We are going to Belize in May for our Honeymoon and want to rent a car and see Belize driving from area to area and seeing the sights. I've heard there are bandits that stop cars in the countryside and rob (an other things) them, that it is only safe to travel in caravans. Also heard to avoid the little hotels for the resorts for safety reasons. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this? I believe crime is a problem in Belize City but we don't plan on staying there.

Please let me know of any "don't miss" sites and places to stay. We have 2 weeks and want to stay on the mainland and on an island. We are on a bit of a budget but were thinking of splurging for a couple of nights at Blancaneaux Lodge. Comments?

Is Tikal worth the trouble of seeing as I've already seen Chitzen Itza?

Advice on an itinerary will help too.
Thanks for your help.

Huh?

I think you're getting some bad info.
My son and his GF spent 10 days driving across Belize, loved it and never felt unsafe. Obviously use your common sense just as you would at home but I'm pretty sure you're going to get lots of reassurance here.

There were some nasty robberies a couple years ago in the Cayo area, for awhile you needed to go by caravan to Caracol.

Recently, there have been some crimes around Belmopan and San Igancio. Not aimed at tourists, although a couple of expats were murdered, I think by one of thier employees.

With two weeks, I'd spend some time in the Cayo, either Placencia or Ambergris, and maybe even a couple days on one of the atolls for nothing but snorkeling/diving/fishing.

I'm ashamed to say I've never been to Tikal. It's said to be the most impressive of the excavated Mayan ruins. It's in the jungle, so you get a completely different experience than Chitzen Itza (I have been there). Since you have the time, I'd see Tikal, probably as an overnight visit.

Rental car companies don't allow you to take their cars into Guatemala. Also the drive from Belize to Tikal has frequent armed robberies.

I do think Tikal is worth seeing though.

My girlfriend and I just got back from Belize, where we rented a car in Belize City, and had absolutely no issues with crime.

We spent the majority of our time in the Cayo, but also made the long, bumpy drive to Caracol in our rental.

You will see armed guards in many places. When we left Caracol, we had to drive out in a convoy with a military vehicle pulling up the rear.

After we signed out at the checkpoint (Augustine), we headed to Rio Frio Cave and came across two armed guards there. They said they needed to escort us there because of the Guatemalan bandit incidents a couple of years ago. So they requested a ride, and there we were, with two guards in our back seat and M-16s in their arms!

Like most of the Belizeans we met, the guards were very friendly. When we were done exploring the cave, we found them up on the hillside - chasing an armadillo! (These guys were young, maybe in their early 20's or even just teenagers)

There is one rental car company that will allow it's cars to go from Belize to Guatamala. However, you will have no insurance, and it isn't recommended.

While in Belize last month I was traveling through the Hopkins/Dangriga area alone with a driver from one of the hotels & had an unnerving experience. While passing through a very poor area & driving very slowly to avoid the crowds in the street (it was early evening) he says to me "so you have no idea where you are right now, huh...& if I were to turn down one of these side streets you wouldn't know where you were, would you?" My heart skipped a beat & I started looking around the van for weapons but all I had were my keys. I continued to talk to him & he returned me safely to my hotel. He wanted to know which Villa # I was in so he could walk me to the door but I told him I was having a drink at the bar first. Once I was sure he had left is when I returned to my room. My story had a happy ending but it certainly could've ended differently. I was traveling with a group but left them early to return to the hotel because of a headache. I normally would never put myself in that type of situation but since one of the hotel managers had arranged for the transportation, I felt a sense of security. I didn't travel to the Cayo District but have heard of problems there. I spent most of the time on Ambergris Caye & Placencia & felt very safe...it was just that one area that I didn't feel comfortable in.