The Caribbean’s Most Beautiful Places You Simply Have To Visit

[jw5]

Tobago Forest Reserve, Trinidad and Tobago©Martin Lindsay/Alamy Stock Photo

The Tobago Forest Reserve has been a protected reserve since 1776, making it the oldest in the western hemisphere. It is one of the most beautiful too, home to 9,780 acres of tropical rainforest and more than 210 species of bird, including the Trinidad motmot and blue-backed manakin. The reserve covers two thirds of the island of Tobago, but Gilpin Trace is probably the best place to start exploring as most of the trails start from here. Or go with a guide and exponentially increase your chances of seeing the birds and other wildlife.

 

[jw5]

Trunk Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands©James Schwabel/Alamy Stock Photo

Trunk Bay in St John in the US Virgin Islands is another Caribbean beach that consistently tops ‘best of’ lists, and it’s not hard to see why. The sand is soft and white, the water is bedazzling blue and the beach is wide and deep enough that it never feels crowded. But its greatest asset can be found just offshore – a unique underwater snorkelling trail that leads you through a colourful reef, complete with informative signs about the marine life that makes its home here.

 

[jw5]

St George's, Grenada©robertharding/Alamy Stock Photo

St George’s is the colourful capital of Grenada, wrapped around one of the best natural harbours in the Caribbean. Here, in the old town in particular, life goes on as it always has, among historic buildings and a waterfront that retains its bygone charms. Explore 18th-century forts, check out the Grenada National Museum or simply use this charming town as a base to explore the waterfalls and forests of the lush, mountainous interior. Gorgeous Grand Anse Beach is just a water taxi ride away too.

 

[Sikodolaukazzz]

These are the Caribbean islands I have been to

View attachment 198721

Did you visit Trinidad?
A friend had told me to visit the place.

 

[bart12]

Did you visit Trinidad?
A friend had told me to visit the place.

That is the one I have missed during my last Caribbean trip due to covid restriction. Will plan to travel there in the next few year

 

[Sikodolaukazzz]

That is the one I have missed during my last Caribbean trip due to covid restriction. Will plan to travel there in the next few year

Heard you can find roti prata over there.

 

[bart12]

Puerto Rico

 

[bart12]

US Virgin Island

 

[jw5]

Vieques, Puerto Rico©Eva Parey/Alamy Stock Photo

Perched off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, Vieques is a laid-back island where the beaches are long and empty and life is lived at a much slower pace. Only 20 miles (32km) long and 4.5 miles (7km) wide, locals on 'mainland' Puerto Rico have nicknamed the island ‘Isla Nena’ and regard it as their little sister. Wild horses famously roam free here – you’re more likely to see a pony on the beach than a person – and the bioluminescence that illuminates Mosquito Bay at certain times of year is among the brightest and most intense in the world.

 

[jw5]

Willemstad, Curacao©aarssen Fokke/Alamy Stock Photo

Curacao’s capital Willemstad is one of the most discombobulating sights in the Caribbean. Cross the Queen Emma Bridge into UNESCO-listed Handelskade and it’s like you've walked into a technicolour version of Amsterdam, where leaden European skies are instead a startling shade of blue and dull canals sparkle and provide shelter for tropical fish. Grab yourself a table at one of the bustling outdoor cafés, admire the stunning 18th-century buildings and marvel at the life-affirming incongruity of it all.

 

[jw5]

St Ann, Jamaica©LBSimms Photography/Shutterstock

Green and lush and festooned with the colourful blooms of tropical flowers, St Ann is known as the 'the Garden Parish of Jamaica'. It's a land of cool, mountain forests, spectacular waterfalls like Dunn’s River Falls and Konoko Falls and gorgeous rivers, best experienced on a traditional bamboo raft ride. It is also the birthplace and burial site of Bob Marley, so save time to pay your respects at his colourful mausoleum.

 

[jw5]

Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua and Barbuda©Graham Mulrooney/Alamy Stock Photo

This beautifully preserved Georgian-era marina has been in continuous use since 1745. Lord Nelson, of Battle of Trafalgar fame, was stationed here between 1784 and 1787, and the Boat House and Sail Loft Pillars date from that time. The stately sandstone buildings and manicured gardens were restored in the 1950s and granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2016. Today, modern sailors still dock here for repairs, calling upon the talents of local craftsmen using skills passed down through the generations.

