Saint Lucia is on the prime of everybody’s dream listing of Caribbean island getaways. The island is blessed with stunning seashores, fascinating volcanic geography, and spectacular mountaineering trails. It’s no marvel you’re debating a visit; Saint Lucia is considered one of our favourite locations, too.
However, these planning phases do beg the query: Is Saint Lucia secure? What must you anticipate out of your journey by way of crime and pure catastrophe danger? As a complete, we’d inform you to train regular precautions, however that’s straightforward sufficient to say. What precisely are “normal” precautions anyway?
In this information, we’ll study security in Saint Lucia. Get able to dive deeply into particular crime charges, pure catastrophe danger, and extra. We might help make Saint Lucia one of many most secure locations you can presumably go to.
Is St Lucia Safe?
We know that not everybody has the posh of limitless time to analysis Saint Lucia. If you need fast solutions, don’t fear; we’ve received you.
Here are the principle issues it is best to know in regards to the danger of journey in Saint Lucia:
As a complete, Saint Lucia is without doubt one of the most secure island nations to go to within the Caribbean. The main resort areas and most neighborhoods are extremely secure, with thousands and thousands of holiday makers touring to Saint Lucia hassle-free every year.
There are some pure risks in Saint Lucia, together with a hurricane danger from June till November. The island additionally has the chance of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The likelihood of a extreme catastrophe occurring is low however can’t be dominated out. It’s smart to know the right protocols earlier than touring, have sufficient insurance coverage, and keep away from high-risk occasions, like August till October for hurricane danger.
There are crime incidents in Saint Lucia, particularly at massive occasions just like the Saint Lucia Carnival. Be cautious of petty crimes like bag snatching and pickpocketing in heavy crowds. However, additionally bear in mind that there’s a critical crime danger, together with armed theft. These are fortunately rare incidents usually occurring in distant areas or after darkish.
There are some strict cultural variations, enforceable by legislation. The fundamental factor to notice may be very conservative attitudes to LGBTQ+ relations throughout the nation. While members of the LGBTQ+ can nonetheless journey to Saint Lucia, it’s advisable to be conscious of issues like public shows of affection. You must also be aware that drug offenses carry extreme penalties, typically together with the dying penalty. It’s additionally unlawful for anybody to put on camouflage clothes, a rule not even kids are exempt from.
Speaking of issues which might be enforceable by legislation, you want a brief driving license to lease a automotive in Saint Lucia. Some rent firms can get hold of this go for you, however it’s sensible to ask upfront; in any other case, you’ll should think about an in-person go to to the official Department of Tourism. Quick aspect be aware: by no means cease for pedestrians flagging down your car, and all the time preserve your doorways locked whereas driving.
St Lucia Crime Rates
Unfortunately, there’s truly been a spike in Saint Lucia’s crime charges up to now three years, lately scoring a murder rating of 77.6 % in 2022. There’s an total crime rating of 70.24 on Numbeo, which is deemed excessive danger, and the protection rating falls by half while you stroll in the course of the day versus strolling at evening. that being stated, we felt extremely secure once we had been visiting the island.
As a basic rule, its remoted areas entice opportunistic assaults and theft. In the capital of Castries, there’s a extra clockwork sample of standard crime, like medication and armed theft, in locations just like the (paradoxically named) Serenity Park and Vieux Fort. This is typical amongst large cities, and we’d advise you to maintain your wits about you. It’s smart to take a look at the particular crime hotspots of explicit locations in Saint Lucia that you just’re visiting.
As all the time, take further care or just keep away from touring after darkish. Solo evening walks on seashores and drunken rides in taxis with out a pre-agreed fare are all recipes for catastrophe. Similarly, take further care within the daytime when main occasions just like the Saint Lucia Carnival are happening.
Keep jewellery and costly gadgets at dwelling or well-concealed when in Saint Lucia. Despite precise occasions of focused vacationers being low on this stunning nation, a superb rule when touring anyplace is “bring it if you’re prepared to lose it”. In the case of a mugging, by no means attempt to struggle to your belongings.
Police Force Presence
As a complete, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is an efficient system on the island. It is just a little short-staffed and underfunded, with occasional accusations of corruption within the type of bribes. However, the police pressure receives help from the US in its operations and does a superb job of dealing with justice on the island. You can contact the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force on 911 and know that they’re the perfect level of contact in a harmful state of affairs.
