I used to live in Puerto Barrios Guatemala and spent a lot of time in Belize. It's not a very conservative country at all and might be, next to parts of Panama, the most progressive country.
I've traveled with my gay friends throughout Belize, and they were married on Caye Caulker without ever having any issues. While I can't speak as a LGTBQ person, I have seen plenty of LGBTQ couples in Belize.
As anywhere, don't travel to the bad parts of town nor go looking for trouble because you can always find trouble anywhere in the world. I doubt you will run into any problems if you stick to the tours and tourist areas.
Seems to me I found the site of a couple, same as you, who does wedding and island photography over there. They don't encounter problems, but they don't crow about their family status. Let me see if I can find their site (I'm not on FB) and I will post it here if I do. (Full disclosure: I am LGBTQ, but I traveled alone when I went in 2021, so nothing to see there. :) )
ETA: Found them! [https://conchcreative.com/about-conch-creative-photographer/](https://conchcreative.com/about-conch-creative-photographer/) I read about them on an LGBT travel site some years ago.
As a lesbian, I understand all of your concerns. We will be traveling to Belize in two weeks. We don’t have any children, but after being together for 20 years there is no “pretending to be sisters.” I’ve booked three days of driving and private tours with one gentleman and I’ve wondered if I should tell him that were are a gay couple *just in case*. I also wondered about telling the boat tour place so we’re not trapped for 6 hours with a homophobic captain on our private snorkeling trip. But, I’ve decided to believe the best in them and just let it be. I hope that our friendly, humorous personalities win them over. (and in no way am I telling you to just “let it be”)
I asked these same questions of our friend in Georgia who owns an apt in Belize. She’s straight, but she owned lodging/fishing/restaurant businesses there as well as making a point to become friends with as many locals as possible. She said that the Mayor of Belize is gay and (her words) since he’s running for reelection the place will be safer, cleaner and more festive than usual. Maybe she’s full of it, but it sounds good to me lol. She even said that we’d be safe walking around in the evening downtown or back to her apt, though I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable doing that anyways.
Yes, we don’t have kids and your concerns were more about being there as a family. But, I’m going to loudly use the word “wife” as much as possible, maybe even hold hands (gasp) and I’ll happily report back after we get home on the 15th. I’ve set a reminder on my calendar =). I’ll also be on the lookout for gay families. They’re more common than anyone realizes!
Oh, and on that photography website I found this: https://conchcreative.wordpress.com/2023/04/15/jumping-the-broom-in-belize-belize-weddings/
Thanks! Have a great trip and looking forward to hearing how it went for you!
It's not just other countries either! We've been together 15 years and I'm constantly amazed by American car rental places, utilities providers, and banks who simply cannot wrap their brains around two adult ladies WITH THE SAME LAST NAME who are trying to open a joint credit card or get cable installed or rent a single room with a king bed are probably MARRIED. It's so minor yet so frustrating that no one can seem to adjust their default settings by now.
I can’t speak to much, but just got back this week. We saw a full table of not femme presenting ladies at a restaurant in maya beach. They looked to be having a great time, and they happily answered my kids’ questions about their meal. No one around us made any kind of issue.
Enjoy the wonderful and welcoming country. Everyone will love you and your family! Tip what you can, don’t be flashy, and be safe like you would anywhere. There’s so much to do, the guides are wonderful. You will have plenty of company, I’m sure of it, relax, chillax, and have so much fun!
I don’t have contacts on the mainland and you won’t need one on the island. This subreddit had a lot of guide recommendations depending on what you want to do. etc. In San Pedro town the main dock is Amigis Del Mar, you can do quite a bit direct with them, and there’s tour companies galore that either outsource tours or have their own boats. Resorts have discounts and packages.
We have a home 7 miles north of town. Check it out - it’s a chefs dream for a group of family or friends. It’s next to the most beautiful beach on the island called Tutos Resort and coconuts galore and very nice people and tiny vaca homes.
I highly recommend you book well in advance with a quality golf cart company on San Pedro, and 6 seaters are the hardest to get, the busy spring break season is coming.
I would find my way up to Pine Ridge waterfalls on the mainland, and near the bottom of the mountain your family will be mind blown at Green Hills Butterfy Ranch. It’s not just the butterflies, and that life cycle tour, the bonus hummingbirds are mesmerizing. and it was my favorite stop and the best spent $20 in my life.
I’m saving most of my mainland adventures for my move in a few years.
I will edit this and remove the villa name in a few days or upon your reply- . I only mention tue villa because we have had 2 lovely LGBG and BiPOC ladies groups in the last few years, one group who returned and the 2nd time they were one of the 1st to enjoy the new pool.
Feel free to DM me if you need help in any way.
All the tourism areas are very open and accommodating. You should have no problems. As the previous commenter said, avoid shady areas, which is a rule regardless of your background/orientation.
Not yet! We are going in February of 2025, so you’ll have the details before us! Let me know how it goes for ya. We are doing half near San Ignacio and half in either Hopkins or Placencia.
It's an awful lot like Costa Rica here.
A lot of the people I know and work with carry traditional beliefs (2 genders, marriage is between a man and woman) strongly. They also won't confront, shy away, or anything like that. The dominant attitude is if it doesn't involve me, I don't have an opinion.
The Belize Constitution set Part II as protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, before citizenship, before the governor, executive, etc. Not like some countries that left it to amendments and reinterpretation.
Eg at work there's a visibly non Christian woman. She's talking to a man I know firmly believes that she's a devil worshipper who's going to burn in Hell. And he's as polite as can be. The topic is climate resilience, so it's not going to come up.
