While most Caribbean islands are quite safe to visit and host thousands of travelers each year without incident, there are some that land on the list of most dangerous Caribbean islands. Plenty of people still visit these islands, but if you’re planning a trip there, it’s good to be aware of potential hazards. To find out details about any Caribbean island’s safety, visit the U.S. State Department’s website to check travel advisories.
Most Dangerous Caribbean Islands Quick Picks
The two most dangerous Caribbean islands currently are Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago.
What Makes a Caribbean Island Dangerous?
Traveling anywhere always has a few safety concerns. It comes with the territory of traveling to an area you’re unfamiliar with, but that doesn’t stop many people from going. There are, however, more serious concerns to consider for certain travel destinations.
When it comes to the various Caribbean islands, you just need to consider the crime rate and common types of crime in each area. Some islands have higher rates of petty theft and nonviolent crimes, which is not as dangerous, while others have seen rising rates of more violent crimes.
Then there’s also the weather aspect of danger in the Caribbean islands. Since most of them are in the hurricane belt, you run the risk of encountering tropical storms and hurricanes during the months of June through November.
When you travel to these islands, it’s good to know when their peak storm season is and to monitor all weather conditions during your trip. You’ll also want to get travel insurance just in case. The risk of bad weather shouldn’t keep you from going, but it is something to keep in mind as you make your tropical travel plans.
FYI, islands that are outside the hurricane belt include Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Most Dangerous Caribbean Islands Currently
Haiti
Perhaps the most dangerous Caribbean island at the moment is Haiti. Haiti has seen a growing humanitarian crisis in recent years with a lot of civil and government unrest. This has caused a big jump in crime rates, including targeted attacks on tourists.
Threats have reached such a high level that the U.S. State Department considers Haiti to be a level 4 threat to tourists and visitors. A level 4 threat means the State Department encourages U.S. citizens not to go to Haiti at all.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago are located at the southern tip of the Caribbean, so these islands can see fewer visitors than some others. However, a recent drop in tourism has been caused by increasing crime rates.
The rates of violent crime have escalated quickly, which raises the concern for travelers. In fact, the U.S. State Department has issued a Level 3 travel advisory warning to all citizens who are considering traveling here, asking them to reconsider.
If you do choose to visit these small islands, exercise extreme caution. A few of the most popular tourist areas, Port of Spain and Fort George Overlook, as well as all beaches, are considered very dangerous.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is very popular due to its gorgeous beaches, affordability, and exciting nightlife. But unfortunately, this island continues to fall on the list of Caribbean islands to visit. The biggest concern here is the threat of violent crimes.
The Dominican Republic is seeing higher and higher rates of armed robberies, assault, and other violent crime. With these growing concerns the island has been upgraded to a level 2 on the U.S. State Department’s threat list. This means that those who do travel to the Dominican Republic should exercise extra caution and keep to the main tourist areas during their stay.
St. Kitts and Nevis
Although rates of violent crime on St. Kitts and Nevis have come down in recent years, the overall numbers are still relatively high.
Local government has been making strides to increase security and safety around the island for years. It seems like that effort is paying off as the current State Department advisory is the lowest possible–a Level 1–but visitors should still be cautious when traveling here.
Jamaica
Another well-known and well-loved Caribbean getaway destination, Jamaica has been experiencing recent increases in crime rates that have some people reconsidering a vacation here.
While some crime is limited to certain areas that visitors can avoid, tourists are unfortunately often targets of crimes in Jamaica. There have even been instances of sexual assault occurring in all-inclusive resorts. The State Department has recently raised the travel advisory level here to Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” for U.S. citizens.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas has always been an extremely popular Caribbean destination. But over the past few years, some of the areas have seen a higher rate of crime. Unfortunately, the increase in crime has been of a more violent nature. This increase has caused various foreign agencies to issue travel warnings, including the U.S. State Department.
The islands of the Bahamas have seen more burglaries and armed robberies in certain areas, like the capital city of Nassau. In previous years, tourist areas and resorts have been viewed as safe, but even that is becoming less true. Of course, there are parts of The Bahamas that are considered more safe–and tons of people still travel there without issue–but there are areas that are considered high risk. If you want to travel here, be sure to research the area you want to visit.
Puerto Rico
It may be surprising to see Puerto Rico on the list of most dangerous Caribbean islands, but crime rates have been trending upward in recent years. Overall, this is considered a safe place to visit, but the concern of both petty crimes and drug-related crime is growing.
Tourists are more likely to fall victim to petty crimes–pickpockets, robberies, and the like. But there is also some gang- and drug-related crime around the island. As these concerns grow, there could be more warnings issued for those who choose to travel here.
Most Dangerous Caribbean Islands Conclusion
Travel always has a small element of danger, just like most activities in everyday life. When you’re planning that Caribbean getaway, research the island you want to visit so that you can be as safe as possible.