White beaches, turquoise waters and lounging in the shade of coconut palms. The Caribbean islands offer the tropical holiday everyone dreams of. But how do you choose between more than 1,300 different islands?
We have selected for you ten of the most beautiful islands scattered across the Caribbean Sea, from vibrant Jamaica to luxurious Anguilla, from charming Cuba to lush Puerto Rico, via the US Virgin Islands, the Caymans and the French Antilles.
Here are 10 of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean and when to go.
Caribbean, the most beautiful islands and the best time to visit them
Antigua
Barbuda
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Cuba
Anguilla
Cayman Islands
Puerto Rico
US Virgin Islands
French Antilles
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Antigua
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It is an island in the Lesser Antilles, belonging to the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, who named it after the church of Santa Maria La Antigua in Seville. In Antigua, life is spent on the beach. Its irregular coastline hides hundreds of beautiful coves, bathed by turquoise waters.
But if you can leave the beaches behind, you will discover the bustling capital St John's with its English accent, which is reflected in the charming seaside resort of English Harbour, the historic forts and other vestiges of the colonial past. On the island you will also see many pastel-coloured villages, a relaxed atmosphere and smiling locals. For those who enjoy trekking, the highest peak is Mont Obama (about 400 metres). Antigua is therefore the ideal island for those who want a relaxing holiday in a resort with a couple of day trips. The best time to go there is from December to April.
Barbuda
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Barbuda is the second largest and most important island, after Antigua, in the small Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. It is often referred to as Antigua's sister island, captivating with its dreamy beaches, colonial atmosphere and old abandoned sugar cane plantations.
Located 40 km north of Antigua in the north-eastern Caribbean, Barbuda is an enchanting island that captivates with its endless beaches of pink sand and turquoise waters. But above all, it is an island untouched by tourism. Reachable by boat or charter flight, Barbuda has a population of only 1,500 people and can only welcome a few tourists at a time. The island has only one village where 2% of the small state's population lives and receives very few visitors, usually ornithology enthusiasts or travellers looking for quiet beaches and crystal clear waters. So, if you are looking for peace and quiet where you can laze in the shade of a palm tree on a tropical beach, among diving, snorkelling and magical sunsets, Barbuda is the ideal island. You might find yourself dining next to VIPs who frequent the most beautiful resorts in the Caribbean. The best time to go is from December to April.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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402 km of white beaches, crystal-clear waters, picture-postcard views and a year-round tropical climate. Santo Domingo is a dream not to be missed. Discovered during the first voyage of Christopher Columbus on 6 December 1492, the island was called Hispaniola, Little Spain. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, the Dominican Republic is the perfect destination for those looking for a winter beach holiday.
It is worth visiting the northern part of the island during the dry season, which runs from June to September in the north, and the southern part from November to April. But at all times of the year, average temperatures stay around 26° C. However, the island offers not only sea and relaxation, but also an incredible combination of art, culture, traditions, music and cuisine. So immerse yourself in the capital Santo Domingo to explore the first colourful and overwhelming city founded in the Americas. You will leave the Caribbean wanting to return.
Jamaica
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Jamaica is the Caribbean island for all types of travellers: you can relax in a resort or private beach villa, embark on urban or nature adventures, immerse yourself in island life and stay up late to the sounds of reggae, reefer and rum. The island state of the Greater Antilles, 240 km long and 80 km wide, enchants with tropical beaches, spectacular mountains, hidden lagoons and waterfalls, and red sunsets. But beyond the clichés of the exotic island, there is a more authentic Jamaica. Its culture is a mix of different influences and traditions, but looks more like Africa despite its geographical location and colonial history.
Jamaica is also often known for its music, thanks to globally successful rhythms such as calypso, ska and especially reggae. Indeed, it was reggae icon Bob Marley who brought the country to world prominence when, in the 1970s, he introduced the world to songs like One Love, No Woman No Cry, Get-up Stand-up, Could You Be Loved and Redemption Song. Consisting of a mix of gaiety, tropical atmospheres and social anger, Bob Marley's reggae still represents well a densely populated and poor country on which the sad past of slavery weighs heavily. The best time to go to Jamaica is between December and April.
Cuba
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Cuba is the island where you will leave your heart. Kilometres of Caribbean beaches lapped by a turquoise sea protected by coral reefs, mountain ranges with deep green tropical forests, fascinating cities that captivate with their colourful colonial architecture, welcoming people and relaxed atmosphere.
The past has left its mark in Old Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and, to a lesser extent, in Santiago and Camagüey, evocative cities to be discovered to the rhythm of salsa, rumba and mambo.
Between visits we relax on the beautiful beaches of Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria, Varadero or Playa de l'Este.
After lazing a day in the shade of a palm tree, between swims, you can spend the night enjoying the famous rum or a fine local cigar. The best time to go to Cuba is during the dry season, i.e. from the end of November to the end of April, when the skies are clear, there is little chance of rain, and temperatures hover around 25°C.
Anguilla
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In the quiet of the northern Caribbean lies a little wonder, Anguilla. It is a British colony with 13,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 90 square kilometres and more than 50 km of coastline. Until a few years ago, Anguilla was almost completely devoid of accommodation facilities, but in the 1980s the government decided to increase tourism, having mainly luxury hotels and residential villas built. Thus the island quickly became one of the most exclusive destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, where some of the most beautiful beaches in the world can be found. Anguilla enchants with its 33 beautiful white beaches, turquoise waters, coral islets off its shores and breathtaking views.
