It isn’t always easy to find a great beach town in the Caribbean. That’s because many of the best beaches are free of people and development and many great towns are more strategically placed on harbors or the like. But there are some outstanding beach towns in the Caribbean if you look hard enough: places that marry beautiful sand with lively, energetic, culturally rich towns. These are the Best Caribbean Beach Towns.
Cabarete, Dominican Republic
While it’s famous for kitesurfing and all manner of watersports, Cabarete is a hip, cosmopolitan place with a diverse population of both locals and expats from around the globe. Whether you’re looking for great restaurants, booming nightlife or bohemian cafes, it’s all right here. (Above: Cabarete’s Villa Taina hotel).
Grand Case, St Martin
This isn’t just a great beach town: it’s the culinary capital of the Caribbean. And while the food is the biggest story, it’s also home to a rather good, soft beach that’s a draw for boaters from around the world. You can take a leisurely stroll down Grand Case Boulevard, have a beachside cocktail at Calmos Cafe or shop to your heart’s content at a host of fashion boutiques.
Negril, Jamaica
Is this the coolest place in Jamaica? Well, it’s certainly the country’s best beach town, a colorful, bustling and sometimes crazy place that sits right on one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, Seven Mile Beach. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful boutique hotel like Rockhouse or just looking for a slice of the best of Jamaican hospitality, Negril is for you.
Le Carbet, Martinique
The beach bar called Le Petibonum put this town on the northwestern coast of Martinique on the tourism map, and it hasn’t looked back, drawing the development of more great places to eat, shop and spend the day. A popular villa destination, it’s also home to one of the world’s top rum distilleries, the artisanal Neisson. Rum, beach, food. What else do you need?
Tulum, Mexico
You simply couldn’t make a list of the Best Caribbean Beach Towns without including Tulum, arguably the Caribbean’s hippest destination right now. Marrying Mayan culture with European chic and a spectacular beach, Tulum is developing fast, but it’s still got all the perfect elements of a great beach town, from bungalow hotels (like Nueva Vida de Ramiro, above) to world-class eateries.
Deshaies, Guadeloupe
You may know it as the fictional Honore from the BBC series Death in Paradise, but Deshaies, Guadeloupe is real — and it’s spectacular. This is a prototypical French Caribbean fishing town, but it’s also got one of the Caribbean’s top culinary scenes, with restaurant after restaurant serving inspired, creative French-Caribbean fusion cuisine. Just make sure you spend a day sipping the superb Cafe au Lait at the seaside restaurant L’Amer.
Rincón, Puerto Rico
This may not be the Puerto Rico you’re familiar with. This is a surfer town, pure and simple, but it’s become a magnet for active retirees, beach seekers and young people in recent years, all drawn to a special kind of energy. Like any great beach town, Rincon is ultra-laid back, but it’s also delightfully egalitarian, with all kinds of accommodations, culinary options and attractions for every kind of traveler.
Cruz Bay, St John
It’s not big, but it’s wonderful. St John’s main port of entry is a funky, flavorful little village with a small but soft and clear beach and a gathering of great little bars, cafes and shops. St John isn’t like many other Caribbean islands, and Cruz Bay is a wonderful introduction to the place.
Philipsburg, St Maarten
Yes, it’s a cruise destination, but Philipsburg is a legitimately fun place to be. Whether you’re lounging on Great Bay Beach, shopping on Front Street or having a beachside drink at the Holland House, there is a remarkable amount of stuff to do here for a small Caribbean town.
Oranjestad, Aruba
It isn’t known for its beach, but Aruba’s waterfront capital is rapidly becoming one of the Caribbean’s coolest cities, with a wave of new restaurants, shops and an increasingly cosmopolitan air. That’s in large part to a push to redevelop old downtown buildings that has resulted in new eateries like Wilhelmina. Even better? It’s an eco-friendly town, too.