5 Of The Safest Caribbean Destinations To Visit This Summer According To Travelers

Share The Article

Planning a summer beach trip shouldn’t give you gray hair. When you finally get the time off work to pack a suitcase, the only thing you want to worry about is whether you packed enough sunscreen. You want to sip a cold drink in the sun, not stress out about walking back to your hotel after dinner.

To figure out where people actually feel the most secure, we asked real travelers to vote on our Safety Index. The numbers are finally in, and they paint a really clear picture of where the smart travel money is going this summer.

If you are looking for a completely stress-free getaway, here are the top 5 safest spots in the Caribbean (and the beautiful Caribbean coast) right now, ranked by the travelers who just visited them.

1. Aruba

Safety Index Score: 98/100

Aruba crushed the competition, scoring higher than any other destination on our entire index. It is affectionately called “One Happy Island,” and the moment you step off the plane, you understand exactly why. The tension just melts away.

• The Vibe: You do not feel trapped in your resort here. I have personally walked back to my hotel late at night after a few drinks and felt totally completely fine. It is an island that encourages you to get out and explore.
• The Experience: You can spend your mornings hunting for amazing street murals in the town of San Nicolas, and your afternoons driving a UTV through the wild, rocky desert on the north side of the island.
• The Best Perk: Aruba has a pre-clearance agreement with the U.S. government. You actually go through U.S. customs before you fly home. When you land back in the States, you just grab your bags and walk out like it was a regular domestic flight!

2. Cancun, Mexico

Safety Index Score: 92/100

Cancun sits right on the bright blue Mexican Caribbean, and while it sometimes gets a wild reputation on the news, travelers on the ground tell a totally different story.

• The Vibe: The famous “Hotel Zone” in Cancun is built like a fortress of fun. It is heavily patrolled by tourist police and private security, meaning the crime rate inside this bubble is incredibly low. Travelers feel super secure walking between the giant resorts and upscale shopping malls.
• The Experience: Cancun is simply the easiest beach trip you can take. You fly into a massive, modern airport, hop in a quick shuttle, and within an hour, you are floating in a gorgeous infinity pool with a taco in your hand.

3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Safety Index Score: 92/100

Just an hour south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen offers that same warm Mexican Caribbean water, but with a much slower, walking-friendly pace. It is a massive magnet for digital nomads and expats from all over the world.

• The Vibe: Unlike Cancun, where you mostly stay at your giant resort, Playa is all about walking. The heart of the town is 5th Avenue, a massive pedestrian-only street that stretches for miles.
• The Experience: You can spend hours walking up and down 5th Avenue, popping into tiny coffee shops, buying local art, and eating amazing street food. Because the street is always packed with families and travelers, it feels incredibly safe and welcoming day or night.

4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Safety Index Score: 91/100

If your ultimate goal is to totally shut your brain off and let someone else do the cooking, Punta Cana is the undisputed king.

• The Vibe: Punta Cana is famous for its massive, all-inclusive resort bubbles. These properties are huge, highly secure, and have absolutely everything you need right on site. You never actually have to leave the property if you don’t want to.
• The Experience: Travelers love Punta Cana because it offers pure, uninterrupted luxury. You wake up, grab unlimited food at the breakfast buffet, and walk straight out to some of the softest white sand on the planet. The resorts work hard to keep the beaches clean and totally secure, giving you the ultimate peace of mind.

5. Costa Rica

Safety Index Score: 84/100

Okay, while Costa Rica is in Central America, its eastern edge boasts an absolutely stunning Caribbean coast. It is the perfect spot for travelers who want to trade giant swimming pools for wild nature.

• The Vibe: Costa Rica is famous for its “Pura Vida” (pure life) lifestyle. It is a country that focuses heavily on protecting nature and keeping things peaceful. In fact, the country is so dedicated to peace that it does not even have a standing army!
• The Experience: Travelers looking for a safe adventure love it here. You can zip-line through the thick jungle canopy, watch sloths hang out in the trees, and surf in the warm Caribbean water. The locals are famous for being incredibly friendly and helpful to visitors, making it a wonderful spot to safely unplug and get back to nature.

Now take this quiz to find your perfect match!

Tyler Fox

Tyler is our Managing Editor and Writer. After spending years reading, writing, and obsessing over travel (while taking trips as often as possible of course!), he aims to give readers the best and most balanced experience possible when exploring the site.