Which are the safest Caribbean islands? A guide for a safe tropical vacation

I’ve traveled to three continents and visited over 10 countries and there’s no place that hits home like the Caribbean. Given my family is from one of the islands, and the fact that Caribbean people are very welcoming and the culture is known worldwide for having good vibes.

Maintaining safety while traveling should be a concern for tourists when visiting any given destination. The media sometimes portrays the Caribbean to be a dangerous area, but many islands are very safe.

Even with the countries on the “dangerous" list, there are still safe areas to visit and other areas to avoid. 

Check out the world's safest countries to travel to: top 13 destinations.

And now, let's get into... 

The 11 safest Caribbean islands to travel

1. Safety in The Virgin Islands

Consisting of US and British territories, the Virgin islands off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico are extremely small but one of the safest in the Caribbean region.

I actually spent an entire month exploring the USVI and felt very safe as a solo female traveler.

Despite two or three cat calls, I felt very safe by myself compared to the other 10 countries I have visited by myself. Usually, I am very cautious of the things I wear as a young woman that travels by myself, but I found no issues with wearing shorts or tank tops around the island.

Overall, The Virgin islands (both US and British) are one of the safest tourist destinations for foreigners.

2. Visit Jamaica (certain places)

When people think of Jamaica they typically think of all the crime in Kingston or Montego Bay. As someone who has traveled to this country since I was a child to visit family, I can say high levels of crime are only in certain areas and typically are from gang to gang and usually do not involve visitors.

While this island is far from the safest on the list, the tourist experience received is very meaningful as it is an island full of flavorful food, culture, and great music.

I wouldn’t want people to skip out on the beauty of Jamaica simply because of the negative media surrounding the country, but it's necessary for tourists to have common sense when traveling here.

If you decide to travel to Jamaica, I would stay in Ocho Rios, Negril areas and a great vacation will follow.

Jamaica, as other destinations on this list, is one of the Best islands in the Caribbean to visit. 

3. Travel to Saint Lucia

A tiny island in the Eastern Caribbean known by few worldwide, Saint Lucia is full of lush tropical rainforest and inactive volcanoes. Despite its small size, the island has a lot to offer.

With a population just under 200,000 people, Lucian people are very friendly and major crime is not usual. It's apparent that smaller Caribbean islands tend to be less crime ridden opposed to their larger counterparts. Now that is not to say that all small islands are friendly and safe, but a noticeable pattern is worth mentioning.

Although the islands on this list have been ranked safe for tourists, they typically tend to be on the pricier end. Unfortunately Saint Lucia has no hostels for budget backpackers but somewhat affordable private rooms can be found on airbnb. The Caribbean and Southeast Asia certainly have something in common for their physical beauty but the accommodation, transportation, and activity prices differ greatly.

 Although the islands on this list may be more expensive than others, traveling the Caribbean on a budget is more than possible if planned and budgeted wisely.

Check out this article to learn more about planning your trip to Saint Lucia.

4. Safety in Saint Barthelemy

Also known as St. Barths, this little eastern Caribbean nation is territory of France, if you couldn’t guess by the name. Few could argue that this is the safest country in the region as they have a no murder rate and petty theft is close to none.

Only thing is that St. Barths is mostly open to wealthy tourists. The island is not known by many but the people that are familiar with it claim it as their own and travel whenever the opportunity arises.

The weekly airbnb rates are not horrible, sitting at between $1,200 to $1,600 per week, hotel prices can be astronomical.

If planning a trip to this region, it's best to plan in advance and determine the best season for travel.

5. Traveling to Cayman Islands

From what I can remember from a family cruise taken oh so many years ago, The Cayman islands are nothing short of fun, great food, and beautiful beaches. Fun fact, The Cayman Islands has very strict gun laws to protect their residents so the thought of this may be comforting to few while planning a trip.

Petty theft is somewhat still possible so to reiterate the importance of this, invest in a good antitheft backpack or purse and be cautious of all handheld items.

6. Visit St. Martin

Another French affiliated island, St. Martin has the typical beautiful Caribbean views with a low crime rate compared to other countries.

There still is crime that goes on in this territory such as petty theft and theft of items from rental cars. This information is not to cause a scare, but simply to inform.

Just as stated with safety in Jamaica, there are certain areas to stay away from and common sense practices to keep.

Try not to walk around with a passport for in the worst case scenario, it could be stolen and resold. A hack I love to do is create color print copies of all my travel documents before leaving my home country. When I walk on the road of my given destination, the most I’ll carry is my driver’s license and my other important travel identifications are always left in my room locked away.

Overall, St. Martin is a great island for a girls getaway or family trip (or luxury solo travel) and good memories can be made.

7. Don't miss Antigua and Barbuda

A popular destination for many international cruises, Antigua and Barbuda are sister islands. There are lots of activities to engage in this area such as viewing the beautiful and colorful city buildings (that almost resembles Guatape, Colombia in my opinion), or chilling out and having an ice cold drink at one of the many beaches.

Just as Jamaica, travellers should remain cautious when visiting certain areas as not all sections are as safe as others.

