The US Department of State has issued a travel advisory for Jamaica, raising the travel advisory level to Level 3: Reconsider travel. Travelers are advised to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to high violent crime, including homicide and sexual assault, and poor medical services. This update comes after the recent Travel Advisory Level increase for another popular Caribbean destination, the Bahamas.
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Jamaica Travel Advisory
Violent Crimes
Violent crimes, including home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, even at all-inclusive resorts. Violence and shootings happen regularly in many neighborhoods, communities, and parishes in Jamaica.
Police Response
Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents, and arrests are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence.
Homicide Rate
The homicide rate in Jamaica has been among the highest in the Western Hemisphere for several years.
Emergency Services and Hospitals
Emergency services and hospital care vary throughout the island. Response times and quality of care differ from US standards. Public hospitals are under-resourced, and private hospitals require upfront payment before admitting patients.
Ambulance Services
Ambulance services are not always readily available, especially in rural areas, and may not always be staffed by trained personnel.
Travel Insurance
If you must travel to Jamaica, the Department of State strongly advises everyone traveling to Jamaica to obtain travel insurance, including medical evacuation coverage. Medical emergencies with air ambulance service to the US can range from $30,000 to $50,000! The Department of State does not pay medical bills.
US Medicare
US Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas, and most hospitals and doctors in Jamaica do not accept US health insurance. US citizens with medical emergencies may face substantial bills.
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Areas to Avoid in Jamaica
Please exercise caution and take necessary precautions if you plan to travel to Jamaica. Below are specific areas in Jamaica to steer clear of. They are so dangerous that US government personnel under Chief of Mission (COM) security responsibility are prohibited from traveling to the areas below. They are also prohibited from using public buses and driving outside prescribed areas of Kingston at night.
St. Ann’s Parish—Do Not Travel – Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios
St. Catherine’s Parish—Do Not Travel
- Spanish Town
- Central Village
- Areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford
All of Clarendon Parish—Do Not Travel
All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
St. Elizabeth’s Parish—Do Not Travel
Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth
Hanover Parish—Do Not Travel
Logwood and Orange Bay
St. James Parish/Montego Bay—Do Not Travel
All of Montego Bay on the inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park
Kingston and St. Andrew Parish—Do Not Travel
- Cassava Piece
- 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.
- Duhaney Park
- Grants Pen
- Standpipe
- Swallowfield
- Elleston Flats
- August Town
Manchester Parish—Do Not Travel
Green Vale, Gray Ground, Red Ground, and Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville
St. Thomas Parish—Do Not Travel
- 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—Do Not Travel
- Clarks Town
Westmoreland Parish—Do Not Travel
- 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
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