Which Caribbean island is best for you?12/11/20
Which Caribbean island is best for youRYAN VER BERKMOES
Lonely Planet Writer
The dozens of islands scattered across the Caribbean are a remarkably diverse lot. Pulsing Jamaica has little in common with low-key Aruba, and even islands in plain sight of each other like St Kitts and Nevis are vastly different not just in appearance but in what they offer visitors. So for the Caribbean-bound visitor, which island among the many do you choose? Big or little, near or far, urban or rural are among the many considerations that can turn picking a carefree holiday into a perplexing chore. Happily, our Caribbean islands primer can take the pain out of choosing what's right for you. We've got the low-down on all the most-visited islands, complete with what's best about each one, and we've categorized them by their ease of access, so if your time is short you can prioritize beach time over airport time. Editor's note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.  Easy access (multiple direct flights from US and Canada)ArubaArid and nearly featureless, Aruba's main attraction is a ribbon of beaches lined with big world-class resorts and backed up with malls of familiar restaurants and bars.
Aruba your way: tips for lovers, thrill seekers, foodies and more The BahamasOffering the myriad choices of the Caribbean in a microcosm close to the US, the 700 islands of The Bahamas have far-flung hideaways and glossy mega-resorts.
Why Long Island should be your next Bahamas vacation Cayman IslandsGrand Cayman is reminiscent of South Florida, only more orderly and with less traffic. It offers resorts of all stripes, tax shelters and famous diving, snorkeling and swimming with schools of stingrays.
6 unique experiences in the Cayman Islands Dominican RepublicA large country with a dominant Hispanic culture, the DR (as it's called) has world-class resorts on fine beaches and untrammeled inland areas with forbidding peaks.
Dominican Republic: beyond the beaches  JamaicaSeemingly the center of Caribbean clichés such as Bob Marley songs played to the rhythm of opening beer bottles, vast Jamaica offers up resorts from posh to lurid and a distinct urban culture.
Jamaica's top 10 travel experiences Puerto RicoOld San Juan is one of the great highlights of the region, a sprawling throw-back that buzzes with a lively vibe. Big beach resorts, casinos, tangible history and rich Hispanic culture are the highlights.
How sustainable tourism is thriving in Puerto Rico St-Martin/Sint MaartenTwo distinct cultures, Dutch and French, share space on this smallish and very lively island. Like a brain these two hemispheres are greater in sum than in parts: the French offer holidays with reserve while the Dutch party down.
Find the island flavors: a foodie's guide to St Martin & Sint Maarten US Virgin IslandsThe first Caribbean stop for many Americans has all the comforts - and familiar names - of home. St Thomas is commercial but St John and St Croix offer more natural and cultural allures.
The Virgin Islands' best food and drink experiences  Farther afield (a transfer or less frequent direct flights)AnguillaIn a sea of beaches that set the standard for beachy clichés, the beaches on this tiny island are the definitive versions. Small, with an amiable local culture and luxurious villas scattered about.
Exploring Anguilla's beaches by bike AntiguaLots of little beaches on Antigua are lined with resorts large and small, modest and lavish. English Harbour offers yachtie hijinks and diverting colonial heritage. The sister island of Barbuda is home to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary.
Ecotourism hotspots in Antigua and Barbuda BarbadosA slew of beaches ideal for surfers, wind-surfers, budget sunbathers and traditional types who dress for dinner make Barbados a truly welcoming island. There's been a steady increase in nonstop flights to the country.
Get cultured in Bridgetown: 8 ways to explore Barbados' historic capital BonaireOne of the most interesting islands in the southern Caribbean, tiny Bonaire is justly famous for its spectacular diving right offshore. It also has a fascinating history and a winning and walkable main city of Kralendijk.
Bonaire waters offer loads of family fun  British Virgin IslandsThe BVIs are a richer, less-developed and more isolated version of the US Virgin Islands. Yachties and divers find their bliss amongst the 40 islands here; the main island, Tortola, offers glam diversions.
How your vacation can help save sea turtles in the Caribbean CubaCuba offers famous music, political challenges and disintegrating urban beauty. Havana alone is worth days of exploration amidst a paucity of frills. Watch for new flights as travel restrictions ease.
Cuba beyond the capital: best things to do outside Havana CuraçaoA medium-sized island with a focus beyond tourism. The main city of Willemstad has a justifiably famous, beautiful and historic harbor. Isolated beaches scattered about offer a few watery pleasures.
7 reasons why Curaçao should be your next Caribbean vacation  DominicaLacking the plethora of beaches found elsewhere, Dominica is the region's unspoiled gem with peaks and valleys swathed in rain forest and accented by waterfalls.
Take a hike, Dominica: the Caribbean's most adventurous island GrenadaYou really can smell nutmeg in the air of this small ex-British colony which has one of the region's most interesting capitals, St George's. Small and inviting beaches vie with rainforest-clad hills for attention.
Southern Caribbean adventures: three islands, three ways  GuadeloupeFrench-accented Guadeloupe offers relaxed islands for people who want to travel little, laze on the sand and enjoy especially good food. It packs great beaches and tropical nature in a small package.
Wildlife, beaches and rum: Embracing Guadeloupe's rustic charm HaitiHaiti offers the opposite of a care-free holiday. Challenges abound on this island that has suffered through natural disasters, but if you want to explore a rich culture that is the region's most African, Haiti is for you. Recent improvements at the Cap-Haïtien airport include flights from Miami now serving Haiti's north coast.
10 things to know about visiting Haiti MartiniqueThe most Gallic corner of the Caribbean has a sprawling main town of Fort-de-France and an untouristy focus. Far-flung beaches reward daytrippers.
Martinique's top-shelf rum scene St KittsPaired with Nevis, St Kitts has big hotels and booming condo developments. It's just large enough for a fun daytrip around the island that includes the vast pirate-era Brimstone Hill Fortress.
 Saint LuciaBeaches, beautiful resorts, and lushly forested hills are the troika of lures on this island long popular with the French and honeymooners of all tongues. Activities abound in and out of the water.
Top 10 experiences in St Lucia St Vincent & the GrenadinesCatching rides on fishing boats between beach-ringed islands is the classic Grenadine experience (or charter your own boat). The main island, St Vincent, is mostly rainforest while little idyllic Bequia is the star of the oh-so-mellow Grenadines.
Guide to the Grenadines: an island for every traveler TrinidadOvershadowing neighboring Tobago, Trinidad is a big, pulsing Caribbean island that revels in Creole culture and boasts a party scene that peaks during one of the world's great Carnival celebrations.
10 reasons why you should visit Port of Spain TobagoThe pint-sized companion to Trinidad boasts everything the larger island lacks: pristine nature, resorts worth the trip and fun in and out of the water.
 Turks & CaicosTurks & Caicos consists of little islands with perfect beaches and the requisite turquoise waters beg for discovery. Nowhere here is very busy, even the world-class dive sites.
Discovering the history and culture of Turks & Caicos You might also like:Here are the new rules for visiting the Caribbean This article was originally published in March 2015 and updated October 2020 |
