Belize has declared a 30-day state of emergency in Belize City and nearby communities after a sharp rise in gang violence. The order was signed by Governor-General Dame Froyla Tzalam on Saturday 31 October 2026 and took effect on 1 November, running through 30 November unless it is revoked earlier.

Crime, and gang violence in particular, is the stated reason for the declaration. The emergency covers 19 areas of Belize City, as well as villages in the Belize and Cayo districts, and it gives security forces extra powers while it remains in force.

Where the emergency applies

Seventeen of the 19 Belize City areas named in the order lie south of Haulover Creek, the waterway that divides the city. The areas on the north side are around Queen Street, Handyside Street, North Front Street, Barrack Road, Victoria Street and Pickstock Street, according to Cruise Hive.

Beyond the city, the declaration also covers Ladyville Village in Belize District, Cotton Tree Village and Unitedville Village in Cayo District, and the Coastal Highway between La Democracia and Hope Creek. Canada's updated travel advice for Belize lists the same areas.

Why it was declared

Belize's Minister of National Security, Michel Chebat, said the areas had seen a surge in violence over the past month. Police Commissioner Richard Rosado said gang disputes had escalated into coordinated retaliatory attacks and that regular policing was no longer enough to contain the violence, Greater Belize reported.

Under the emergency, security forces can restrict movement, carry out searches and seizures, and detain people of interest. The declaration was made under section 18 of Belize's Constitution through Statutory Instrument 130 of 2026.

What travellers are being told

Canada updated its travel advice for Belize on 3 November to reflect the state of emergency. It continues to tell Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution throughout the country, and to avoid non-essential travel to Southside Belize City, south of the Haulover Creek River, because of gang and drug-related violence, including murders and shootings. People in the affected areas are told to carry valid identification and remain vigilant at all times.

The US Embassy in Belize issued a security alert on 4 November, reminding US citizens to exercise caution in and around Belize City because of gang violence and random, potentially violent crimes of opportunity. The US Department of State has kept its overall advisory for Belize at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, while the south side of Belize City remains at Level 3, Reconsider Travel.

Cruise visits continue

The cruise port has not been affected. The Belize Cruise Port sits north of Haulover Creek on the east end of the city and is not listed in the emergency zones. The nearby Fort Street Tourism Village, the Welcome to Belize sign and the Baron Bliss Lighthouse are also outside the declaration.

No cruise line had adjusted its itinerary in response to the declaration at the time of reporting, with 27 cruise ship calls scheduled for Belize City during November. Ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, TUI Cruises and Viking are all due to visit during the month.

Visitors going ashore are advised to stay alert, avoid walking or driving at night, and not to display signs of wealth such as expensive watches or jewellery. Extra police checkpoints during the emergency may also affect traffic, so passengers with excursions outside the city should allow extra time to return to their ship.