Follow up on the "body guards used by locals to go to Belize City

[Hank49]

About a week ago there was a post in a thread about traveling between Belize and Mexico.

It stated, and I quote, "keep in mind that Belize is a dangerous country outside of the tourist areas. Locals from Ambergris Cay will not go to Belize City without a body guard".

I had never heard that and I've lived in Belize for 13 years. I'm in Dangriga now so I called some people I know there. No one I know had heard this news either.

I talked to my good friend who works in the Belize Electric office and receives payments etc. She's from a well know family there and is 4th generation or so San Pedrana. She told me (and I quote), "That's the first time I heard about that. What kind of body guards"?
This is from one who talks to just about everyone who pays an electric bill in San Pedro.

So rest assured, it's not THAT dangerous here. Yes, Belize and Central America have high murder rates on the world scale. But most of it associated with the drugs that pass through the area on the way to the US. And too much beer and macho attitude possible also....

Thanks for reading this. Come to Belize and dive. Even if we are the "Wild West of Diving". (that's another story......)

 

[diversteve]

It helps if your name is John McAfee...

 

[chillyinCanada]

No kidding. I know lots of San Pedranos and expats that go to Belize City without a body guard. I don't know John McAfee but no one I do know has any bodyguards. I've even been in Belize City without a body guard though I did have company.

 

[peterbj7]

I live on Ambergris Caye and occasionally (as rarely as possible) go to Belize City. I have never used a bodyguard and have never heard of anyone using one, except possibly for one individual here who is a corrupt money launderer/thief and has bodyguards wherever he happens to be.

 

[drbill]

I don't know how real the threat is, but when I worked on an eco cruise ship based out of Belize City, we were told never to go into town alone, only in groups. That was back in 2005.

 

[Downing]

I've toured all over Belize by myself several times. Never felt threatened in the slightest way.

You do have to be careful in Belize City, though. I like to walk around in the very early morning hours, just after dawn to around seven o'clock, when the bad guys are hitting the hay after a hard night of stomping and hacking. But for the most part I stick to the main streets. But once when I wanted to cut through an alley as a shortcut, an older woman volunteered to escort me to the other side, and I took her up on her offer. It did get a little intense in there, and I wouldn't do it again.

I've found Belize overall to be very safe, but Belize City, not so much. It would definitely be safer to walk around there in groups and never, ever after dark no matter how big your army.

 

[Hank49]

I've never had a problem other than a half drunk guy stopping to try and talk to me. I knew he was drunk and was kind of blowing him off. He started in with me being a white guy thinking that all colored skin people are like this like that...I just told him, "why don't you just keep walking, You were doing good until you started talking, Have a nice day". He looked at me like I was crazy....and walked on.

Walk like you know where you're going and you know what you're looking for. If someone hails you, walk right up to them, look them in the eye and ask, "what"? It's all attitude. Even when you're an old fart. They never know when you might be packin'.

 

[Edward3c]

...
Walk like you know where you're going and you know what you're looking for. If someone hails you, walk right up to them, look them in the eye and ask, "what"? It's all attitude. Even when you're an old fart. They never know when you might be packin'.

That works anywhere in the world. Act like a tourist and you'll get ripped off like one. Even driving in the States if I'm lost I don't drive slowly, but pull into a shopping area and then consult a map.

I think Belize is a great country - shame about Belize City

 

[DeputyDan]

They left out that the body guards were needed to fend off all the paparazzi....