Is St. Lucia Safe? 19 Safety Questions Answered Before You Go
Is St. Lucia safe for tourists?
Are you thinking of planning a trip to St. Lucia, but you’re wondering if it’s safe? A lot of other people feel the same way.
St. Lucia is well known for the stunning Pitons, lush rainforests, and five star luxury resorts, making it one of the best destinations in the Caribbean for honeymooners, families, and adventure enthusiasts.
However, recent news and updates on government websites may have many people rethinking a visit to this beautiful island.
So, what is the real story and should you consider a different island altogether?
The good news is that St. Lucia is generally safe, and many people visit every year without any issues. However, you need to be smart about the way you travel and there are some things that potential visitors should know beforehand.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the top 19 important safety questions answered along with our top safety tips to help you feel prepared and to stay safe while visiting St. Lucia.
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St. Lucia’s Current Safety Status
Throughout our years of traveling, one of the most important things we’ve learned is that no matter how much we want the absolute best experiences, we’ll never do anything that puts our safety at risk.
There are some islands we would never even consider visiting. Some, we would only visit if we never left the resort.
For us, St. Lucia doesn’t fit into either of these categories. But, as much as we love the island, we’re aware that there are some questions that people have regarding safety.
Let’s take a look.
1. What is the Current Travel Advisory Level for St. Lucia?
St. Lucia is currently at a Level 2 advisory rating which means you should exercise increased caution when visiting.
To put this in perspective, other countries with a Level 2 rating include Germany, France, Costa Rica, and many other popular tourist destinations around the world.
2. Is St. Lucia Safe Compared to Other Caribbean Islands?
We’ve visited many Caribbean islands over the years, and honestly, there are some islands that we didn’t feel safe in, to the point where we would most likely never go back. St. Lucia isn’t one of them.
Statistically speaking, St. Lucia is safer than other islands such as Jamaica or Trinidad. However, there are certain things we don’t feel comfortable doing in St. Lucia.
So, if you’re looking for an island where you can head into town at night or feel safe exploring on your own, St. Lucia might not be the best destination for you.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to spend the majority of your time at your resort with some day trips or guided tours thrown in, St. Lucia is a great option.
3. What Are the Most Common Crimes Targeting Tourists?
One of the main reasons for the upgraded security level for St. Lucia is due to an increase in crimes by gang members against rival gangs. The majority of these crimes take place away from the main tourist areas.
Some of the most common crimes that tourists face include purse-snatching, pickpockets, and petty theft, which usually occur in very crowded areas such as local street festivals.
However, keep in mind, that crimes can happen anywhere on the island, and you should always practice common sense and situational awareness to ensure a safe visit.
If you plan to visit anywhere that tends to attract a lot of people, be sure to keep your valuables secure.
Resort and Transportation Safety
St. Lucia’s unique landscape and luxury resorts makes it ideal an destination for many people because it offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
However, there are some safety precautions you’ll want to take when booking your stay or heading out for the day.
Here are some of the top safety questions regarding resorts and transportation safety.
4. Is it Safe to Leave the Resort in St. Lucia?
Generally speaking, it is safe to travel outside your resort in St. Lucia, and we highly recommend exploring as much as possible.
It would be a shame to visit and miss out on all the amazing experiences the island has to offer.
However, you should always practice basic situational awareness, which is really something you should always do no matter where you travel.
5. Are St. Lucia Resorts Completely Safe?
To be completely clear, we don’t think there’s any such thing as a resort being completely safe. It’s just not a thing.
However, we can say that the resorts on St. Lucia take the safety of their guests very seriously. Most of them have security gates at the entrance where visitors need to check in before gaining access.
We recently stayed at Cap Maison which is positioned at the top of a cliff. The parts of the property that lined the main road were protected by a very tall wall, so you can only access the resort through one main security gate. We felt completely safe the entire time we were there.
But, even though we felt safe, we still applied the same safety precautions we do no matter where we travel. The safety precautions are very similar to what we do at home as well.
We locked the deadbolt whenever we were in the room, locked all windows and doors before we went to bed, and secured anything valuable in the hotel safe whenever we left the room. These small things go a long way to keeping us and our things safe.
Now, if you’re thinking of renting a villa on the island, that’s another story.
We’ve rented villas many times when traveling to different Caribbean islands, such as St. John and Tortola. But, honestly, we’d probably never rent one in St. Lucia. It’s just not something we would feel comfortable doing.
St. Lucia is a very large island, and if you’re not familiar with all the different neighborhoods and towns, it’s easy to make the mistake of renting a house in an undesirable location.
We recommend staying at one of the island resorts instead. There are plenty of options for every budget, and they usually have everything you could possibly need right on-site.
