The Caribbean is a region located in America that comprises a sea known as the Caribbean Sea. Oceans and islands surround the Caribbean coast.
Some of the safest Caribbean islands lie within the Caribbean Sea. On the other side, some of the Caribbean islands lie on the very edge of the Caribbean Sea, where the islands border an ocean known as the North Atlantic Ocean.
The region- Caribbean is situated in the southeastern part of the North American mainland, the Gulf of Mexico, the northern part of South America, and the eastern part of Central America. The Caribbean is located largely on the part of the Caribbean Plate.
The Caribbean Plate includes more than 800 cays, islands, reefs, and islets. Three arcs of islands delineate mostly in the northern edges and the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea.
They are the Greater Antilles located to the north of the safest Caribbean islands, the Lesser Antilles, and the Leeward Antilles to the part of the south, and east respectively.
When the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Leeward Antilles are added with the nearby Ucayali Archipelago, these islands’ arcs make up the famous West Indies. The Bahamas, the Turks, and the Caicos Islands are sometimes recognized as part of the Caribbean islands.
Even though the Bahamas, the Turks, and the Caicos Islands are neither related to its border or the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas are an associate member of the Caicos Islands and the Turks.
Also, they are a full member state of the Caribbean Community. Despite being mainland countries, Belize, Suriname, and Guyana are considered the safest Caribbean islands. Also, they are considered to be the Association of the Caribbean States and full member states of the Caribbean Community.
Several regions of the mainland, the South, and the Central part of America are also often visualized as parts of the safest Caribbean islands due to their cultural and political ties. These places include:
- Belize, located in the Caribbean part of Colombia
- The Venezuelan Caribbean
- Quintana Roo, located in Mexico (consisting of the Caribbean coastal part of the Yucatan Peninsula and Cozumel)
- The Guianas (Amapa situated in Brazil, most of the Guayana Region in Venezuela Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname).
The safest Caribbean islands, also known as the West Indies, are often described as a subregion part of North America.
But sometimes, they are included in the Middle region of the United States of America or left as the subregion of their own safest Caribbean islands.
The Safest Caribbean islands are divided into 30 territories, including dependencies, British overseas territory, and sovereign states.
From December 15, 1954, to October 10, 2010, the Netherlands Antilles consisted of only five states. All five states were from the Dutch dependencies.
From January 3, 1958, to May 31, 1962, there constitutes a short-lived union based on politics called the Federation of West Indies, composed of at least ten English-speaking Caribbean territories. All of the Caribbean territories were from the British dependencies or British overseas territory.
Historical Groupings of Safest Caribbean Islands
- Anglophone Caribbean or British West Indies– Caicos Islands, Turks, Tobago (from 1797), Trinidad, the Grenadines, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Nevis, Saint Kitts, Saint Croix, Anguilla, Antigua, Montserrat, Jamaica, British Virgin Islands, Bay Islands, Grenada, Dominica, Cayman Islands, Belize, Guyana, Barbados, The Bahamas, Barbuda, and.
- Danish West Indies – Denmark, Possession of Denmark that is Norway before 1814, the United States Virgin Islands.
- Dutch West Indies – Virgin Islands, Suriname, Tobago, Saint Delacroix, Bay Islands, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba.
- French West Indies – Saint Martin, the current overseas of French that are collectivities of Saint Barthelemy, Guadeloupe including Les Saintes, La Desirade, and Marie-Galante, Martinique, the current overseas of French departments that belong to the French Guiana, Saint Croix, Tobago, Saint Kitts, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, the Grenadines, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Haiti, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Barbuda, Antigua, and Anguilla.
- Portuguese West Indies – The Portuguese had left Barbados abandoned for years before they arrived in modern and present-day Barbados. During the 16th century, the Portuguese West Indies was also known as Barbados when the Portuguese claimed that this Caribbean island’s end route must pass through Brazil.
- Spanish West Indies – Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, some of the Caribbean coastal islands from Panama, coastal islands of Central America except Belize, Bay Islands, Trinidad, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Hispaniola, Cuba.
- Swedish West Indies – a present-day known as the French Saint-Tobago, Guadeloupe, and Barthelemy.
- Courlander West Indies – Tobago.
