12 Best Caribbean Islands To Visit

Caribbean is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands. Christopher Columbus discovered these Caribbean islands. Caribbean Island is popular for sun, sea and sand. There are so many Caribbean Islands so its hard to choose any one. Some islands are famous for snorkeling, hiking, diving and more adventurous activities. While other are popular for crystal clear waters, white sand beaches and palm trees. Some islands are popular for authentic foods. Following are best Caribbean islands to visit.

(1) Jamaica

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea. It is located about 870 km (540 mi) southeast of Miami, west of Hispaniola and south of Cuba. Jamaica’s landscape is mostly hilly with a limestone plateau, karate structures with caves, narrow coastal plains, lush green rainforests.

The island has a population of 2.75 million (2015). The capital and largest city is Kingston, the other major cities being Spanish Town and Montego Bay. The official language is Jamaican English. After more than 300 years, Jamaica became an independent sovereign state and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Negril’s fishing village boasts the world-famous 7-mile beach, which breaks away from parties during spring break. Located near Dunns River Falls, travelers can easily spend a day on the ZipLine or scenic tramway on Mystic Mountain that floats 700 feet above the canopy of the rainforest.

The Bob Marley Museum is located on the site of his home, which he lived in until his death. The house has 19th-century architecture and Marley’s personal treasures are displayed in the main museum. About 60 miles away is Kingston Port Antonio, home to the legendary Blue Lagoon.

Warm currents from the Caribbean Sea enter the lagoon, but the most important feature is the sublime color. The River Fall of Dun is the most popular attraction in the area. Its 600-foot long waterfall offers a spectacular centerpiece for a mountain-like setting with multiple levels.

(2) St. Lucia

St. Lucia is the second largest part of the Windward Islands, located in the southern group of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies between Martinique’s north and St. Vincent. The island occupies an area of ​​539 sq km, making it slightly larger than Andorra.

St. Lucia is of volcanic origin and is mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys. Near the town of Suitiere are the famous twin peaks of “The Pitons”, a volcanic complex with boiling hot springs. The highest mountain on the island is Mount Gimi at 950 meters.

St. Lucia has a population of 172,000 inhabitants. The capital and largest city is Castries, a popular cruise port and commercial center of the island. Languages ​​spoken are English (official) and French Creole. In natural beauty, St. Lucia looks as if it had fallen from the South Pacific.

Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, Pitons, 2,000 feet above the sea, harbor magnificent rain forests where wild orchids and birds of paradise thrive. The people of the island have earned a good reputation for their warmth and charm. The island itself consists of old forts, small villages, and open markets.

A wide range of exciting and exotic activities are available in St. Lucia. The island’s steep coastline and lovely cliffs provide spectacular snorkeling and scuba diving. The mountainous interior of St. Lucia is popular in the Caribbean for rainforest conservation, hiking and birdwatching.

(3) Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is the second largest and most diverse Caribbean country. It is located just two hours south of Miami, four hours from New York and eight hours less than most European cities. The Dominican Republic has the North Atlantic Ocean and to its north is the Caribbean Sea.

It is located on the island of Hespaniola and occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island, while Haiti occupies the western third. The official language is Spanish. The main religion is Christianity, with a majority of Roman Catholicism. Today the Dominican Republic is inhabited mostly by people of European and African descent.

The main attractions of Santo Domingo are the historic colonial city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture. Parque Nacional del Este is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has hundreds of species of plants, animals and birds. Punta Cana is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island.

Playa Dorada is one of the most popular beach destinations on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. The Altos de Chavón, La Romana, on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, is one of the island’s best places to shop for a replica and craft of a 16th-century artisan village.

Zerbacoa is located in the magnificent Cordillera Central, a wide landscape of pine forests, rivers, waterfalls and the highest peaks. Isla Cabritos National Park is home to over 106 species of flora and 62 species of sparrows, ranging from Hispaniolan parrot to white-crowned pigeon.

(4) Cayman Islands

The three Cayman Islands are Grand Cayman, Cayman Brack, and Little Cayman. They are located 150 miles south of Cuba in the western Caribbean, 460 miles south of Miami and 167 miles northwest of Jamaica. Georgetown, the capital, is on the western side of Grand Cayman.

The Cayman Break is located approximately 89 miles northeast of Grand Cayman. The Bluff is a massive central limestone outbreak, which rises rapidly along the length of the island. Little Cayman is located five miles west of the Cayman Brac and is about ten miles long. Its area is about 11 square miles.

The island is inferior to some areas of the northern coast, rising 40 feet above sea level. A British expatriate region in the western Caribbean, the Cayman Islands offer some of the best diving in the world. On the coast of this trio of tropical islands, crystal clear waters in bluish shades of blue.

Grand Cayman’s popular cruise port is the largest and most Americanized of the three islands. Stunning Seven Mile Beach is the jewel of its crown with a range of watersports and beachfront resorts, and the island offers many other attractions.