However, we suggest reviewing the principles and cultural variations in Saint Lucia earlier than touring. These are the next legal guidelines it is best to know:
You should carry a brief Saint Lucia license if renting and driving a automotive on the island.
Drugs, together with marijuana, aren’t authorized in Saint Lucia and carry extreme authorized repercussions, together with the dying penalty.
It’s unlawful for anybody to put on camouflaged garments.
LGBTQ+ exercise is at present not authorized, and exhibiting affection in public is probably harmful.
The police are efficient in Saint Lucia, so don’t get on the incorrect aspect of them both! This is especially true for those who’re driving somewhat than utilizing public transportation.
Natural Disasters in St Lucia
Saint Lucia isn’t proof against pure disasters, though there’s often minimal disruption or extreme occasions. Generally talking, these are the three fundamental dangers:
Volcanic exercise
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
Volcanic exercise and earthquakes are uncommon and fairly arduous to foretell. However, you may subscribe to alerts when touring to Saint Lucia, which is able to promptly notify you of updates and emergency programs of motion. It’s one thing to be conscious of and subscribe to earlier than flying to the island.
Hurricanes are extra common, and Saint Lucia has a hurricane season between June and November. There are not often actually harmful hurricanes in Saint Lucia. Still, flash flooding, journey disruption, and harm are an actual danger. In a perfect world, it is best to keep away from this era, particularly from August till October, when hurricanes are at a peak.
If that isn’t attainable, although, be certain that to take a look at our subsequent part.
Hurricanes in St Lucia
So, in case you are useless set on holidaying in Saint Lucia between June and November, right here’s what you’ll want to know. Hurricanes are measured on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This ranks between 1 and 5 in severity and helps to categorise damages and decide whether or not hurricanes are a critical menace.
Here’s the rating system you may anticipate:
Category 1: Winds of 74-95 mph are harmful and may trigger harm, reminiscent of harm to powerlines that would trigger outages.
Category 2: Winds of 96-110 mph which might be very harmful and can trigger harm, like all powerlines destroyed and energy out for weeks.
Category 3: Winds of 112-129 mph that trigger devastating impression with electrical energy and water entry broken for weeks.
Category 4: Winds of 130-156 mph that trigger catastrophic harm and a few areas to be uninhabitable for a lot of months. There could also be harm to some homes.
Category 5: Winds of 157 mph that may trigger catastrophic harm, with most areas uninhabitable for a lot of months. A excessive share of homes will probably be destroyed with collapsed roofs and partitions.
Staying Safe in St Lucia Hurricanes
So, how do you keep secure on this state of affairs? Well, you may take some easy steps to maximise your possibilities of security in Saint Lucia’s hurricane season. In this part, we’ll provide the prime three.
Nearly all hurricanes impacting Saint Lucia are in class 1 or 2, so that you shouldn’t expertise essentially the most extreme finish of the size. But try to be ready for issues like energy outages and impacted flights. It’s a good suggestion to have insurance coverage to cowl you for any surprising prices and to be versatile together with your itinerary. Cancellation insurance coverage is all the time a helpful card to have up your sleeve!
Here are some further recommendation for you.
1. Carry a Charged Powerbank
A charged energy financial institution is important for energy cuts. Your telephone is your lifeline; it’s a technique to contact the police or an ambulance and navigate to locations like hospitals (it is best to have already got discovered the place they’re as a precautionary measure). Carrying or maintaining an influence financial institution charged is a good way to guard your self in case of an outage.
2. Know Your Hotel or Accommodation’s Emergency Policies
Does your lodge or lodging have a selected procedures plan? If they don’t inform you while you arrive or while you get your reserving affirmation, then ask. Make certain that you understand how individuals round you’ll act if there’s a hurricane and if there are any accommodation-specific methods to remain secure.
3. Factor in Having No WiFi
This could sound apparent, however there’s no WiFi if there’s no energy. This means you’ll lose entry to issues like Google Maps, your banking app, and even simply contact with family and friends again dwelling. Having a backup plan, like offline maps or the flexibility to only textual content your ISP to improve to a roaming bundle, is significant. You ought to by no means assume that you just’ll have WiFi to remain secure.
Staying Safe on St Lucia Beaches
You can by no means be too cautious in relation to the ocean. There’s all the time a slight danger, and the ocean could be harmful. When staying secure on St Lucia’s seashores, a very powerful factor to know is that the island doesn’t use warning flags. This means that you could be not be warned if there are areas unsuitable for swimming or with riptides.
