Marshall Islands Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Marshall Islands.
Public clinics on each populated atoll and two referral hospitals in Majuro and Ebeye. Private care is extremely limited and serious cases are evacuated to Hawaii or the Philippines.
Majuro Hospital (Rita) has 24-hour emergency, X-ray and basic lab. Ebeye Hospital serves Kwajalein Atoll. Both accept cash and major travel insurance; credit-card facilities are unreliable.
Majuro has two private pharmacies (next to Delek Hospital and in Daan's Shopping Center) stocking common antibiotics, rehydration salts and reef-safe sunscreen. Bring prescription medications in original packaging with a doctor's letter.
Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended. Proof is checked before boarding domestic flights to outer atolls.
- ✓ Pack a small wound-care kit: waterproof dressings, tweezers for coral splinters, antiseptic and broad-spectrum antibiotic ointment.
- ✓ Check expiry dates on any local medication. Stock is rotated slowly and shortages occur after supply-ship delays.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Opportunistic theft of bags left on motorbikes, rental-car seats or unattended on Laura Beach.
Sharp staghorn coral and stonefish are common on reef flats. Cuts easily become infected in warm, stagnant water.
Equatorial UV index exceeds 11 year-round; heat-related illness peaks between 11:00 and 15:00.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Drivers claim the meter is broken and quote inflated flat fares from the airport to town.
Vendors at Alele Museum craft stalls quote prices in US dollars then demand payment in higher-denomination Australian dollars.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • File a float plan with your hotel or the boat operator stating destination and expected return; coast-guard reporting is voluntary.
- • Never anchor on live coral. Use sand patches to avoid fines and reef damage.
- • Speed limit is 40 km/h on Majuro. Watch for children darting onto the road near schools in Jenrok and Delap.
- • Fill the tank at MAL Gas in Rita before heading to Laura, no fuel past the airport.
- • Stick to lit sections of the main road between Delap and Rita. Side streets off Long Island have poor lighting.
- • Use pre-arranged transport after 21:00; taxis stop cruising after 22:00 on weekdays.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo women travelers report feeling safe during daylight. The culture is conservative and overt harassment is rare.
- → Wear a T-shirt over swimwear when walking through villages on outer atolls.
- → Sit with families rather than alone on public boats. Crew will watch your belongings.
Homosexuality is legal; same-sex marriage is not recognised.
- → Book twin rooms instead of doubles to avoid awkward questions at small family-run Marshall Islands hotels.
- → The expatriate community at the Kwajalein Missile Range is more tolerant; day-visit passes are available for non-US passport holders.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Medical evacuation to Hawaii costs more than most round-trip airfares. Domestic flights may be suspended during cyclone alerts.
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