If you decide to rent a house instead, we recommend renting one that’s located in a gated community. The added security will at least give you a little more peace of mind.
Thinking of staying at Cap Maison? Check out our full review of this amazing luxury hotel:
→ Cap Maison St. Lucia Review: A Luxury Boutique Stay
6. Is it Safe to Walk Around at Night?
If you’ve ever been to other Caribbean islands, such as Aruba, St. Martin, or Turks & Caicos, you’ll know that downtown areas on these islands are filled with restaurants, nightlife, and boutique shops that cater specifically to visitors.
Every night, you can be sure that these areas are going to be bustling with activity until the early morning hours.
St. Lucia isn’t like that. It doesn’t really have a ton of nightlife, and there are very few places that are specifically made for walking around at night.
When we visit, we tend to stick to the resort bars and restaurants at night because we’ve found that they tend to have the best atmosphere. Sometimes we stay at our hotel, but other times we’ll head over to a neighboring resort for a change of scenery.
If you decide to head into town at night, be sure to travel in groups and try to stay in the more well-lit and populated areas. Be sure to avoid walking on beaches, isolated roads, or any other unfamiliar area once it gets dark.
Pro Insight:
We overheard a fellow passenger on a sunset cruise telling other passengers that he attempted to go for a walk after dinner one night. On his way out, he stopped by the front desk to let them know and they strongly advised against it. If the hotel staff suggests against it, that’s good enough for me.
7. Is it Safe to Take a Taxi?
When we visited St. Lucia, we ended up renting a car for a day to explore other areas of the island, but for the rest of the time, we needed to arrange for transportation to get to more local destinations like another hotel for dinner.
When we enquired at our hotel, they advised us that they only use one driver for local transportation.
He didn’t technically work for the hotel, but they did provide him with a car that had our resort’s information on the sides so it was easily recognizable.
This speaks volumes about choosing safe transportation options when visiting St. Lucia.
If you need to arrange for transportation, we recommend going through your hotel. They most likely have preferred services that they use all the time as opposed to blindly picking one and hoping for the best.
When hiring a taxi on your own, be sure to hire an authorized one. You’ll be able to recognize them by their unique license plates which are light blue and start with “TX”. They should also have a light blue sticker on the windshield.
8. Is It Safe to Drive in St. Lucia?
While driving in St. Lucia is safe from a crime perspective, there are other safety concerns to consider before renting a car.
Many people don’t realize how mountainous St. Lucia is, and even though the roads have improved significantly from our first visit many years ago, they can still be very narrow in spots.
You’ll also find that many of them are steep and winding with lots of hairpin turns. When you combine this with the fact that you need to drive on the left-hand side, it can be a bit intimidating for visitors.
If you decide to rent a car, be sure to take things slow.
→ Compare Rental Car Prices For Your St. Lucia Stay Here
9. Is It Safe to Drive at Night?
As we mentioned before, St. Lucia is a very mountainous island, and most of the roads outside the more populated areas don’t have lights. This makes driving at night much more dangerous.
If you plan to rent a car, we recommend limiting your exploring to the daytime hours.
Traveler Specific Safety Concerns
While the majority of the safety precautions we’re including can be applied to most people, there are additional ones that should be taken for specific travelers.
10. Is St. Lucia Safe For Solo Female Travelers?
St. Lucia is the perfect island for exploring, however, if you’re a solo female traveler, be sure to take extra care when traveling outside your hotel.
It’s likely that female travelers will experience catcalling and unwanted attention from beach vendors. We recommend being firm but polite in your desire to be left alone.
Also, take care to keep an eye on your drink if you’re out at a restaurant or bar, and don’t accept drinks from someone you don’t know. No matter how friendly someone seems, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Other suggestions we have include letting someone know your plans before heading out for the day or signing up for group tours. Many tours include pick up and drop off at your hotel which provides a safe option for exploring safely.
11. Is St. Lucia Safe For Families?
Yes, St. Lucia is generally safe for families, especially if you take normal safety precautions. Many of the family resorts on the island are very secure.
However, be sure to avoid letting older children wander around without an adult, especially at night.
12. Is St. Lucia Safe For LGBTQ+ Travelers?
Many resorts on St. Lucia have implemented specialized training programs for staff to create a safe, inclusive, and welcoming experience for LGBTQ+ travelers.
However, St. Lucia itself is still a fairly conservative island when it comes to social norms. It’s best to use discretion when it comes to public displays of affection, as it may draw unwanted attention.
Nature, Water, and Health Safety
Since much of your time will likely be spent enjoying St. Lucia’s beautiful beaches or exploring its natural beauty. There are a few things to keep in mind.
