Is Jamaica Safe: What You Need To Know

Jamaica was in a “state of emergency” when we visited. It is hard not to be spooked by the media. Especially when you hear statistics like these: “Relative to its population, Jamaica has a murder rate roughly 10 times higher than the US and 50 times higher than Britain“. It leaves you asking the question, is Jamaica safe to travel to?

What they don’t tell you is that the numbers come from internal conflicts. Gangs on gangs. Civil unrest with locals and government institutions. As a tourist you should be more concerned with these numbers:

Less than 0.1 percent of all the crimes committed in Jamaica are against visitors.”

– Independent

This doesn’t mean you should disregard any notion of caution. In fact, you should implement a level of caution just about everywhere you visit. However, letting the caution and fear out-way your ability to enjoy your time (or even stop you from going) is very counterproductive.

Jamaica Travel Advisory

There is a level 3 Jamaica Travel Advisory warning for Jamaica, reconsider travel due to crime and medical services.

If you do intend to travel, exercise increased caution due to crime. Some areas have increased risk and have do not travel warnings.

What is a “State Of Emergency”?

“If a government or other authority declares a state of emergency in an area, it introduces special measures such as increased powers for the  police or army, usually because of civil disorder or because of a natural disaster such as an earthquake.”

Independent

In 2019, Jamaica was in a state of emergency. There had been no natural disasters or earthquakes which meant that civil disorder was the trigger. And the response: more police and military presence, checkpoints, and searches.

There were police all around the inner cities (where most of the crime-related problems occur), and we encountered plenty of police and military checks when driving in and out of them. But in rural areas, the locals are disconnected from the city life; most are unaware of what goes on in the news. We met a lot of locals in rural areas that had never even left their hometowns or Parishes (states) before.

A General Rule for Travel Safety

There are many different types of travel, and people travel for many different reasons. Whether you want to visit beautiful beaches, waterfalls, or stay in unique accommodation, as a general rule (no matter where you go), you should always have some kind of wits about you. You’re somewhere foreign; you don’t really know the place or the people. Just be wary of it.

Over time and with more travel experience you begin to rely on your instincts and you can really sense when a place or a situation is not looking good. Then you simply remove yourself from it and continue on with your life.

If you’re travelling to a beautiful destination, you’re probably not the first to go there and if you’re driving around, you’re probably not the first to do so. There’s likely some kind of tourism industry already. And tourists mean money to the local community (generally). Tourists have money to spend and nice things in their bags (camera, smartphone, etc.) otherwise you would not be able to afford your trip. It sounds simple, but just keep that in mind.

Crime and Travel

There are two main kinds of crime associated with travelling:

1. Petty Crime. Your camera or wallet is stolen. Yes, it’s a pain and it sucks, but you’re really not going to miss it. And chances are nowadays that you can claim things back with travel insurance anyway. Check out World Nomads if you haven’t got some already.
2. Serious Crime. Let’s just say anything that leads to physical or psychological harm. This can really happen anywhere (despite traveling or not) if circumstances are right (or wrong). After traveling to over 70 countries the only incident of a serious crime I have been involved with occurred in my hometown in Australia (go figure).

6 Tips To Stay Safe In Jamaica

1. Keep your valuables close to you & out of sight (don’t flash your camera and jewelry around, dress casually if you can).
2. Don’t carry all your money & cards at once. Have a known amount of cash on you so you don’t have to count your money when out. If there is a safe in the hotel, keep some spare cash there (or hide it somewhere).
3. Keep an air of caution when walking around (use your common sense, don’t drink too much if you are out), avoid walking at night.
4. Have a back up of your travel documents (online in your email if possible).
5. Be friendly, but firm. Don’t linger around if you feel like you want to get out of the situation. Be polite, and remove yourself.
6. Don’t worry, relax. Be prepared to potentially lose something (it seems to happen to everyone at some stage. It’s just stuff at the end of the day).

Please note: If you are a solo female traveler in Jamaica, street harassment is likely to occur. Even in a couple, we had men whistling, catcalling, and proposing to Vivien, and this would likely increase if you are a solo female in Jamaica. Remember point 5, be friendly but firm and remove yourself where possible.

