Caribbean attractions

Samana Bay is the largest bay in the country, located in the northeast Dominican Republic, with the Samana Peninsula to the north and Los Haitises National Park along its southern shores. Known for migrating humpback whales in the winter, Samana Bay provides access to pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and Taino archeological sites.

Located on the British Virgin Island of Virgin Gorda, The Baths is nature’s answer to a water park. Formed over millennia of geologic activity, this unique wonder comprises towering granite boulders that protect clear-blue pools and create tiny, private caves. The Baths is a popular spot for visitors looking to find respite from the hot tropical sun in shady caverns, wade through warm water, or bask on soft, white sand.

On the Caribbean island of Antigua, Betty’s Hope is a former sugar plantation established by Sir Christopher Codrington in the 1600s. Now a museum and historic landmark, the site is dedicated to the memory and lives of the slaves who endured inhumane hardships on the island.

The green monkeys wandering the park-like Barbados Wildlife Reserve are just its most famous—and charismatic—residents. This scenic spot is teeming with other types of wildlife. Highlights include peacocks, deer, and flocks of duck and geese that flit through the forest. Alongside the free-roaming wildlife are permanent exhibits, from a snake house to a walk-through aviary home to brilliant macaws, parrots, and love birds.

UNESCO World Heritage-listed Morne Trois Pitons National Park surrounds Dominica’s second-highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons. The lush 16,936-acre (6,857-hectare) park protects six vegetation zones, from riparian canyons to mature rainforest, and is home to the agouti (giant guinea pig), bats, frogs, parrots, hummingbirds, and so much more. If you want to explore Jurassic Park, Morne Trois Pitons would have you believe you’re in the right place.

Peaceful Scharloo started life as one of the many plantations in Curacao, but today, the region is home to villas and vibrant street art. Wander the quiet streets and admire the elaborate, baroque-style mansions that have earned the neighborhood a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

In the central highlands of Grenada, Grand Etang Lake was formed in the natural crater of one of the island’s extinct volcanoes. Multiple waterfalls and creeks flow into the 20-foot-deep (6-meter-deep) lake, now filled with bright blue water, creating a tropical landscape at the center of Grenada’s national park.

Meads Bay is a strip of classic white Caribbean sand washed by bright turquoise water and lined with upscale resorts and restaurants.

Located in one of the Caribbean’s most photogenic natural harbors, Columbus Park at Discovery Bay is said to be the place where Christopher Columbus first landed in Jamaica in 1494. Now a lovely open-air museum, the park commemorates the island’s history with well-preserved artifacts and a killer view of the island’s north coast.

One of Arecibo’s most popular destinations, Cueva del Indio draws travelers to its beautiful caves high above the Puerto Rican countryside. The hike there is rigorous and involves navigating rocky ledges, but the amazing views—along with the chance to see ancient pre-Columbian rock paintings and carvings—make the effort worthwhile.

Dominican amber is considered to be some of the finest and clearest in the world. Housed in a Victorian-era mansion that once belonged to a wealthy local family, Puerto Plata’s Amber Museum (Museo Del Ámbar) has an extensive collection of the semi-precious gemstone.

Divi Little Bay BeachResort is a secluded beach just outside Philipsburg on the western peninsula of St. Martin’s Great Bay. Postcard-pretty with soft, white sand and tranquil, turquoise water, the beach is popular spot for snorkeling and other watersports such as jet skiing, paddle boats, and parasailing.

Established in 1979, Bonaire National Marine Park displays the biodiversity of Caribbean coral reefs in all of their richness and vibrancy. The park offers 6,700 acres (2,700 hectares) of reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves and is home to rare species such as the green sea turtles and queen conch.

As you explore Willemstad, you’ll cross the Queen Emma Bridge, which connects the colorful neighborhoods of Punda and Otrobanda. It offers views of the candy-colored buildings lining the waterfront, where you can find quaint cafes with outdoor seating. Don’t forget to strike a pose—this pedestrian-only swing bridge is the perfect spot to capture memories.

A welcome departure from Grand Cayman’s busy Seven Mile Beach, Rum Point is a peaceful stretch of white sand bordered by aqua Caribbean waters. The area is notable for its laid-back vibe with calm, shallow waters ideal for swimming or wading with kids. It’s a good option for families, snorkelers, or anyone keen to seek out the quieter side of the island.

