{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/belize/benque-viejo-del-carmen","updatedAt":"2026-09-02T23:12:44.818Z","place":{"city":"Benque Viejo del Carmen","country":"Belize","countryCode":"BZ","lat":17.0704214,"lon":-89.1369452},"safety":{"score":67,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":68,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":63,"travellerSentiment":{"score":84,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Visitors consistently report feeling safe in Benque Viejo del Carmen, citing its tranquil atmosphere and strong local presence, though some note minor discomfort after dark in poorly lit streets.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":78,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":65,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":84,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":50,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":72,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 12 Mar 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.blz.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-12T09:40:30Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belize"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/belize"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":28.0582917218107,"display":"28.1 / 100k","year":"2022","score":17,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":11.7,"display":"11.7%","year":"2010","score":71,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":17.5,"display":"17.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":47,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":79.2986992,"display":"79/100","year":"2024","score":79,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":50.1294796,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":44.6078242,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":48.8303528,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":47.7644224,"display":"48/100","year":"2024","score":48,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":58.6688121,"display":"59/100","year":"2024","score":59,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":51.8,"display":"51.8 / 100","year":null,"score":52,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":29,"display":"US AQI 29 · Good","year":null,"score":93,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":5,"display":"5 within 15 km · nearest ~2.1 km","year":null,"score":88,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":38,"display":"September: highs ~38°C · extreme heat","year":null,"score":62,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Drought (green)","year":null,"score":90,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":4,"display":"Low risk","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":78,"display":"78 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Drought","severity":"green","title":"Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador","distanceKm":208}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Benque Viejo del Carmen is generally safe for visitors who exercise normal precautions, though petty crime exists and border-area vigilance is advised.","summary":"The town benefits from low violent crime relative to Belize City and strong community ties, but visitors should guard against opportunistic theft and scams targeting tourists, especially near the Guatemalan border and market areas. Recent incidents are limited, with most safety concerns stemming from petty crime rather than violence.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Armed robbery is rare in Benque Viejo del Carmen; incidents are mostly non-confrontational snatch-thefts near the border crossing and market."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas like the weekly market and near the Mopan River ferry to Xunantunich, particularly during peak visitor hours."},"safeAreas":["Town Centre (around Central Park and Municipal Building)","Mopan River Ferry Crossing to Xunantunich","Residential Northeast (toward San Jose Succotz)","Weekly Market Zone (eastern edge of town)"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Taxi overcharging or unofficial drivers near border crossings","Fake tour guides offering unsolicited services at Xunantunich ferry point","ATM skimming or distraction theft in busy market zones"],"zones":[{"name":"Town Centre (around Central Park and Municipal Building)","level":"safe","note":"Generally safe during daytime with regular police presence and local commerce; avoid unfamiliar areas after dark."},{"name":"Mopan River Ferry Crossing to Xunantunich","level":"safe","note":"Popular tourist route with steady visitor traffic and local vendors; standard precautions against petty theft advised."},{"name":"Western Border Area near Melchor de Mencos (Guatemala)","level":"caution","note":"Active border crossing with foot traffic and trade; monitor for smuggling-related activity and avoid unofficial crossings after dark."},{"name":"Residential Northeast (toward San Jose Succotz)","level":"safe","note":"Quiet, family-oriented neighbourhood with low visitor traffic; standard residential safety applies; no recent crime reports in dossier."},{"name":"Southern Outskirts near Agricultural Fields","level":"caution","note":"Sparsely populated farming zones; limited lighting and patrols after dark; avoid isolated areas, especially during harvest season."},{"name":"Weekly Market Zone (eastern edge of town)","level":"safe","note":"Busy regional market with local and Guatemalan traders; pickpocketing risk moderate in crowds — keep valuables secured."},{"name":"Northern Access Road toward Benque Viejo Ridge","level":"caution","note":"Less-traveled route leading to rural areas; minimal lighting and occasional vehicle traffic; avoid walking alone after dark."}]}}