Saint Lucia is on the high of everybody’s dream record of Caribbean island getaways. The island is blessed with stunning seashores, fascinating volcanic geography, and spectacular mountain climbing trails. It’s no surprise you’re debating a visit; Saint Lucia is one in all our favourite locations, too.
Nevertheless, these planning levels do beg the query: Is Saint Lucia protected? What must you count on out of your journey when it comes to crime and pure catastrophe threat? As an entire, we’d let you know to train regular precautions, however that’s straightforward sufficient to say. What precisely are “regular” precautions anyway?
On this information, we’ll study security in Saint Lucia. Get able to dive deeply into particular crime charges, pure catastrophe threat, and extra. We can assist make Saint Lucia one of many most secure locations you might probably go to.
Is St Lucia Secure?
We all know that not everybody has the luxurious of limitless time to analysis Saint Lucia. If you would like fast solutions, don’t fear; we’ve bought you.
Listed below are the primary issues it is best to know in regards to the threat of journey in Saint Lucia:
- As an entire, Saint Lucia is among the most secure island nations to go to within the Caribbean. The key resort areas and most neighborhoods are extremely protected, with hundreds of thousands of holiday makers touring to Saint Lucia hassle-free annually.
- There are some pure risks in Saint Lucia, together with a hurricane threat from June till November. The island additionally has the danger of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The prospect 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 threat.
- There are crime incidents in Saint Lucia, particularly at giant occasions just like the Saint Lucia Carnival. Be cautious of petty crimes like bag snatching and pickpocketing in heavy crowds. Nevertheless, additionally bear in mind that there’s a severe crime threat, together with armed theft. These are fortunately rare incidents sometimes occurring in distant areas or after darkish.
- There are some strict cultural variations, enforceable by regulation. The principle factor to notice may be very conservative attitudes to LGBTQ+ relations throughout the nation. Whereas 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 observe that drug offenses carry extreme penalties, typically together with the demise penalty. It’s additionally unlawful for anybody to put on camouflage clothes, a rule not even kids are exempt from.
- Talking of issues which are enforceable by regulation, you want a short lived driving license to hire a automobile in Saint Lucia. Some rent firms can acquire this go for you, however it’s good to ask prematurely; in any other case, you’ll should consider an in-person go to to the official Division of Tourism. Fast aspect observe: by no means cease for pedestrians flagging down your car, and all the time preserve your doorways locked whereas driving.
St Lucia Crime Charges
Sadly, there’s really been a spike in Saint Lucia’s crime charges previously three years, just lately scoring a murder rating of 77.6 p.c in 2022. There’s an total crime rating of 70.24 on Numbeo, which is deemed excessive threat, and the security rating falls by half once you stroll through the day versus strolling at night time. that being mentioned, we felt extremely protected after we have been visiting the island.
As a basic rule, its remoted areas entice opportunistic assaults and theft. Within the capital of Castries, there’s a extra clockwork sample of normal crime, like medication and armed theft, in locations just like the (mockingly named) Serenity Park and Vieux Fort. That is typical amongst huge cities, and we’d advise you to maintain your wits about you. It’s smart to take a look at the precise crime hotspots of specific 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 night time walks on seashores and drunken rides in taxis with out a pre-agreed fare are all recipes for catastrophe. Equally, take further care within the daytime when main occasions just like the Saint Lucia Carnival are going down.
Hold jewellery and costly objects at residence or well-concealed when in Saint Lucia. Regardless of precise occasions of focused vacationers being low on this stunning nation, a great rule when touring wherever is “convey it should you’re ready to lose it”. Within the case of a mugging, by no means attempt to battle to your belongings.
Police Pressure Presence
As an entire, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Pressure is an efficient system on the island. It’s a little short-staffed and underfunded, with occasional accusations of corruption within the type of bribes. Nevertheless, the police pressure receives help from the US in its operations and does a great job of dealing with justice on the island. You’ll be able to contact the Royal Saint Lucia Police Pressure on 911 and know that they’re the most effective level of contact in a harmful state of affairs.
Nevertheless, 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 need to carry a short lived Saint Lucia license if renting and driving a automobile on the island.
- Medication, together with marijuana, aren’t authorized in Saint Lucia and carry extreme authorized repercussions, together with the demise penalty.
- It’s unlawful for anybody to put on camouflaged garments.
- LGBTQ+ exercise is at present not authorized, and displaying affection in public is doubtlessly harmful.
The police are efficient in Saint Lucia, so don’t get on the incorrect aspect of them both! That is notably true should you’re driving relatively than utilizing public transportation.
Pure Disasters in St Lucia
Saint Lucia isn’t resistant to pure disasters, though there’s often minimal disruption or extreme occasions. Typically talking, these are the three fundamental dangers:
- Volcanic exercise
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
Volcanic exercise and earthquakes are uncommon and fairly laborious to foretell. Nevertheless, 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 hardly ever actually harmful hurricanes in Saint Lucia. Nonetheless, flash flooding, journey disruption, and injury are an actual threat. In an excellent 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 doable, although, be certain that to take a look at our subsequent part.
