The Caribbean’s Most Stunning Black Sand Beaches

You walk along one beach and feel like you’ve stumbled onto a movie set. On another, you sip ti’ punch in the shadow of a volcano. On another one, you’re surrounded by imposing cliffs. 

No, these aren’t the beaches you first think of when you think of the Caribbean, where sugary, powdery coastlines are all the rage.

They’re exotic, mysterious reminders of the Caribbean’s volcanic past (and some of its volcanic present).

The region’s black-sand beaches are full of their own unique charms: rich, dynamic, vibrant, often rimmed by jungle. They’re a different kind of Caribbean beach, sometimes even more beautiful.

Here are the best black-sand beaches in the Caribbean.

Le Carbet, Martinique It’s hard to find a more beautiful beach than this one, regardless of the sand. Set on the calm northern-Caribbean coast of Martinique, it just so happens to anchor one of our favorite beach towns in the Caribbean, one that’s also home to the world-renowned Le Petibonum beach bar. 

Number One Beach, Dominica You might recognize this beach from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It’s a bit of a trek to make your way down here, but when you do, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the screen. It’s exotic, it’s romantic, it’s endless. Just a breathtaking stretch of sand. 

Black Point Beach, St Vincent Much of St Vincent remains undiscovered for even the most frequent Caribbean travelers. That means you’re missing out on some seriously stunning scenery, including the stretch of sand here on the rougher eastern coastline of the “mainland.” 

Le Diamant, Martinique The most famous thing about this beach is, well, right off the coast. The so-called “Diamond Rock,” the rock formation that was actually commissioned by the British Royal Navy in the early 19th century for its strategic position. This is a very long stretch of beach on the southern tip of Martinique, rimmed by a highway of palm trees just across from the lively, foodie-friendly town with the same name. 

Anse Noire, Martinique It takes about 10 minutes to complete the walkway down to this beach, but when you do, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled on one of the Caribbean’s greatest secrets. Rimmed by cliffs, this is a jaw-dropping setting, one that includes a, let’s say, castaway-style hotel named after Robinson Crusoe. Just a cool place, period. 

Pump Bay, St Kitts It’s close to the legendary Brimstone Hill fortress, but this is beach is worth the trip, if only to visit one of the best-named beach bars in the world: Rum Dawg, a place that, well, you can’t help but like. The beach itself is stunning, a long edge of black sand that’s always uncrowded. 

Rosalie Bay Beach, Dominica The Rosalie Bay Resort is one of our favorite eco-hotels in the whole region, and it’s a raw, visceral, emotive place. There’s an energy here; it almost feels like you’ve been transported to the Jurassic period, immersed in powerful nature. Of course, that’s really the story of the whole island ( in fairness, Dominica has so many beautiful black sand beaches it could have its own list).