Safest and Most Dangerous Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean has seen a few high-profile incidents in its day, prompting the U.S. State Department to tack travel advisories onto quite a few of its islands. High unemployment rates, a lack of economic development, and drug trafficking have made parts of this region susceptible to crime, violence, and gang activity. Still, though, the tropical region generally remains safe to visit.

Although homicide rates are high on a few Caribbean islands, most are lower than the United States' (17,284 per 100,000 people, according to 2017 data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)). The U.S. Department of State's crime warnings—which take into account the number of crimes and homicides reported to law enforcement agencies per 100,000 inhabitants—are a pretty reliable indication of which islands to visit and which to avoid.

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Montserrat

Montserrat is nicknamed the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean both for its terrain and the heritage of its inhabitants. This British territory in the Leeward Islands is considered to be one of the safest Caribbean destinations, its biggest threat being the active Soufrière Hills volcano and hurricanes that roll in between June and November.

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St. Barts

St. Barts, short for Saint Barthélemy, has been an overseas collectivity of France since 2007. Accessible only by yacht, propeller plane, or ferry, this exclusive island is known for being a party destination for the rich and famous. Besides the occasional theft, which is a concern for any tourist-popular region, St. Barts doesn't have much crime.

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British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) consist of Tortola (the largest and most inhabited island), Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and more than 50 smaller islands and cays. The homicide rate was last recorded by the World Health Organization Mortality Database at two per 100,000 back in 2006. The British government states that "although most visits to the BVI are trouble-free, serious incidents, including armed robbery, do occur." Tourists are advised to take normal precautions, such as not walking alone, carrying valuable possessions, or leaving anything unattended at the beach.

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Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is another British Overseas Territory widely known as a haven for the wealthy. It enforces relatively strict gun laws, which make it especially safe for travelers. Keep your doors and windows locked, the U.S. Department of State advises, and worry more about the hurricanes that threaten this region during the summer.

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Bonaire

Bonaire—which forms the ABC Islands with Aruba and Curaçao—is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Unlike most Caribbean islands, it's located outside of Hurricane Alley, making it safe in several senses. Aside from one incident in which two people were murdered within 24 hours in 2017, Bonaire doesn't have much major crime.

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Antigua and Barbuda

Nelson's Dockyard and English Harbor in Antigua — Daisuke Kishi / Getty Images

Antigua and Barbuda, nicknamed the Land of 365 Beaches, is a sovereign state in the Americas and British Commonwealth. According to the 2020 Crime and Safety Report for Barbados, which covers Antigua and Barbuda, this region had 12 reported homicides and two kidnappings per 100,000 inhabitants. It ranked lowest among all Barbados nations in sexual assaults, shootings, and residential burglaries, too.

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Martinique

Martinique is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Lesser Antilles. While it does have a homicide rate of 11 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to 2009 data from the local authorities, that number is still but a fraction of the U.S.'s rate. Tourists are advised merely to pay attention to their belongings so as to avoid robbery, especially in the capital, Fort-de-France, and in the tourist-centric region of Pointe du Bout.

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Puerto Rico

The United States territory of Puerto Rico is generally safe to visit (especially parts like San Juan Viejo), but the homicide rate rose to more than 675 per 100,000 inhabitants after Hurricane Maria struck in September 2017. Even though it isn't entirely crimeless, the U.S. Department of State deems Puerto Rico safe to visit.

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Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago, a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations, was elevated to a Level 2 U.S. Travel Advisory in April 2019. The Department of State says to exercise "increased caution" due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping, and warns against traveling to Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, citing violent crimes like murder, robbery, and assault as common. Drug trafficking is a major concern here.

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Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with the country of Haiti. It too was bumped to a Level 2 Travel Advisory in 2019 for armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault. "The wide availability of weapons, the use and trade of illicit drugs, and a weak criminal justice system contribute to the high level of criminality," the U.S. Department of State says. If you do travel to the Dominican Republic, do not exhibit signs of wealth by wearing expensive jewelry.

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St. Kitts and Nevis

A 2015 BBC report was widely criticized by St. Kitts and Nevis authorities for naming this Leeward Islands nation "the most violent place on earth." Most criminal activity here is believed to be gang or drug-related. The U.S. Department of State lists the dual-island country as a Level 1, meaning to exercise normal precautions. Tourists are more at risk of petty crimes and pickpocketing than anything.

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Jamaica

Another BBC report from 2006 called Jamaica the "murder capital of the world." Even in 2019, the homicide rate was eight times the global average, but 70 percent of all crime is linked to the drug trade. This Caribbean nation is under a Level 2 Travel Advisory, citing armed robberies, homicides, and sexual assaults as the biggest issues. The U.S. Department of State warns against traveling to troubled spots like downtown Kingston, Cassava Piece, Grants Pen, and Standpipe.