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When people travel to the Caribbean, they travel there for one reason: the beaches. The Caribbean is famous for its incredible beaches, islands, reefs, and cays. If you haven’t been to the Caribbean yet, it’s time to bump the region up on your post-COVID travel list.
The number of Caribbean beaches I’ve traveled to (11) pale in comparison to the total number of beaches actually in the Caribbean. Fair warning: if you’re looking a Travel + Leisure type list where you *assume* that every single beach in the Caribbean has been considered and ranked accordingly, this is not that list. These are beaches that I’ve actually sunk my toes into the lush white sands. Consider this a list of the best beaches in the Caribbean that I’ve been to based off of my personal experience at each one.
In no particular order, here are the six beaches that made my list for the best beaches in the Caribbean...
1/ Sint Maarten — Maho Beach
Saint Martin lies in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, about 190 miles east of Puerto Rico and just 10 miles south of Anguilla. The southern part of the island offers coastal lagoons, salt pans, and sand spits with plenty of spots to relax and take in the calming sound waves crashing to shore. But this island didn’t make the list for these reasons.... really, it's not what you'd consider a 'beautiful beach'.
One of the most famous beaches on Sint Maarten, Maho Beach is flooded with hundreds of tourists, amateur photographers, and aviation enthusiasts waiting to see a Boeing 747 make it’s landing at Juliana International Airport. Though not one of Sint Maarten’s most beautiful beaches, Macho Bay is a must-see bucket list experience for its proximity to the airport.
This beach is one of the few places in the world where aircraft can be watched on final approach landing at the airport - just outside the end of the runway. Aircraft fly over Maho Beach at altitudes less than 100 feet (30m) above ground level. To put that into perspective, the distance between bases in baseball is 90 feet.
If you’re looking to escape the overly crowded beach, the Sunset Bar and Grill posts departure and arrival times of all commercial aircraft and offers a great vantage point of incoming flights.
2/ St. Kitts & Nevis — Friars Beach
I’m convinced that as you keep traveling farther south in the Caribbean, the water becomes more clear, the sunsets more stark, and the beaches more beautiful. Situated between Sint Maarten and Antigua and Barbuda are twin islands known as St. Kitts and Nevis. With plenty of options for beautiful beaches, South Friar’s stands out from the crowd with its picturesque landscapes.
South Friar’s offers a long stretch of white-sand oases and clear water, beyond the heavily populated tourist area of Frigate Bay. This beach is a favorite with local Kittitians (and came at the recommendation of a local) and makes a great option for travelers who still want to enjoy a lively, but less populated spot.
3/ US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas — Magens Bay
Located on the north-side of St. Thomas, Magens Bay is hailed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. With no waves or current, the calm water makes this spot great for floating and relaxing in the water, as well as paddle boarding, ocean kayaking, and snorkeling. This bay along St. Thomas' north coast also offers one-mile of white sand beaches surrounded by rolling green hills. The serene water and beach combined with the lush green rolling hills surrounding the bay makes Magens Bay one of my favorite spots in the Caribbean.
4/ Barbados — Carlisle Bay
Situated in the lesser Antilles of the West Indies to the northeast of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados is home to some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. This island is laced with fine powdery sand and turquoise bays that draws over one million tourists every year. Its crescent-shaped bay offers calm waters that are perfect for swimming and six shipwrecks make it a great place for snorkeling.
Because of its beautiful beaches and prominent culture, Barbados had always been on my list of places to visit. Carlisle Bay is one of the most popular beaches in Barbados and attracts a lot of visitors throughout the day. There's plenty of water sports and bars to enjoy the day at one of Barbados most beautiful beaches.
5/ Cozumel, Mexico — Paradise Beach
Located on the western side of the island, Paradise Beach is graced with a pristine shoreline, soft white sand, and turquoise water. Resorts along the beach offer amenities like inflatable water toys, water trampolines, coconut tree climbs, kayaks, snorkeling gear, and stand-up paddle boards.
One of my favorite things about this beach is the inflatable water slides and toys (yes, this is as fun for adults as it is kids). Ever tried jumping on a water trampoline with a beer in your hand? It’s equally as hard and as fun as it sounds.
6/ Grand Cayman — 7 Mile Beach
Situated on the western side of Grand Cayman, Seven Mile Beach is named one of the Ultimate Beaches in the region by Caribbean Travel + Life. The expansive waterfront is known for its sparkling waters and white sands. There are plenty of resorts along the beach to stay overnight or use their services for the day, and there are lots of casual beach bars and restaurants to enjoy during a break from the water and beach. With spots for snorkeling, relaxing at a beach bar, or just enjoying the beach, 7 Mile Beach is a beautiful spot in the Caribbean to add to your travel list.