It’s a question we get asked very often. “Which Caribbean island has the best beaches?” Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. That’s because it’s hard to go to any island in the Caribbean and not find a world-class beach. But if you’re looking for a pure beach trip, some islands really are in a class by themselves. These are the islands with multitudes of great beaches, with one marvelous beach after another — the ones where the sand is just right, where the beaches are easy to get to and easy on the eyes, where there are vibrant beach bars and beautiful beach hotels to match. These are the Caribbean’s best beach destinations.
Anguilla
When it comes to Caribbean beach destinations, Anguilla is right at the top. With 33 superb beaches on a tiny, easy to navigate island, it’s the best bet for a pure beach getaway. Of course, choosing which beach is best is rather difficult, from Rendezvous Bay to Maundays Bay to Shoal Bay, among others — but figuring it out is the best part of the trip.
The Turks and Caicos Islands
This archipelago full of long, flat islands has the perfect topography for a stellar beach destination. It all begins with the 12-mile-long Grace Bay Beach, one of the world’s best beaches, and extends beyond the main island of Providenciales, too, from North Bay on Salt Cay to Bambarra Beach on Middle Caicos.
The Bahamas
Where do we begin? This 700-island archipelago is blessed with that perfect cocktail of sugar-white sand, turquoise seas and calm surf, from the unmatched sands of the Exumas to the Abacos. And while some many not realize it, Nassau and Paradise Island are blessed with dozens of terrific beaches, many of which are very quiet, too, particularly on the north coast of Nassau past Cable Beach.
Aruba
Aruba’s top beaches are concentrated on the leeward side of the Dutch Caribbean island; they’re all classic white sand, and while Aruba is very arid, these beaches have offshore breezes which make the water very flat and enjoyable, from the famous Palm Beach and Eagle Beach to Fisherman’s Huts.
The British Virgin Islands
The best way to see the British Virgin Islands is by boat — but that’s also the way to find some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, most of the talcum-powder-white sand and oh-so-still water, from Jost Van Dyke’s White Bay to Tortola’s Long Bay and Cane Garden Bay to just about every beach on Anegada, to name a few. (That’s without mentioning Little Dix Bay, which just might be the best hotel beach in the whole region).
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda reports a total of 365 beaches — a number we’d rather not debate. What it means is that there are more beaches here than you can find on any one trip, many of them tucked away in tiny coves and protected areas. Antigua has some top-level beaches like Valley Church, Ffryes Bay and Dickenson Bay, and Barbuda is basically one big beach masquerading as an island.
St Martin/St Maarten
There are so many great beaches here, but what stands out about this twin-country island is the versatility of its beaches: some, like Long Bay, are quiet and spectacular; others, like Pinel Island (above), are beach bar paradise; others, like Orient Bay, are energetic and always bustling; there are even nude beaches. To put it simply, there’s a beach for every purpose.
Barbados
It’s one of the region’s under-the-radar beach destinations: that is to say, some people don’t realize quite how beautiful (and numerous) Barbados’ beaches are. And the island has its own share of versatile beaches, from what might be the Caribbean’s surfing capital, Bathsheba Beach, to a host of often empty beaches like Foul Bay to some of the Platinum Coast’s wonderful beaches like Mullins Bay.
Saint Barth
This is the most expensive sand in the whole Caribbean — but it’s worth the price. The French Caribbean jewel has a collection of 14 terrific patches of sand, from Gouverneur to Colombier to Flamands. That means you can do a different beach every day for two weeks.
The Dominican Republic
It all begins with Punta Cana’s Bavaro Beach, an almost impossibly long, impossibly white stretch of beach on the country’s eastern tip, but the beach product in the DR extends to three sides, from bustling beaches like Boca Chica near Santo Domingo to the literally hundreds of beaches on the Samana peninsula.
St John
This US Virgin Island is a beach destination in its own right. While its famous Trunk Bay gets most of the (deserved) acclaim, its other well-preserved stretches of paradise are equally picturesque, from Maho Bay (above) to Cinnamon Bay.
The Cayman Islands
The superstar here is Seven Mile Beach, one of the best beaches in the universe, and one that’s worth the trip here all on its own. (Seven Mile also has what must be the region’s hottest sand and water, too). But Cayman’s beach product goes further, from Rum Point and Cayman Kai on the mainland to a portfolio of sandy stretches on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, too.
Cancun and the Riviera Maya
When it comes to Mexico’s Caribbean coast, think broad, white-sand beaches with amazing, turquoise, frothy water. And while you can find them all up and down the coast, for the pinnacle head to Tulum — a town whose entire soul is devoted to the beach.