Hurricanes in St Lucia
So, in case you are lifeless set on holidaying in Saint Lucia between June and November, right here’s what it’s good 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 severe risk.
Right here’s the rating system you may count on:
Class 1: Winds of 74-95 mph are harmful and might trigger injury, equivalent to injury to powerlines that might trigger outages.
Class 2: Winds of 96-110 mph which are very harmful and can trigger injury, like all powerlines destroyed and energy out for weeks.
Class 3: Winds of 112-129 mph that trigger devastating influence with electrical energy and water entry broken for weeks.
Class 4: Winds of 130-156 mph that trigger catastrophic injury and a few areas to be uninhabitable for a lot of months. There could also be injury to some homes.
Class 5: Winds of 157 mph that can trigger catastrophic injury, with most areas uninhabitable for a lot of months. A excessive proportion of homes might be destroyed with collapsed roofs and partitions.
Staying Secure in St Lucia Hurricanes
So, how do you keep protected on this state of affairs? Effectively, you may take some easy steps to maximise your possibilities of security in Saint Lucia’s hurricane season. On this part, we’ll provide the high three.
Almost all hurricanes impacting Saint Lucia are in class 1 or 2, so that you shouldn’t expertise essentially the most extreme finish of the dimensions. However 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!
Listed below are some further recommendation for you.
1. Carry a Charged Powerbank
A charged energy financial institution is important for energy cuts. Your cellphone 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 realized the place they’re as a precautionary measure). Carrying or conserving an influence financial institution charged is an effective way to guard your self in case of an outage.
2. Know Your Resort or Lodging’s Emergency Insurance policies
Does your lodge or lodging have a selected procedures plan? In the event that they don’t let you know once you arrive or once you get your reserving affirmation, then ask. Just remember to understand how individuals round you’ll act if there’s a hurricane and if there are any accommodation-specific methods to remain protected.
3. Think about Having No WiFi
This may occasionally sound apparent, however there’s no WiFi if there’s no energy. This implies you’ll lose entry to issues like Google Maps, your banking app, and even simply contact with family and friends again residence. Having a backup plan, like offline maps or the flexibility to only textual content your ISP to improve to a roaming package deal, is significant. You need to by no means assume that you just’ll have WiFi to remain protected.
Staying Secure on St Lucia Seashores
You’ll be able to by no means be too cautious in the case of the ocean. There’s all the time a slight threat, and the ocean may be harmful. When staying protected on St Lucia’s seashores, an important factor to know is that the island doesn’t use warning flags. This implies 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 japanese shoreline additionally opens out onto the Atlantic Ocean. This implies waves can get significantly uneven, particularly in hurricane season when winds decide up usually.
Not having restricted areas means you could use your frequent sense when deciding the place to swim. And should you’re not sure, ask your lodge for recommendation or go to a extra protected seaside, like one of many personal resort seashores with a 24/7 lifeguard.
Want some inspiration? Take a look at the most effective seashores right here.
Climate in St Lucia
Realizing the climate of your vacation spot earlier than departure can actually be a lifesaver. Should you go to St Lucia in July, you’ll know that it’s hurricane season with a excessive storm threat. Climate issues, as it will probably vastly influence your journey. Realizing your vacation spot inside out is the actual means ahead.
St Lucia has two fundamental seasons: the moist season from June till December and the dry season from December till late Could. Temperatures are additionally fixed at 78-83 levels Fahrenheit. However we’ll take a better take a look at the seasonal variation month by month.
Spring
That 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 Could beginning to see just a bit extra rain. You need to go to throughout this time if you would like clear skies for sightseeing and loads of hikes and seaside days.
Summer time
St Lucia just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea in summer season, and it’s proper in the midst of the June to November hurricane season. July and August have the very best ranges of humidity, with common laborious spells of downpours. That mentioned, costs are decrease, and sights are quieter.
Should you really feel like an low season vacation, it’s nonetheless worthwhile. You’ll be able to restrict the danger of being impacted by a hurricane with sufficient analysis beforehand and cancellation insurance coverage. Simply be ready to take a couple 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 threat”. We wouldn’t actually suggest this time of yr. Even when there are not any hurricanes, it falls clearly into the moist season (which runs from June to December), so that you’re taking a look at a number of wet days.
Winter
December to February is when issues begin to change in St Lucia. You’ll be able to wave goodbye to the hurricane threat and good day to the transition from moist to dry season. December is prone 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 would positively have enjoyable reserving to go to St Lucia in winter; simply goal for that later window.
5 Suggestions To Keep Secure in St Lucia
Staying protected in St Lucia is completely manageable. It’s only a case of doing analysis and taking fundamental precautions. It’s a protected vacation spot; it simply requires a little bit of pre-departure prep and in-country savviness.
Right here’s our recommendation on the highest 5 methods to remain protected when touring to St Lucia.
