Saint Lucia is on the prime of everybody’s dream listing of Caribbean island getaways. The island is blessed with lovely seashores, fascinating volcanic geography, and spectacular climbing trails. It’s no marvel you’re debating a visit; Saint Lucia is certainly one of our favourite locations, too.
Nevertheless, these planning phases do beg the query: Is Saint Lucia secure? What must you count on out of your journey by way of crime and pure catastrophe threat? As a complete, we’d let you know to train regular precautions, however that’s simple sufficient to say. What precisely are “normal” 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 may also help make Saint Lucia one of many most secure locations you may presumably go to.
Is St Lucia Protected?
We all know that not everybody has the posh of limitless time to analysis Saint Lucia. If you would like fast solutions, don’t fear; we’ve obtained you.
Listed here are the primary issues you must know concerning the threat of journey in Saint Lucia:
- As a complete, Saint Lucia is likely one of the most secure island international locations to go to within the Caribbean. The most important resort areas and most neighborhoods are extremely secure, with hundreds of thousands of tourists 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 chance of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The prospect of a extreme catastrophe occurring is low however can’t be dominated out. It’s clever to know the right protocols earlier than touring, have enough 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 remember 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 primary factor to notice could 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 also needs to be aware that drug offenses carry extreme penalties, generally 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 might be enforceable by regulation, you want a short lived driving license to lease a automotive in Saint Lucia. Some rent firms can acquire this cross for you, however it’s sensible to ask prematurely; in any other case, you’ll must consider an in-person go to to the official Division of Tourism. Fast facet be aware: by no means cease for pedestrians flagging down your automobile, and all the time hold your doorways locked whereas driving.
St Lucia Crime Charges
Sadly, there’s really been a spike in Saint Lucia’s crime charges up to now three years, just 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 threat, and the protection rating falls by half while you stroll through the day versus strolling at evening. that being stated, we felt extremely secure after we had been visiting the island.
As a common rule, its remoted areas appeal to opportunistic assaults and theft. Within the capital of Castries, there’s a extra clockwork sample of standard crime, like medication and armed theft, in locations just like the (satirically named) Serenity Park and Vieux Fort. That is typical amongst large cities, and we’d advise you to maintain your wits about you. It’s clever to take a look at the precise crime hotspots of specific locations in Saint Lucia that you simply’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. Equally, take further care within the daytime when main occasions just like the Saint Lucia Carnival are going down.
Hold jewellery and costly gadgets at house or well-concealed when in Saint Lucia. Regardless of precise occasions of focused vacationers being low on this lovely nation, a superb rule when touring wherever is “bring it if you’re prepared to lose it”. Within the case of a mugging, by no means attempt to combat in your belongings.
Police Power Presence
As a complete, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Power 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 power receives help from the US in its operations and does a superb job of dealing with justice on the island. You’ll be able to contact the Royal Saint Lucia Police Power on 911 and know that they’re one of the best 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 you must know:
- You need to carry a short lived Saint Lucia license if renting and driving a automotive on the island.
- Medicine, 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 presently not authorized, and displaying affection in public is doubtlessly harmful.
The police are efficient in Saint Lucia, so don’t get on the improper facet of them both! That is notably true when you’re driving fairly 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 predominant dangers:
- Volcanic exercise
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
Volcanic exercise and earthquakes are uncommon and fairly laborious to foretell. Nevertheless, you possibly can 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 really harmful hurricanes in Saint Lucia. Nonetheless, flash flooding, journey disruption, and injury are an actual threat. In a great world, you must keep away from this era, particularly from August till October, when hurricanes are at a peak.
If that isn’t attainable, although, make sure that to take a look at our subsequent part.
Hurricanes in St Lucia
So, if you’re lifeless set on holidaying in Saint Lucia between June and November, right here’s what you could 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 possibly can 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 might be 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 affect 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 will probably be destroyed with collapsed roofs and partitions.
Staying Protected in St Lucia Hurricanes
So, how do you keep secure on this state of affairs? Properly, you possibly can take some easy steps to maximise your possibilities of security in Saint Lucia’s hurricane season. On this part, we’ll provide the prime three.
Almost all hurricanes impacting Saint Lucia are in class 1 or 2, so that you shouldn’t expertise probably 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 useful card to have up your sleeve!
Listed here 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 strategy to contact the police or an ambulance and navigate to locations like hospitals (you must have already got discovered the place they’re as a precautionary measure). Carrying or retaining an influence financial institution charged is a good way to guard your self in case of an outage.
2. Know Your Lodge or Lodging’s Emergency Insurance policies
Does your resort or lodging have a particular procedures plan? In the event that they don’t let you know while you arrive or while 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 secure.
3. Consider Having No WiFi
This will likely 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 house. Having a backup plan, like offline maps or the flexibility to only textual content your ISP to improve to a roaming bundle, is significant. It is best to by no means assume that you simply’ll have WiFi to remain secure.
Staying Protected on St Lucia Seashores
You’ll be able to by no means be too cautious relating to the ocean. There’s all the time a slight threat, and the ocean might be harmful. When staying secure on St Lucia’s seashores, crucial 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 jap shoreline additionally opens out onto the Atlantic Ocean. This implies waves can get critically uneven, particularly in hurricane season when winds decide up typically.
Not having restricted areas means you have to use your widespread sense when deciding the place to swim. And when you’re not sure, ask your resort for recommendation or go to a extra protected seashore, like one of many non-public resort seashores with a 24/7 lifeguard.
Want some inspiration? Try one of the best seashores right here.
