Caribbean attractions

Famously the inspiration for “Fraggle Rock,” Bermuda’s Crystal and Fantasy Caves form one of the island’s most popular visitor attractions. The two caves are small yet perfectly formed, and offer a mystic subterranean world with straw stalactites, stalagmites, illuminated pools, and underwater rock formations. Adding to their intrigue is the fact that they’re a relatively new discovery; local lads found them in 1907 when searching for a cricket ball.

The trails that lead to El Limón Waterfall (Cascada El Limón are towered over by mountains, and lined with coffee and cocoa plants. If the picturesque Caribbean landscape isn't enough, a crystal-clear natural pool at the foot of the falls provides a place to cool off after a mountain hike.

The historic fishing village of Las Galeras is stationed along the east coast of the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Peninsula. Travelers venture to this quiet town for its idyllic palm-lined beaches and easy access to Rincon Beach via the Las Galeras jetty. The village is close to Playa Fronton, another popular beach home to some of the Dominican Republic’s best snorkeling.

Established in 1890 under the British, the Dominica Botanic Gardens were designed to maintain reserves of crops grown on the island. Over the years, it has evolved into a lush, 40-acre (16-hectare) preserve full of verdant orchids, palms, and more—there’s even an unidentifiable tree. Beyond the fronds, leaves, petals, and blooms, it also attracts all sorts of colorful avian life.

This protected marine park is set just off the shores of Buccoo Beach, Pigeon Point, and Shore Bay, and boasts a spectacular display of aquatic life. Though parts of the coral reef are under threat from overuse from touristic activities, the local community still offers glass-bottom boat tours, plus recreational offerings such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and sustainable fishing.

The white walls of Landhuis Jan Kok stand starkly against the vibrant blue of the Curacao sky. The house’s past reflects the contrast as the residence of infamously cruel slave owner Jan Kok and its current usage as a gallery space for local artist Nena Sanchez. The 18th-century house is one of the oldest Landhuizen (plantation houses) on the island.

The only lighthouse on Grand Turk, the Cockburn Town Lighthouse (also known as the Grand Turk Lighthouse) was built in the 1850s to help ships navigate the treacherous shallow reefs off the northern end of the island. Although no longer operational, the lighthouse is one of the top historical landmarks on Grand Turk.

A popular Barbados sight, St. John’s Parish Church stands on a cliff overlooking the island’s rugged eastern shores. Constructed to replace earlier churches, this 1836-built landmark has plenty to offer, from magnificent coastal views to a storied history.

Atop a mountain within Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica, this enchanted lake is the second-largest body of hot water on the planet. Formed from a flooded volcanic fumarole, the crater is filled with grey-blue water shrouded in mist. Look past the whirling mass of steam, and you’ll see the lake’s bubbling water surrounded by steep cliffs. It’s not easy to get to, but the reward is sublime.

Finished in 1848, St. John's Anglican Cathedral reflects some of the history of the European presence in Antigua. Built in the neo-baroque style, the freestone structure seems out of place on the Caribbean island, with its iron fence, stained-glass windows, and two lofty towers with cupolas on top. The cathedral remains an active place of worship, with services taking place throughout the week.

Located on a sheltered cove with a view of St. Lucia’s emblematic Pitons peaks, Anse Chastanet is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. A reef just offshore teems with life, making it a great place to scuba dive or capture underwater photographs of mixed coral and large schools of tropical fish without having to take a boat out.

Part of Bridgetown’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Garrison Historic Area was home to the British colonial command during the 18th and 19th centuries. Explore its well-preserved historical buildings and sights, which range from the cannon-fringed Garrison Savannah to the elegant George Washington House.

A former banana-port town on Jamaica’s northwest coast, sleepy Port Antonio is an off-the-beaten-path destination. Away from the busier Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Port Antonio is marked by craggy shorelines and hilly jungle rife with rivers and lagoons. It’s clear why Errol Flynn, aka Tarzan, built a Hollywood escape here in the 1940s.

Founded on the west coast of St. Kitts, Old Road Town was settled in 1624 by a small group of settlers interested in trying their hand at tobacco farming. Old Road Town was the first settlement in the Caribbean established by the British. Highlights include a thriving farming industry, a historic Wingfield Estate, and a number of ancient Carib petroglyphs.

One of the most beautiful and convenient beaches on St. John, Hawksnest Bay is a favorite for families with children and visitors coming from the ferry docks at Cruz Bay. Swaying palm trees and sea grapes line the narrow beach, which has restrooms, grills, and a shaded picnic area.

