A visa is a document issued by a country to allow entry to foreign travelers. A visa will have terms and conditions for travel may include the date of entry, length of stay, limits of where you may travel internally, and work restrictions. It is different from a passport in that a passport is issued …
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Posted: 10/21/2019 | October 21st, 2019
Whether it’s relaxing on a picturesque beach, exploring Mayan ruins, or snorkeling the world’s second longest barrier reef, you’ll discover that Belize is full of amazing and adventurous things to do. The country is one of the most unique destinations in Central America and among my favorite countries in the region. It’s also where I did my first solo backpacking trip and, since that first trip, I’ve loved every minute I’ve spent there.
From the Latin culture of the interior to the Caribbean Rasta vibe of the coast to the old English feel of some of the islands, Belize is a mash-up of vibrant and historic cultures.
The country is popular with backpackers, vacationers, dive enthusiasts, and honeymooners alike, offering something for every travel style and interest.
And tourism is on the rise, too.
In 2018, Belize saw an all-time high of 1.5 million visitors — which is a lot for a country of just over 400,00 people! Tourism will no doubt continue to increase here as Belize is one of the safest countries in the area to visit.
But just because it’s safe doesn’t mean you can let your guard down fully. Here are some tips to help you stay safe during your visit:
1. Avoid isolated areas – If you’re somewhere isolated, you’ll be at a greater risk for getting robbed, especially at night and in the cities. Try to stay where the crowds are — that’s the best way to avoid being singled out by potential muggers.
2. Be aware of your surroundings while in crowds – While sticking to where the crowds will help you avoid getting mugged, it will also make you a target for petty theft. Tourists are usually easy targets for pickpockets, so when you are in the popular tourist areas make sure your valuables are secure.
3. Don’t wear flashy items – Petty theft is the most common threat here, so remove any jewelry or watches, and don’t wave your phone around. Do your best to blend in, so you don’t become a target for pickpockets. If you happen to find yourself a victim of armed robbery, follow the instructions of the robber and give up your valuables; these material items can be replaced — but your life cannot.
(I learned this lesson the hard way in Colombia.)
4. Don’t leave your items unattended – If you are spending the day on the beaches of Placencia Peninsula, Hopkins Village, or Caye Caulker, do not leave your belongings unattended while swimming or walking along the sand, as locals and tourists alike can easily swipe your valuables. If you can, find friends at your hostel to hit the beach with so you can take turns watching over each other’s things while you swim and relax.
5. Avoid the bus at night – If you need to get somewhere at night, take a taxi. It will be safer than any public transportation. Have your accommodation call the taxi for you so you can be sure you’re getting a reputable driver. Make sure you get in a taxi with a green license plate, as those indicate authorized taxis. If you’re a solo female traveler, make sure you travel with other people at night (even in taxis).
6. Be careful on public transit – If you must take public transit, keep your valuables on you and well secured, especially on “chicken buses” (colorfully decorated school buses that have been converted to public transportation for goods and people). Theft is common on night buses, so avoid them if you can. (Buses also tend to not run on time, and sometimes they are extremely slow, packed, or both. Be prepared for the experience!)
7. Don’t do drugs – Cartels in Belize have made life very difficult for the local population. Don’t support them by buying their products. Drug penalties are also harsh in the region, and you don’t want to end up in jail!
8. Stick to the touristy parts of Belize City – Belize City (the largest city) has some sketchy neighborhoods that unfortunately have been taken over by local gangs. There are areas, however, that are relatively safe, such as the main tourist part of town. If you don’t wander too far from there, you should be fine.
9. Buy travel insurance – Travel insurance will protect you if you get injured or ill, are a victim of theft, or must deal with delayed or canceled flights. It’s a worthwhile investment and can save you thousands of dollars. Don’t risk traveling without it. I always buy travel insurance before I leave home — a lesson I’ve learned the hard way!
Below are answers to common questions I get on safety in Belize so you can be better prepared for your trip!
Belize has a history of Zika virus transmission, but there is currently no evidence of an ongoing outbreak. While the risks are low, travelers are advised to take the following precautions:
Hitchhiking in Belize is quite common, easy, and — most importantly — safe. My friends and I hitchhiked throughout the country and saw lots of locals doing it too. HitchWiki has a lot of information on hitchhiking in Belize to help you get started.
