Explore the Caribbean

Three "off the beaten path" Caribbean Destinations

Can you guess the most popular Caribbean destinations U.S. travelers?

If you chose: the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), you'd be right. In fact, during some years, eight of every 10 Americans vacationing in the Caribbean limit their visits to these destinations!

However, if you’ve already visited these spots, why not explore other corners of the Caribbean. Here’s a short list of ”off the beaten path” Caribbean destinations that you should consider:

• Anguilla: This British territory boasts more than 30 pristine white-sand beaches. You’ll find a much slower, more relaxed pace on this island – the perfect choice for couples trying to escape or busy travelers planning to decompress away from the office. Anguilla offers the extremes in terms of lodging: a handful of ultra-luxury resorts, plus several very basic inns and lodges. Island activities range from diving along Anguilla’s famous coral reefs (it was the first Caribbean destination to enlarge its natural reef system artificially) to playing a round on the 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course.
• Barbados: This easternmost island in the Caribbean offers more nightlife and more tourist activities than Anguilla, but it still retains its West Indies hospitality. The southern and western coasts offer the fancier resorts, while the eastern coast is home to some of the most visited attractions in Barbados (including the Andromeda Botanical Garden and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve). Barbados offers the Caribbean’s best conditions for windsurfing, as well as other water sports like diving. Your clients can even enjoy afternoon tea and watch a cricket match on this island that the locals sometimes call “Little England.”
• Nevis: This tropical paradise – which actually forms an independent nation with its sister isle St. Kitts – makes the perfect off-the-beaten-path choice if you're seeking a romantic getaway. It’s especially popular for couples planning a Caribbean wedding or vow renewal ceremony. You can spend the rest of your time exploring the streets of Charlestown (lined with hip-roofed buildings dating back to the colonial era) and nearby sugar plantations. Guests seeking more active pursuits can hike in the rain forest or make the day-long climb to the top of Nevis Peak.

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Anguilla

Leave the crowds behind. There’s plenty of room to stretch out on Anguilla’s expansive beaches, soft as powder and nearly as white. This former British colony east of Puerto Rico treats visitors royally: You’ll find three of the Caribbean’s most exclusive resorts here, plus cuisine to gratify gourmets.

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Antigua and Barbuda

Warm waters, gentle currents, and superb undersea visibility in Antigua’s coral reefs make it a magnet for swimmers and sailors, snorkelers and scuba divers. English Harbour, where Admiral Nelson led the British Navy in 1784, and the restored Nelson's Dockyard National Park, are popular attractions.

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Aruba

Combining the charm of a traditional Dutch village with the energy of Latin America, Aruba is a warm and welcoming island. Picturesque, palm-fringed beaches along the southwestern coastline, shipwreck diving, snorkeling, casinos, golf, historic gold mines, and shopping are among Aruba’s highlights.

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Bahamas

(Exuma, Harbour Island, Nassau, Paradise Island)

Sunny beaches ring this 700-island nation. From lively Nassau/Paradise Island, bustling with elegant resorts, glitzy casinos, duty-free shopping, activities for kids, and sports of all kinds, to the quiet and remote Out Islands, the Bahamas are among the Caribbean’s most popular vacation destinations.

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Barbados

Expect balmy weather, beautiful beaches, and a pronounced British accent in Barbados, home to some of the Caribbean’s poshest resorts. Its varied landscape, well worth exploring, includes a wildlife preserve, botanical gardens, the craggy east coast, and shopper-friendly Bridgetown, the capital.

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Bermuda

It’s always tee time on Bermuda, with more golf courses per square mile than any other country. Well-manicured, well-heeled, and well-mannered, this British territory 600 miles off the coast of North Carolina also appeals to sophisticated visitors who like sun, swimming, and sailing in a safe haven.