Off the again of this, the island’s jap shoreline additionally opens out onto the Atlantic Ocean. This means waves can get severely uneven, particularly in hurricane season when winds choose up typically.
Not having restricted areas means you could use your frequent sense when deciding the place to swim. And for those who’re uncertain, ask your lodge for recommendation or go to a extra protected seashore, like one of many personal resort seashores with a 24/7 lifeguard.
Need some inspiration? Check out the perfect seashores right here.
Weather in St Lucia
Knowing the climate of your vacation spot earlier than departure can actually be a lifesaver. If you go to St Lucia in July, you’ll know that it’s hurricane season with a excessive storm danger. Weather issues, as it will probably vastly impression your journey. Knowing your vacation spot inside out is the true manner ahead.
St Lucia has two fundamental seasons: the moist season from June till December and the dry season from December till late May. Temperatures are additionally fixed at 78-83 levels Fahrenheit. But we’ll take a more in-depth have a look at the seasonal variation month by month.
Spring
This is the preferred time to go to St Lucia and falls into the Spring Break dates. March is the driest month in St Lucia, with April additionally pretty dry and May beginning to see just a bit extra rain. You ought to go to throughout this time in order for you clear skies for sightseeing and loads of hikes and seashore days.
Summer
St Lucia just isn’t all people’s cup of tea in summer season, and it’s proper in the course of the June to November hurricane season. July and August have the very best ranges of humidity, with common arduous spells of downpours. That stated, costs are decrease, and points of interest are quieter.
If you’re feeling like an low season vacation, it’s nonetheless worthwhile. You can restrict the chance of being impacted by a hurricane with sufficient analysis beforehand and cancellation insurance coverage. Just be ready to take a number of taxis on moist days.
Fall
The hurricane season grinds to a gradual halt round November, which implies fall solely falls into the class of “hurricane risk”. We wouldn’t actually suggest this time of yr. Even if there aren’t any hurricanes, it falls clearly into the moist season (which runs from June to December), so that you’re plenty of wet days.
Winter
December to February is when issues begin to change in St Lucia. You can wave goodbye to the hurricane danger and good day to the transition from moist to dry season. December is more likely to nonetheless expertise loads of moist days (a mean of 16), however January drops (a mean of 14 moist days), and February drops even additional (simply 9). You may positively have enjoyable reserving to go to St Lucia in winter; simply goal for that later window.
5 Tips To Stay Safe in St Lucia
Staying secure in St Lucia is completely manageable. It’s only a case of doing analysis and taking primary precautions. It is a secure vacation spot; it simply requires a little bit of pre-departure prep and in-country savviness.
Here’s our recommendation on the highest 5 methods to remain secure when touring to St Lucia.
1. A Note on Cash
It’s value noting that credit score and debit playing cards are solely accepted at some retailers, in native taxis, and in some inns. To keep away from this, we’d counsel all the time carrying {dollars} as unfastened money. This manner, you don’t have to attract out cash anyplace harmful or get into altercations unintentionally.
Carrying a pockets of money can also be helpful when managing the chance of a harmful mugging assault. So many individuals hail the usage of a dummy pockets trick, which simply includes carrying a pretend pockets with fewer {dollars} or non-valuable playing cards in it. In the occasion of a mugging, you may hand over that pockets as an alternative of your actual one – sensible, proper? You would possibly as nicely use this money to double up as a dummy pockets when touring to St Lucia.
2. Smart Accommodation
It’s value reiterating that the place you might be positioned issues. Make certain you’re a secure distance from any tough areas, whether or not you’re in cities or extra rural cities. Doing that analysis earlier than committing to lodging is a recreation changer relating to security. You’ll thank your self later when you may stroll hassle-free to the principle points of interest and facilities.
3. Registered Taxis
We shouldn’t have to emphasise this, however it’s so essential that we add it to this listing anyway. Only ever use registered taxis, that are marked by a light-weight blue quantity plate. Frankly talking, for those who get into an unregistered taxi, no one is aware of who you’re with or the place you’ll find yourself. It isn’t a secure touring apply, so don’t take the chance.
4. Know Your Weather
The vital danger of this stunning island is the climate. So do your analysis and know the climate danger of the month you’re visiting. This little bit of preparation could make all of the distinction. If you sense there’s “something in the air,” you’ll be taking the lead in maintaining your self secure.
