If you’ve been dreaming of a relaxing vacation by the seaside, daiquiri in hand, listening to the ruffling of palm trees overhead and the crashing of the crystalline waves in the distance, the Caribbean is likely to be at the top of your bucket list.
Unfortunately, safety levels have been deteriorating in the area lately: Americans must now exercise greater caution vacationing in the Bahamas, due to a significant rise in crime, while reconsidering travel to Jamaica altogether following a spate of crime.
Not all destinations in the turquoise sea have been hit with travel warnings, though, as these 6 islands continue to be included on the U.S. State Department’s ‘safe to visit’ list:
Saint Lucia
One of the last truly unspoiled spots in the Caribbean, Saint Lucia is a tiny sovereign island state where peaceful coastal scenes unravel against the dramatic backdrop of volcanos and jungles, creating a unique atmosphere not easily found elsewhere.
Home to palm-lined Vigie Beach, a duty-free shopping zone, and a busy cruise port, the national capital Castries is a popular base for those exploring the island and its many gems, including the mountainous Pitons, development-free Pigeon Island, and the towering Diamond Falls.
In terms of safety, Saint Lucia is extremely low-risk, at least by Caribbean standards, with a majority of tourists reporting no issues when traveling around the island, taking taxis or using public transportation; their main concern is pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded areas.
Aruba
Next up, lesser-known Aruba is a more exclusive, off-path jewel of the Caribbean characterized by long strips of white sand, translucent waters inhabited by pink flamingos and rare marine species, and a charming Dutch-colonial architecture.
Unlike Saint Lucia, Aruba is not a sovereign country: it is still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and needless to say, safety standards are very high in the sunny island, as much as they would be in Amsterdam or any other ‘mainland’ Dutch region.
Crime, especially violent crime, are exceedingly rare in Aruba, and even pickpocketing isn’t as widely-reported. Despite the minimal risk, you should keep a close eye on personal belongings strolling the lively markets and streets of Oranjestad, as you would in other popular tourist sites.
Consider protecting your belongings with cards that offer built-in travel insurance.
Curaçao
Similarly to Aruba, Curacao is also part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as one of its constituent countries, and as expected, with any outer territory of a highly-developed European country, security is tight, both within resort zones and outside.
Whether they’re lounging by the beach, taking in the tropical scenery of Lagun, where the sands are soft and warm to the touch and you can see yourself reflected on the water, or walking the colonial center of Willemstad, American tourists can exercise normal precautions.
Petty theft can occur in larger urban centers, but the rates of crime remain far below the Caribbean average, with most of the violence being limited to peripheral areas and involving the world of illegal drugs and rarely, if ever, affecting foreign visitors.
British Virgin Islands
Yet another European territory in the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands are, as the title suggest, under administration of the United Kingdom. It is primarily a leisure destination, as well as a global capital for yatching, with luxurious vessels gliding on its serene, bright-blue waters year-round.
It comprises 4 main islands (and several smaller, uninhabited islets), all fringed by coral reefs and boasting a high concentration of nature reserves. These include Sage Mountain National Park and the ‘Baths’, an otherwordly, naturally-formed labyrinth of boulders on a paradisaical beach.
Much like the Dutch Caribbean and Saint Lucia, crime levels in the BVI (as the British Virgin Islands are known in their short form) is very low, but that doesn’t mean you should leave items unattended, nor wander off in the woods all by yourself.
Barbados
Formerly under British rule, Barbados is not only the world’s youngest republic, having ditched the crown only a couple of years ago, but it’s probably one of the best-equipped destinations in the Caribbean, with plenty of family-friendly resorts and nature-based attractions to pick from.
Picture tropical beaches unfolding along a crystal-clear Carlisle Bay, British colonial buildings and hippy markets at every turn, and numerous ethnic bajan restaurants serving traditional cou-cou and Barbado’s native, spicy flying fish with gravy.
While road safety can vary across the island, urban safety is a lot higher than your average, post-colonial island country: it is one of a handful such states to enjoy a Level 1 classification, as awarded by Washington. In other words, it’s as safe as a Caribbean country can be.
Dominica
Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, home to Punta Cana and a country that comprises the eastern part of Hispaniola Island, Dominica has full sovereignty over the island it occupies, albeit a tiny one, only 29 miles long and 16 wide.
Despite its small landmass, it has no shortage of beautiful scenery, with majestic peaks, a volcanic hinterland, rainforests, and tropical beaches fringed by colorful coral reefs, and lucky for nature lovers, their risk of being attacked by criminals is relatively low.
We wouldn’t be the first venturing off the main roads ourselves when road-tripping around verdant Dominica, especially after dark (as we wouldn’t anywhere else), but it is pretty safe, with violent incidents being on a constant decline since at least 2017, and very few if any tourists reporting issues.
Credit: Source link
