Some are in far- off, remote islands that are secrets unto themselves. Others are in well-traveled destinations but still a bit off the beaten path. Some, well, require a little extra digging.
But isn’t that what traveling to the Caribbean is all about?
Here are some hidden beaches to discover for yourself in the Caribbean.
Half Moon Beach, Jamaica It’s not the Half Moon you know. Unlike the luxury resort with which it shares its name, this one is set just outside Negril, set through a grove of trees off the highway. If you come here, you might be the only visitor all day; if you’re lucky, you can catch a tiny water taxi to the offshore Calico Jack’s, a beach bar that’s open, well, when it’s open. It’s a wonderful little oasis in the heart of Jamaica’s most popular tourism corridor.
Honeymoon Beach, St John If you didn’t swim in from a boat, you might never know it’s here. Sure, you probably know famous stretches of sand like Trunk and Maho. But this is actually home to the best beach bar in St John, set on a stunning beach. But because it’s set on the grounds of the former Caneel Bay resort, the only way to get in is to enter the hotel property and take a shuttle. Or swim in, of course. When you see the crowd you’ll realize it’s no secret. But it sure is hidden.
White Bay, Exuma, The Bahamas Is it a beach or a sandbar? When you make it out here, it won’t even matter. Because the place is simply magical. You’ll need to hire a bone fishing charter, but when you get here, there’s no need for a pole. It’s a full-fledged wonder, a serene corner of shallow water in the middle of the Atlantic. Spend a few hours and you’ll have trouble remembering which blue is the sky and which one is the water.
Vessup Beach, St Thomas While St Thomas doesn’t lack for spectacular beaches (Lindquist and Magens naturally come to mind immediately), it’s also home to some lovely little tucked-away spots, the ones that even most locals don’t quite know about. One favorite is Vessup, hidden away in Red Hook, a short stroll from the Ritz-Carlton but just hard enough to access that you’ll often have it all to yourself.
Ilet du Gosier, Guadeloupe Thanks to a nearly complete lack of marketing to American visitors, Guadeloupe is itself still largely a secret — but those who have been know it to be one of the more fascinating, sophisticated and truly magnificent places to visit in the Caribbean. Unsurprisingly, it’s also filled with hidden gems, none better than this tiny islet off the coast of Gosier, one of Guadeloupe’s more popular beach towns. Pay a tip to a fisherman and he’ll take you out to this sliver of white sand beach, the perfect place for an afternoon ti’ punch.
Lighthouse Beach, Eleuthera, The Bahamas Aficionados of the Out Islands may know this beach well, but it’s still largely an unknown for much of the traveling public. Set at the far southern corner of Eleuthera, it’s accessed via a long, rocky, uncomfortable road (a four-by-four is recommended). And to add to the secrecy, when you get to what you think is Lighthouse Beach, you’ll need to keep on walking — that’s just the decoy. Take another five-minute stroll around the corner and you’ll discover one of the most beautiful beaches in The Bahamas.
Love Beach, Nassau Nassau already has two of the most beautiful, most popular beaches in the Caribbean: Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island and Cable Beach on New Providence — along with a number of other scenic, well-traveled beaches in the two-island destination. But head a little bit past Cable Beach, close to the airport, and you’ll find Love Beach, a wonderful little stretch of sand that’s also home to some terrific snorkeling.