 

[jw5]

Arikok National Park, Aruba©Shoun Hill/Alamy Stock Photo

Arikok National Park on Aruba is the Caribbean – but not as you know it. Here the blue waters lap against an austerely beautiful rocky coastline, backed by an eerie desert landscape complete with cactuses. Head to Jamanota Hill for spectacular views across the island, drop into Fontein Cave or explore what’s left of the island’s agricultural heritage, including fences made from living cactuses. Finally, take a dip at Conchi, a natural pool protected from the sea by large rock formations and only reachable by 4WD.

 

[jw5]

Pig Beach, Big Major Cay, Bahamas©Beara Creative/Alamy Stock Photo

With so many gorgeous beaches in the Caribbean, it can be difficult to stand out. This stunning stretch of sand on Big Major Cay differentiates itself by the company it keeps. Pigs. And lots of them. The result is a magical place where wild pigs swim, and tourists come from all over the world to watch them, feed them and, for the more adventurous visitors, swim with them. While we’re hard-pressed to say the pigs are among the most beautiful sight in the region, they are definitely cute, bringing their own special charm to this lovely corner of the Caribbean.

 

[jw5]

Montserrat©IndustryAndTravel/Alamy Stock Photo

After the capital of Plymouth was all but wiped out by a volcanic eruption in 1995, and two thirds of the island's population forced to evacuate, tourists have been giving the beautiful island of Montserrat a wide berth. Which is a shame, because most of its black-sand beaches, coral reefs, soaring mountains and rainforest-covered hills were left untouched by the event. Nature lovers can and should immerse themselves in the island’s unique plant and animal species – just keep an eye on the smoking Soufriere Hills.

 

[jw5]

Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic©GiuseppeCrimeni/Shutterstock

Santo Domingo is built on the spot where Christopher Columbus made landfall on his famous voyage of 1492. The historic centre of the city is a jumble of beautifully restored buildings, shaded by venerable trees and covered in cascading bougainvillea. But that's not to say the city is a museum. Many buildings have been left to crumble and the area definitely feels lived in – especially around Calle El Conde where locals gather to dine alfresco or gossip over a coffee.

 

[jw5]

Stone Arch, Anguilla ©Rob G Films/Shutterstock​

This natural stone arch near West End Village in Anguilla has become a symbol of the island, but very few people actually know where it is. Ask a local and they’ll probably just shrug their shoulders. Boat captains are more switched on, as it’s a must-see stop on most boat trips around the island, and the arch is well-marked on Google Maps. Follow the directions and watch the sun set over the sparkling sea. Magical.

 

[jw5]

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival​

©Darren Woolway/Alamy Stock Photo
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival originated during the time of slavery. Banned from attending their masters’ parties and masquerades, they held their own costumed events which ended up being much more fun anyway. Today it is regarded as one of the greatest street parades in the world, turning the streets of Port of Spain into a cavalcade of colour and sound on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. When the dancers parade through the streets in all their glittering finery, there is no more beautiful sight in the Caribbean.

 

[jw5]

Valle de Vinales, Cuba​

©mauritius images GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo
Nearly 100 miles (180km) west of Havana, Vinales is one of the most beautiful places in Cuba. Here limestone outcrops called mogotes rise from verdant farmland whose rich red soil is the most fertile on the island. This gorgeous valley can be explored by bicycle, horseback or on hikes, and includes Los Acuaticos, Valle del Palmarito and Cuba’s largest cave system, Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas. Or you could just kick back on the veranda of your casa particular (homestay) and soak up the extraordinary view.

 

[jw5]

St Kitts and Nevis​

©Editorial, Alius Imago/Alamy Stock Photo
These twin islands, in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles, offer the best of the Caribbean in a gorgeous compact package. The colourful capital, Basseterre, is the perfect blend of history and island vibes, while brooding Brimstone Hill Fortress is a reminder of the islands’ colonial past. Beaches like Banana Bay on St Kitts and Oualie Beach on Nevis are equal to any in the region, while Mount Liamuiga, the tallest peak on St Kitts, offers a cloud-piercing hike. Then take the ferry ride across ‘The Narrows’ to the soothing hot springs on Nevis. Perfect.