1. A Notice on Money
It’s price noting that credit score and debit playing cards are solely accepted at some outlets, in native taxis, and in some inns. To keep away from this, we’d recommend all the time carrying {dollars} as free money. This manner, you don’t have to attract out cash wherever harmful or get into altercations by accident.
Carrying a pockets of money can also be helpful when managing the danger of a harmful mugging assault. So many individuals hail the usage of a dummy pockets trick, which simply entails carrying a pretend pockets with fewer {dollars} or non-valuable playing cards in it. Within the occasion of a mugging, you may hand over that pockets as a substitute of your actual one – good, proper? You may as effectively use this money to double up as a dummy pockets when touring to St Lucia.
2. Sensible Lodging
It’s price reiterating that the place you might be positioned issues. Ensure you’re a protected 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 primary sights and facilities.
3. Registered Taxis
We shouldn’t have to emphasise this, however it’s so necessary that we add it to this record anyway. Solely ever use registered taxis, that are marked by a lightweight blue quantity plate. Frankly talking, should you get into an unregistered taxi, no person is aware of who you’re with or the place you’ll find yourself. It isn’t a protected touring follow, so don’t take the danger.
4. Know Your Climate
The numerous threat of this stunning island is the climate. So do your analysis and know the climate threat of the month you’re visiting. This little bit of preparation could make all of the distinction. Should you sense there’s “one thing within the air,” you’ll be taking the lead in conserving your self protected.
5. Know the Native Legal guidelines
A lot of staying protected is simply being road savvy. However should you determine to go to St Lucia, you must also know the native legal guidelines, which require some analysis. You have to be conscious of the restrictions round drug use, the principles for renting vehicles, and the conservative attitudes in the direction of LGBTQ+ relationships. This manner, you may preserve the police in your aspect.
Recommendations on St Lucia For Solo Vacationers
Saint Lucia is such a captivating vacation spot. And should you 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 might be extra interesting to criminals finishing up muggings, particularly should you’re utilizing your cellphone for instructions with no “second pair of eyes”.
- There’s no person to fall again on should you get spiked or drink an excessive amount of.
- There’s no person to look at your issues on the seaside or once you use loos.
Principally, try to be conscious that you may be considered as a little bit of a sitting duck. Don’t turn into bait; be savvy and conscious of what’s round you.
A Notice For Feminine Solo Vacationers
Any skilled solo feminine traveler is aware of how staying protected works. When touring to Saint Lucia, commonplace precautions are obligatory. You have to 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 night time.
When touring to Saint Lucia, reserving group excursions and day journeys is perhaps worthwhile, particularly should you don’t really feel assured managing public transportation solo. Strolling isn’t essentially the most environment friendly means of getting round, leaving you susceptible to isolation. The info on sexual assault stats are a bit regarding, so it pays to be a bit cautious.
Should you do your analysis on “dangerous areas” and stick by the standard solo feminine handbook guidelines, you’ll love this tropical island.
Recommendations on St Lucia For Households
St Lucia might need a barely spiked crime charge, however as an entire, it’s nonetheless nice for a household vacation. It is because there’s a strong infrastructure of family-friendly resorts, and even problematic areas are protected within the daytime. A household with younger kids isn’t going to be out and about at night time anyway. Therefore, you might be in a wonderful place to discover Saint Lucia safely.
When you have accountable and skilled grownup vacationers, you’ll love visiting Saint Lucia as a household. Simply be cautious of issues like riptides on the seaside (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 night time.
It is perhaps price 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 necessary to consider when you’re going, who you’re going with, and what you’re going to do there. All of those components play an enormous half in how protected your time in Saint Lucia might be.
Should you’re an skilled traveler, you gained’t have any points navigating Saint Lucia. Listed below are some fast FAQs to solidify all the security ideas we’ve run over.
Total, very protected. Simply be cautious of particular areas like Anse Le Raye (identified for armed robberies) and take care at night time and in distant areas, the place there’s a heightened threat of assault and theft.
St Lucia is barely extra harmful than Jamaica, with a spiked murder charge of 77.6 p.c versus Jamaica’s 52.9 p.c in 2022.
The climate in Saint Lucia from August to October is fairly horrific. That is once you get essentially the most rain, and it’s the height of hurricane season, that means there’s a threat of disruption and a severe threat of flash floods.
Completely. Saint Lucia is an excellent place to go to. Its fascinating geographical structure affords a number of actions, like mountain climbing and driving into the world’s solely drive-in volcano.
Is St Lucia Secure? Last Ideas
As you may see, Saint Lucia is a rustic with some crime dangers and risks. Whereas there’s a threat of hurricanes and volcanoes, extra extreme occasions are uncommon. All the time decide respected lodging, analysis hurricane season, and take commonplace journey precautions, and also you’ll have a implausible time. Saint Lucia actually is an attractive nation once you go to together with your head firmly screwed on.
That’s all from us; Saint Lucia is one in all our high 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. Should 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 the earth.
