Jamaica - Security

Overall Crime and Safety:

Jamaica's reputation for crime, muggings and theft has kept many cruising boats away, however, crime in Jamaica against tourists is decidedly lower than for the locals. The majority takes place in the ghettos of Kingston and tourists are rarely targeted. With a reasonable level of prudence, cruising Jamaica can be an interesting and exciting experience.

Specific areas of concern:

Places to avoid include, in Kingston: West Kingston Grant's Pen, August Town, Harbour View, Spanish Town. In Montego Bay: Flankers, Barrett Town, Norwood, Glendevon, Rose Heights, Mount Salem. Beware of pickpockets.

Maritime Issues:

It is recommended, for security reasons, to anchor only in well-known tourist harbours, or anchorages where there is an absence of inner-city poor communities.

Based on reports to Noonsite from cruisers, petty theft from yachts is on the rise in the Caribbean in general. Cruisers should take basic safety precautions and use common sense when leaving the boat or going ashore at night. Dinghy thieves operate throughout the Caribbean and the best advice is to place your dinghy on deck and chain it overnight.

The Caribbean Safety and Security Net provide information by anchorage or by the island. If you experience a boarding, robbery or attack on your yacht or have information about a yachting-related security incident, go to the CSSN homepage and click on the “Report an Incident” icon.

Reported Incidents:

Be sure to check related security reports for Jamaica.

Last updated:  October 2021