Top 10 Best Beaches in the Caribbean
Translucent turquoise waters, radiant sands, and rustling palms – these star in the fantasies of beach connoisseurs around the world, and the Caribbean is the ... read more...place to find them. Islands like the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Anguilla, and Aruba are famous for their alluring stretches of coast, but other islands host their own versions of the perfect beach, and many of these dreamy slices of sand and sea also offer easy access to some of the best Caribbean beach resorts. From seductive crescents of dazzling white sand and blue sea backed by lush jungles to sublime slices of reef-fringed shore, you'll find the perfect stretch of sand to live out your tropical dream in this list of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
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Flamenco Beach takes first place on the list of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Flamenco Beach, ranked as one of the best in the world, is a postcard-perfect stretch of white sand and turquoise waters. This beach has almost no waves, making it ideal for snorkeling, swimming, relaxing, playing in the sand, or simply beach-bumming. Lifeguards, a camping area, showers, changing rooms and bathrooms, a parking area, and kiosks selling authentic Puerto Rican food are all available at Flamenco.
One of Puerto Rico's highlights, this picture-perfect crescent of sugar-white sand and turquoise and teal water lives up to all tropical beach fantasies. The soft sands are lined with palms, tropical fish flit in the shallows, and the clear waters are usually calm, making this a great spot for swimming and snorkeling. Snacks and refreshments are available from beach kiosks, and beach chairs and umbrellas can be rented. The beach is easily accessible, and it's the only place on the island where camping is allowed, just a few feet from the beach on the north shore.
Google rating: 5.0/5.0
Address: Flamenco beach, PR-251, Flamenco, Culebra, PR, 00775
Phone: N/a
Website: https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/profile/flamenco-beach/8942 -
Seven Mile Beach ranks 2nd on the list of the best beaches in the Caribbean. The Cayman Islands' crown jewel is Grand Cayman's world-famous Seven Mile Beach. White powdery sand and sparkling turquoise water come together for miles, providing locals and vacationers with endless opportunities for activities, restaurants, cocktails, sunset strolls, and more! The top features of this famous beach in the Cayman Islands are turquoise waters and bone-white sand fringed with casuarinas and coconut palms.
It's actually closer to six miles long, but there's still plenty of room to spread out on its soft sands. You can relax under the palm fronds and listen to the soothing slosh of gentle waves brushing the shore if you head north to avoid the cruise ship crowds. Seven Mile Beach has clear waters and soft, squeaky sand, making it one of the best swimmable beaches in the Caribbean.
Despite its name, Seven Mile Beach is only 5.5 miles long, but that's miles of glorious white sandy beach and clear blue water to enjoy. There are numerous water-based activities to try, with snorkeling, diving, and jet skiing among the most popular. Not surprisingly, the majority of Grand Cayman's high-end hotels and condos are located on Seven Mile Beach, as is some of the Caribbean's best cuisine. Diners looking to watch the sunset while sipping a cocktail will not be disappointed by the number of beach bars available! Read on for information on where to stay, what to do, and other activities on Grand Cayman's most popular beach.
Google rating: 4.8/5.0
Adress: P.O. Box 134Grand Cayman KY1-9000Cayman Islands
Phone: 1300 072 757
Website: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/seven-mile-beach-national-park -
Eagle Beach is one of Aruba's best stretches of coast, surrounded by sculptural fofoti trees and a sprinkling of coconut palms and sea grapes. Eagle Beach, Aruba's widest beach, is famous for its pristine and soft white sands, as well as beautiful Caribbean ocean views, ample parking, shaded areas, some beach huts, and a variety of water sports. Eagle Beach is home to two of Aruba's most photographed and renowned fofoti trees, with their signature silhouette pointing towards the Caribbean. These trees have appeared in numerous Aruba advertising campaigns as distinct and easily identifiable features. Several low-rise hotels on Aruba are nearby or just across the street. Some establishments provide cabanas and lounges for their visitors.
The white sands and clear aqua seas check all the boxes for a great beach, and thatched palapas provide welcome shade. Some of Aruba's best beach resorts can be found along this inviting stretch of coast. Turtles also nest here during the season, but stay away from their clearly marked nests. Head to the southern end of the beach, away from the Jet Skis, for a more peaceful experience. The two iconic fofoti trees at the northern end of the beach, backed by striking turquoise water, make for an excellent photo opportunity.Google rating: 4.8/5.0
Location: Oranjestad, Aruba
Phone: 1-800-862-7822
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/eagle-beach -
Trunk Bay is considered the beach mecca by some. You'll be hard pressed to find another Caribbean beach with such pearly sand or aquamarine water. Moreover, because it is surrounded by the Virgin Islands National Park, Trunk Bay retains its otherworldly tranquillity despite the constant influx of tourists. Offshore, emerald islets dot the bay, and the Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkeling Trail offers excellent snorkeling in the clear, warm waters, with up to 30 different species of fish. Underwater signposts label interesting features of the coral reef.
