Saint Lucia is on the prime of everybody’s dream checklist 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 one among our favourite locations, too.
Nevertheless, these planning phases do beg the query: Is Saint Lucia secure? What do you have to 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 “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 will help make Saint Lucia one of many most secure locations you possibly can presumably go to.
Is St Lucia Protected?
We all know that not everybody has the luxurious of limitless time to analysis Saint Lucia. In order for you fast solutions, don’t fear; we’ve received you.
Listed here are the primary issues it’s best to know in regards to 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 thousands and 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 ample 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 massive 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 critical 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 legislation. The primary 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 aware of issues like public shows of affection. You also needs to word 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 youngsters are exempt from.
- Talking of issues which might be enforceable by legislation, you want a short lived driving license to hire a automotive in Saint Lucia. Some rent corporations can acquire this move for you, but it surely’s good to ask prematurely; in any other case, you’ll need to consider an in-person go to to the official Division of Tourism. Fast aspect word: by no means cease for pedestrians flagging down your automobile, and at all times maintain 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, 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 security rating falls by half if you stroll through the day versus strolling at night time. that being mentioned, we felt extremely secure after we have been visiting the island.
As a normal rule, its remoted areas appeal to opportunistic assaults and theft. Within the capital of Castries, there’s a extra clockwork sample of normal crime, like medicine 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 particular crime hotspots of explicit locations in Saint Lucia that you simply’re visiting.
As at all times, 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 happening.
Preserve 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 “deliver it in the event you’re ready to lose it”. Within the case of a mugging, by no means attempt to battle on 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 pressure receives assist 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 the very 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 it’s best to know:
- You will need to carry a short lived Saint Lucia license if renting and driving a automotive 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 probably harmful.
The police are efficient in Saint Lucia, so don’t get on the improper aspect of them both! That is significantly true in the event you’re driving somewhat than utilizing public transportation.
Pure Disasters in St Lucia
Saint Lucia isn’t proof against pure disasters, though there’s normally minimal disruption or extreme occasions. Typically talking, these are the three most important dangers:
- Volcanic exercise
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
Volcanic exercise and earthquakes are uncommon and fairly laborious to foretell. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to 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 aware 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 really harmful hurricanes in Saint Lucia. Nonetheless, flash flooding, journey disruption, and injury are an actual threat. In a super world, it’s best to keep away from this era, particularly from August till October, when hurricanes are at a peak.
If that isn’t potential, although, be certain 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 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 critical menace.
Right here’s the rating system you’ll be able to count on:
Class 1: Winds of 74-95 mph are harmful and might trigger injury, corresponding to injury to powerlines that would 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 impression 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 share of homes can be destroyed with collapsed roofs and partitions.
Staying Protected in St Lucia Hurricanes
So, how do you keep secure on this situation? Effectively, you’ll be able to take some easy steps to maximise your probabilities of security in Saint Lucia’s hurricane season. On this part, we’ll provide the prime three.
Practically 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. However you ought 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 sudden prices and to be versatile together with your itinerary. Cancellation insurance coverage is at all times 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 (it’s best to have already got discovered the place they’re as a precautionary measure). Carrying or maintaining an influence financial institution charged is an effective 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 selected procedures plan? In the event that they don’t let you know if you arrive or if you get your reserving affirmation, then ask. Just remember to understand how folks round you’ll act if there’s a hurricane and if there are any accommodation-specific methods to remain secure.
3. Think about Having No WiFi
This may increasingly 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 power to simply textual content your ISP to improve to a roaming package deal, is important. It’s 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 at all times a slight threat, and the ocean could be harmful. When staying secure 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 jap shoreline additionally opens out onto the Atlantic Ocean. This implies waves can get significantly uneven, particularly in hurricane season when winds decide up typically.
Not having restricted areas means you need to use your widespread sense when deciding the place to swim. And in the event you’re uncertain, 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 the very best seashores right here.
Climate in St Lucia
Understanding the climate of your vacation spot earlier than departure can actually be a lifesaver. If you happen to go to St Lucia in July, you’ll know that it’s hurricane season with a excessive storm threat. Climate issues, as it could actually massively impression your journey. Understanding your vacation spot inside out is the actual manner ahead.
St Lucia has two most important 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 have 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. It’s best to go to throughout this time in order for you clear skies for sightseeing and loads of hikes and seashore 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 best ranges of humidity, with common laborious spells of downpours. That mentioned, costs are decrease, and sights are quieter.