Don’t Worry, Every Little Thing Is Going To Be Alright

You really don’t need to be “worried” while travelling; in fact, worrying can actually make things worse. From talking with travelers I have met all around the world: the more worried someone is about something bad happening to them, the more likely something bad will happen. It is the law of attraction. This can really be applied to your life in a general sense, but let’s stick with the travelling theme for now.

In general, be travel smart: be cautious. But don’t let caution ruin your trip.

Is Driving In Jamaica Safe?

We drove around the whole island for one month completely unscathed. We hired a rental car at the International Airport in Montego Bay and drove around the island, staying in Airbnbs, on a boat, with a friend’s friend, a couple of cheap motels, and one nice hotel.

The worst thing that happened to us was this: We took the rental car back to the airport once to get replaced. After driving over too many potholes, the wheel alignment was thrown off and the car was a little wobbly.

Yes, out of the hundreds of interactions we had with locals in various corners of the country we didn’t once get held-up or robbed or pickpocketed. It’s not like we didn’t stand out. In an obvious rental car, we could have been a rolling target.

But, we were ‘travel smart’. We knew when not to go somewhere, and when we’d overstayed our welcome.

Here are some safety considerations for driving in Jamaica:

• When renting a car, make sure you check all the documents before you leave. There have been instances that documents are out of date which can cause difficulties with the police.
• Check that the rented vehicle has enough oil, water, and in good working order.
• Make sure you have enough fuel for your drive (there aren’t many gas fill stations, and you don’t want to be caught out at night).
• If you notice something wrong with your car, try and find a safe place to pull over, and immediately get it fixed.
• Lock your car doors/boot and take all your valuables out of the car when you leave it (ensure there is no money in plain sight).
• Look out for potholes, there are many in Jamaica, especially on the north coast (portland parish).
• Avoid driving at night if possible.
• Download (offline) google maps as signage in Jamaica isn’t the best in some parts.
• There will likely be police checks at some point, be sure to address them with respect and have all your papers ready to present.

Where Was The Most Dangerous Place In Jamaica?

There’s an element of “edginess” around the whole island. Unfortunately, it seems that the country has been mismanaged and it’s left a lot of local people in discomfort. There are rundown houses and public infrastructure in dire need of maintenance next to some of the largest and most affluent hotels in the world.

The “haves vs. have-nots” is blatantly obvious. And can be a little ‘in-your-face’. It’s no wonder there is an underlying tension felt around the island. We did, however, find Kingston to have a much “edgier” feel to it, and took more caution while staying there.

So, is Jamaica safe? After spending a month traveling independently around the country, we came across no issues and the whole place felt relatively safe (if you’re smart about it).

Is Jamaica Safe?

Overall, Jamaica is a beautiful country. The island has some absolutely stunning scenery, amazing and unique culture, delicious food and some genuinely positive people despite its political landscape.

We had a blast there and felt like a month was a good amount of time to really experience everything (though, if you went for a shorter amount of time you could have equally as much fun). Jamaica is safe if you travel smart.

Jamaica Eco Travel Ideas

1. Pollution is a big thing in Jamaica – help grab some. Be prepared to see rubbish on the beaches. Pick up a few pieces on the beach, and say no to plastic.
2. Choose eco-accommodation or boutique hotels/Airbnbs. Large resorts can have high levels of energy & food waste.
3. Pack your own reusable travel products to limit your waste in Jamaica. 
4. Eat some Jamaica Ital food.

Where To Stay in Jamaica

We prefer to avoid all-inclusive big chain hotels and opt for local Airbnbs and eco-hotels when we travel. There are lots of unique accommodation options to stay in Jamaica, from beachfront castles to a Jamaica run lodge.

Things To Do In Jamaica

There are plenty of fun things to do in Jamaica, from snorkeling around cliffs, relaxing at beautiful beaches to hiking in the jungle. These are some of our favorite things to see and do while you visit:

• Visit the Blue Hole near Ocho Rios
• Relax at Frenchman’s Cove for a day
• Go on a boat tour around Blue Lagoon
• Cool off at Reach Falls
• Hop over to Lime Cay near Kingston
• Enjoy some of the best beaches in Jamaica, like Boston Bay and Seven Mile Beach
• Stay at The Rockhouse eco resort in Negril

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