5. Know the Local Laws
Much of staying secure is simply being road savvy. But for those who resolve to go to St Lucia, you must also know the native legal guidelines, which require some analysis. You must be conscious of the restrictions round drug use, the principles for renting vehicles, and the conservative attitudes in direction of LGBTQ+ relationships. This manner, you may preserve the police in your aspect.
Tips on St Lucia For Solo Travelers
Saint Lucia is such a captivating vacation spot. And for those who don’t imagine that straight off the bat, simply take a look at these enjoyable details. There are some things to notice as a solo traveler, although:
You are extra interesting to criminals finishing up muggings, particularly for those who’re utilizing your telephone for instructions with no “second pair of eyes”.
There’s no one to fall again on for those who get spiked or drink an excessive amount of.
There’s no one to observe your issues on the seashore or while you use bogs.
Basically, try to be conscious that you may be seen as a little bit of a sitting duck. Don’t turn into bait; be savvy and conscious of what’s round you.
A Note For Female Solo Travelers
Any skilled solo feminine traveler is aware of how staying secure works. When touring to Saint Lucia, commonplace precautions are needed. You must be conscious of strolling alone in quiet areas or neighborhoods infamous for crime, stay vigilant of your environment always, and restrict your consumption of alcohol. You must also all the time keep away from strolling alone at evening.
When touring to Saint Lucia, reserving group excursions and day journeys is likely to be worthwhile, particularly for those who don’t really feel assured managing public transportation solo. Walking isn’t essentially the most environment friendly manner of getting round, leaving you susceptible to isolation. The information on sexual assault stats are just a little regarding, so it pays to be just a little cautious.
If you do your analysis on “bad areas” and stick by the standard solo feminine handbook guidelines, you’ll love this tropical island.
Tips on St Lucia For Families
St Lucia might need a barely spiked crime price, however as a complete, it’s nonetheless nice for a household vacation. This is as a result of there’s a stable infrastructure of family-friendly resorts, and even problematic areas are secure within the daytime. A household with younger kids isn’t going to be out and about at evening anyway. Hence, you might be in a wonderful place to discover Saint Lucia safely.
If you’ve accountable and skilled grownup vacationers, you’ll love visiting Saint Lucia as a household. Just be cautious of issues like riptides on the seashore (shallow water can nonetheless be deceptively sturdy), select the place your lodge is positioned rigorously, and keep away from remoted areas or famend city districts at evening.
It is likely to be value sticking to the north aspect of Saint Lucia, the place loads of family-friendly resorts exist.
Visiting St Lucia: FAQs
When planning a safe journey to St Lucia, it’s essential to think about when you’re going, who you’re going with, and what you’re going to do there. All of those elements play an enormous half in how secure your time in Saint Lucia will probably be.
If you’re an skilled traveler, you received’t have any points navigating Saint Lucia. Here are some fast FAQs to solidify the entire security ideas we’ve run over.
Overall, very secure. Just be cautious of particular areas like Anse Le Raye (identified for armed robberies) and take care at evening and in distant areas, the place there’s a heightened danger of assault and theft.
St Lucia is barely extra harmful than Jamaica, with a spiked murder price of 77.6 % versus Jamaica’s 52.9 % in 2022.
The climate in Saint Lucia from August to October is fairly horrific. This is while you get essentially the most rain, and it’s the height of hurricane season, that means there’s a danger of disruption and a critical danger of flash floods.
Absolutely. Saint Lucia is a superb place to go to. Its fascinating geographical structure affords plenty of actions, like mountaineering and driving into the world’s solely drive-in volcano.
Is St Lucia Safe? Final Thoughts
As you may see, Saint Lucia is a rustic with some crime dangers and risks. While there’s a danger of hurricanes and volcanoes, extra extreme occasions are uncommon. Always choose respected lodging, analysis hurricane season, and take commonplace journey precautions, and also you’ll have a implausible time. Saint Lucia actually is a wonderful nation while you go to together with your head firmly screwed on.
That’s all from us; Saint Lucia is considered one of our prime suggestions for island holidays within the Caribbean. The rugged volcanic panorama with jutting peaks behind white sand seashores is iconic. And its luxurious lodging scene is equally spectacular. If you’d like additional inspiration on touring to Saint Lucia, take a look at our complete information to the finest issues to do in Saint Lucia – together with the one drive-in volcano on this planet.