There are so many different experiences available in the Caribbean: the classic beach getaway; the rainforest retreat; the urban adventure; the castaway island escape, and everything in between.
If you’re looking for something different, though, it’s time to think about a trip to one of the Caribbean’s small towns.
These places have a bit of everything – food, nightlife, culture and a unique portal to experience authentic island living.
Here are five wonderful Caribbean towns to think about.
St. Pierre, Martinique
Dubbed the “Caribbean Pompeii,” this was once the Paris of the Caribbean until a 1902 volcano utterly destroyed the area. Now, it’s a charming, classic French-Caribbean town, with great food, bakeries, hiking, historical ruins and even a rum distillery right on the volcano.
Cabarete, Dominican Republic
While it’s grown in recent years, this town in the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata province remains the Caribbean’s ultimate surf town, with cosmopolitan cafes, beach bars, high-level restaurants and a breezy, carefree vibe.
Deshaies, Guadeloupe
You may know it as the town of St. Honore on the fictional island of Saint Marie on the BBC TV show Death in Paradise. And you’ll be happy to know it’s just as delightful in real life. One of the Caribbean’s up-and-coming culinary capitals, there are a host of excellent restaurants right on the beach, beautiful scenery and some terrific hillside hotels like the Tendacayou Eco-Lodge.
Grand Case, St. Martin
If you read CJ, you’ll find this town often in these pages — because it’s a terrific destination. We call it the culinary capital of the Caribbean, thanks to a concentration of world-class restaurants unrivaled in the Caribbean, but it’s so much more from great beach bars to shopping. It’s the kind of place that will tug at your heart and never let go.
Coral Bay, St. John
It’s funky, eclectic, artsy and a bit out there. This is Coral Bay, and you might say no part of St. John better exemplifies the island than this. There’s everything from the legendary Skinny Legs Bar and Grill to a historic church. You simply won’t want to leave.
— CJ