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.
Nevertheless, these planning phases do beg the query: Is Saint Lucia protected? What do you have to anticipate out of your journey when it comes to 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 “regular” precautions anyway?
On this information, we’ll look at security in Saint Lucia. Get able to dive deeply into particular crime charges, pure catastrophe danger, and extra. We may help make Saint Lucia one of many most secure locations you would presumably go to.
Is St Lucia Protected?
We all know that not everybody has the luxurious of limitless time to analysis Saint Lucia. If you need fast solutions, don’t fear; we’ve bought you.
Listed below are the principle issues you must know in regards to the danger 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 main resort areas and most neighborhoods are extremely protected, 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 danger of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The possibility of a extreme catastrophe occurring is low however can’t be dominated out. It’s sensible to know the correct protocols earlier than touring, have enough insurance coverage, and keep away from high-risk instances, 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. Nevertheless, additionally remember that there’s a severe crime danger, 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 aware 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.
- Talking of issues which are enforceable by regulation, you want a short lived driving license to lease a automotive in Saint Lucia. Some rent corporations can get hold of this move for you, nevertheless it’s sensible to ask prematurely; in any other case, you’ll should 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 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 p.c in 2022. There’s an total crime rating of 70.24 on Numbeo, which is deemed excessive danger, and the security rating falls by half while you stroll through the day versus strolling at night time. that being stated, we felt extremely protected once we had 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 standard crime, like medication and armed theft, in locations just like the (sarcastically 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 sensible to take a look at the particular crime hotspots of explicit locations in Saint Lucia that you just’re visiting.
As at all times, take additional care or just keep away from touring after darkish. Solo night time walks on seashores and drunken rides in taxis and not using a pre-agreed fare are all recipes for catastrophe. Equally, take additional care within the daytime when main occasions just like the Saint Lucia Carnival are happening.
Preserve jewellery and costly objects at dwelling or well-concealed when in Saint Lucia. Regardless of precise occasions of focused vacationers being low on this stunning nation, a superb rule when touring wherever is “carry it in the event you’re ready to lose it”. Within the case of a mugging, by no means attempt to battle in your belongings.
Police Pressure Presence
As a complete, 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 superb job of dealing with justice on the island. You possibly can contact the Royal Saint Lucia Police Pressure on 911 and know that they’re the most effective level of contact in a harmful scenario.
Nevertheless, we advocate reviewing the principles and cultural variations in Saint Lucia earlier than touring. These are the next legal guidelines you must know:
- You could 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 dying penalty.
- It’s unlawful for anybody to put on camouflaged garments.
- LGBTQ+ exercise is at the moment not authorized, and displaying affection in public is probably harmful.
The police are efficient in Saint Lucia, so don’t get on the unsuitable facet of them both! That is significantly true in the event you’re driving slightly 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. Usually talking, these are the three fundamental dangers:
- Volcanic exercise
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
Volcanic exercise and earthquakes are uncommon and fairly exhausting 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 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 not often actually harmful hurricanes in Saint Lucia. Nonetheless, flash flooding, journey disruption, and harm are an actual danger. 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 doable, although, ensure 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 should 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 menace.
Right here’s the rating system you possibly can anticipate:
Class 1: Winds of 74-95 mph are harmful and might trigger harm, resembling harm to powerlines that might trigger outages.
Class 2: Winds of 96-110 mph which are very harmful and can trigger harm, 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 harm and a few areas to be uninhabitable for a lot of months. There could also be harm to some homes.
Class 5: Winds of 157 mph that may trigger catastrophic harm, with most areas uninhabitable for a lot of months. A excessive share of homes might be destroyed with collapsed roofs and partitions.
Staying Protected in St Lucia Hurricanes
So, how do you keep protected on this state of affairs? Nicely, 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.
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 need 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 along with your itinerary. Cancellation insurance coverage is at all times a useful card to have up your sleeve!
Listed below are some additional recommendation for you.
1. Carry a Charged Powerbank
A charged energy financial institution is crucial for energy cuts. Your telephone is your lifeline; it’s a solution to contact the police or an ambulance and navigate to locations like hospitals (you must have already got realized the place they’re as a precautionary measure). Carrying or preserving 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 inform you while you arrive or while you get your reserving affirmation, then ask. Just be sure you 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 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 dwelling. 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. It’s best to by no means assume that you just’ll have WiFi to remain protected.
