Jan. 21, 2026, 9:55 a.m. ET
- The U.S. State Department has lowered its travel advisory for Jamaica to Level 2, “exercise increased caution.”
- Violent crime, including sexual assault, remains a risk, with the State Department noting Jamaica’s high homicide rate.
- Certain areas within Jamaica are designated as Level 4, “do not travel,” due to high crime rates.
The U.S. Department of State revised its travel guidance for Jamaica on Jan. 17, reducing the overall warning for the country to Level 2, “exercise increased caution” from Level 3, “reconsider travel.”
The new guidelines warn visitors to avoid public buses and driving between cities at night, saying that violent crime remains a risk throughout the country.
“The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere,” the State Department’s guidance says, but it acknowledges that tourist areas of Jamaica typically see lower crime rates than other parts of the country. Still, the advisory warns that sexual assault is a common crime in Jamaica, and the State Department says it routinely receives reports from American tourists at resorts.
The State Department also designates some areas of Jamaica as Level 4, “do not travel,” citing high crime. U.S. government employees are prohibited from visiting these areas, and the advisory suggests tourists follow the same precautions. The full list of Level 4 locations in Jamaica is available on the State Department’s website.
The advisory also warns that Jamaica continues to recover from Hurricane Melissa, and notes that areas of the country including Montego Bay may continue to have limited services and amenities.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
Leave a Reply