Travel safety comparison · Latin America & the Caribbean

Belize vs Guatemala: safety comparison

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Belize vs Guatemala: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Belize carries a materially lower safety risk than Guatemala on the composite Warnely score: 34/100 against 57/100, a gap of 23 points. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Belize scores 2/5 against Guatemala's 3/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 2 advisory on Belize and a Level 3 on Guatemala. Drug law diverges sharply: Guatemala carries a tier-severe regime against Belize's more permissive framework.
🇧🇿Belize 🇬🇹Guatemala
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 34 / 100 57 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Normal Caution High Risk
UK FCDO advisory No active advisory avoid all but essential travel to parts of country
US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)
Global Peace Index rank n/a #108
Drug law decrim Severe (long sentences)
Women's safety rating Exercise Caution Exercise Caution
LGBTQ+ legal status legal legal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency BZD GTQ
Full guide

Is Belize safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Guatemala safe to visit in 2026?

Belize vs Guatemala: common questions

Is Belize or Guatemala safer to visit?

Belize has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 34/100 vs 57/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Belize or Guatemala safer for solo female travellers?

Belize is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Guatemala is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Belize and Guatemala?

Belize: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Guatemala: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) (US State).

More comparisons

Belize vs Mexico · Guatemala vs Mexico · Guatemala vs El Salvador · Guatemala vs Honduras · Guatemala vs Nicaragua · Belize vs Honduras · Belize vs El Salvador · Belize vs Nicaragua

Planning the trip? Check Belize visa requirements and Guatemala visa requirements.

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