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By Jasmine Laws
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The U.S. State Department has updated its travel advisory for Jamaica, changing the level of risk attributed to the popular Caribbean destination.
Jamaica was previously allocated a Level 3 advisory, as the State Department had advised Americans to "reconsider travel" to the island, due to concerns about crime, health, and natural disasters.
On January 17, the department reduced the advisory to Level 2, meaning that travelers should "exercise increased caution" at the destination, but not that they should reconsider their travel.
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Why It Matters
The department's travel advisories for Caribbean islands vary amid growing U.S.-Venezuela tension, with some like Barbados, and Dominica listed as Level 1 countries, while the Bahamas is listed as a Level 2 country. Grenada was recently updated by the department to a Level 2 country, up from Level 1, due to the "risk of crime" on the island.
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What To Know
While the advisory level has been decreased, the State Department noted in its update that there are no changes to the risk indicators—crime, health and natural disasters—in Jamaica.
On October 28, 2025, Jamaica was hit with the most powerful storm of the 2025 Atlantic season, Hurricane Melissa, which, after making landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, left a trail of devastation and flooding.
The island is continuing to recover from the hurricane, the department wrote in its advisory. "The hurricane caused widespread damage to the western part of the island. Some areas are still experiencing post-storm impacts on infrastructure and services," the department wrote.
Crime also remains a risk in Jamaica, and the State Department said that the homicide rate reported by the government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. The department noted that tourist areas "generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country."
Armed robberies and sexual assaults are also reportedly "common," and the department said the U.S. embassy "routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts."
The department added that U.S. citizens have reported "slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents" as well.
In regard to concerns around health on the island, the State Department said that "basic and specialized medical care" may not be available in many parts of Jamaica, which includes "slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury."
It notes that health care facilities were "badly damaged" by Hurricane Melissa as well, and advises that U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication, as many types are not always readily available on the island.
While the department's general advisory for Jamaica is Level 2, some parts of the island have a Level 4 risk due to high levels of crime, and the State Department advises Americans not to go to these places under any circumstances.
The State Department advises Americans not to travel to:
- 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.
What People Are Saying
The State Department said in its advisory: "If you decide to travel to Jamaica: review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime; do not physically resist any robbery attempt; do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition (this includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings - the penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, are severe, and can include long prison sentences); avoid walking or driving at night; avoid public buses; avoid remote places; stay aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile; have a plan to depart in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help (review our information on Crisis and Evacuations.)
What Happens Next
The State Department reviews its advisories for Level 1 and 2 countries at least every 12 months.
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