Visitors can browse duty-free stores in the colorful Georgetown. Through the botanical gardens, They Can stroll, hike the nature trail. Some of the best dive sites in the world lie in its magnificent seas. The island is famous for its Bonefish Flats and Tarpoint Pond.

(5) Cuba

Havana is the capital of Cuba full of culture, tradition, music, natural beauty and historical national monuments. It is located in the western part of the country. Must-see neighborhoods include Plaza de la Revolution, Playa, Habana del Este, Centro Habana and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Old Havana.

Havana has its 5-star hotels and international cuisines and familiar amazing cities like Santiago. Most of the land outside the towns and cities is undeveloped and protected in national parks. Ranging from the Casillas de Toa rainforest near Baracoa, the forest is vast and offers permanent travel opportunities for many.

Named the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Caguiness National Park is an ideal destination for eco and adventure tourism. The park consists of Caguens Kei, Cienega Swamp, Guayaberas and Pidra Cass. Travelers looking for a more tranquil experience for Cuba will find it in Barcoa.

Beamo, the capital of the province of Gramma, is the second oldest colonial city on the island. As the headquarters of the War for Independence from Spain, it is reputed as the birthplace of Cuba’s nationality. Cardenas is a port city that is dominated by horse drawn carts and bicycles in narrow streets.

Camagüey is a group of interesting tourist attractions that run the gamut from nature to culture to beaches. Cayo Coco, named after the white ibis, is part of the Jardins del Rey Islands. It is mainly known for its white sand beaches, crystalline waters and off-the-beaten-paths.

(6) Turks & Caicos

Turks and Caicos is a magnificent archipelago that consists of 40 coral islands. This popular paradise is a foreign British territory south-east of the beautiful British Bahamas. These islands have world-class hotels and spas, spectacular stretches of sand and lush cliffs.

A trip to Turks and Caicos is not easily accomplished if it does not include iconic and famous 12-mile stretch of Grace Bay Beach. Whether you are enjoying the clear water and pristine beaches below the sea surface or exploring the rich aquatic life, Grace Bay will certainly not disappoint.

The Grand Turk Lighthouse stands tall as a historical site, being protected by the National Trust as well as being revered and beloved by all the locals. Situated in the tranquil Princess Alexandra National Park, Howard Beach is for those who enjoy long quiet walks along the beach.

There is nothing as awe-inspiring and polite as walking through the largest cave system in Turks and Caicos. Situated in the midst of a thriving ecosystem, the Conch Bar Caves National Park has over 2.4 kilometers of underground caves and is one of the largest cave systems in the Caribbean.

Provo’s National Environment Center is right on the children’s park Bite Beach and exhibits a natural and cultural interest to the islands. The center’s main draw is a scale elevation model of the unique underwater plateau that serves as a support to the nation’s islands.

(7) Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a tropical Caribbean travel destination and one of the islands of the Greater Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, located 125 km (78 mi) east of the island Hapaniola. It is classified as an “unincorporated area”, meaning the island is controlled by the US government but separated from the mainland.

The island’s landscape offers most coastal areas with lush green mountains, waterfalls, tropical rainforests and sandy beaches. The highest point in Puerto Rico is at 1,338 meters along the Cerro de Punta. Powered by the trade winds of the east, Puerto Rico enjoys a pleasant tropical climate with relatively low humidity.

The island is a self-governed unorganized region of the United States, with the capital being San Juan. Hispanic, Afro-Caribbean and North American influences determine the culture of Puerto Rico residents. The population of the island is 3.41 million people.

The official languages ​​are Spanish and English. Puerto Rico’s population has declined somewhat, with many Puerto Ricans, who are US citizens, on the mainland of the United States, Puerto Rico’s faltering economy and unemployment rates of over 12%, and youth unemployment of about 28%.

(8) Bahamas

The Bahamas capital Nassau is located on the southern coast of Florida and about 310 km (190 mi) north of Cuba. The coral-based archipelago consists of about 700 islands and islands and has more than 2,000 cesses (coral reefs). The Bahamas population is just 389,000 people in 2019.

The political capital and commercial center is Nassau. The spoken language is English. The Bahamas has become one of the world’s leading leisure resorts. The archipelago attracts five times more population than tourists each year. The islands of the Bahamas are divided into the two most populous islands New Providence and Grand Bahamas respectively.

The 33-kilometer-long island of New Providence is home to 250,000 people. This is about two-thirds of the total population of Bahamas. Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is located on the island of New Providence. It is one of the most important cruise ports in the Caribbean.

Grand Bahamas is one of the more northern Bahamas islands and offers a lot of diversity to its visitors: from beautiful sandy beaches to national parks. Long Island is located approximately 265 km southeast of the capital Nassau. The neighboring island of Harbor Island is popular for pink sandy beaches, pastel houses and numerous beach bars.