It sure is safe to have street food in Belize! The best and most affordable way to experience the local cuisine is through their street food, which has Afro-Caribbean and Mexican cultural influences. Sample conch fritters, ceviche, or coconut curry and enjoy the variety of delicious flavors!
Belize’s Ministry of Health has taken steps toward making tap water drinkable for locals. However, during the rainy season, some areas experience flooding, which may contaminate the tap water. The best way to make sure your drinking water is safe is to bring a SteriPen or Lifestraw for your reusable water bottle. This way you’ll be able to purify the tap water, so you don’t get sick — and avoid single-use plastic bottles in the process.
Taxis are safe — and preferred — when getting around at night. You can ask your hostel or hotel to call a taxi for you. Be sure to get take an authorized taxi (they have green license plates). Use your smartphone and track the route on your offline map, and if the driver seems to be going off said route, speak up and ask why they’ve decided to take this direction instead. At the end of the day, always trust your gut: if a taxi driver seems shady, stop the cab and get out.
If you’re a solo female traveler, I suggest traveling with a friend or another traveler at night, just to be safe.
Solo traveling in Belize is safe, although petty theft is one of the most common types of crime in Belize. The people involved in some sort of incident tend to be drinking or doing drugs or taking part in illegal activity. If you don’t do it at home, don’t do it in Belize! Follow that rule and you’ll be fine.
Belize is a safe place for solo female travelers, especially if you’re new to solo travel. It is one of the safer countries in this region. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. Always be aware of your surroundings and have a downloaded map so you can find your way home. Don’t flaunt any valuables, and avoid taking taxis alone at night.
If you’ve done your research and still have concerns, I’d suggest asking to join other groups at hostels when going out or sticking to group travel or tours, just to be safe.
Here are a few helpful posts on safety written by our solo female travel experts:
***
I loved my time in Belize. The country may be small, but it had so much to offer, from dense jungles to massive caves and, of course, the famous Belize Barrier Reef, where the marine life is astonishing. (And in my opinion, the Blue Hole is one of the best places to go scuba diving.) The toughest challenge for you will be deciding what to do first!
While Belize is considered generally safe for traveling and backpacking, there’s no denying that some precautions should be taken. Read and follow this safety guide, and your experience in Belize will be a safe, fun, and memorable one.
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe, so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite hostels in Chile are:
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use – and I think they will help you too!
Want More Information on Belize?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Belize for even more planning tips!
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How do long-term travelers and digital nomads receive mail or packages while traveling? I use a virtual mailbox service that allows me to scan and forward my mail internationally.
I’ve been working as a digital nomad for the past 9 years, basing myself in multiple countries or simply living out of my backpack while traveling.
Currently, I’m living as an expat in Italy.
Yet I have a virtual mailbox with a physical address in San Antonio, Texas.
Using this service, any incoming mail or packages is photographed, which I can then view through an online dashboard.
From there, I can decide to scan the contents (letters), forward the mail/packages somewhere else, or have it shredded/recycled. I can even deposit checks.
My virtual mailbox service is incredibly helpful for running my online business and getting paid to travel around the world!
I use it to receive payments from clients, for business & personal bills, bank & credit card statements, legal documents, packages, and more.
A virtual mailbox is a special service that gives you an actual physical mailing address, that you can use as your permanent address for sending all your physical mail and packages, even if you’re traveling overseas.
Different online travel mailbox services offer different features. Some are more advanced than others.
There’s usually a base price with additional fees depending on which extra’s you want (like check deposit) or how much mail you receive.
Some virtual mailboxes offer a PO box address, while others offer a real physical street address — which is often required for many banks and official government correspondence.
Cost: $69-$179 USD per month
Earth Class Mail is the virtual mailbox service that I personally use, and have been using for the last 5 years. Their suite of features is the most advanced, especially if you’re running an online business.
They have the largest number of US-based addresses for different states of all the services mentioned here. Their online software, features, speed, and sorting facilities are top-notch, but you’ll also pay a premium for it.
While expensive, I can’t imagine running my travel blog without them. It’s one business expense that’s totally worth it. I use them to receive client checks, important packages, business & personal banking correspondence, tax documents, everything!
The service integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Bill.com, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more.
