Which island is the right one for me? Here you can find the most beautiful Caribbean islands
Last updated: 16.11.2020 21.04 clock
Hey dear eagle owls! You love turquoise water and white sandy beaches as much as I do? Then the Caribbean islands just right for you. Not without reason the Caribbean, which consists of the Greater Antilles and no Antilles, is so popular.
The diverse islands span more than 1.06 million square miles between North and South America, and each has its own unique charm. However, it is not so easy to decide which island suits you best.
To give you a little help I present you some of the most beautiful islands.
The 7 most beautiful islands of the Caribbean
Jamaica – a vacation for nature lovers
When you think of Jamaica you immediately think of Bob Marley and Reggae. Not wrong but by far not everything that Jamaica has to offer. Besides the musical sounds, of course, you also get to see great food and all kinds of dancing people here.
You can also go scuba diving here. The waters around Jamaica offer beautiful, colorful coral reefs, which are inhabited by a great variety of species. Especially on the north coast diving hearts will beat faster.
Besides the unique flora and fauna of Jamaica there are also numerous waterfalls, for example Dunn’s River Falls. And one of the most important reasons Caribbean island to visit are of course also the beautiful sandy beaches of Jamaica.
Where Montego Bay attracts countless tourists every year to the west of the island, east of Port Antonio everything is a bit more relaxed.
Here you can find paradise beaches like Frenchman’s Cove or Winnifred Beach. But of course a visit to the Bob Marley museum is a must-do.
It is located in the capital Kingston in his former home. As you can see, Jamaica is very versatile and has something to offer for everyone. And if you still have questions about your Jamaica vacation, just have a look at my Jamaica tips.
Cuba – the largest Caribbean island
Cuba is bursting with diversity. To take all the beautiful corners with you, it is therefore well suited to make a round trip. Cuba is also the largest of the Caribbean islands. It belongs to the group of islands of the Greater Antilles and is located in the west of the Caribbean Sea.
The island is not only known for cigars and rum but also for beautiful beaches and a unique nature. Cuba also has much more to offer than just Havana. How about Trinidad for example? This is the museum city of Cuba. Here you should definitely visit the former sugar refineries.
But also the active vacationers among you will be happy between mountains and coast. Pinar del Sol is also a must on your round trip. It shows the authentic side of Cuba. The beautiful landscape is surrounded by tropical forests, unusually rounded limestone cliffs and a unique wildlife.
You should also not forget to visit the rum and tobacco museum. You can hardly get around Varadero, the most popular vacation destination, where oldtimers and dreamlike beaches are the order of the day. On my blog you will also find the most beautiful beaches and the best activities in Cuba.
Dominican Republic – the dream vacation
Of course, the Dominican Republic is known for its super sunny weather and white sand beaches, such as Cayo Levantado, located in the north in Semana Bay.
The Caribbean island is adorned with beautiful coral sand beaches and is not called Bacardi Island for nothing. In the east of the Dominican Republic is Punto Cano, probably the biggest tourist region.
It convinces especially with its unique reefs. You can also see many dolphins here. In the south you can explore the capital Santo Domingo and its national park.
The most popular travel destination, Puerto Plata, is located in the north. Here it is a bit windy, but this is also a top condition for all surfers and water sports enthusiasts among you. So if you want to spend a relaxing vacation, you certainly can’t go wrong with the Dominican Republic.
Here you can also read again the most important Dominican Republic tips for your dream vacation.
Barbados – the tropical paradise
The rum lovers among you must in any case of the beautiful Caribbean island Pay a visit to Barbados. Because from here comes Mount Gay, the oldest rum in the world. So how about a trip to the sugar cane plantations?
These are mainly used for rum production. If you want to have a closer look and on top of that taste one or the other drop, you should go to the St. Martinique. Nicholas Abbey drive.
But also the adventurous among you will be happy in Barbados. Because the island also has a lot to offer for hikers and cyclists.
You can also take a jeep tour or how about a little tropical rainforest feeling? This used to decorate the whole island. Today you can still admire it in Turner’s Hall Wood. The Sir Anthony Hunte’s Garden is also worth a visit. With a little luck you will meet some hummingbirds here. So keep your eyes open!
For the water rats among you there is a lot to see at the coasts. Here you will not only find beautiful Barbados dream beaches but also a unique underwater world. Numerous reefs, shipwrecks as well as corals and fish offer a unique scenery for snorkelers and divers.
Also sea creatures like dolphins, barracudas or flying fish provide a very special charm of this island. If this doesn’t convince you yet, you can read my Barbados tips for the last convincing arguments that this island is simply a must on every bucket list and that a Barbados vacation is worthwhile in any case.