The United Kingdom grouped the British West Indies into a Federation of West Indies between 1958 and 1962.
The independent countries formerly part of the B.W.I. still had a joint cricket team trained to compete in Twenty20 Internationals, One Day Internationals, and Test matches.
The West Indian cricket team includes the only former British colony on the mainland of that continent and the Southern part of the American nation of Guyana.
All islands, at some point, were colonies. At the same time, few are still colonies of European countries. A few are dependent territories or overseas.
Climate Change in Caribbean Islands
The climate around the safest Caribbean islands is tropical. Climatic condition varies from tropical savanna and tropical rainforest in some areas whereas tropical monsoon in other parts of the safest Caribbean islands.
Some locations in the safest Caribbean islands have an arid climatic condition with a moderate drought in some years. Also, peaks of mountains have considerably cooler temperate climates than any other part of the safest Caribbean islands.
Rainfall varies with water currents, elevation, and size. The cool upwellings of the climate keep the ABC islands arid. Moist, Warm, and trade winds constantly blow from the eastern part of the safest Caribbean islands.
This warm and trade wind creates semi-arid climates and rain forests in the safest islands across the region.
The climatic condition in tropical rainforest includes lowland areas near the Caribbean Sea that extends from Belize to Costa Rica north and up to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
While the more dry seasonal tropical savanna climatic condition are found in Mexico, southern Yucatan, Venezuela, northern Colombia, and Cuba.
Arid climatic conditions are found along the extreme north coast of Venezuela, located out to the safest Caribbean islands, including Curacao and Aruba, and in the tip northwestern part of Yucatan.
Biodiversity of Safest Islands
The region’s safest islands contain more than 70 species of different types of hard corals. These hard corals are between 500 to 700 coral reefs associated with different kinds of fish.
They have rapidly undergone a decline in ecosystem integrity in recent years and are considered vulnerable, particularly to ocean acidification and global warming.
According to the report reported by UNEP, the coral reefs of the safest Caribbean islands might get extinct in the next 20 years due to the population explosion that has been covered all along with the global warming, the pollution of coastal areas, coastal lines, and overfishing.
Luxury Travel Specialist Shares Key Factors When Choosing a Caribbean Island
Tom Humble, the CXO of E.C.D. Auto Design and a seasoned luxury travel expert who regularly engages with clientele who often use our custom-designed vehicles for island-hopping vacations in the Caribbean. He loves to share some key considerations they prioritize:
- Luxury Amenities: A well-appointed, serene resort can elevate an island vacation experience. Clients often prefer islands with a rich portfolio of luxury resorts, like the St. Berts or the Bahamas.
- Accessibility and Island Connectivity: Islands such as Antigua have excellent air connectivity, [while] the British Virgin Islands enchant with their sailing prospects.
- Unique Experiences: Islands like Jamaica, with its Reggae music and coffee farms, or Barbados, with its diving opportunities and rum distilleries, offer unique cultural experiences that appeal to specific interests.
- Climate Considerations: Clients frequently ask about the weather and the best time to visit.
Though the Caribbean largely has a warm, tropical climate year-round, travelers may want to avoid the hurricane season from June to November.
List of 3 Safest Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean consists of many islands, depending on their geographical size. Some of the Caribbean islands are very big, whereas some are very small.
Few Caribbean islands are free from violent crimes. Violent crime rarely touches some of the safest Caribbean islands. But petty crime occurs in some of the safest Caribbean islands in the Caribbean.
To make sure that you are visiting the best and safest Caribbean islands. This article will guide you to one of them. Therefore your search ends here.
You will find all the necessary information or data about the safest Caribbean islands mentioned below.
Happy Reading!
1. Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is one of the self-governing Overseas British territories. The Cayman Islands, located in the western part of the Caribbean Sea, is considered the largest by population and has beautiful views.
The 265 square kilometre territory of 103 square mile Cayman islands consists of the three islands – Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Grand Cayman, which are set to the southern part of the north-eastern part Honduras, and Cuba that is between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and Jamaica.
The capital city of Cayman island is Georgetown, located in Grand Cayman. The Grand Cayman is the most popular island of the three islands that belong to Cayman island. The Cayman Islands is considered part of the Western Caribbean geographic Zone and known as the Greater Antilles.