8. Safety in Bonaire

Does anyone else think the name of this next island sounds like an expensive purse? No, just me? Bonaire is an island so geographically tiny that there are no traffic lights, people are respectful and careful when driving. I wish it was the same where I live.

The island has great weather and petty crime is little to none but be cautious when visiting during hurricane season as it is prone to bad weather during that time of year.

9. Anguilla is one of the safest Caribbean islands

Crime on this island is not as high as others and it has graciously been ranked with a threat level of one making it an extremely safe Caribbean vacation destination. Petty theft can occur, so lock up belongings and be aware of that new iphone 13.

Traveling to this destination is just as pricey as St. Barths or St. Lucia so be sure to budget well and save up for the tropical trip of a lifetime!

10. Traveling to Turks and Caicos

An island in the northern Caribbean, not too far away from Cuba and the Dominican Republic lies the beautiful Turks & Caicos.

This is a destination loved by international tourists and Caribbean residents alike and if you’ve been there, you know what the hype is about.

With crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, good rum, and mouth watering well seasoned food, Turks and Caicos is a safe and worthy tropical vacation.

Although a territory of the U.K, the island has a culture of their own. It is an archipelago which consists of multiple smaller islands and has a population well under 100,000 people.

Even though the destination is beautiful, petty crime is common so be cautious while on the beach or late at night.

11. Safety in Grenada

One of the lesser known and physically smaller Eastern Caribbean nations, is Grenada. Although you may not be too familiar with the country, it is a gorgeous and safe destination.

While other countries seek millions of tourists per year on their little land masses, Grenada sees a couple of hundred thousand. People are quite kind and there are lots to do here such as trying delicious street food, snorkeling the Caribbean sea, trying delectable sweets at the house of chocolate, or swimming in the underwater sculpture park.

Major crime is not typical here but petty theft is. Be sure to be cautious of handheld items such as phones, wallets, and passports and bring a lock in handy just in case.

Common sense for safety in the Caribbean islands

Even though the countries on this list are safer than others in this region, travelers must still remain cautious and travel with common sense. Unfortunately common sense is not so common.

If you wouldn’t do something back at home, it's probably best not to do it here either. Do not walk out late at night even if you feel super safe during the day; things tend to get weird as the sun goes down no matter the country or location.

When walking on the street, don’t hold out cameras or phones away from arms reach. Although major crime is not necessarily or typically found in the islands on this list, petty theft is often common. I’ve started to travel with a fanny pack and it's one of my favorite travel investments.

Know each island’s emergency number just in case, you never know when you may need it. For example, Jamaica’s emergency number is 112/911 and St. Lucia’s is 911.

I always love to bring travel locks and lock my luggage, bags, or hostel lockers when I’m away.

The Caribbean is known for its good rum and parties. Even though good memories will be made (during the day and night time), always be safe with alcohol. If going out by yourself (especially for women) with people you meet on the road, drink responsibly, not everyone is trustworthy. Always be sure to cover drinks and never leave unattended.

Speaking of staying safe, having safe sex will protect you and others as well.

Safety in the Caribbean islands during Hurricane season

The Caribbean hurricane season usually falls in the mid of summer to the ending of fall/beginning of winter. This season is typically very unpredictable.

Hurricanes can be as little as a heavy rain or as heavy as the multiple natural storms that have hit the Haitian islands throughout the years.

It can be a bit scary for a tourist to visit the islands during this time, but as said, nature is unpredictable. It is sometimes hard to determine how bad a hurricane (or even earthquake) may be during this time of year.

If planning a trip during this time, be cautious and aware of the bad weather or visit another time.

When hurricane season has passed and the sunny weather is back again, be sure to top off sunscreen everyday. Many people come home from the islands with major sunburns. While you’re having fun in the sun, remember that burns are not as enjoyable.

Volunteer in the safest Caribbean islands

Did you know you can stay in the Caribbean with free accommodation? Let me show you how: Worldpackers is a platform that unites travelers from all around the world (and of all ages) to become volunteers. There are over 20 opportunities in the Caribbean and thousands across the globe.

I myself have already done a worldpackers opportunity for one month in Jamaica and the experience completely changed my life. If you’re wanting to have a safe yet complete culture immersion, I recommend taking at least one trip with the platform.

It's not as complicated as you might think, travelers exchange their skills for accommodation. For example, I stayed at a beach hostel in Ocho Rios, Jamaica (the position is unfortunately no longer available) and in return for a free bunk, I managed their social media platforms and helped out with the reception desk. I was able to save hundreds on accommodation and I was able to learn more about Jamaican culture and make local friends.

Now let's discover a few unique work exchanges in the Caribbean region:

• Build a website by the waterside of the beautiful Saint Lucia.
• Help with infrastructure and permaculture in the beautiful Puerto Rican rainforest.
• Enjoy a private room and help a guest house in Saint Kitts & Nevis.
• Take care of fluffy cats and explore the Dominican Republic on your off days.

If you like these ideas for planning your trip to the Caribbean, be sure to follow Worldpackers social media to keep up with the news: we are on Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube! You never know, you just may be featured one day.