They also offer a fully-automated CheckStream Deposit Service if your business receives a lot of physical checks.
Cost: $15-$159 USD per month
Traveling Mailbox is another decent forwarding service with 5 plans to choose from depending on your needs. Like Earth Class Mail, all accounts include basic envelope scans, junk mail filtering, unlimited cloud storage and free mail shredding.
They have over 30 addresses around the US. Premium features like check deposits cost extra. There are additional fees if you go over your monthly limits. The service integrates with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox.
Cost: $10-$20 USD per month
US Global Mail has been around since 1998, and they offer individual and family plans for short-term (monthly) or long-term (1-2 year) periods.
They offer free letter storage for 180 days, and free package storage for 30 days. Mail forwarding rates are quite affordable. One major downside is that they only offer one address location in Houston, Texas. This isn’t ideal if you need your address to match your state of residence.
You’ve saved money for years, and are now planning your dream trip around the world. But who will take care of your mail? If you don’t want to burden family or friends with sorting your mail, a virtual mailbox is a perfect option.
Are you one of the 4.8 million Americans who now call themselves digital nomads? Technology has made the digital office a reality for many, and now you don’t have to be tied down by physical mail either.
Living out of a vehicle like an RV or campervan poses a challenge to receiving your mail & packages, especially if you’re on the road. Forward your mail to the next RV campground you plan to stop at, no matter what state you’re driving through.
Are you living overseas in a foreign country with a travel-friendly job, but want to keep a physical mailing address in the US for billing, voting, and tax purposes? Sign up for a virtual mailing address in your former home state.
To officially authorize your virtual mail service to receive mail on your behalf, you need to complete USPS Form 1583 and have it notarized.
Unless you’re signing up for Earth Class Mail, who offers free complimentary notarized online activation, you’ll need to get the form notarized in person.
Or if you’re already outside the United States — through an online notary service like NotaryCam (which only costs $25).
So, now that you have your virtual mailbox set up, where do you actually forward your mail if you’re living out of an RV or backpacking overseas?
Some nicer hotels will let you forward mail and packages to them if you have a reservation there. The problem is timing your stay with when the mail will arrive. I’ve done this a few times. It’s safer to book a room for a least a few days.
Many coworking spaces allow members to receive mail at the office. Again, you may need to sign up to become a member for a week, a month, etc.
Some post offices in foreign countries allow you to forward your mail to them, to be picked up later.
It’s also possible to send packages to the local office of these popular shipping companies, where you can then pick it up when you arrive. You’ll need to ship it via their particular service though. I’d call ahead to let them know what you want to do, and ask how long they’ll hold your package for you.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to virtual mailbox services! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
Have any questions about virtual mailbox services or mail forwarding while you travel? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
Let’s get honest here for a moment: There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Tuvalu. And if you have heard of it, you probably don’t know much about this island country located in the Pacific. Don’t worry. I’m here to help. I have visited Tuvalu, and there are a few interesting and fun things …
Read more8 Interesting Facts About Tuvalu
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Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the least-visited, but surely one of the most unique, gems in the U.S. National Park tiara. For most, the highlight is a massive sentinel red brick redoubt, Fort Jefferson, that stands resolute and in stark contrast to the bright blue skies and crystalline Gulf of Mexico waters that …
Read moreDry Tortugas National Park: A Delightful Day Trip from Key West
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You’ve probably heard of Liechtenstein and know that it is one of the smallest countries in the world, but how much do you really know about this tiny principality sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria? Given how few fun facts (or really any facts) most people know about Liechtenstein, we thought it was time for another …
Read more17 Interesting Facts About Liechtenstein
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This special episode was recorded live at the TBEX travel blogging conference in Billings Montana and marks the 10th anniversary since the show started. We are joined by this week’s guests: Palle Bo from The Radio Vagabond Rick Calvert from TBEX Jesse Guidry from Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Alyson Murnion from Visit Billings Caz …
Read moreThis Week in Travel – Episode 255
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The elevation is starting to take its toll. Carefully planting one foot in front of the other, climbing through snow with my ice axe, I push on to summit California’s highest mountain.
Mount Whitney is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet. Yes, California is home to both the lowest point in the United States (Death Valley), as well as one of the tallest!