The Cayman Islands territory is considered part of a major controversial world related to an offshore financial haven for wealthy individuals and international businesses. As a result, most states are not charging any taxes on any income stored or earned.
The Seven Mile Beach is considered one of Grand Cayman’s main attractions so far. The Seven Mile Beach is a soft white sand beach and is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches on Cayman Island. The Seven Mile Beach site also has many resorts and hotels.
The Seven Mile Beach in Cayman island is named in one of the Ultimate Beaches in the Caribbean by Caribbean Life and Travel magazine. The Seven Mile Beach is a public and open beach located on the western part of Grand Cayman’s Island. Visits to this beach have decreased to 5.5 miles due to erosion over the past few years.
Grand Cayman’s historical sites are located in places such as St. James Pedro Castle found in Savannah, Observation Tower at Camana Bay situated in the northern part of George Town, and Stingray passing through the Stingray City located in Grand Cayman, which also attracts many visitors per year from all over the world.
All three islands of Cayman Island offer scuba diving. Cayman Island is home to many locations for snorkeling. Such a luxurious destination allows tourists to swim with the help of stingrays. The most popular area to do stingrays swimming is in the Stingray City set on Grand Cayman.
Stingray swimming originally started in the late 1980s, when divers fed some squid to the stingrays. The stingrays began to relate with the sound of the boat motors with the help of food they get and therefore visit this particular area year-round.
Cayman Island is a very beautiful place to visit. The tourism industry permits work for non-citizens. You will find no criminal activity affecting tourists on Cayman Island. If you prefer luxurious vacation rentals, there are plenty to find relaxing resorts and luxury villas for you. Thus this island is a very safe island with petty street crime.
Thrill-Seeker’s Guide to the Cayman Islands: Beyond Cuisine, Discover Adventure
Yulia Saf, a well-traveled, experienced adventure-seeker and the founder of misstourist.com shares insights on the Cayman Islands beyond its culinary delights:
“For those looking for an adrenaline rush, the Cayman Islands offers a plethora of opportunities.
Scuba diving is an unequaled experience [here] with locales like the Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef and Stingray City, where you can have an amazing encounter with Southern Stingrays.
[Not to be overlooked is] snorkeling in Starfish Point, teeming with friendly starfish and other marine life.
For extreme sports lovers, nothing matches the thrill of kiteboarding on the breezy white sands of East End and Barkers Beach.
Alternatively, nature fanatics can explore the nature trail in Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botanic Park, spotting vibrant flora, fauna, and the rare Blue Iguana [along the way].
In conclusion, while the Cayman Islands are appropriately famed for their food, the enchanting underwaters, vibrant wildlife, and water sports adventures are equally alluring escapades for thrill-seekers and nature buffs alike.”
2. Barbados
Barbados is considered an island country among the Caribbean countries, located in the Caribbean region of the Americas, in the Lesser Antilles part of the West Indies, and most of the easterly part of the safest Caribbean Islands.
Barbados is one of the safest Caribbean islands. An independent British Commonwealth nation with about 34 kilometers is 21 miles in length and up to 23 kilometers 14 mm in width. Barbados covers an area of about 432 kilometers that is 167 sq mi. Barbados is located in the west region of the North Atlantic shore, 100 kilometers 62 mi east of the Caribbean Sea, and the Windward Islands.
Barbados is set on the eastern part of the Windwards. This belongs to some parts of the Lesser Antilles, which is roughly at 13°N of the equator. This place is about 104 mi that is 168 kilometers, located in the eastern part of both the countries of Saint Vincent and Saint Lucia.
The Grenadines are 110 mi that is 180 kilometers southeast, located in Martinique, and 400 km that is 250 mi north-eastern part of Tobago and Trinidad. Barbados is set on outside of the principal Atlantic of the hurricane belt. Barbados’ largest and capital city is Bridgetown. It is preferable not to visit Barbados during hurricane season as it is located in the hurricane belt.
You must visit this wonderful island with an amazing view of oceans and seas. People each year enjoy visiting this outstanding island and enjoy the beautiful sunset every year.