Make sure to try out the underwater snorkeling path. It's 225 yards long and lined with coral and fish, as well as underwater plaques. Though a fun experience, some travelers complained that the path itself is unimpressive and shows damage from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Others recommend going to Trunk Bay's far end for the best snorkeling. Visitors overwhelmingly encouraged future visitors to spend a day on Trunk Bay, if only to enjoy its beauty. Trunk Bay requires a $5 admission fee. Its facilities are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include a snack bar, restrooms, and showers.
Google rating: 4.8/5.0
Address: 11 Bay View TerraceCruz Bay, St. John 00830U.S. Virgin Islands
Phone: 800-727-6610
Website: https://stjohn-beachguide.com/trunk-bay/
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Pink Sands Beach located on one of the Bahamas' smaller islands, is ideal for sunbathing and swimming in the warm, crystal clear water. The most impressive feature, however, is a 5 km (3 mi) stretch of soft pink sand! It is thus one of the world's most unusual beaches. The light rose color is caused by foraminifera, a marine animal with a red shell that crushes and then mixes with the white sand. The elegant island has a plethora of resorts that ensure complete relaxation in these pristine surroundings. Visitors can go swimming, snorkeling, and fishing during the day, and then visit the town at night to enjoy the exciting nightlife.
Spend your time swimming in the beautiful turquoise sea, kayaking out to the reef, or sunbathing on the warm sands, taking in all the beauty. Several upscale resorts line the shores here and provide beach chairs to guests, allowing you to relax in comfort along this heavenly stretch. Harbour Island is one of the best places to visit in the Bahamas, and while you're there, you can explore the island's quaint Loyalist cottages by renting a golf cart, the preferred mode of transportation.
Google rating: 4.8/5.0
Location: Harbour Island, Bahamas
Phone: (242) 333-2621
Website: https://www.bahamas.com/natural-wonders/harbour-island-pink-sand-beach -
Magens Bay is the most popular beach on St. Thomas. Arthur Fairchild donated the beautiful one-mile stretch to the people of the Virgin Islands as a public park. It is one of two beaches on St. Thomas that charges an admission fee; the money is used to maintain the facilities and the beach. The water is usually very calm, with no waves or current, making it ideal for floating and swimming. The bay gradually deepens from the shore, making it ideal for small children. Snorkeling along the rocky coast is possible, but Magens Bay is not known for its snorkeling. Paddle boats, kayaks, and sunfish are available for rent at a water sports booth. The concession sells beach chairs, floats, and snorkeling equipment.
A bar and restaurant serving burgers, pizzas, and other snacks, as well as a gift shop and a hair braiding stand, are also available at the concession. The beach is a popular stop on island tour itineraries and can become crowded on days when several cruise ships dock. Most beachgoers choose a location near the restaurant area, so if you walk down the beach away from the concession, you will find fewer people. Residents can be found relaxing after work and getting some exercise on weekday afternoons. Between 5 and 6 p.m., it is common to see mothers pushing strollers while power walking, men and women jogging, children riding bikes, and people swimming laps.
Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Address: 6200 Magen's Bay Rd, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-777-6300
Website: https://magensbayauthority.org/ -
Shoal Bay ranks 7th on the list of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Shoal Bay Villas is situated on Anguilla's award-winning Shoal Bay East beach. There are studio, one, and two bedroom rooms available, as well as beachfront, poolside, and garden suites. Each of their 27 apartments comes with a fully equipped kitchen, and they provide a provisioning service to ensure that you have everything you need when you arrive. Shoal Bay Villas is conveniently located near all of Shoal Bay's restaurants, including Tropical Sunset, Hank's, Madeariman, Uncle Ernie's, Elodias, and Gwen's Reggae Grill. Their helpful staff can assist you in making restaurant reservations, babysitting services, car rentals, and excursions. Shoal Bay Villas has everything you need for the perfect Anguilla vacation, including an onsite fitness center and mini-spa.