Staying Protected on St Lucia Seashores
You possibly can by no means be too cautious on the subject of the ocean. There’s at all times a slight danger, and the ocean could be harmful. When staying protected on St Lucia’s seashores, a very powerful 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 severely uneven, particularly in hurricane season when winds decide up usually.
Not having restricted areas means you need to use your widespread sense when deciding the place to swim. And in the event you’re not sure, ask your resort for recommendation or go to a extra protected seashore, 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
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 danger. Climate issues, as it will probably vastly impression your journey. Understanding 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 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 if you need clear skies for sightseeing and loads of hikes and seashore days.
Summer season
St Lucia just isn’t everyone’s cup of tea in summer time, and it’s proper in the course of the June to November hurricane season. July and August have the best ranges of humidity, with common exhausting spells of downpours. That stated, costs are decrease, and points of interest are quieter.
If you happen to really feel like an low season vacation, it’s nonetheless worthwhile. You possibly can restrict the danger of being impacted by a hurricane with enough 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 completely falls into the class of “hurricane danger”. We wouldn’t actually advocate 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 a lot of wet days.
Winter
December to February is when issues begin to change in St Lucia. You possibly 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 median of 16), however January drops (a median 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 intention for that later window.
5 Ideas To Keep Protected in St Lucia
Staying protected in St Lucia is completely manageable. It’s only a case of doing analysis and taking primary 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 retailers, in native taxis, and in some resorts. To keep away from this, we’d recommend at all times carrying {dollars} as unfastened money. This fashion, 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 danger of a harmful mugging assault. So many individuals hail using a dummy pockets trick, which simply includes 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. Good Lodging
It’s price reiterating that the place you might be situated 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 concerning security. You’ll thank your self later when you possibly can stroll hassle-free to the principle points of interest and facilities.
3. Registered Taxis
We shouldn’t have to emphasise this, nevertheless 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, 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 protected touring follow, so don’t take the danger.
4. Know Your Climate
The numerous 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 happen to sense there’s “one thing within the air,” you’ll be taking the lead in preserving your self protected.
5. Know the Native Legal guidelines
A lot of staying protected is simply being road savvy. However in the event you resolve to go to St Lucia, you must also know the native legal guidelines, which require some analysis. Try 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 possibly can maintain the police in your facet.
Tips about St Lucia For Solo Vacationers
Saint Lucia is such an enchanting vacation spot. And in the event 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’re extra interesting to criminals finishing up muggings, particularly in the event you’re utilizing your telephone 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 while you use loos.
Principally, you need to be conscious that you would be able to be seen as a little bit of a sitting duck. Don’t grow to be 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, customary precautions are mandatory. Try 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 must also at all times keep away from strolling alone at night time.
When touring to Saint Lucia, reserving group excursions and day journeys may be 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 weak 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 “dangerous areas” and stick by the standard solo feminine handbook guidelines, you’ll love this tropical island.
Tips about St Lucia For Households
St Lucia might need a barely spiked crime fee, however as a complete, it’s nonetheless nice for a household vacation. It’s because there’s a stable 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 superb 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 situated fastidiously, and keep away from remoted areas or famend city districts at night time.
It may be price 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 components play an enormous half in how protected your time in Saint Lucia might be.
If you happen to’re an skilled traveler, you received’t have any points navigating Saint Lucia. Listed below are some fast FAQs to solidify the entire security ideas we’ve run over.
General, very protected. 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 danger of assault and theft.
St Lucia is barely extra harmful than Jamaica, with a spiked murder fee 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 while you get essentially the most rain, and it’s the height of hurricane season, which means there’s a danger of disruption and a severe danger of flash floods.
Completely. Saint Lucia is an excellent place to go to. Its fascinating geographical format gives a lot of actions, like mountaineering and driving into the world’s solely drive-in volcano.
Is St Lucia Protected? Ultimate Ideas
As you possibly can see, Saint Lucia is a rustic with some crime dangers and risks. Whereas there’s a danger of hurricanes and volcanoes, extra extreme occasions are uncommon. At all times decide respected lodging, analysis hurricane season, and take customary journey precautions, and also you’ll have a unbelievable time. Saint Lucia actually is a phenomenal nation while you go to along 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 happen to’d like additional inspiration on touring to Saint Lucia, take a look at our complete information to the greatest issues to do in Saint Lucia – together with the one drive-in volcano on this planet.