Exumas are an island chain of 365 islands of varying sizes. The islands are known for their turquoise blue crystal clear waters, fine-grained sand and the famous floating pigs. The largest Exuma island is 60 km along the length of the Great Exuma. 

(9) Aruba

Aruba has one of the highest rates of repeat visitors anywhere in the Caribbean. All that is happening to attract people again and again is the great pride and care that Arubans take to ensure that tourists have everything they could possibly need to make their stay enjoyable and exciting.

Aruban is famous for his friendliness and hospitality. The climate is always sunny and welcoming. Great care has been taken to maintain and enhance the natural beauty of the environment. The tourism industry here is highly organized, developed and diverse, catering to a wide variety of interests.

Visitors can go bird watching at the protected sanctuary or visit a coconut plantation through Eriok National Park, which monitors the exotic flora and fauna of the island. Aruba has been closely associated with the Netherlands, Courçao, Sint Maarten and other Dutch Caribbean islands since 1634, when the Dutch established in the Caribbean.

Aruba attained its autonomous status in 1986, and therefore controls and manages its own internal affairs. Although it is still part of the state, it shares responsibilities for some external affairs. Specific areas relating to nationality, defense and extradition are controlled by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

It is the entirety of the state which is a state. As a result, individual autonomous countries within the state do not have an international legal personality. Therefore, for example, Aruba is not able to sign EU treaties. This is the work of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

(10) St. Martin

By far the smallest island in the world is divided between two different countries St. Martin / St. Maarten has been shared by the French and Dutch for nearly 350 years with a sense of neighborly cooperation and mutual friendship.

people go back and forth without realizing that they are entering a new country.  All alike, each party has been successful in maintaining the uniqueness of its national culture. The beaches are secluded, luxury resorts provide lavish accommodation, and restaurants provide the best dining experiences anywhere in the Caribbean.

The latest French fashion can be found in many shops, and the smell of fresh croissant and pastry is found everywhere along with the spicy aroma of West Indian cooking. On the other hand, St Maarten has been an active center for business and tourism, with its busy cruise port.

It is very Dutch in taste and still has strong ties to fellow compatriots in other Netherlands mates. Between two different cultures in St. Martin and St. Maarten, holidaymakers will be able to know every type of activity they want for a perfect holiday in the sun.

Located in the middle through a series of islands in the Caribbean, as the Antilles begin to curve to the south, St. Martin is sunny and warm, the average is 82 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and just 2 degrees cooler in winter. Average annual rainfall is up to about 45 inches, most of which occurs around late summer and early fall.

(11) Anguilla

One of the Lesser Antilles Islands, Anguilla is the northernmost part of the Lever Islands, located about 270 km (165 mi) east of Puerto Rico, and north of St. Martin’s Island in the eastern Caribbean. The island also shares maritime borders with Antigua and Barbuda and the US Virgin Islands.

Formerly a British colony in 1967 and briefly united with St. Kitts and Nevis, it is now a self-governing dependency of Britain. The region includes the main island of Anguilla and several uninhabited small islands and territories. The island is slightly larger than half of Liechtenstein with an area 91 km in size.

The spoken language is English. Anguilla is served by Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport. The nearest international airport is Princess Juliana International Airport on the neighboring island of St. Maarten. Go for a swim with the majestic dolphins and make your time in Anguilla memorable.

History enthusiasts and visitors who want to learn about Anguilla will like this interesting heritage collection museum. Spanning one and a half kilometers, Mounde Bay Beach is a sublime stretch of soft powder sand and aquamarine water. The Moorish-themed Cap Cap Zuluka Luxury Resort welcomes guests, welcoming both tourists and locals.

A trip to Sandy Island is an Anguilla activity as it takes you away from stress, hustle and bustle. A Sandy Island excursion includes a fun and exciting boat ride, exploring or lazing on a spit of sand in the midst of crystal clear turquoise waters.

(12) Barbados

Barbados is an island in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean, north-east of Venezuela, east of St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Its main city, Bridgetown was a large town and colony became the largest and wealthiest of all the English colonies.

The official language is English, the recognized regional language is Bajan (Bajan dialect). Sun-worshipers who live on the beach for days consider this Caribbean island a paradise. Silver Sands is internationally recognized as the top windsurfing beach on the southern coast.

Miami Beach is at the heart of southern beaches. This beach has become a favorite for foreign tourists and locals. On Dover Beach there is a chance to just relax and enjoy the sun. One of the island’s largest beaches, it is a stretch of soft, white sand with turquoise waters on the coast.

Folkestone Beach beautiful beach not only provides a great place to relax, here to enjoy water sports and also has a maritime museum. It is in Folkestone Marine Park, which was built around an artificial reef formed by an offshore shipwalk.

Gibbs is just 300 meters long. It is a beach with a palm ledge where you will find natural Barbados. Mullins is a beautiful bay with a magnificent coastline. The beach bar serves simple food and cold drinks, with customers ranging from sun-worshipers to jet skiing, snorkeling and swimming.