16 Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean

If you’re planning on visiting the Caribbean islands, stop planning and start packing. This diverse group of islands is located in the Caribbean Sea, found in the crook of the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America. Renowned for its pristine beaches and idyllic resorts, the Caribbean is without a doubt home to some of the most breathtaking holiday destinations in the world.

Keep reading for an in-depth guide on the best places to visit in the Caribbean.

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1. St. Vincent & the Grenadines

St. Vincent is a nature-lovers paradise. It’s an area rich in biodiversity; from the hummingbirds in the rain forests to the turtles in the ocean. You needn’t limit yourself to just one spot, as this archipelago is made up of both inhabited (Bequia, Mustique) and wild (Tobago cays, Petit Saint Vincent) islands. Visit lagoons and cays or go scuba diving with shoals of barracuda.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has over 30 remote islands and Cays with luxurious boutique hotels and numerous harbors, making it the perfect exotic escape.

2. St. Lucia

Mud baths and volcanic springs, overgrown palms and mangroves, cliffs and a couple of waterfalls are some of the awe-inspiring features you’ll come across in this Caribbean island. Bon vivant or not, when you visit St. Lucia, it’s difficult not to go all out. From luxury hotels and resorts to restaurants serving nothing but the finest haute cuisine, one can’t help but indulge in the extravagant lifestyle St. Lucia has to offer.

Some of the hotels and resorts are:

Marigot Bay Resort – This high end resort stands on a hillside overlooking Marigot Bay, nestled between lush forests at either side. The resort offers a unique and intimate atmosphere, ideal for those seeking a quiet getaway.

Sandals Regency La Toc – Located on a stunning 220-acre estate, this adults-only resort has all you need for a glamorous Caribbean escape.

Serenity – Located on the southern end of St. Lucia, Serenity, (also adults-only), at Coconut Bay is a modern haven, offering private plunge pools, 24 hour room service and fully stocked bars.

3. Turks & Caicos

With sprawling beaches, colorful coral reefs, and luxurious hotels, Turks & Caicos is easily one of the most sought-after places to stay in the Caribbean. It’s home to one of the largest coral reefs in the world, and visitors will have the opportunity to see this incredible Eco-system up close with various SCUBA programs.

Aside from scuba diving, tourists can enjoy a wide range of water-based activities, from wind-surfing to snorkeling. And if you’d rather just lounge on the beach, Grace Bay offers guests uninterrupted relaxation on its sandy white shores.

4. Cayman Islands

Nestled between Jamaica and Cuba, the Cayman Islands are a small slice of heaven. The islands are bedecked with turquoise beaches, coral reefs (premium dive sites) and crystal clear sandbars. For those seeking a more unconventional experience, a visit to Stingray City is a must, where you’ll have the opportunity to swim and interact with the stingrays. They are used to being fed by tourists, so they’re very friendly.

You’ll find some great deals for resorts here too, offering all-inclusive packages that won’t push you holiday budget to the limit.

5. Antigua

Antigua is home to a plethora of beaches, each one as diverse as the next. For those interested in snorkeling and discovering an ancient shipwreck, choose Deep Bay beach, and for those solely interested in relaxing on white sand shores, choose Half Moon beach. Antigua also features Nelson’s Dockyard, a cultural heritage site where you can learn about the island’s colonial past.

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6. St. Kitts & Nevis

These mountainous sister-islands are of volcanic origin, and are covered with lush, tropical vegetation. Because of this, the islands offer exciting nature trails and hikes, as well as sprawling beaches. St. Kitts and Nevis is the ideal location for travelers who want the best of both.

For culture buffs and history lovers, a guided tour through the tiny colonial capital, Charlestown in Nevis, is a must. It’s also worth noting that Nevis is the birth place of Alexander Hamilton – one of the founding fathers.

St. Kitts is the larger of the two, and therefore offers a more lively experience. Frigate Bay and Oualie beach offer white sand oases during the day and an exciting party strip during the night.

7. Barbados

While Barbados boasts all of the typical features of a Caribbean paradise – sprawling golf courses, white sand beaches, restaurants and resorts – this island has something different from the rest. The Bajan lifestyle and culture is something that is completely unique to this island. Immerse yourself in traditional food, dance, music and drink (rum, of course) or admire the breath taking architecture.

Even though Barbados gained its independence in 1966, the island has held onto some quintessentially British customs, such as afternoon tea, polo and cricket matches.

Some of its must-see beaches include breezy Bathsheba beach and Dover beach.

8. The British Virgin Islands

Abbreviated as BVI, this is one of the most exclusive Caribbean islands, receiving the majority of its tourists in summer. This island can be a tad expensive; it usually attracts visitors with deep pockets and a penchant for sailing. In 2017, BVI was hit by Hurricane Irma, and while some signs of the destruction are still evident, the island has invested an incredible amount of work into restoring it to its former glory.

On Tortola, you’ll find mountainous cliffs and white beaches, characterized by changing tides and cooling breezes. On Virgin Gorda, you’ll find the Baths; deep pools resting between giant volcanic boulders where you can relax in privacy.

