I was going to wish you the best of luck but this is so irresponsible as a grandparent that I just hope you will listen to the people who have experience with traveling in these countries for a considerable period of time. There are other ways to get to Belize for three months.

No one's saying don't spend a few months in Belize. We're saying don't recklessly expose yourselves and your granddaughter to danger.

Also, Belize ain't Texas.

I recently spent three months in Belize. We had a wonderful time, same as the previous three years.

That said, we wouldn't choose to drive through Mexico. If you do decide to move down, and choose to move your furnishings, I'd recommend putting them on a container ship to Belize City.

If you do decide to drive, do be sure to be somewhere safe and secure, by the time it's dark. This includes somewhere secure for your camper and it's contents.

Spending three months in Belize in anticipation of possible retirement there is a great idea. No arguments from anybody there. It's the way you plan to get there that has everybody concerned. It seems so naive and reckless.

Just repeating what everyone else has expressed, going to Belize for 3 months to check it out for retirement is a fine idea. Take a plane. Rent an apartment. Leave the dog at home.

WOW... I can't for the life of me, see anyone fool around with you Marivette. For what it's worth, I have travelled around the Yucatan Peninsula and have never encountered any kind of problem on or off the road... Just make sure you have lots and lots of water as you can drive for a very long time without seeing a tienda or any place that has some for sale.
What I can tell you is, make sure that your spare tire is properly inflated and in very good condition.

Oy.

"In all do (sic) respect, you must all be White Americans who have one time or another tried crossing the border with your "American" attitudes and therefore encountered problems."

Never had a problem with any border crossing in our trips to Belize, Guatemala, Chiapas, Sinaloa, Durango or Honduras.

We've also never driven through the carjacking capital of the western hemisphere.

From the State Department advisory for Tamaulipas/Nuevo Laredo:

"Road safety is an area of particular concern. Travelers on the highways between Monterrey and the United States have been targeted for robbery that has resulted in violence and have also been caught in incidents of gunfire between criminals and Mexican law enforcement. Travelers should defer unnecessary travel on Mexican Highway 2 between Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo and from the Columbia International Bridge crossing west toward Piedras Negras due to the ongoing violent competition between TCOs. Travel outside of Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuna is likewise discouraged. Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in these border areas. In June 2010, a Canadian citizen was killed and a U.S. citizen was critically injured after being attacked by cartel gunmen just south of Piedras Negras. There have been numerous carjackings in all three cities, particularly immediately following major gun battles. CRIMINALS APPEAR ESPECIALLY TO TARGET SUVS AND FULL-SIZE PICK-UP TRUCKS FOR THEFT AND CARJACKING ALONG THESE ROUTES."

But, hey, if it makes you feel better, I'm sure it's only white Americans who worry about crime in Tamaulipas.

Marivette's gone quiet perhaps you have scared him/her off. It certainly scared me - is Mexico that dangerous? At some point in my life I want to take a longer holiday there (I visit a couple of areas this year via cruise ship). Is it not safe to drive in the Yucatan?

We travel to Mexico on average once per year.

It is perfectly safe to travel and drive within the Yucatan. And Chiapas. It's perfectly safe in most areas in Mexico.

But, where it's dangerous, it can be really, really dangerous. The states on the US border are some of the worst as far as that's concerned.

¨Please,Stevelyon, don't be alarmed by everything you read about Mexico. Mexico is a huge country with a whole lot of places that are wayyyyy safer than the USA or Canada for that matter. I have written on this subject before and I still am suprised to read about these types of concerns. The Yucatan Peninsuls has got to be the safest part of the country wether it be for driving, walking flying, swimming etc. You might want to watch a 45 minute video made by Jazz Poulin (Canadian) about the PDC area. I am sure you will come accross it on the internet.

You are correct but to get to the Yucatan they will need to drive through some other areas which are not that wonderful and safe.

Unless one flies.

Gasoline is very expensive in Belize. Prepare for Canadian+ prices.

I did get back from there recently and although I didn't drive there, we toured around the interior and to the coast. I would say as long as you don't get off the main highways, driving should be fine. Keep in mind if your vehicle is not off-road, the conditions can be rather treacherous, as many roads are not paved.

"I did get back from there recently...although I didn't drive there" "many roads are not paved"

Not much help. Is "there" Belize? If you mean the interior of Mexico, that's different.

They said Belize in the first sentence, so I assume that's where they are talking about in the rest of the post.

We spent our time in the Cayo district, however we did not drive there. We flew into BZE and then had a guide, with vehicle and knowledge of the area drive us to our location. With exception of the main highway, most other roads were not paved. If you're venturing off the beaten path in a van, I'd expect there's the possibility they could get stuck as did happen to one group who were staying at the same location as us.

For those considering such a journey, check out what happened to the couple from the link above, who were trying to make it from the US to Panama by vehicle.

Short version: they didn't make it past Guatemala.

http://unplannedoverland.com/falling...the-robberies/

This is dangerous, dangerous stuff. And this is why people sometimes get very explicit in their recommendations that people not try this sort of thing. Bad things happen to good people, and we don't want them happening to our fellow travelers.