Travel alert: Major change to warnings for one of the most popular Caribbean tourist spots

The U.S. State Department has made a significant change to a travel warning for one of the most popular Caribbean travel destinations.

In a May 29th advisory, the State Department lowered the warning for Jamaica from a Level 3: Reconsider Travel to a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. The reevaluation comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Jamaica at the end of March and vowed to “reconsider” the alert to “reflect the reality” of new data.

The latest alert said that while violent crime in the country has decreased since 2024, it remains statistically high, though tourist areas tend to be safer. The country’s homicide rate remains one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere and armed robberies and sexual assaults are common.

U.S. embassy employees are prohibited from using public buses and driving between cities at night, the state department said.

When crimes do occur, U.S. citizens have reported slow responses from law enforcement and issues in receiving adequate healthcare.

“This includes slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury. Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care. Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs and are not always readily available, especially in rural areas. U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication as common medications, such as insulin, can be difficult to obtain,” the alert noted.

Jamaica Do Not Travel areas

Some areas of the island nation have increased risk and remain under a “Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest alert issued by the State Department.

On the Do Not Travel list are:

St. Ann’s Parish – Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios.
St. Catherine’s Parish – Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford.
Clarendon Parish – all of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
St. Elizabeth’s Parish – Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth.
Hanover Parish – Logwood and Orange Bay.
St. James Parish/Montego Bay – Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
Kingston and St. Andrew Parish – Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
Manchester Parish – Green Vale and Gray Ground neighborhoods of Mandeville.
St. Thomas Parish – Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.
Trelawny Parish – Clarks Town.
Westmoreland Parish – Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril.

If you do travel to Jamaica:

• Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition, including stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, can be severe, and can include long prison sentences.

• Avoid walking or driving at night.

• Avoid public buses.

• Avoid remote places.

• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

• Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.