading - and perhaps to try to offer you a deal on boat trips, money exchange, or bum a dollar or two. Once you realize that they mean no harm the whole experience of Belize City will be infinitely more enjoyable. Obviously, the situation is a little more serious for women, and the abuse can be more offensive, but once again it's unlikely that anything will come of it, and it's usually possible to talk your way out of a dodgy situation without anyone losing face.

Homosexuality is still illegal in Belize and some recent prosecutions have resulted in convictions and even a prison sentence. Although no visitors have been prosecuted (or even warned) it's obviously sensible to be very discreet. And given the legal position, it's no surprise to learn that there's no openly gay community and no exclusively gay bars in Belize.