St Lucia is a small island nation in the eastern Caribbean whose economy is built around tourism, agriculture and offshore business. In 2024, more than 1.2 million tourists visited this hospitable country. Exotic holidaymakers from all corners of the world come to Saint Lucia to lie on white sandy beaches and dip in the crystal clear sea, take volcanic mud baths, ride a ziplane over virgin rainforests, drive quad bikes through the countryside, fish in the shadow of Mount Piton, taste the local original cuisine, immerse themselves in the nightlife in the clubs of Rodney Bay or visit the local jazz festival.
Another advantage of Saint Lucia is its passport programme, which allows foreign investors to obtain full citizenship for making a significant contribution to the country’s economy. Although participants in the passport programme are not required to visit Saint Lucia in person, many wealthy foreigners are seriously considering a move to this tropical paradise in case of turmoil in their home country or to conduct business through an offshore company.
But how safe is it to go to this Caribbean jurisdiction? Would it be wise to move to St Lucia with your family or does the hospitality of the locals extend only to tourists? What precautions should tourists and those planning to live on the island take?
The island of Saint Lucia has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most relaxed and safe tourist destinations among Caribbean nations.
Locals are generally polite and friendly not only to wealthy foreign tourists, but to foreigners in general. Tourists and foreign entrepreneurs provide a significant portion of tax revenues to the budget of Saint Lucia. Therefore, the authorities are interested in maintaining public order and a high level of security on the island. The Royal St Lucian Police Force (RSPL), Special Forces, Coast Guard and emergency services personnel protect the peace of Saint Lucians and visitors.
Looking at the current security (37.48) and crime (62.52) indices, one might get the false impression that Saint Lucia is not the safest place for foreigners.
In the first 4 months of 2025, 18 murders and over 60 robberies were recorded on the island. It would seem that this is alarming data for a small state with a total population of just over 191 thousand people. But before jumping to conclusions, we need to understand how this threatens tourists and expats.
The RSPL reports that a significant proportion of murders in 2025 on St Kitts were caused by gang members using firearms. The remainder were carried out by locals as a result of domestic conflicts. Both murders and robberies were committed mostly in poor neighbourhoods.
Foreigners are very rarely victims of serious crime on the island, but they are not immune to petty theft, especially in tourist areas and at annual public events such as the carnival and jazz festival.
The Royal St. Kitts Police Force has undertaken a range of measures to reduce street crime. The illegal arms market has been dealt a blow. Tourist areas such as Rodney Bay, Gros Isle and Soufriere were heavily patrolled. As a result, the number of serious crimes in 2024 is down compared to the previous three years.
The sale and use of hard drugs such as heroin has not been recorded on the island. Possession and use of less than 30 grams of marijuana is not an offence in Saint Lucia.
Both tourists and foreigners who have moved to this country may not be afraid of local crime, if they observe basic precautions and take into account the local peculiarities.
It is better for a foreign tourist to stay in large hotel complexes with a large, protected area, located in one of the tourist areas of the island.
If you plan to live on St Lucia, do not try to save money by renting a corner in a poor neighbourhood of Castries. It is much more comfortable and safer to rent an apartment in the business centre or in one of the tourist areas of the island.
Even if you have chosen a safe accommodation, do not leave the front door open at night. This recommendation is also relevant for those travellers who came to the island by sea and live on their yacht.
Although it is relatively safe to walk in Saint Lucia’s tourist areas even late at night, just to be on the safe side, avoid walking alone at night, as well as secluded beaches and streets with no passers-by.
Don’t get into a car with complete strangers, even if they look friendly. If possible, use public transport or taxis. Licensed carriers in Saint Lucia can be recognised by their licence plates:
A similar rule applies to guides and companies offering excursions. Use only trusted tour guides with good reviews on popular travel websites.
There are outlets in this country where you can pay only in cash. As a rule, the owners of such shops and cafes accept dollars and euros, but it is better to pay in local currency – Eastern Caribbean dollars.
If possible, pay with a bank card. Carry a small amount in small denominations in case the shop or café you are visiting only accepts cash. Do not carry large sums of money, and if you have not had time to leave your money in the hotel safe, do not show it to others.
Try not to wear expensive jewellery, keep a close eye on your belongings (camera, smartphone), especially if you are in a crowded place.
If you need to withdraw cash, only use ATMs that are located in safe or busy places: banks, shopping centres and hotel lobbies.
Periodically check your banking app to see if there have been any unauthorised charges on your debit cards. Beware of suspiciously cheap (below market value) offers on popular tourist goods and services to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
If you are at a nightclub or mass event during the festival season, do not leave your drinks and food unattended.
St Lucia’s weather remains warm and comfortable throughout the year, but the rainy season starts from early June until the end of November. It is extremely rare for the island to experience continuous rainfall lasting several days. Occasional showers and cloudy weather are not the biggest problem at this time, as hurricane season comes along with the rainfall.
