The past year has changed a lot about the travel industry. What hasn’t changed is the world’s love affair with the Caribbean — and while intrepid travelers have already been returning to the region’s shores, demand (and arrival numbers) are expected to surge this year. The Caribbean took a calculated risk in reopening last summer, and the region has largely shown that tourism re-openings, even amid the current challenges, can be done so safely with the adequate protocols. The latest edition of the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit takes you on a whirlwind journey across the entire Caribbean Basin, from places far off the travel radar to some well-known destinations currently undergoing makeovers. So if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean in 2021, this is where you should start. Here are our favorite Caribbean islands for 2021.

Bonaire You’ll fall in love. Sure, Bonaire was once just marine destination, a place reserved for adventurers with fins or sails. But the last decade has seen this Dutch Caribbean gem truly come into its own, with one of the region’s great gastronomic scenes (including the number one restaurant in the Caribbean, Brass Boer), a growing collection of exceptional hotels like the Harbour Village and the Delfins Beach Resort and an invigorating, breezy personality that will immediately tug on your heartstrings.