13. Is St. Lucia Safe From Hurricanes?
St. Lucia is technically within the hurricane belt, however, its location in the southern Caribbean means that it’s less likely to experience a direct hit.
Even though it’s rare, that doesn’t mean a hurricane isn’t possible, it just means that it’s less common.
Hurricane season technically runs from June through November, but August through October tend to have increased chances for a hurricane.
14. Is It Safe to Drink the Tap Water in St. Lucia?
Tap water in St. Lucia is generally considered safe to drink. However, we prefer to drink bottled water instead. We recommend this for others as well, especially if you have a sensitive stomach.
Most major hotels have additional filtration systems in place, but if you’re staying in a private residence or guesthouse, they don’t usually have these extra precautions.
15. Is It Safe to Swim in St. Lucia?
St. Lucia has numerous beaches that are perfect for relaxing and admiring the clear, turquoise waters.
However, underneath the surface, there is a hidden danger. Some have very strong rip currents that can quickly pull you out to sea.
If you plan to spend time at the beach, try not to venture too far out since many of the beaches aren’t staffed with lifeguards. It’s also a good idea not to go alone in case something does happen.
We also recommend checking with the hotel staff for recommendations regarding the safest beaches. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the best ways to identify one and the best practices for surviving one.
It’s especially important to keep an eye on children to make sure they don’t accidentally wander into one. You can read more about rip currents here.
16. Are There Dangerous Animals, Bugs, or Diseases?
While there aren’t many dangerous animals, bugs, and diseases in St. Lucia, there are a few you should be aware of.
The most dangerous animal is the Fer-de-lance viper. It’s rare for a tourist to be bitten by one, but if they are, it requires immediate medical attention.
Unfortunately, mosquitoes are also very common in St. Lucia, especially further inland near the rainforest.
Mosquitoes tend to seek me out wherever I am so this was a concern for me. However, it didn’t end up being an issue at all. When we visited, there was a nice coastal breeze that helped to keep them away.
However, you should be cautious, especially if you happen to be visiting during the rainy season since there tends to be a spike in mosquitos at this time of year.
Remember to pack some repellent to avoid bites and reduce any risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and chikungunya.
17. Is Food Safety a Concern in St. Lucia?
Food is generally safe to eat in St. Lucia, especially if you’re eating primarily at resort restaurants or at some of the more popular tourist restaurants.
However, if you plan to eat at a local festival, be sure to visit only vendors that are displaying a valid food handler’s license which is required by law.
Local Etiquette & Scams
There are a couple more situations that could create safety concerns when visiting St. Lucia, mainly if you’re out and about.
18. Are There Any Dress Restrictions in St. Lucia?
Even though St. Lucia is known for its beautiful beaches, it’s not the type of place where it’s acceptable to walk around town in your bathing suit.
Limit your bathing suit to the beach or resort swimming pool, and be sure to cover up when heading into town to avoid unwanted attention.
One other thing to keep in mind is that wearing anything with a camouflage pattern in St. Lucia is illegal. This includes clothing, shoes, hats, and accessories.
The law applies to locals and tourists alike and is in place to avoid confusion between civilians and military or police personnel.
19. How Do I Handle Aggressive Beach Vendors or “Hustlers”?
The best way to avoid aggressive beach vendors or hustlers is to provide them with a firm but polite “No, thank you”.
Do not engage them in any kind of conversation, avoid prolonged eye contact, and keep moving. You can be a bit more firm if they persist, but try not to be too hostile.
Answering Your Questions About Safety in St. Lucia
Is it safe to swim in the sea in St. Lucia?
Yes, it is considered safe to swim in St. Lucia, however, you should exercise standard safety precautions since some of the beaches have strong rip currents. Keep in mind that many beaches in St. Lucia don’t have lifeguards.
Is St. Lucia safe at night?
It’s usually advisable not to walk around St. Lucia at night. If you do, be sure you’re in a well-lit, high-traffic area.
Is St. Lucia Worth Visiting?
Yes, St. Lucia is absolutely worth visiting. It’s beautiful beaches, resorts, and landscape make it a great destination for couples and families.
More St. Lucia Travel Guides
Planning Guides:
Our Final Take: Is St. Lucia Safe?
So, is St. Lucia safe to visit? It can be, especially if you practice common sense and take steps to learn about potential risks and how to avoid them.
We’ve never had an issue when visiting, and honestly, it’s probably one of our favorite islands.
Whether you want to spend your days exploring the lush rainforests or lounging on a beautiful white sand beach, there are plenty of reasons to visit this stunning island.
If you have any questions about visiting St. Lucia, feel free to reach out to us at any time.
Talk soon!
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