Although St Lucia is technically in the hurricane belt, the strongest part of the belt is located far to the north of the island. Typically, the country is hit by much weaker hurricanes than those wreaking havoc and destruction on the islands to the northwest and the mainland US.
The devastating hurricane Beryl, which swept across the country in June 2024, was an unpleasant exception to this rule. The storm, which was accompanied by heavy rains, giant waves and gale force winds of up to 198 km/h, destroyed several houses, damaged power lines and caused interruptions in the work of public utilities.
If you are considering settling in St Lucia, it is important to know what to expect during hurricane season. Be sure to check the latest weather forecasts and, if there are hurricane warnings, heed the advice of local authorities.
If you plan to drive in Saint Lucia, you will need a provisional driving licence or a local driver’s licence. To obtain a provisional licence you will need:
The document can be processed at the Department of Transport, which is located in Castries. Some car rental companies in Saint Lucia assist their overseas customers in obtaining a driver’s licence as an additional service.
Car hire companies on the island have high demands on their customers. They are more willing to provide their cars to older drivers with more than 1 year of driving experience.
Motorways on the island often have potholes and speed bumps. St Lucia’s secondary and country roads are often narrow, with steep climbs and unexpected turns. There may be no night lighting. Road signs and signage may be difficult to see.
Drivers on the island may stop abruptly on the road without warning and may not always use directional signs. In towns, watch out for motorcyclists who like to manoeuvre between other cars.
Do not leave your car in rural areas and poor neighbourhoods in Castries. If your car has an alarm system, switch it on even if you are only going out for a few minutes. Do not leave valuables in the passenger compartment.
Keep your car doors locked while driving. Do not stop if pedestrians try to slow you down. In case of an accident, call the police and stay inside the vehicle.
There are several licensed taxi fleets and an international taxi aggregator operating on the island. Taxis are not metered, as most destinations in St Lucia have standard fares. It is advisable to agree the fare with the driver before the journey is made. Payments can be made in local currency or United States dollars.
Public transport on the island is mainly minibuses. Drivers of such vehicles often break the speed limit.
A good solution for travellers is to purchase health insurance that will cover the cost of medical care should it be required during a visit to Saint Lucia.
As St Lucia does not have a system of universal vaccination for the population, make sure you are vaccinated against diseases such as rabies, measles, rubella, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, diphtheria and whooping cough.
Foreign-born residents and investors should purchase health insurance that will cover not only medical care in Saint Lucia, but also transportation and treatment in neighbouring jurisdictions.
Drinking tap water should be avoided in St Lucia. Drink only boiled water or bottled water from a shop, which usually costs no more than$ 1. Food poisoning is much more intense in tropical countries than in temperate territories. Therefore, try not to eat in street cafes from dishes of dubious cleanliness. And if you do get poisoned by poor quality food or drinks, seek help at the nearest hospital.
St Lucia grants economic citizenship to foreign investors for significant contributions to the country’s economy. The advantage of this Caribbean jurisdiction is the ability to choose the most appropriate way to invest from the 4 available options:
The principal investor must be over 18 years of age. He or she must have enough money at his or her disposal to make the investment and pay any additional fees.
All persons applying for economic citizenship in this jurisdiction must have an impeccable reputation, no criminal convictions and must not be under investigation. The Saint Lucian authorities not only review the documents submitted with the application, but also conduct independent security checks on all adult applicants for citizenship.
Why do investors choose the citizenship programme in Saint Lucia?
The main motivations that encourage wealthy foreigners to invest in second citizenship in St Lucia are as follows:
If you follow these relatively simple guidelines, you can lead a peaceful and fulfilling life in Saint Lucia.
The government is investing heavily in security on the island, with an expanding police force, new patrol vehicles and equipment, and intensive operational and preventative work. As a result of these measures, a 20 reduction in crime was recorded in Saint Lucia in 2024, making the investment programme even more attractive.
It all depends on the specific place where you intend to take a night walk. If it’s the busy streets of Rodney Bay, the risk of running into trouble is minimal. Although St Lucians are friendly to foreigners, the advice not to walk alone on deserted roads, streets and beaches still applies.
Probably, you will not be so interesting on the island in the rainy season, which begins in June and ends only by the end of November. And the period from August to October in Saint Lucia is considered the time of tropical storms, which usually avoid the island or touch it tangentially, but still significantly spoil the weather.
To properly answer your question, you need to understand exactly where you will be heading once you leave the secured area of your hotel? Walking within your neighbourhood will be relatively safe.
If you are travelling far away, be sure to inform your loved ones where you are going and how long you will be there. Excursions from unknown companies and guides are best attended as part of a pre-organised group of tourists. Do not take valuables and large sums of money with you. You should have with you a charged mobile phone with paid roaming, or SIM-card of the local operator. Outside the tourist area, avoid visiting poor neighbourhoods and deserted areas.
St Lucia’s beaches, popular with international tourists, are safe to visit as they are monitored by the tourist police, harbour patrols and private security. Safe boat cruising is ensured by the Coast Guard.
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