It is the ideal island for couples, families and singles looking for an idyllic tropical retreat. If you don't want to spend your entire holiday in Anguilla, you could reach it by day on ferries that depart daily from the busier island of St. Martin. For those who fall in love with Anguilla and wish to stay there perhaps to work remotely, Anguilla issues a special visa valid for up to 12 months at a cost of $2000, Work From Anguilla. The best time to go there is between December and April.
Cayman Islands
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Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac make up the Cayman Islands archipelago and constitute a British Overseas Territory. Located in the western Caribbean Sea, just south of Cuba, the Cayman Islands are known not only as a tax haven but also for their beautiful coral reefs, interesting seabed and crystal-clear waters.
For this reason, the islands are very popular with divers and water sports enthusiasts. The largest island, Grand Cayman, is reminiscent of South Florida, but less crowded.
The capital George Town is worth a visit, but also the Grand Cayman Botanical Gardens, where you can observe iguanas up close. The other two islands are smaller and less touristy. Cayman Brac is also popular with trekking enthusiasts, as it offers many paths through unspoilt nature. Little Cayman is the smallest of the three and the most popular with VIPs. The best time to visit the archipelago is from late November to mid-April.
Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rico is an archipelago, consisting of the largest island of the same name and other smaller islands, including Mona, Vieques and Culebra. The island of Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles and is located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, between Haiti and the Virgin Islands. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, characterised by a mix of US and Hispanic-Caribbean culture, a legacy of the long Spanish rule. The interesting capital of San Juan, an ancient city where Hispanic colonial architecture can be admired, is well worth a visit.
The island of Puerto Rico also has lush nature to explore. In the central part it is traversed by the rugged Cordillera Central, where the highest peak of Cerro la Punta reaches 1340 metres. In the north-eastern part of Puerto Rico is the rainforest of El Yunque, while to the south the terrain becomes arid and rocky, eventually incorporating environments such as the Arid Forest of Guanica, which is characterised by both an arid and a coastal, tropical climate. Here, mangroves thrive near the coast and cacti and other succulent plants inland. Puerto Rico is therefore an ideal island for those who enjoy sea and land excursions.
The best time to go there is between November and March.
US Virgin Islands
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The Virgin Islands archipelago comprises the more than 60 volcanic islands of the US Virgin Islands (or US), which are located in the Caribbean Sea and are part of the Lesser Antilles. In 1917, the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark, making them one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, while the British Virgin Islands were kept isolated from the rest of the world for years at the behest of the British government itself.
The islands were then officially named The Virgin Islands of the United States, but owe their original name to Christopher Columbus, who discovered them in 1493 during his second voyage to the New World, dedicating them to Saint Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins. Over the centuries, the islands have seen several European colonisations due to the production of sugar cane for which many slaves were imported from Africa.
Only a three-hour flight from Miami, half an hour from Puerto Rico and four hours from New York, the US Virgin Islands are the ideal destination for a tropical stay in mega-resorts. They are also frequented by yachtsmen who like to sail on the trade winds. Among our many sandy beaches, two have been declared by National Geographic among the ten most beautiful in the world: Magens Bay in St.Thomas and Trunk Bay in St.John. Then the natural wonders of St John's Coral Reef and Buck Island are national monuments in the US National Parks system. Explore St John and St Croix which have more natural and cultural appeal, if you are not interested in the more commercial St Thomas. The best time to visit these islands is from December to April.
French Antilles
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Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Martinique and Guadeloupe are the four main islands of the French Antilles. Each one offers something different while retaining a French-Caribbean identity.
They lie between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean but are French overseas territories.
Guadeloupe is the largest of the French Antilles, the most touristy and developed, and ideal for those seeking a relaxing holiday with all the comforts. The beautiful beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters are made up of sand that goes from shimmering white to golden to the black of volcanic beaches. Particularly popular is Malendure beach, whose dark sand creates a magical contrast with the blue water. Guadeloupe's largest and busiest town is Pointe-à-Pitre.
Martinique, on the other hand, is considered the most beautiful of the French Antilles and is ideal for nature and tranquillity lovers looking for a more affordable island. Golden beaches with crystal-clear sea alternate with substantial rainforests, creating spectacular landscapes that captivate everyone. The island's capital, Fort-de-France, is one of the largest inhabited cities in the Antilles. Its airport is the main landing point for those arriving directly from France.
Saint-Martin, on the other hand, is a very small island compared to the others, split in half between Holland and France, which has created a perfect mix of different cultures and traditions. The capital, Marigot, is home to the largest open-air market in the Caribbean, where you can find very special varieties of fruit and vegetables and immerse yourself in Creole culture. Both the French and Dutch coasts offer wonderful beaches. The bay of Auz Prunes is a magical place for snorkelling enthusiasts. Saint-Martin is also a lively island, popular with young people; the east coast is known as the 'Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean'.
Finally, the island of Saint Barthélemy, better known as St Barth, is a paradise of sophistication, elegance and luxury. It is a small island (just 2,500 hectares), secluded and intimate, and therefore popular with the jet set in search of privacy. Its beaches and secret coves have been immortalised by renowned directors and photographers.
The capital, Gustavia, retains traces of Swedish colonisation. The island's lush vegetation also invites incredible excursions. The best time to go there is from December to April.
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