The safety situation for travelers in Jamaica has improved somewhat compared to last year, according to the U.S. State Department.
On the federal agency’s 4-level travel advisory scale, Jamaica was moved down late last month from level 3, which stands for “Reconsider Travel,” to level 2, “Exercise increased caution.”
The primary concern remains areas with high levels of crime. The island nation has one of the worst homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere, the State Department points out. Armed robberies and sexual assault are common as well.
That said, “violent crime in Jamaica has decreased since 2024,” according to the U.S. government advisory, and “tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.”
Despite the downgraded threat level for Jamaica as a whole, there remain some high-risk areas in the country that the State Department has given its most serious travel advisory, level 4, “Do Not Travel.” Those areas are listed in the government’s advisory.
Canada’s government has likewise eased its travel warning for Jamaica, with the same caveat about exercising a “high degree of caution” due to violent crime on the island.
It’s worth noting that Jamaica isn’t the only tourism heavy hitter in the region that has not received the State Department’s lowest threat assessment score, level 1, indicating travelers should “Exercise Normal Precautions.”
The Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and Cuba are all at level 2; Trinidad & Tobago is at level 3.
The Safest Caribbean Islands for Travelers in 2025
As for the destinations at level 1, here are the safest countries in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic, according to the U.S. State Department:
• Anguilla
• Aruba
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• Curaçao
• Dominica
• French West Indies: Guadeloupe, Martinique, French St. Martin, and St. Barthélemy
• Grenada
• Saba
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Obviously, complete safety is never guaranteed when you travel overseas. Or, for that matter, when you stay at home.
If you’re a U.S. tourist looking to reduce your chances of running into trouble while in another country there are several steps you can take: Stay informed about the destination you’re visiting, read up on the State Department’s general safety tips, consider buying travel insurance, and register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get up-to-the-minute safety alerts and to help officials find you in the event of an emergency.
An earlier version of this story, published July 30, 2024, has been updated for summer 2025.