5 of the safest Caribbean destinations to visit this summer according to travelers

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

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

If you’re looking for a completely stress-free getaway, you’ve come to the right place the top 5 safest places 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 and scored higher than any other destination on our entire index. It’s affectionately called ‘One Happy Island’, and as soon as you step off the plane you’ll understand exactly why. The tension just melts away.

• The atmosphere: You won’t feel trapped in your resort here. I personally walked back to my hotel late at night after a few drinks and felt completely fine. It’s an island that encourages you to get out and explore.
• The experience: You can spend your mornings searching for beautiful street murals in the town of San Nicolas, and your afternoons riding a UTV through the wild, rocky desert on the north side of the island.
• The best advantage: Aruba has a pre-clearance agreement with the US government. You actually go through US customs for you fly home. When you land back in the United States, just pack your bags and walk out as if it were 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 in the news, travelers on the ground tell a very different story.

• The atmosphere: The famous “Hotel Zone” in Cancun was built as a fortress of fun. It is heavily guarded by tourist police and private security, meaning the crime rate in this bubble is incredibly low. Travelers feel super safe as they walk among the gigantic resorts and luxury shopping centers.
• The experience: Cancun is simply the easiest beach trip you can take. You fly into a huge, modern airport, hop in a fast shuttle and within an hour you’re floating in a beautiful 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 the same warm Mexican Caribbean waters, but at a much slower, walker-friendly pace. It is a huge magnet for digital nomads and expats from all over the world.

• The atmosphere: Unlike Cancun, where you usually stay at your giant resort, Playa is all about walking. The heart of the city is 5th Avenue, a huge pedestrian street that stretches for miles.
• The experience: You can spend hours walking up and down 5th Avenue, popping into little 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 and night.

4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Safety index score: 91/100

If your ultimate goal is to completely shut off your brain and let someone else cook, then Punta Cana is the undisputed king.

• The atmosphere: Punta Cana is known for its huge, all-inclusive resort bubbles. These properties are huge, very secure and have absolutely everything you need, right on site. You never actually have to leave the building 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 to the softest white sand in the world. The resorts work hard to keep the beaches clean and completely safe, giving you the ultimate peace of mind.

5. Costa Rica

Safety index score: 84/100

Okay, even though Costa Rica is in Central America, its eastern edge has an absolutely stunning Caribbean coastline. It’s the perfect place for travelers who want to trade gigantic swimming pools for wild nature.

• The atmosphere: Costa Rica is known for its “Pura Vida” (pure living) lifestyle. It is a country that focuses strongly on protecting nature and keeping it peaceful. In fact, the country is so committed to peace that it doesn’t even have a standing army!
• The experience: Travelers looking for a safe adventure love this. You can zipline through the thick jungle canopy, see sloths hanging out in the trees and surf in the warm Caribbean water. The locals are known for being incredibly friendly and helpful to visitors, making it a wonderful place to safely unplug and get back to nature.

Take this quiz now to find your perfect match!

Tyler Fox

Tyler is our editor-in-chief and writer. After years of reading, writing, and obsessing about travel (while traveling as often as possible, of course!), he wants to give readers the best and most balanced experience possible when exploring the site.