Climate in St Lucia
Understanding the climate of your vacation spot earlier than departure can actually be a lifesaver. In the event you go to St Lucia in July, you’ll know that it’s hurricane season with a excessive storm threat. Climate issues, as it may vastly affect your journey. Understanding your vacation spot inside out is the true method ahead.
St Lucia has two predominant seasons: the moist season from June till December and the dry season from December till late Might. Temperatures are additionally fixed at 78-83 levels Fahrenheit. However we’ll take a more in-depth 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 Might beginning to see just a bit extra rain. It is best to go to throughout this time if you’d like clear skies for sightseeing and loads of hikes and seashore days.
Summer time
St Lucia shouldn’t be 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 stated, costs are decrease, and sights are quieter.
In the event you really feel like an low season vacation, it’s nonetheless worthwhile. You’ll be able to restrict the chance of being impacted by a hurricane with enough analysis beforehand and cancellation insurance coverage. Simply be ready to take just a few taxis on moist days.
Fall
The hurricane season grinds to a sluggish halt round November, which suggests fall fully falls into the class of “hurricane risk”. We wouldn’t actually suggest this time of 12 months. Even when there aren’t any hurricanes, it falls clearly into the moist season (which runs from June to December), so that you’re numerous 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 more likely to nonetheless expertise loads of moist days (a median of 16), however January drops (a median of 14 moist days), and February drops even additional (simply 9). You may undoubtedly have enjoyable reserving to go to St Lucia in winter; simply goal for that later window.
5 Ideas To Keep Protected in St Lucia
Staying secure in St Lucia is completely manageable. It’s only a case of doing analysis and taking fundamental precautions. It’s a secure 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 secure when touring to St Lucia.
1. A Be aware on Money
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 recommend all the time carrying {dollars} as unfastened 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 be useful when managing the chance of a harmful mugging assault. So many individuals hail using a dummy pockets trick, which simply entails carrying a faux pockets with fewer {dollars} or non-valuable playing cards in it. Within the occasion of a mugging, you possibly can hand over that pockets as an alternative of your actual one – sensible, proper? You would possibly as properly use this money to double up as a dummy pockets when touring to St Lucia.
2. Sensible Lodging
It’s value reiterating that the place you’re positioned issues. Be sure 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 sport changer concerning security. You’ll thank your self later when you possibly can stroll hassle-free to the primary sights 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. Solely ever use registered taxis, that are marked by a lightweight blue quantity plate. Frankly talking, when 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 secure touring follow, so don’t take the chance.
4. Know Your Climate
The numerous threat of this lovely 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. In the event you sense there’s “something in the air,” you’ll be taking the lead in retaining your self secure.
5. Know the Native Legal guidelines
A lot of staying secure is simply being road savvy. However when you resolve to go to St Lucia, you also needs to know the native legal guidelines, which require some analysis. Try to be conscious of the restrictions round drug use, the principles for renting automobiles, and the conservative attitudes in direction of LGBTQ+ relationships. This manner, you possibly can hold the police in your facet.
Tips about St Lucia For Solo Vacationers
Saint Lucia is such a captivating vacation spot. And when you don’t imagine that straight off the bat, simply try these enjoyable details. There are some things to notice as a solo traveler, although:
- You’re extra interesting to criminals finishing up muggings, particularly when you’re utilizing your cellphone for instructions with no “second pair of eyes”.
- There’s no person to fall again on when you get spiked or drink an excessive amount of.
- There’s no person to look at your issues on the seashore or while you use loos.
Principally, try to be conscious that you would be able to be considered as a little bit of a sitting duck. Don’t change into bait; be savvy and conscious of what’s round you.
A Be aware For Feminine Solo Vacationers
Any skilled solo feminine traveler is aware of how staying secure works. When touring to Saint Lucia, normal precautions are essential. Try 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 also needs to all the time keep away from strolling alone at evening.
When touring to Saint Lucia, reserving group excursions and day journeys may be worthwhile, particularly when you don’t really feel assured managing public transportation solo. Strolling isn’t probably the most environment friendly method of getting round, leaving you weak to isolation. The info on sexual assault stats are a bit regarding, so it pays to be a bit cautious.
In the event you do your analysis on “bad areas” and stick by the standard solo feminine handbook guidelines, you’ll love this tropical island.
Tips about St Lucia For Households
St Lucia may need a barely spiked crime charge, however as a complete, it’s nonetheless nice for a household vacation. It is because 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. Therefore, you’re 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 seashore (shallow water can nonetheless be deceptively sturdy), select the place your resort is positioned fastidiously, and keep away from remoted areas or famend city districts at evening.
It may be value sticking to the north facet 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 consider 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.
In the event you’re an skilled traveler, you gained’t have any points navigating Saint Lucia. Listed here are some fast FAQs to solidify the entire security ideas we’ve run over.
Total, very secure. Simply be cautious of particular areas like Anse Le Raye (recognized for armed robberies) and take care at evening 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 % versus Jamaica’s 52.9 % in 2022.
The climate in Saint Lucia from August to October is fairly horrific. That is while you get probably the most rain, and it’s the height of hurricane season, which 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 format affords numerous actions, like climbing and driving into the world’s solely drive-in volcano.
Is St Lucia Protected? Remaining Ideas
As you possibly can 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. At all times decide respected lodging, analysis hurricane season, and take normal journey precautions, and also you’ll have a unbelievable time. Saint Lucia actually is a fantastic nation while you go to together with your head firmly screwed on.
That’s all from us; Saint Lucia is certainly 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. In the event you’d like additional inspiration on touring to Saint Lucia, try our complete information to the finest issues to do in Saint Lucia – together with the one drive-in volcano on the earth.