Off the northwest coast of the Dominican Republic, Cayo Arena—also known as Cayo Paraiso or Paradise Island—is a tiny sliver of a coral island and sandbar, barely measuring a 10th of an acre (a 20th of a hectare). Undeveloped, aside from a few thatched-roof huts, it’s surrounded by clear waters that are teeming with marine life such as turtles, rays, and colorful tropical fish.

St. John's Coral Bay prides itself on being the raffish alternative to the island’s main point of arrival, Cruz Bay. Its few dozen houses are haphazardly sprinkled on the green slopes above Coral Harbor, a scenic, protected cove. The town’s charm lies in its friendly, laid-back bars and restaurants where—unlike in some Caribbean locations—tourists won’t necessarily outnumber the locals.

Cueva de las Maravillas is a natural attraction near La Romana that takes visitors underground into a deep cavern. This cave is estimated to be more than 100,000 years old but wasn't discovered until 1926. Inside its walls, you'll find fascinating rock formations, elongated stalactites, and stalagmites resembling icicles. These were formed due to mineral buildup caused by the cave's constant moisture.

Located on a peninsula at the eastern end of West Bay on Grand Cayman, Barker’s National Park is the first national park in the Cayman Islands. There are no amenities at this undeveloped and largely unmarked park, which is home to dense mangrove swamps, lagoons, wetlands, wildlife, and long stretches of often deserted beach.

Founded in 1933, the Barbados Museum highlights the island’s rich history and culture. Travel through time as the museum presents the history of Barbados’ inhabitants through a thorough collection of artifacts, maps, and photographs.

The rugged hinterland of St. Lucia offers stretches of tropical rainforest, teeming with lush vegetation and local species such as the rare Jacquot parrot (the national bird of St. Lucia). Trails through Edmund Forest Reserve take you through the thick jungle of the southwestern interior, with wonderful views of mountains, valleys, and the sea—all under the shadow of Mt. Gimie, the island’s tallest peak.

Back in its heyday, the Annaberg Sugar Plantation was one of 25 facilities on the island producing sugar, along with molasses and rum. All that remains today are ruins, but they are an important reminder of St John’s past, and visitors can walk a trail that leads through important structures such as slave quarters, windmills, and factory remains.

The dramatic focal point of St’ Kitts, Mt. Liamuiga, towers at 3,792-feet (1,155-meters) high. This lush pinnacle with a volcanic peak has lain dormant for nearly two millennia, though it still has active steam vents inside its summit crater and natural hot springs around its base. The mountain is a safe haven for large troops of green vervet monkeys and several species of exotic birds.

A popular stop for visitors, Montego Bay's craft market stretches for several blocks along Harbour Street and lets shoppers interact with the local artisans who run the narrow network of stalls. Come to pick up handmade Jamaican crafts, including custom woodworking, colorful paintings, and beads.

Lighting up the westernmost point of Jamaica, Negril Lighthouse has been guiding ships away from the craggy promontory below since 1894. The landmark stands sentinel at 65 feet (20 meters), and is a popular attraction for travelers yearning for a panoramic bird’s-eye view of Negril’s gorgeous coastline and the endless sea.

Anguilla is an island of beautiful white sand beaches, and Shoal Bay may be the best of them all. The beach’s beautiful surroundings and calm waters—ideal for swimming—have made it famous around the world. Visit to lounge on the powder-soft sand and enjoy the turquoise waters.

Kingston’s largest green space, National Heroes Park is a 50-acre (20-hectare) former horse track that now houses the tombs of numerous important figures from Jamaican history and a war memorial to Jamaicans who died in World War I. The park was also the venue for Bob Marley's famous 1976 Smile Jamaica concert.

The hub of political life in Puerto Rico, the Capitol houses the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Assembly. The impressive building is reason enough for a visit, with its beautiful carved columns and dome, all designed by Puerto Rican architect Rafael Carmoega in the neoclassical revival style.

Ponce is Puerto Rico’s second most populous city and a complete change of pace from the island’s capital of San Juan. Its low-key charm speaks louder to architecture buffs than it does to party animals. Starting at the central Plaza Las Delicias, you’ll find two defining landmarks of the city: the twin-towered Catedral Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the whimsical Parque de Bombas.

If you’re looking for an uninterrupted stretch of sand, Warwick Long Bay is where you’ll find it. This beauty of a beach extends along Bermuda’s southeastern shores, offering crushed-coral sands backed by wild grass and lapped by reef-protected waters. Those in the know keep the secret to themselves, so this beach doesn’t draw the same crowds as neighboring Horseshoe Bay.