9. Curacao

The Dutch influence on this Caribbean island is evident in the bright, multi-colored houses that line the coast. As well as historic architecture, the island features rugged landscapes and picturesque beaches, the latter of which draws the most visitors to Curacao’s shores. The beaches here are teeming with marine life, ideal for snorkeling or scuba diving.

If you’re looking for something off the beaten track, visit the Shete Boka national park, where you can take a glimpse into an underground cavern or walk along the limestone bluffs for a spectacular view of the Curacao coast.

10. Martinique

Martinique is another island of volcanic origin and is surrounded by green vegetation and mountains. The island offers stunning beaches, enchanting nature hikes and a bustling city life in its capital, Fort-de-France.

Some of its beaches include Grand Anse and Anse Turin, the latter of which is famous for its black sand and ideal sunset location.

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11. Jamaica

When one thinks about the Caribbean, Jamaica is most likely one of the first places that comes to mind. It embodies everything tropical – from gold speckled beaches, to craggy mountains, to swirling waterfalls. It’s also the birthplace of the Rastafari movement, and its pioneer, Bob Marley.

Jamaica is the third-largest island of the Caribbean. There are three main tourist attractions on the island: Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios. Negril is famous for its beaches and topnotch resorts. Montego Bay is best liked by golfers while Ocho Rios is located in the North-Eastern, where the Dunn’s River falls and where the more adventurous types tend to visit.

12. St. Martin and St. Maarten

This island is divided into the two sovereign states: its French territory lies to the north while its Dutch territory lies to the south. The island is separated by an international boundary, so you can begin your day in the Dutch St Maarten and then wander over to the French St Martin for the afternoon.

St Maarten is known for its off-duty shopping malls, which acts as a major tourist attraction. Its beaches are generally more developed (and as a result more built-up) than those in St Martin, but that’s not to say that the French shores are any less idyllic. This island is also known as the food capital of the Caribbean, offering vacationers an array of premium restaurants serving fusion and traditional cuisine.

13. Grenada

Grenada is also known as the “Spice Isle”, thanks to the constant aroma of nutmeg and vanilla wafting through the air from its spice plantations. Grenada is a largely untouched island, rejecting the glamour and glitz of its neighboring St Lucia and opting instead for the pure, authentic natural beauty of the isle.

Activities on the island include scuba diving and snorkeling in its aquamarine waters and discovering the island first underwater coral sculpture park.

14. Anguilla

Anguilla features everything that caters to an island-vacationers needs: glamorous casinos, sophisticated hotels and restaurants and, of course, white sand beaches. May and August are the best times to visit Anguilla, as they fall outside of hurricane season. Anguilla is also one of the safest islands to visit in the Caribbean.

The best hotels in Anguilla are: Zemi Beach House hotel & spa, Four Seasons resort and, and Malliouhana, Auberge resort collection.

15. US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are the most liked among Americans. Some of the isles found in the area are St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. Each of these three islands have something different to offer; St. Thomas is known for its luxurious resorts and boutiques, St. John appeals to nature lovers who want a quieter tropical getaway, while St. Croix is home to the sugar plantation and rum distillery. The US dollar is widely accepted here, so you needn’t worry about changing currency. The best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is between April and June, as the temperature stays mild and there’s little to no rain.

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16. St Barts

This French Caribbean island exudes European sophistication. While it can be quite pricey to stay at St. Barts, careful preparation and early planning will ensure that your holiday budget stays intact. The island boasts 14 unspoiled beaches and stylish hotels and resorts. Some of the best hotels in St. Barts are: Hotel Christopher, Hotel Manapany, and Cheval Blanc St. Barths Isle de France.

The best time to visit St. Barts is between April and June. Temperatures don’t fluctuate too much and rainfall is usually minimal.

In conclusion…

To make life easier, we have compiled a general list of each island and its main tourist factors:

– Best for holidays: Aruba.

– Best for divers and Americans looking for a quick escape: The Bahamas.

– Best for hassle-free holidays: Cayman Islands.

– Best for adventurers and resort-seekers: Dominican Republic.

– Best for music, spicy foods, quick trips from the US, and resort holidays: Jamaica.

– Best for ocean exploration: Puerto Rico.

– Best for day trips into “France” and mid-range hotel holidays: St. Martin/ Sint Maarten.

– Best for resort lovers and Americans with no passports: US Virgin Islands.

– Best for isolation and low-key holidays: Anguilla.

– Best for resort holidays accompanied by a lot of day-trips: Antigua.

– Best for any budget: Barbados.

– Best for Divers: Bonaire.

– Best for snorkelers and divers, people who like how the ocean moves: British Virgin Islands.

– Best for bragging rights and good priced holidays: Cuba.

– Best for urban rambles: Curacao.

– Best for climbers and nature lovers: Dominican Republic.

– Best for mixing with locals: Grenada.

– Best for traveling to learn and explore: Haiti.

– Best for nature hikes and isolated beaches: Martinique.

– Best for people without schedules: St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

– Best for beachcombers and boaters: Turks and Caicos

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More about the Caribbean

19 Best Things to Do in St Kitts and Nevis

21 Best Things to Do in St Lucia

15 Best Things to Do in Barbados

10 Best Things to Do in Vieques, Puerto Rico

10 Best Things to Do in the Turks and Caicos Islands

13 Best Things to Do in Bonaire, the Caribbean Netherlands