Traveling to Belize During a Pandemic? Here’s Why We Went

When the pandemic hit and all our travel plans were canceled, it took some time to get up the courage to get back out there and travel again. There was the fear of COVID-19, of course. But there was also the fear of traveling. What would it be like now, since so much had changed?

We knew we wanted to go somewhere international in the summer. And at the time of our planning, Europe’s borders were still closed to Americans.  So were a handful of other countries.  During those few months of planning and determining where to go, many questions raced through my mind.  What country is safe to travel to? What country is easy to get to? Where can we fly that does not require a long flight?  What destination is kid-friendly?

I kept seeing “Belize Gold Standard” pop up through my research, and I didn’t know what that meant. I quickly learned it was the designation the government gave hotels and tour operators that could safely resume operations in Belize.  If a Gold Standard accommodation or tour operator received this certification, they had to abide by specific government rules – sanitization efforts, masks, limited capacities, etc.  Okay, this was looking good.

I then started doing some research on the country and its COVID-19 stats.  Much to my surprise, Belize was leading the charge in keeping the number of cases under control.  It wasn’t until we were there that we learned why.  In the early stages of the pandemic, the Belize government-mandated citizens wear a mask. And if they didn’t abide, they were either fined $5,000 or put into jail.  Who would want to pay that kind of money for not wearing a mask? So everyone obliged.

And you know what, the case levels stayed low. Borders were able to open up. The Belizeans were doing it right.  Protecting their citizens but also allowing the country to open up to bring tourism back in safely.  We decided that if we wanted to travel, this would be a great country to support.

So we booked the trip! Once there, we were even more impressed. 

Belize is an Unspoiled Destination

I always had an image that Belize, especially along the beaches, would be scattered with high-rise resorts and American-run companies on every corner. But there were no high-rises, McDonalds or Starbucks to be seen.  This made me really happy! When we visit a country, we want to experience that country, not visit an establishment we can easily see in our hometown. We also want to support the local communities. And with the tours we booked and the restaurants we ate at, we were able to do so.

Safety is Taken Seriously

For entry to Belize, all travelers, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.  This can be either a PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel or an approved Antigen Rapid Test taken within 48 hours.  Upon arrival, there is also the option of having a COVID-19 test administered at the airport for a fee of $50 per passenger.  Children under the age of 5 are not required to present a negative test result.

Besides accommodations, the Belize Gold Standard also applies to transportation and tour operators.  If you book accommodations through a hotel, they will arrange transport for you to/from the hotel.  Same as if you when you are booking a tour.  There are only certain tour operators who can conduct business. Especially when traveling with kids, it gave us an additional peace of mind that everyone abided by the safety measures. 

Logistically, it’s Close

Another reason we chose to visit Belize was more logistical.  Knowing the world could quickly shut down again, we weren’t comfortable traveling too far away just yet.  Belize is only a two-hour flight from the US southern coast.  The quick flight meant less time being on the plane, which was good on so many levels. And heck, if all had gone crazy, it’s just a very long drive through Mexico!!

It’s Kid-Friendly

Another factor is we wanted a kid-friendly destination. We had just undergone a year of lock-down, more or less, and we wanted a place that had kid-friendly activities and where we could explore outdoors.  Belize checked off all the boxes for that.  We knew this would be an excellent destination for active kids, from the array of jungle activities to beach activities. 

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Traveling during COVID-19 times brings on an entirely different mindset on where to go.  For us, we knew the destination had to be kid-friendly and have a vast array of outdoor activities. For this trip, the more outside, the better!  Having an opportunity to explore a new destination and knowing that safety measures were taken seriously was also incredibly important. 

All four of us walked away from the trip with a love of Belize.

Maybe it was our tour guide one day that explained in depth the safety precautions the country had taken and what his family had endured through the process.  Or maybe it was driving through the villages and seeing the locals wearing masks (even though at the time they weren’t required to).  Or perhaps it was hearing the sounds of the howler monkeys at night and knowing we weren’t in America anymore.  Or was it walking amongst thousand-year-old civilizations and absorbing the history. Whatever the reason, we all took a little bit of Belize back home with us. And we hope you too can explore this beautiful country someday.

NOTE: Even though we traveled to Belize at the beginning of summer, it seems they have continued to be successful in their COVID-19 and safety measures.  As always, when you are booking an international trip, check both country’s guidelines for traveling there. Currently, Belize is at a US Travel Advisory Level 4, but the Belizean government allows US travelers. Before you book your flight, and again before you depart, check the country’s entry requirements.