They’re party beaches. They’re cool beaches. They’re sexy beaches.
Some beaches just have that certain extra level of hip, whether it’s the nightlife, the food, the lounging or the crowd. It all adds up to make a stretch of sand an “in” destination.
The Caribbean’s hippest beaches have the energy, the people and the positioning, and they’re scattered across the region, from the Bahamas to the southern Caribbean, from St Martin to Aruba.
Here are our picks for the hippest beaches right now in the Caribbean.
Le Carbet, Martinique Home to the island’s destination beach bar, this village near Saint Pierre has become the hippest place on the island, with a growing portfolio of beach shacks and gourmet beach bars, and an anything-goes, toes in the sand vibe that makes it oh so hard to leave. It’s the new destination beach in the Caribbean.
Nikki Beach in St Jean.
St Jean, St Barth It doesn’t get any hipper than St Barth, and St Jean remains the crown jewel of the island’s beaches, the place to see and be seen, the place for rose afternoons and never-ending lunches, whether you’re at Pearl Beach or Nikki Beach.
The Papagayo hotel in Curacao on Jan Thiel Beach.
Jan Thiel Beach, Curaçao This beautiful stretch on the southern shore of Curacao is an energetic hive of activity, with a host of tucked-away corners, all offering different kinds of beach experiences, from the pool-like atmosphere at Papagayo to a thriving beach bar scene.
Harbour Island is best known for its spectacular Pink Sand Beach.
Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island The Bahamas’ capital of cool, this tiny, chic hotspot off the coast of North Eleuthera has a party piece: the spectacular Pink Sand Beach, dotted with ultra-luxe hotels and a crowd that’s so chic it’s practically the Hamptons of the Caribbean.
Pinel Island.
Pinel Island, St Martin It’s Ibiza meets the French Caribbean at this relaunched beach destination off the coast of Cul-de-Sac on the French side of St Martin. There are two beach bars on this tiny cay, Yellow Beach and the wonderful Karibuni, all offering fresh seafood, perfect cocktails and all-day beach lounging.
Cabarete, Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic’s capital of cool is a bustling, active destination, made cool by the waves of kitesurfers who have long come here for the perfect conditions. There are beach bars, great nightlife and a truly cosmopolitan crowd.
Bathsheba, Barbados whether you want to surf or just eat spectacular flying fish with a Banks, Bathsheba is the island’s capital of authentic, laid back cool, with a warm, friendly community of people who appreciate the mystical beauty of this place.
Mambo Beach, Curaçao It’s a real feat, this beach, with everything from its own pool to a Starbucks. What it all means is this beach is a full-service destination, an always-hopping, always-energetic place that’s the perfect way to spend a day in Curacao.
Boca Grandi, Aruba Far off the island’s beaten path, this wide, exclusive, magnificently beautiful beach is popular with the surfing crowd, with one terrific beach bar, Tortuga, and the kind of undiscovered vibe that makes a place effortlessly cool.
Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico’s tourism sector has made an admirable comeback – and when it comes to great beaches in San Juan, Isla Verde remains the king. It’s a Rio-meets-the-Caribbean ambience, with a vibrant community of beach goers and a resort feel no matter where you’re sitting.