Martinique – the island of flowers
Martinique – the French dream island. That sounds promising, doesn’t it? And exactly that describes the island, which is super suitable for an active vacation, very well. It is an overseas department of France and belongs to the lesser known ones Caribbean islands. The island scores with its rather untouched nature.
The capital and at the same time the most popular vacation resort Fort-de-France is surrounded by steep cliffs and slopes. Tropical palm trees tower from everywhere and, in keeping with Martinique’s nickname, the ‘Island of Flowers’, the sweet scent is everywhere in the air.
The 1.400 meters high volcano Montagne Pelee makes the island so mountainous and unique. Just like the rugged mountain ranges, the numerous waterfalls and not to forget the beautiful Martinique beaches. Since the island is a member of the EU, you can easily enter the country with your identity card. You can also check out my Martinique tips to convince yourself of the unique charm of the island.
Bahamas – the luxury island
It is inevitable not to think of breathtaking beaches, swimming pigs and turquoise water when thinking of the Bahamas. But this dreamlike part of the Caribbean Islands has a lot more to offer.
Because not without reason they are for years at the top of the dream vacation destinations. Only ca. 36 of the 700 islands of the Bahamas are inhabited.
So there is a lot to discover. On most of the inhabited islands, for example on Grand Bahama or Paradise Island, there is one luxury resort after the other, where every wish is read from your eyes.
But it’s the fantastic wildlife in the Bahamas that really makes the island unique. There is a lot to see above and under water here.
The divers among you can admire one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, where you are guaranteed to be greeted by a shark, a manta ray or a dolphin.
You can also discover sunken Spanish galleons. The Andros Barrier Reef in the Thunderball Grotto and the black coral gardens of Bimini are among the most popular diving destinations.
Untypically but more or less "underwater" you will find the swimming pigs at Big Major Cay on Exumas. You may feed the curious four-legged friends and splash with them in the water.
An experience that you will certainly not forget so quickly. If this is still too much tourist hustle and bustle for you, you should take a trip to the so-called "Outer Islands" or settle down on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Bahamas.
More Bahamas info:
ABC Islands – the Leeward Islands
Among the classics of the Caribbean Islands definitely also include Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the so-called ABC islands. They officially belong to the Netherlands and are located on the north coast of South America. Especially for water sports lovers, a trip here is worthwhile, as they belong to the "islands under the wind", that is, outside the hurricane belt, and are perfect for it.
The dream beaches of the ABC islands
Here you will find endless fine sandy beaches, untouched nature and a unique underwater world. But also the fascinating wildlife exudes its very own charm. How about a trip to the flamingo beach on Aruba, for example?
Each of the islands has its own special features. They all have their own political party system, their own airport as well as their own media. So there’s a lot to discover on your vacation to the ABC islands. And for those who have a hard time making decisions anyway, especially with such paradisiacal islands, it’s best to take an island-hopping tour.
If you are still wondering which is the best time to travel to the Caribbean and you are now also really up for a bargain vacation to the Caribbean Islands If you have a good idea of where to go, browse through my blog or check out my travel search engine. Here you will certainly find something suitable for you and save one or the other thaler.
Map of the Caribbean islands
Caribbean islands – traveler info
Guadeloupe, Martinique, Anguilla, Montserrat, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba belong to different countries of the EU.
In the western Caribbean (between the Dominican Republic and Cuba) Eastern Standard Time (EST) applies. This means -6 hours time difference in winter, resp. -7 hours time difference in summer. In the Eastern Caribbean, however, Atlantic Standard Time (AST) applies. That is, -5 hours time difference in winter and -6 hours time difference in summer.
For the Caribbean you need the following vaccinations: Tetanus, Polio, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A
French Antilles ⇒ Euro
Cuba ⇒ Cuban peso
Dominican Republic ⇒ Dominican Peso
Lesser Antilles ⇒ East Caribbean Dollar
Trinidad& Tobago ⇒ TT dollar
Jamaica ⇒ Jamaica Dollar
Barbados ⇒ Barbados Dollar
Netherlands Antilles ⇒ Dutch Antillean guilder
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgins, Turks& Caicos ⇒ US dollars
The Greater Antilles, are a group of islands consisting of the following islands: Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Navassa, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico.
The Lesser Antilles, are an archipelago consisting of the following islands: Leeward Islands (Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint-Barthelemy, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica), Windward Islands (Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines), Leeward Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Isla Margarita) and Trinidad and Tobago.