The mountain has also become one of the most popular hikes in the state — so popular that you need to enter a lottery in order to win a permit to hike Whitney.
Well, at least during the summer months.
Rather than deal with 100 other hikers and the very real chance I wouldn’t win a permit, I decided to climb Mt. Whitney during the winter (technically early spring) month of April, when a permit isn’t required.
Of course, this meant hiking through snow and camping overnight in freezing temperatures. I also choose a more difficult trail called The Mountaineer’s Route.
This path requires basic mountaineering skills and isn’t for beginners.
Before I get into the details of my hike up Mount Whitney, I want to emphasize how difficult this hike can be for those who are unprepared.
Approximately 30,000 people attempt to hike this mountain every year, and only about 30% of them make it to the top.
It’s not a particularly long hike, but it is VERY steep. You gain altitude extremely quickly. And if you don’t hike or train on a regular basis, it might just kick your butt.
Hiking in the winter or early spring, like I did, adds an extra level of difficulty with the snow. Many people have been injured or killed over the years trying to climb steep snow-covered sections without proper gear (or the skills to use it).
DISTANCE: 22 miles (Round Trip)
ELEVATION GAIN: 6500 feet
TIME: 12-18 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
SUMMARY: Easy Class 1 hiking, but a lot of it and at high elevations. It’s a very long day, and you need to start before sunrise to make it down before dark.
DISTANCE: 22 miles (Round Trip)
ELEVATION GAIN: 6500 feet
TIME: 2 days
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
SUMMARY: Spending a night on the mountain helps break up the hike, but you’ll also need to pack camping gear, which means a heavier backpack.
DISTANCE: 5 miles (Round Trip)
ELEVATION GAIN: 6600 feet
TIME: 2-3 days
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
SUMMARY: This is a more physically demanding Class 2 & Class 3 hiking route that requires some scrambling. It’s much shorter distance-wise, but with the same elevation gain. So you’re hiking straight up. This is the route I describe here.
If you plan to climb Whitney during the normal permit season, between May 1st and November 1st, it requires signing up for their lottery system.
Only about 160 hikers are allowed on the trail per day.
Permits cost $15, and they can be hard to come by, especially if you’re trying to hike over a weekend. You can begin applying for a permit for the summer season on February 1st. Lottery winners are announced in March. If you’re one of the lucky ones to win, you can purchase the actual permit starting April 1st.
An alternative option, which is what I did, is to self-issue yourself a free permit in the off-season. Permits are free if you hike during the winter months between November 2nd and April 30th.
However hiking in the winter requires a bit more experience & specialized gear.
My own Mount Whitney adventure began by driving to the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine, CA during the 2nd week of April and self-issuing myself an overnight permit. If you don’t own a bear-proof container and WAG Bag (for pooping), you’ll have to pick up those too. Bear canisters can be rented here.
With my permit set, I jumped back into my jeep drove up to the closed gate on Whitney Portal Road. The upper part of the road leading to the Whitney Portal Campground and Campsites is closed this time of year.
There are two gates. The first one was open, but eventually, you’ll hit the closed one. The road is closed for maintenance as they clean up the annual spring rock falls with heavy machinery.
After parking on the side of the road, I gathered my gear and began walking up the pavement under the late afternoon sun. Hiking about 2000 feet of elevation gain over 2 miles to reach the official trailhead.
The road ends at the Whitney Portal Campsite where I set up camp for one night of acclimatization (at 8,300 feet). This early in the season, the campsite is closed but they have open bathrooms and freshwater.
The next morning I was packed up and on the trail by 7am, ready to officially start my hike up the main Mt Whitney trail. Soon veering off to the right onto the North Fork Trail and The Mountaineer’s Route.
This is the same route that John Muir took on his solo summit of the peak on October 21, 1873.
My first obstacle was crossing the fresh spring runoff of the North Fork creek multiple times, through thick brush and saplings. Occasionally it was difficult to find the best route through this mess of vegetation.
Next up, the Eversbacher Ledges. This section of trail sends you zig-zagging up a steep wall (hiker’s right) via a series of narrow and exposed ledges. As long as it’s not icy, you’ll be fine. There’s one particularly sketchy section that requires a bit of a scramble up.
After you clear the ledges, you’ll find yourself at Lower Boyscout Lake. You can camp here if you need to, but a better location is further on, at Upper Boyscout Lake.
