It all begins with the beach. Sure, we love the food, the hotels and the culture in the Caribbean. But every journey starts with inspiration, and it always comes from that daydream of an afternoon spent on a beautiful shoreline, a moment of waves and palms and perfect sand.
And while the Caribbean is unquestionably home to the most beautiful collection of beaches anywhere on earth, it’s also a remarkably diverse one, ranging from tiny sandbars to miles-long stretches of coastline, from those easily accessed to beaches very much off the beaten path.
Our list of the best Caribbean beaches to visit in 2019 celebrates that diversity, from signature Caribbean beaches that are a must for any Caribbean aficionado to beaches that remain largely undiscovered by travelers to beaches that are just plain fun.
Here are the best Caribbean beaches to visit in 2019. What’s your favorite beach? Tell us in the comments section.
Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas The best beach in the Caribbean for 2019 is truly an ultimate stretch of sand in the Caribbean. It’s nearly four miles long, with perfectly soft, sugary, almost blindingly white sand, a beach that just seems to go on and on and on. There’s a reason travelers make the journey to the heart of Abaco to come here — it’s a true bucket-list destination.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman This is no hidden away beach, to be sure. But it’s also a perfect one. The water is crystal clear, the sand is soft and it’s the sort of beach you can spend days on without blinking an eye. (Oh, and it’s home to two of the best hotels in the Caribbean).
Old Bight Beach, Cat Island, Bahamas Cat Island is very much an under-the-radar destination (although it’s getting easier to get there). But travelers who journey here will find an impressive collection of beaches, none more so than the totally untouched, pristine Old Bight Beach — one that’s miles long with, often, not a single person on it.
White Bay.
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands The beach may be home to the ultimate beach bar in the Caribbean, the Soggy Dollar, but it’s also a sparkling stretch of sand in its own right, with water so calm you’ll feel like you’re in a Painkiller-filled swimming pool.
Bottom Bay, Barbados The scenery is stunning at this beach on the southeastern coast of Barbados, filled with endless palm trees and a striking set of coral cliffs. Just make sure you bring your own Mount Gay XO.
Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, British Virgin Islands Anegada has long been a favorite of beach (and lobster) lovers, and this white-sand stunner on the northwest coast of the island is its most spectacular stretch (and also home to a world-class beach bar of the same name).
The pool-style beach at Papagayo.
Jan Thiel Beach, Curaçao It’s hard to pick when an island has so many sparkling beaches, but we love Jan Thiel for its combination of gorgeous scenery and pulsing energy. There’s something here for everyone, from the pool-style beach access at Papagayo to a host of terrific beach lounges.
Valley Church beach in Antigua.
Valley Church Beach, Antigua When you have 365 beaches in a single destination, it’s never easy to choose. But we’ve always been smitten with this stretch that marries green hills, white sand and some of the most brilliant turquoise water you will ever lay eyes upon.
17 Mile Beach, Barbuda Yes, the island of Barbuda is quietly making a comeback, but what hasn’t changed is its unparalleled beach offering, highlighted by this overwhelmingly picturesque (and untouched) 17-mile-long stretch of sand, best known right now as the home of the Barbuda Belle hotel.
Lochabar Beach.
Lochabar Beach, Long Island, Bahamas Far off in the Out Islands of The Bahamas is this magnificent coastline on Long Island, which isn’t just a beautiful beach — it comes with its own blue hole, too.
Le Diamant, Martinique Set in a place we’ve called the next great beach town in the Caribbean, this long stretch of golden sand teems with palm trees, ti’ punches and all-day parties. And, oh yeah, the perfect view of Martinique’s signature stone: the Diamond Rock.
The Karibuni beach bar on Pinel.
Pinel Island, St Martin What if you found a picture-perfect little island that had nothing on it but beach bars? That’s Pinel, the jewel of St Martin, a sand-filled preserve that just so happens to have two of the Caribbean’s greatest beach clubs on it. Come here in the morning and see if you can leave in the afternoon. We dare you.
Cockleshell Bay, St Kitts The southeastern peninsula of St Kitts is the island’s crown jewel, an untouched, green-hilled destination that also has some beautiful beaches. Our favorite is Cockleshell Bay, which marries spectacular scenery with an unmatched collection of great beach bars.
Long Bay, Turks and Caicos Sure, you know Grace Bay. But just a short drive away on the other side of Providenciales is this wonderful beach, whose party piece is its extremely shallow depth, which means you can walk (or ride horses) for hundreds of feet. At night, the moonscape on the still water is a true sight to see.
Anse de Grande Saline, St Barth Tiny St Barth has a surfeit of great beaches, but none match the raw, intense power of Saline, accessed through a small sandy path at the edge of a salt pond.
Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos No, you can’t have a list of best beaches in the Caribbean without Turks and Caicos’ signature beach. It’s a truly complete beach.
Pink Sand Beach, from above.
Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas When you make your way down a dirt path through the trees, you never imagine you’ll find a beach like this. It’s almost indescribably beautiful stretch of endless, wide beach — and yes, the sand is really pink.
Grand Anse Beach.
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada There’s always something happening on Grenada’s flagship beach, whether you’re just here to lime or want to spend the afternoon bobbing in the tranquil waters.
Maho Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands Trunk Bay is no slouch, but we’re partial to Maho, a less-trafficked stretch of postcard-worthy sand and water that’s the essence of what makes St John unique.
Ilet du Gosier, Guadeloupe This tiny cay off the coast of Guadeloupe’s main tourist town, Gosier, is home to a lighthouse, a little beach bar and perfect days.
Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla It’s hard to pick what’s more beautiful here, the talcum-white sand or the views of neighboring St Martin. But you don’t have to choose — you just have to find a chair and count the rum punches. (With a stop at the SunShine Shack, of course)
Nikki Beach in St Jean.
St Jean, St Barth If you take a break from people watching you’ll find a truly jaw-dropping beach, whose tranquil energy is only ever interrupted by the always-romantic sound of a prop plane arriving.
Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica It’s funky, it’s bohemian, it’s a party. Jamaica’s ultimate beach is bold, beautiful and bustling, filled with beach shacks, charming little hotels and, well, lost of personality.
Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia Our favorite beach in Saint Lucia is this golden-sand coastline near always-energetic Rodney Bay, popular with locals and travelers, best known as the home of the Bay Gardens resort complex.
Protestant Cay in St Croix.
Protestant Cay, St Croix Sure, the US Virgin Islands teems with marvelous beaches. But our favorite right now is the tiny one on Protestant Cay, just off the harbor in downtown Christiansted. The sand and water are perfect and calm, and the views of the charming historic town are hard to beat.