Planning on traveling to the Bahamas anytime soon?
The U.S. Department of State is warning travelers to be careful when visiting the Bahamas due to crime and safety issues on the water.
The travel advisory updated on Friday classifies the Bahamas under a “Level 2,” warning Americans to “exercise increased caution” when visiting according to the department.
The U.S. Embassy in Nassau also issued a security alert, urging Americans to “exercise extreme caution in the eastern part of New Providence Island (Nassau)” and to “not physically resist any robbery attempt” after 18 murders have occurred there since the start of this year.
“The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands,” the State Department wrote in its advisory. “In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the “Over the Hill” area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.”
The Honourable Phillip Edward Davis, Bahamas Prime Minister told Travel + Leisure, "The incidents described in the January 2024 U.S. Embassy crime alert do not reflect general safety in The Bahamas"
He also went on to say, "The safety and security of everyone is of paramount importance to us and we are confident that The Bahamas will remain safe and welcoming for millions of visitors to continue to enjoy the magic and beauty of our beautiful islands".
The State Department classifies countries on a 4-level scale, from telling them to “exercise normal precautions” all the way up to “do not travel.”
In addition to crime, the State Department also warned travelers about commercial recreational watercraft and water tours:
Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated.
Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications.
Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities.
Commercial watercraft operators have discretion to operate their vessels regardless of weather forecasts; injuries and fatalities have occurred.
Due to these safety concerns, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.
They also suggested the following:
Never swim alone, regardless of your age or level of swimming skills.
Keep within your fitness and swimming capabilities.
Be mindful of sharks when swimming and engaging in water activities, as there have been recent fatal and non-fatal incidents involving sharks.
Be aware of weather and water conditions and heed local warnings.
Peter Hansen/UnSplash
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to The Bahamas.
If you decide to travel to The Bahamas:
Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.
Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Review the Country Security Report for The Bahamas.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency and medical situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
The Bahamas are a beautiful place to vacation, but please be mindful of the State Department warning. Many cruise lines also call the Bahamas home for their private islands.
For U.S. Citizens in an Emergency:
Call State Department – Consular Affairs at:
1-888-407-4747 (when dialing from within the U.S.)
1 (202) 501-4444 (when dialing from overseas)