The more distance you can cover now means a quicker summit attempt tomorrow.
I decided to push on past Upper Boyscout Lake in the afternoon and began looking for a suitable campsite in a rocky open area between it and Iceberg Lake, which sits at the bottom of the “chute”.
If you were hiking this route in the summer, most people spend the night next to Upper Boyscout Lake or Iceberg Lake to take advantage of a water source.
But with all the snow around to melt for water, there was no need for me to camp beside a lake.
I’d packed an avalanche shovel to use for building a snow wall if the wind was strong, but I lucked out with a clear, calm night. Got up in the middle of the night to take a few star photos too!
Waking up at 6am, I re-packed my backpack to prepare for the summit push. Leaving behind my tent, sleeping bag, cooking kit, and additional overnight items I wouldn’t need to haul all the way up to the top.
Once you reach Iceberg Lake (12,621 feet), you’ll easily spot Mountaineer’s Gully, the steep 35 degree snow chute that’s next. In the winter, crampons and an ice axe are definitely required for this section. A slip here would send you falling over 1000 vertical feet down the chute…
A climbing helmet should be used too, as hikers above you often knock pretty large boulders loose or ice chunks that come tumbling by. Which happened a few times during my own ascent — luckily nothing came too close.
The Chute is a slow, steep slog. The high elevation doesn’t help either. I was resting after every 10 steps or so to catch my breath.
At the top of the chute, the snow clears to reveal a Class 2/3 rocky scramble up to the “notch”, a pillar of stone where the ground levels out a bit.
This is a good place to rest and have a snack while you plan your next move.
From The Notch, there are a few different routes you can take to the summit. For the “True Mountaineer’s Route”, you head straight up a 400 ft Class 3 section of climbing, where ropes may or may not be used depending on your skill level.
As I was hiking solo, without ropes, and this was my first time up here, I decided to play it safe and take the alternative route — a longer alpine Class 2 traverse around the backside of the mountain and up to the summit.
Which turned out to be plenty sketchy in its own right!
Traversing the steep mountain face is pretty straightforward with crampons and your ice axe, except in a few sections where the snow was pretty thin, where you’re forced to down-climb steep sections attempting to find solid footing on the rocks just beneath the snow.
My adrenaline was certainly pumping in overdrive while trying to make it across…
With the traverse over, I began hiking up the backside. Pretty soon the Mount Whitney Summit Hut came into view, aka the Smithsonian Institute Shelter.
Built in 1904, this hut was used by scientists to study high-altitude phenomena, astrophysics, and for waiting out storms.
With the sun shining and a perfect blue-bird day, I ate lunch enjoying the incredible 360 degree views from the summit. I’d made it!
Hiking Mount Whitney solo in the late winter/early spring — the top of California (and highest point in the lower 48 states) at 14,505 feet.
Packing for a winter hiking adventure up Mt. Whitney is different than a summer day trip. You’ll need more backpacking gear than usual. My 50-liter backpack weighed 37 pounds using the free scale at the trailhead.
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(Click to watch Mt Whitney – Hiking The Mountaineer’s Route on YouTube)
Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip.
Ready to fly? Here’s how I find the cheapest airline flights.
Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find a deal.
Learn how I save money booking hotels & vacation apartments.
Don’t forget travel insurance! Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read why you should always carry travel insurance.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to hiking Mount Whitney! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
Have any questions about hiking Mount Whitney in California? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!
This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.
Most travelers interested in traveling around Southeast Asia have heard of Sapa, Vietnam—an area showcased by incredible photos of lush green rice fields terraced on the side of mountains, and colorful local ethnic minority women and men working the rice fields. Sapa has long been on the popular traveler’s route from Hanoi in the north …
Read moreIs Mai Chau the New Sapa in Vietnam?
The post Is Mai Chau the New Sapa in Vietnam? appeared first on Everything Everywhere Travel Blog.
“Beautiful one day, perfect the next”—Queensland tourism was spot on when they created that slogan. With warm tropical weather all year round, Queensland, Australia is the perfect spot for a getaway any time of the year. From the gorgeous Queensland beaches, laid back cities, and stunning outback landscapes, there are plenty of things to do …
Read moreMost Unforgettable Places in Queensland
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