Safety in The Cayo

Being close to Guatemala's El Petén region, thousands of Cayo visitors take short trips across the border to view the fantastic ruins of Tikal. Its proximity to this tourist attraction is a boon for the Cayo but also a burden, as the poverty-stricken population of northern Guatemala spills over into relatively affluent Belize. On several occasions armed gangs from Guatemala have robbed tourists around San Ignacio, especially near the El Pilar Mayan site. Several tour groups were attacked and robbed en route to Caracol in 2005 and early 2006 and there have been other incidents, including some on the Macal River. However, most visitors to the Cayo say they feel quite safe. As a visitor, you're unlikely to encounter any problems.