These 14 Caribbean Resorts Are Perfect for Your Next Snorkeling Vacation
The Caribbean looks completely different once you slip beneath the surface.
A few kicks from the beach can bring you face to face with sea turtles gliding through seagrass, coral formations buzzing with tropical fish and shipwrecks slowly becoming part of the reef. Some islands even have underwater sculpture parks, blue holes and protected marine reserves that feel like another world entirely.
If snorkeling is the reason you’re planning your vacation, choosing the right hotel can make all the difference. The best resorts don’t just hand you a mask and fins. They put remarkable reefs within swimming distance, have dedicated marine teams and boats waiting at the dock, and make it easy to spend every day discovering somewhere new beneath the water.
From the reef-filled waters off Cape Eleuthera to the barrier reef at Andros, the shipwrecks of Bimini and the marine parks of Bonaire, Curaçao and Saint Lucia, these are the Caribbean hotels where snorkeling is part of the experience from the moment you arrive.
At Anse Chastanet, the resort’s celebrated house reef begins about 30 feet from the beach, putting one of Saint Lucia’s best underwater experiences just a short swim from shore.
More than 150 species of marine life have been recorded here, from colorful reef fish to sea turtles gliding through healthy coral formations. Complimentary snorkeling equipment is available through the resort’s scuba center, and guided boat excursions take you to additional reefs around Soufrière.
If you’re looking for a hotel where you can spend hours in the water without ever straying far from your room, this remains one of the Caribbean’s classic snorkeling escapes.
