Belize City, Belize
What 90% of solo women don't know about staying safe in Belize City.
Upscale waterfront area with the BELIZE sign and one good restaurant. Quieter and safer than downtown but isolated - you'll need taxis to get anywhere. Fort George is more practical, or just skip the city.
Buttonwood Bay is an upscale residential area on the northern waterfront. The colorful BELIZE sign at the end of Buttonwood Bay Boulevard near the lighthouse is the main draw - good for photos. This is one of the wealthier parts of the city with nicer homes and cleaner streets. Belamari at Seashore does open-air waterfront dining and cocktails if you want to sit by the water. The area feels safer during the day because it's residential and families use the seaside park, but it's far from the tourist areas. You'll need taxis to get to Fort George, the Tourism Village, or the water taxi terminal. It's quiet and residential with limited dining options, especially at night. If you're staying at one of the small hotels or rentals here, you're getting a more local residential vibe, but you'll rack up taxi costs getting anywhere useful.
Daytime Safety
GoodNight Walking Safety
ModerateHarassment Risk
ModeratePublic Transport Safety
ModeratePickpocketing Risk
ModerateScam Risk
ModeratePolice Visibility
ModerateEmergency Services
GoodEvening Venues
ModerateSolo Dining
ModerateDrug Activity
LowHomelessness Visibility
LowGetting By in English
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"Beautiful BELIZE sign for photos but that's about it"
"Quiet residential area that felt safe during the day"
"Nice waterfront restaurant but far from everything else"
"Expensive for what you get - better off in Fort George"
"Had to taxi everywhere which was annoying and costly"
Areas with comparable safety profiles for solo female travelers
The safest neighborhood in Belize City with the Tourism Village, upscale hotels, and main attractions. If you have to stay overnight in the city, this is where to do it. Most people skip it entirely and head straight to the islands or interior.
Residential area with hospitals and schools. Safer than southside but not set up for tourists - limited English, no tourist services. Stay in Fort George instead or skip the city entirely.
Commercial center around the Swing Bridge and Albert Street. Worth a quick daytime look to see local life and the manual bridge, but pickpocketing is bad and it's dangerous after dark. Don't spend more time here than you need to.
Help other women stay safe in Buttonwood Bay
Neighborhood conditions can change. Check recent news, ask locals or your accommodation about current safety, especially for nighttime plans.