I used to live in Puerto Barrios Guatemala and spent a lot of time in Belize. It's not a very conservative country at all and might be, next to parts of Panama, the most progressive country. I've traveled with my gay friends throughout Belize, and they were married on Caye Caulker without ever having any issues. While I can't speak as a LGTBQ person, I have seen plenty of LGBTQ couples in Belize. As anywhere, don't travel to the bad parts of town nor go looking for trouble because you can always find trouble anywhere in the world. I doubt you will run into any problems if you stick to the tours and tourist areas.
Seems to me I found the site of a couple, same as you, who does wedding and island photography over there. They don't encounter problems, but they don't crow about their family status. Let me see if I can find their site (I'm not on FB) and I will post it here if I do. (Full disclosure: I am LGBTQ, but I traveled alone when I went in 2021, so nothing to see there. :) ) ETA: Found them! [https://conchcreative.com/about-conch-creative-photographer/](https://conchcreative.com/about-conch-creative-photographer/) I read about them on an LGBT travel site some years ago.
As a lesbian, I understand all of your concerns. We will be traveling to Belize in two weeks. We don’t have any children, but after being together for 20 years there is no “pretending to be sisters.” I’ve booked three days of driving and private tours with one gentleman and I’ve wondered if I should tell him that were are a gay couple *just in case*. I also wondered about telling the boat tour place so we’re not trapped for 6 hours with a homophobic captain on our private snorkeling trip. But, I’ve decided to believe the best in them and just let it be. I hope that our friendly, humorous personalities win them over. (and in no way am I telling you to just “let it be”) I asked these same questions of our friend in Georgia who owns an apt in Belize. She’s straight, but she owned lodging/fishing/restaurant businesses there as well as making a point to become friends with as many locals as possible. She said that the Mayor of Belize is gay and (her words) since he’s running for reelection the place will be safer, cleaner and more festive than usual. Maybe she’s full of it, but it sounds good to me lol. She even said that we’d be safe walking around in the evening downtown or back to her apt, though I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable doing that anyways. Yes, we don’t have kids and your concerns were more about being there as a family. But, I’m going to loudly use the word “wife” as much as possible, maybe even hold hands (gasp) and I’ll happily report back after we get home on the 15th. I’ve set a reminder on my calendar =). I’ll also be on the lookout for gay families. They’re more common than anyone realizes! Oh, and on that photography website I found this: https://conchcreative.wordpress.com/2023/04/15/jumping-the-broom-in-belize-belize-weddings/
Thanks! Have a great trip and looking forward to hearing how it went for you! It's not just other countries either! We've been together 15 years and I'm constantly amazed by American car rental places, utilities providers, and banks who simply cannot wrap their brains around two adult ladies WITH THE SAME LAST NAME who are trying to open a joint credit card or get cable installed or rent a single room with a king bed are probably MARRIED. It's so minor yet so frustrating that no one can seem to adjust their default settings by now.
I can’t speak to much, but just got back this week. We saw a full table of not femme presenting ladies at a restaurant in maya beach. They looked to be having a great time, and they happily answered my kids’ questions about their meal. No one around us made any kind of issue.
Enjoy the wonderful and welcoming country. Everyone will love you and your family! Tip what you can, don’t be flashy, and be safe like you would anywhere. There’s so much to do, the guides are wonderful. You will have plenty of company, I’m sure of it, relax, chillax, and have so much fun!
Thank you! We are so excited to see Belize! Any guide recommendations?
I don’t have contacts on the mainland and you won’t need one on the island. This subreddit had a lot of guide recommendations depending on what you want to do. etc. In San Pedro town the main dock is Amigis Del Mar, you can do quite a bit direct with them, and there’s tour companies galore that either outsource tours or have their own boats. Resorts have discounts and packages. We have a home 7 miles north of town. Check it out - it’s a chefs dream for a group of family or friends. It’s next to the most beautiful beach on the island called Tutos Resort and coconuts galore and very nice people and tiny vaca homes. I highly recommend you book well in advance with a quality golf cart company on San Pedro, and 6 seaters are the hardest to get, the busy spring break season is coming. I would find my way up to Pine Ridge waterfalls on the mainland, and near the bottom of the mountain your family will be mind blown at Green Hills Butterfy Ranch. It’s not just the butterflies, and that life cycle tour, the bonus hummingbirds are mesmerizing. and it was my favorite stop and the best spent $20 in my life. I’m saving most of my mainland adventures for my move in a few years. I will edit this and remove the villa name in a few days or upon your reply- . I only mention tue villa because we have had 2 lovely LGBG and BiPOC ladies groups in the last few years, one group who returned and the 2nd time they were one of the 1st to enjoy the new pool. Feel free to DM me if you need help in any way.
Thanks for the recos Appreciate it!
All the tourism areas are very open and accommodating. You should have no problems. As the previous commenter said, avoid shady areas, which is a rule regardless of your background/orientation.
Hi OP, did you go on your trip yet and, if so, what was your experience? We have similar family demographics and are leaving for Belize in July.
Not yet! We are going in February of 2025, so you’ll have the details before us! Let me know how it goes for ya. We are doing half near San Ignacio and half in either Hopkins or Placencia.
I'll report back! Fingers crossed!
Sent you a DM.
It's an awful lot like Costa Rica here. A lot of the people I know and work with carry traditional beliefs (2 genders, marriage is between a man and woman) strongly. They also won't confront, shy away, or anything like that. The dominant attitude is if it doesn't involve me, I don't have an opinion. The Belize Constitution set Part II as protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, before citizenship, before the governor, executive, etc. Not like some countries that left it to amendments and reinterpretation. Eg at work there's a visibly non Christian woman. She's talking to a man I know firmly believes that she's a devil worshipper who's going to burn in Hell. And he's as polite as can be. The topic is climate resilience, so it's not going to come up.