If you happen to 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 ample 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 sluggish halt round November, which suggests fall fully falls into the class of “hurricane threat”. 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 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 whats up 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 might positively have enjoyable reserving to go to St Lucia in winter; simply goal for that later window.
5 Suggestions To Keep Protected in St Lucia
Staying secure in St Lucia is completely manageable. It’s only a case of doing analysis and taking primary 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 Word 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 motels. To keep away from this, we’d recommend at all times carrying {dollars} as free money. This fashion, you don’t have to attract out cash wherever harmful or get into altercations unintentionally.
Carrying a pockets of money can be useful when managing the chance 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’ll be able to hand over that pockets as a substitute of your actual one – sensible, proper? You may as nicely use this money to double up as a dummy pockets when touring to St Lucia.
2. Good Lodging
It’s value reiterating that the place you’re positioned issues. Ensure 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’ll be able to stroll hassle-free to the primary sights and facilities.
3. Registered Taxis
We shouldn’t have to emphasise this, but it surely’s so vital that we add it to this checklist anyway. Solely ever use registered taxis, that are marked by a lightweight blue quantity plate. Frankly talking, in the event you 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 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. If you happen to sense there’s “one thing within the air,” you’ll be taking the lead in maintaining your self secure.
5. Know the Native Legal guidelines
A lot of staying secure is simply being avenue savvy. However in the event you resolve to go to St Lucia, you also needs to know the native legal guidelines, which require some analysis. You need to be aware of the restrictions round drug use, the principles for renting automobiles, and the conservative attitudes in direction of LGBTQ+ relationships. This fashion, you’ll be able to maintain the police in your aspect.
Recommendations on St Lucia For Solo Vacationers
Saint Lucia is such an interesting vacation spot. And in the event you don’t imagine that straight off the bat, simply try these enjoyable info. There are some things to notice as a solo traveler, although:
- You’re extra interesting to criminals finishing up muggings, particularly in the event you’re utilizing your cellphone for instructions with no “second pair of eyes”.
- There’s no one to fall again on in the event you get spiked or drink an excessive amount of.
- There’s no one to observe your issues on the seashore or if you use bogs.
Principally, you ought to be conscious that you may be seen as a little bit of a sitting duck. Don’t turn out to be bait; be savvy and conscious of what’s round you.
A Word For Feminine Solo Vacationers
Any skilled solo feminine traveler is aware of how staying secure works. When touring to Saint Lucia, commonplace precautions are obligatory. You need to be aware 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 at all times keep away from strolling alone at night time.
When touring to Saint Lucia, reserving group excursions and day journeys is perhaps worthwhile, particularly in the event you don’t really feel assured managing public transportation solo. Strolling isn’t essentially the most environment friendly manner of getting round, leaving you susceptible to isolation. The information on sexual assault stats are slightly regarding, so it pays to be slightly cautious.
If you happen to do your analysis on “unhealthy areas” and stick by the same old solo feminine handbook guidelines, you’ll love this tropical island.
Recommendations on 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 strong infrastructure of family-friendly resorts, and even problematic areas are secure within the daytime. A household with younger youngsters isn’t going to be out and about at night time anyway. Therefore, you’re in a wonderful place to discover Saint Lucia safely.
You probably 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 night time.
It is perhaps 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 vital 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 can be.
If you happen to’re an skilled traveler, you gained’t have any points navigating Saint Lucia. Listed here are some fast FAQs to solidify all the security suggestions 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 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 % versus Jamaica’s 52.9 % in 2022.
The climate in Saint Lucia from August to October is fairly horrific. That is if you get essentially the most rain, and it’s the height of hurricane season, that means there’s a threat of disruption and a critical threat of flash floods.
Completely. Saint Lucia is an excellent place to go to. Its fascinating geographical format provides a number of actions, like climbing and driving into the world’s solely drive-in volcano.
Is St Lucia Protected? Ultimate Ideas
As you’ll be able to 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 commonplace journey precautions, and also you’ll have a improbable time. Saint Lucia actually is a wonderful nation if you go to together with your head firmly screwed on.
That’s all from us; Saint Lucia is one among 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 happen to’d like additional inspiration on touring to Saint Lucia, try our complete information to the greatest issues to do in Saint Lucia – together with the one drive-in volcano on this planet.