Although it is crime-free and one of the safest Caribbean islands, you must be aware of crimes from the past. Everyone is requested to keep their belongings safe and sound.
Except for such incidents, this amazing and beautiful island is a must-visit and way too affordable than any other island.
You can rent any house at an effective and reasonable price. Therefore you should not delay and book your ticket to visit this perfect island in the Caribbean on your next vacation.
3. British Virgin Island
The British Virgin Islands, also known as BVI, is a natural island. The Virgin Islands officially is a British Overseas Territory set in the Caribbean located to the eastern part of the United States, Puerto Rico, North-Western part of Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands.
The islands are a part of the Virgin Islands of a geographical archipelago situated in the region of the Leeward Islands of the part of the West Indies and the Lesser Antilles.
The British Virgin Islands regarded as one of the safest Caribbean islands consists of the main islands of Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and Tortola, along with more than 6O other cays and islands much smaller than them.
About 17 of the Virgin island is known to be inhabited. The capital of this island is Road Town which is located on Tortola. Tortola is the largest island measuring about 20 kilometers 12 mi long and measure 5 kilometers that are three mm in width.
This Caribbean island had a population of about 28,054 as per the 2010 Census, of which 23,402 lived on the island of Tortola. The current report estimates that the population is 35,802 as per July 2018 census.
Violent crime is rare on this beautiful island. The British Virgin Islands has been recorded as one of the safest islands and accommodates luxury tourism. There is a gorgeous luxury resort on this huge island. It is a lovely Caribbean island governed by the Caribbean government. You can perform scuba diving and many other exciting outdoor activities on beautiful beaches.
Tourism on this island accounts for about 46% of national income. The island has some popular destinations for US citizens and tourists from all over the world.
Tourists frequently visit the white sand beaches, the coral reefs located near Anegada, The Baths located in the region of Virgin Gorda, and snorkel. You can also experience the bars of Jost Van Dyke, which are well-known and famous at the same time.
The BVI is known as one of the world’s largest sailing destinations. A very popular way to visit these less accessible islands is by Charter sailboats established in 1972.
This island hosts Sailing Festival and the BVI Spring Regatta every year. Only a handful of tourists who visit this beautiful island are cruise ship passengers.
Per head, they produce far lower revenue than hotel-based tourists and charter boat tourists. Also, these passengers are nonetheless very important to the political substantial and important to the taxi driving community. As taxi drivers, only Virgin Islanders are allowed to work.
These safest Caribbean islands are beautiful places covered with different types of breathtaking beaches such as soft sandy beaches, white sand beaches, soft white sand beaches, and even secluded beaches. There are some breathtaking beaches which are not open to tourists.
There are only a few safe islands. Most Caribbean islands suffer from violent crimes, whereas not all Caribbean islands are seen with violent crime.
In some areas, there are strict gun laws to protect the tourists visiting the Caribbean each year from violent crimes.
Hurricane season is a threat to these safest Caribbean islands. During hurricane season, tourists are not allowed to go near the shore. It is advisable for those people not to visit any of the islands during hurricane season.
The safest Caribbean islands offer many exciting places to visit, such as Pigeon island national park, Western Caribbean sea, fort de France, eastern Caribbean, Rugged volcanic regions, a Caribbean cultural mecca, inner-city areas with upscale villa resorts, and many more places.
These Safest Caribbean islands also offer awesome scuba diving in laid-back ocean vibes of their own country, Tet Paul nature trail, French overseas collectivity in Montego Bay, and many other things to do on a very small island.
The entire Caribbean is surrounded by seas, oceans, and islands. There are some islands that are heavily french influenced destinations. In every safest Caribbean island you visit, you will find palm trees scattered everywhere. Only a few tourists were seen last year.
Because of this reason, only a handful of islands were opened. There are many safest Caribbean islands to visit with very little crime. Such islands have beautiful luxury accommodation in South Caicos in the safest Caribbean islands.
The above-mentioned islands are some of the safest Caribbean islands that are also luxury destinations. You can easily be offered such places with a great mid-budget location.
Your Caribbean vacation will be great in beautiful luxury properties if you visit one of the safest of the three islands that are mentioned above.
Also check out, Dos and Donts in Cuba
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Laveleena Sharma