Armed robberies of buses traveling between Guatemalan and Belizean borders

The US Embassy in Belmopan alerts US citizens to recent armed robberies of buses traveling in the area between Flores, Guatemala, and the land border with Belize. In January, passengers on four public buses en route from Flores, Guatemala to Belize were robbed by armed gunmen. The robberies occurred in Guatemala near the border with Belize, and involved buses frequented by tourists.
There is no current information available to suggest that the alleged perpetrators were attempting to target individuals or tourists of any specific nationality, and the victims appear to have been targets of opportunity. We strongly advise Embassy personnel and private US citizens to avoid using public bus transportation for travel in the Flores – Tikal – Melchor area of Guatemala, US citizens in Belize should continue to monitor events in the area and to contact the Consular Section for updates.
We remind US travelers or residents to exercise an appropriate level of vigilance and caution in all their activities should they choose to travel in the area. For those traveling to and from the Guatemalan border, we strongly recommend that you maintain a high level of situational awareness and exercise prudent personal security measures appropriate for your circumstances.
For the latest security information, US citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the US and Canada or, for inquirers in other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00am to 8:00pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except US federal holidays).
US citizens living in or traveling to Belize are encouraged to enroll with the US Embassy through the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) website at: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ By enrolling, US citizens can obtain updated information on travel and security within Belize, and make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. US citizens without Internet access may enroll in person directly with the US Embassy.
The US Embassy is located at #4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Belize; Tel: 501-822-4011 8:00am to 5:00pm—or for emergencies after hours, weekends, and holidays at 501-610-5030, Fax: 501-822-4050; E-mail: ACSBelize@state.gov; Website: https://Belize.usembassy.state.gov.