We never get tired of saying it — the Caribbean is a wonderful summer destination. While the region’s allure as an escape from wintry climes never ceases, the summer months are a quieter, even more relaxing time to visit the region. Because the Caribbean is a year-round destination — period.
So we decided to put together of destinations to check out over the next few months, by specific beaches — not islands.
Because when you’re bobbing around in the waves on a perfect Caribbean beach, does it matter what month it is?
Here are 15 favorites to try now, from tiny cays to undiscovered coastlines to full-service party beaches.
Valley Church beach in Antigua.
Valley Church, Antigua There’s something almost uncannily intoxicating about the peculiar shade of blue of the water on Valley Church Beach. The water is calm, the sand is white and wide, and, well, you get the picture. The best part? There are 364 other beaches to try in Antigua and Barbuda if you ever want to diversify. It’s what makes Antigua such a remarkable beach destination.
Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, British Virgin Islands When it comes to beaches, the island of Anegada in the British Virgin Islands is hard to beat, and this stretch of impossibly white sand just might be its crown jewel. That’s without mentioning the Cow Wreck Beach Bar, one of our favorites in the region.
Eagle Beach, Aruba Beaches just don’t seem to get any wider than this, particularly the stretch around the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. Aruba’s beaches are a wonderful combination of relaxing and hip, and the summer months even offer an extra breeze to cool down.
Treasure Beach, Abaco, Bahamas You could do a list of best beaches that were only in the Out Islands in the Bahamas, and you’d still run out of space to write. But Treasure Beach is right up there, thanks to the 3.5-mile-long beach that’s always ranked among the best in the world.
Old Bight Beach, Cat Island, Bahamas Another Out Islands superstar, this beach isn’t just spectacular — it’s almost always entirely empty. Set on the sparkling western edge of Cat Island, it’s the sort of beach created in daydreams — but very, very real. And you can even stay right on the sand, on the boutique Rollezz Villas Beach Resort.
Reduit Beach in Saint Lucia.
Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia It’s just about the best beach in all of Saint Lucia, a golden stretch of sand with ultra-calm water and some great little beach bars — along with the ultra-lovable Bay Gardens Beach Resort.
Cas Abao, Curaçao This Dutch Caribbean gem is filled with beaches, and just might be the region’s most underrated beach destination. But that’s starting to change, particularly as more and more travelers discover the raw, gorgeous western edge of the island, home to largely undiscovered beaches like Cas Abao.
Le Diamant, Martinique.
Le Diamant, Martinique The view here is so over-the-top that you could simply spend the day staring at the far-off Diamond Rock and never even look at the wonder of the sand you’re on. But that would be a crime, because Le Diamant, one of the region’s hottest beach towns, is a truly marvelous stretch.
Long Bay, Turks and Caicos While Grace Bay deservedly gets the lion’s share of the praise, it has a new competitor: the vast, shallow, calm and beautiful stretch called Long Bay, home to the chic new Shore Club resort.
Protestant Cay, home to the Hotel on the Cay.
Protestant Cay, St Croix We just love this tiny island off the coast of Christiansted in St Croix, US Virgin Islands, both for its castaway-style vibe and its utter proximity to the downtown of one of the Caribbean’s coolest towns.
Mambo Beach, Curaçao It’s amazing how Curacao’s Mambo Beach has turned into a destination in its own right, a full-service beach with beach bars, restaurants, shopping and even a Starbucks. You’ll instantly feel transported to a hip beach in Ibiza or the like.
Lochabar Beach, Long Island, Bahamas We like to call it Blue Hole Beach, but you can call it the beach of your dreams. This stretch of blindingly white sand is the essence of Out Islands charm — and it even has its own blue hole just offshore. It’s a rare combination.
Galley Bay, Antigua Some resorts are worth traveling to simply for a chance to stay on a world-class stretch of beach. And that’s certainly the case at Galley Bay in Antigua, a wonderful, untouched beach that also happens to be home to one of the Caribbean’s top resorts.
BBC Beach in Grenada.
BBC Beach, Grenada You may know the terrific Grand Anse, but making the extra trip to some of Grenada’s lesser known beaches is worth the journey. That’s nowhere more true than BBC Beach, home to a quirky, lovable beach bar and some stellar sand.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Water just doesn’t seem to get clearer — or warmer — than this endless stretch of beach in the Cayman Islands. It’s long been the pinnacle of the Caribbean beach experience — and it’s only getting better.