Secluded Baie RougeBeach—set between two rocky bluffs in the lowlands along the west coast of St. Martin—is one of island’s most beautiful beaches. Its name hints at what makes it special: sparkling pink sands and red-hued rock formations, although the beach bar and a cave flooded with seawater, Devil’s Hole, also hold appeal.

Located in Westmoreland parish, Mayfield Falls is a series of 21 mostly small cascades and natural pools along the Mayfield River. Surrounded by lush jungle, the falls are an ideal outdoor water playground and include underwater caves, natural jacuzzis, and two waterfalls large enough for visitors to go behind.

Atlantis Paradise Island is a vast, ocean-themed resort located in the Bahamas. The resort comprises five different hotels, more than 40 restaurants (including several run by Michelin-starred chefs), nightclubs, luxury shopping, and the Aquaventure water park. Even if you’re not a resort guest, you can still enjoy some of the resort’s amenities, such as Dolphin Cay, with a day pass.

Also known as Ocho Rios Bay Beach, busy bayside Turtle Beach is just off Main Street, and is the main beach of Ocho Rios. Despite its proximity to the cruise ship port, the crescent-shaped sandy stretch is clean, and the crowd is mostly locals with a smattering of travelers who come for a release from the ship to kayak and jet-ski.

Charming George Town—the capital of the Cayman Islands, located on Grand Cayman—is a popular port for cruise ships and a gateway to some of the islands’ most glorious beaches. While it’s possible to leave George Town in favor of excursions to Seven Mile Beach and Stingray City, the downtown has plenty to offer, including tax-free shopping, museums, markets, and even a local spirits distillery.

Discover the Dominican Republic’s deep roots at the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) in Santo Domingo. These two 16th-century structures—the South and North buildings—were designed to house the Spanish-appointed governor’s royal court, offices for the justice tribunal and treasury, and living quarters for military captains.

Also known as the Qualibou caldera, La Soufrière is described as the world’s only drive-in volcano. It’s home to Sulphur Springs Park, the most active geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles, where people come to bathe in natural hot springs and enjoy the benefits of mineral-rich volcanic mud (if they can handle the strong smell of sulfur).

The Prickly Pear Cays are a pair of uninhabited island off the coast of Anguilla. The islands are home to unspoiled white sand beaches and little else. Visit for the day to enjoy sunbathing on pristine beaches and snorkeling along coral reefs packed with marine life.

While Aruba has its share of the wide, sandy beaches that the Caribbean is known for, it also offers a more rocky and rugged option: Malmok Beach. This thin strip of sand runs alongside, and sometimes around, jagged limestone and rocks, and it’s home to one of the best snorkeling spots on the island.

Considered one of the finest outlooks in Barbados, Cherry Tree Hill is a viewpoint near the St. Nicholas Abbey estate in the island’s northern corner. From here, 850 feet (259 meters) above sea level, visitors gaze southward over Barbados’ Scotland District and eastern shores, admiring sandy beaches, mountains, and sugarcane fields.

Built on the orders of Louis XVI in 1767, Fort St. Louis sits atop a cliff overlooking Marigot, the capital of the French side of St. Maarten (St. Martin). Long decommissioned, the fort still waves the French flag. The formidable walls and cannons that protected the island from invading powers and pirates are in excellent shape today.

As Tobago's capital city and economic hub, Scarborough is home to just over 17,000 people—around one-third of the island's population. Europeans settled it in the middle of the 17th century, and many colonial relics, including Fort King George, one of the most popular tourist attractions in town, remain in Scarborough to this day.

St. Maarten has plenty of upscale shops, but travelers itching for a more authentic experience head to this weekend market in the French capital of Marigot. Anguilla fishermen arrive early with their hauls in colorful boats, joined later by fruit and vegetable sellers as well as spice vendors, filling the air with tropical aromas.

The island nation of Curacao has become synonymous with the liqueur it produces—as blue as the surrounding Caribbean waters—and the Curacao Liqueur Distillery is equally colorful. The distillery is housed within a 19th-century mansion named Landhuis Chobolobo, complete with bright yellow walls and green-trimmed shutters, where you can take guided tours to learn about the production of its famous Curacao liqueur.

Located on the north coast of Trinidad, Maracas Bay is an idyllic white sand beach, complete with rolling turquoise waves and swaying palm trees. After a scenic mountain drive through the rain forest, you’ll arrive at these sandy shores, which are protected by a deep bay, perfect for an afternoon lazing on the beach.