You can live out your tropical island fantasies at Shoal Bay. Beaches are among Anguilla's top attractions, and this is one of the best. This wide stretch of bright white sand and jade water curves seductively for more than three kilometers along Anguilla's north coast, featuring fish-rich coral gardens ideal for snorkeling. Despite being one of Anguilla's most popular beaches, it never feels crowded. Restaurants and some of Anguilla's best resorts line the shores, and you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers for the day or sprawl under a coconut palm. The most popular water sports are snorkeling, kayaking, diving, and swimming. It's also a beautiful beach for a stroll.
Google rating: 4.6/5.0
Location: the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia
Phone: 02 4981 1744
Website: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/port-stephens-area/shoal-bay -
Negril Beach, also known as Seven Mile Beach in Jamaica, stretches from Bloody Bay to Long Bay and the Negril Cliffs in the south. This well-known stretch of coastline is home to some of Jamaica's best beaches. Clear turquoise water washes the beach's creamy white sands, and coconut palms and sea grapes line the shore, providing welcome shade from the tropical sun. Swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and beachcombing are popular activities. After a day of sunbathing, refuel at one of the resort restaurants that peek out from the coconut palms along the beach.
Sandals all-inclusive resort in Negril epitomizes the free-spirited personality that has long made Negril the exotic playground of choice for fun-loving pleasure seekers, with its blissful ambience of laid-back cool and uninhibited revelry. This decadently carefree Caribbean beach resort is nestled within lushly landscaped acres along the island's legendary Seven-Mile Beach, putting you closer to the water than anywhere else in Negril. A passion for Mother Nature ensures that Jamaica's hippest adults-only resort is also its greenest, having received an EarthCheck Double Platinum Certification for an unwavering commitment to environmental excellence for more than a decade. Come let your love bloom amidst Sandals Negril's barefoot elegance and chill-out vibe.
Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Jamaica W.I.
Phone: (888) 726-3257
Website: https://www.sandals.com/negril/ -
Grace Bay on the island of Providenciales is one of the Turks and Caicos Islands' top attractions. This idyllic stretch of sand and sea appears almost too perfect to be true. For eight breathtaking kilometers, gleaming white sand as soft as flour merges with clear waters in eye-popping shades of blue, and a coral reef glimmers just offshore. The entirety of Grace Bay is excellent and breathtaking, with clean turquoise water and soft white sand, and no rocks, seaweed, or pollution. An extensive barrier reef is located about a mile (1.6 km) offshore, protects Grace Bay from the ocean swells of the Atlantic, which helps to keep the water at the beach calm and safe.
In the Princess Alexandra Marine Park, you can swim in the crystalline shallows or kick out to the reef to see stingrays, turtles, and tropical fish darting among the coral. With beauty both above and below water, it's no surprise that this sublime stretch is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. A number of the island's most exclusive resorts, ranging from luxury hotels to family-friendly resorts, line the shoreline, as do numerous restaurants. You might even see JoJo, the friendly wild dolphin who enjoys swimming along this stretch of coast.
Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: Grace Bay Circle Road, P.O. Box 128 Grace Baym Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
Phone: (888) 232-2437
Website: https://www.visittci.com/providenciales/grace-bay-beach
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Do you want to find love? Anse de Grande Saline is one of the most beautiful and private beaches on St. Barts, making it one of the best Caribbean islands for couples. This peaceful crescent-shaped cove on the island's southern shore is a little off the beaten path, but that only adds to its allure. Saline Beach, an undeveloped beach, attracts visitors with its natural beauty. In fact, some people enjoy Saline Beach while wearing only sunglasses and a smile (this pristine beach is known for its nude, but discreet, sunbathers). This is somewhat ironic, given that Saline is also known for having insufficient shade (recent visitors suggest bringing an umbrella if you sunburn easily).
There are also no restaurants in the immediate vicinity, which visitors seem to enjoy, claiming that the vistas and surrounding scenery provide a respite from modern civilization. Hike over a hill and through sand dunes from the parking area to the blonde-sand beach, which is washed by a translucent turquoise sea. Although the surf can be rough on a windy day, the typically calm waters and sandy bottom make it a lovely spot for a swim. Because the beach lacks shade and has no facilities, it's a good idea to bring an umbrella, as well as snacks and water. Though naked sunbathing is technically prohibited in St. Barts, beachgoers are more likely to break the law here.
Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: Saline Beach, 97133 St-Barthelemy
Phone: +590 590 29 88 90
Website: https://sibarth.com/saline-beach/