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British Virgin Islands

(Tortola, Peter Island, Virgin Gorda)

Sixty small, emerald-hued islands surrounded by the topaz-blue Caribbean comprise the British Virgin Islands. A favorite destination of the yachting crowd, the BVI's flawless beaches are virtually deserted during the day, yet tiny crowds gather nightly for rum and relaxation at waterfront bars.

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Cayman Islands

(Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)

Both beginners and experienced scuba divers agree: Grand Cayman’s coral reefs offer some of world’s best locales for viewing underwater life and sunken ships. In total, the Cayman Islands contain some 250 dive sites. Clear, shallow waters off Seven Mile Beach are also ideal for snorkeling.

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Curacao

(Willemstad)

With dozens of white sand beaches and stunning coral reefs, Curaçao is ideal for sun worshipers and divers in search of tropical fish and marine life. Balmy evenings and casino action provide the perfect conditions for an exciting nightlife, and year-round sunshine and shopping complete the picture.

Dominican Republic

(Punta Cana)

Whether your passion is golf, tennis, history, spas, horseback riding on the beach or through sugar cane fields; snorkeling, or even mountain climbing, you can pursue it here. And that’s not all: Baseball fans can catch the pros practicing from October to January, and polo season lasts till June.

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Jamaica

(Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios)

The Caribbean’s most beautiful island according to some, Jamaica has sugar sand beaches, rivers, waterfalls, and jungle-like Blue Mountains that encourage endless outdoor adventures. Golf, hike, ride horses, snorkel, scuba dive, bird watch, or simply soak up the sun, with a rum drink at hand.

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Puerto Rico

(San Juan, Vieques)

There’s so much to do here—sightseeing in Old San Juan, golf, dining, shopping, gambling—that vacationers momentarily forget Puerto Rico’s 272 miles of Caribbean coastline and great beaches. This U.S. commonwealth is easy to reach and passports are not required of U.S. citizens.

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St. Barts

(St. Barthelemy, Gustavia)

Once the discreet hideaway of Rothschilds and Rockefellers, St. Barts today is a favorite haunt of celebrity rockers, actors, and other high-profile types from December through April. French in attitude and accent, the island offers 14 uncrowded, ultra-clean beaches where topless bathing is populaire.

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St. Kitts & Nevis

Quiet and unspoiled, these tiny islands have an annual temperature of 79 degrees and low humidity. Constant tradewinds make them a favorite destination for windsurfers. Nature lovers, beach-goers, golfers, scuba divers, deep-sea anglers, climbers, and casino fans can also find plenty to do here.

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St. Lucia

Emerald isle of the Caribbean, St. Lucia is home to the verdant Piton Mountains, a tropical rainforest, a waterfall that changes colors, and a drive-in volcano. In addition to these natural attractions, the island beckons visitors to beaches, reefs, markets, and the annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival.

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St. Martin / St. Maarten

More than 350 years have passed since France and the Netherlands agreed to co-exist on this 37-square-mile island. The southern half (Sint Maarten) belongs to the Dutch, and is more touristy than the Gallic side. Crossing the border between the two is effortless, and both boast fine beaches.

St. Vincent & The Grenadines

(Palm Island, Canouan, Mustique)

Sailors aren’t the only ones who set course for Grenada and the Grenadines in the former British Windward Islands. Turquoise coves formed by jagged coastlines have secluded beaches that delight swimmers and snorkelers. Tropical nature reserves offer sanctuary to hikers, birdwatchers, and wildlife.

Turks & Caicos

(Providenciales)

Comprised of some 40 small islands, Turks and Caicos attract scuba divers, snorkelers, swimmers, and sportsfishing enthusiasts. The 200-mile-long coral reef – the world’s third largest—draws visitors to the archipelago’s magnificent Caribbean underwater world, while top-of-the-line hotels pamper them on land.

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U.S. Virgin Islands

(St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas)

A superlative shopping destination, the USVI also boasts two of the ten top beaches in the United States, according to a recent survey. Vacationers can explore hidden coves, hike through tropical forests, visit historic towns with well-preserved architecture, and play on championship golf courses.