Mangroves shelter the coastline in the Panamanian archipelago of Bocas del Toro, where sea stars dot the calm waters of Starfish Beach.
Famous for its soft white sands, shimmering waters, and windswept fofoti trees, Aruba’s Eagle Beach reigns as the island’s widest. It’s also prime nesting ground for four species of sea turtles, including the endangered loggerhead. Beautiful beacfront hotels include Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.
In Haiti guided mountain biking trips are becoming more popular as the country looks to attract adventure travelers.
Celebrated the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday each year, Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival—the largest in the Caribbean—pulsates with vibrant costumes and jubilant dancers.
On unspoiled Cayman Brac, rock-climbing routes traverse gently sloping overhangs suspended above the sea.
With 50 nationalities calling the former Dutch colony home, Curaçao’s culinary scene reflects its diversity. Local Creole specialties like yuana (stewed iguana) share menu space with traditional European cuisine.
Mountainous St. Vincent has a number of worthwhile hikes, but ascending the active La Soufrière Volcano is the true test.
One of the world’s most geologically impressive dive destinations, Belize’s 410-foot-deep Great Blue Hole is full of fascinating rock formations and sea creatures.
Home to La Route des Rhums, Martinique uses time-honored techniques to produce the sugar-based spirit at its 10 small-batch distilleries. Our pick: Habitation Clément.
In the Dominican Republic, Playa Rincón offers a secluded oasis of beach bordered by a dense palm forest. At the western end, a pristine river empties into the sea.
Barbados continues the tradition of distilling at St. Nicholas Abbey, where you also can tour a 1658 Jacobean-style mansion featuring elegant dining and drawing rooms.
Offering colorful corals, an underwater sculpture museum, and unusual marine life like the whale shark that migrates through its waters, Mexico’s Isla Mujeres keeps snorkelers busy.
With boats bobbing and fishermen hauling in the day’s catch from crystal-clear waters, the vibe on Grenada’s two-mile long Grand Anse Beach feels unmistakably Caribbean.
Cultural extravaganza Junkanoo, the national festival of the Bahamas, enlivens island streets every January, with Nassau hosting the largest parade.
Heavily damaged Dominica aims to become the world’s first climate-resilient nation by investing in renewable energy and building critical infrastructure that can withstand severe storms.
In Guadeloupe, local ingredients combine with French techniques for an epicurean journey full of delicacies like kassav (yucca pancake stuffed with salt fish or guava).
The Honduran island of Roatan offers many first-rate dive sites like Dolphin’s Den, a network of tunnels that runs the entire reef.
Some of the region’s rarest bird species, including the white-tailed sabrewing hummingbird, can be spotted while hiking Tobago’s Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the Western Hemisphere’s oldest protected rain forest.
Cahuita National Park on Costa Rica’s lesser traveled Caribbean coast protects a rain forest and coral reef ecosystem where kayakers can glimpse iguanas, monkeys, and sloths.
Bonaire’s well-preserved Lac Bay Mangrove Forest invites kayakers to paddle through natural tree tunnels and healthy fish nurseries.
Tucked at the bottom of the Grenadines, Petit St. Vincent is ringed by reefs that benefit from a conservation-focused dive center opened in partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the famed underwater pioneer.
