The Caribbean is a paradisal destination for millions of people every year, who can’t wait to bask at its powdery beaches under the warm sun or dive in its crystalline waters when the rest of the world goes through its chillier and moodier months. But, the Caribbean is much more than spectacular shores and crystal-clear seas. It is a beautiful blend of cultures, cuisines, flavours, aromas, and experiences that create a unique and totally seductive recipe, delivering on its promise of memorable experiences each and every time. In an attempt to create the most comprehensive list of the things to see and visit in the Caribbean, we have split our Caribbean travel guide into two sections. So, welcome to the first part, “Things to see in the Caribbean”, with 8 top Caribbean destinations. For the second part, please refer to our “Places to visit in the Caribbean” guide! Enjoy!
Aruba
Whether you are visiting the Caribbean for soul-filling nature explorations, hiking, trekking, swimming, snorkelling, diving, sailing, fishing, or even hitting the casinos, Aruba will speak directly to your heart. Feel free to soak up some sand at Eagle Beach or Palm Beach on a lounge chair, check out Arikok National Park, visit the unique Ostrich Farm and Butterfly Farm, hike through the Ayo and Casibari rock formations, see the California Lighthouse from up close, and explore Pedernales shipwreck 25 feet below sea level.
Antigua
Be prepared to be flabbergasted by the 365 beaches that fringe Antigua, offering all sorts of experiences, from people-watching to secluded beach time. Some of the most popular shores are Dickenson Bay (lively), Half Moon Bay (romantic), Hawksbill Beaches (a set of four secluded beaches), surfing-perfect Galley Bay Beach, and serene Valley Church Beach. Other attractions that will steal your heart are Nelson’s Dockyard which speaks of the island's colonial past, the exquisite lookout point called Shirley Heights, a natural limestone arch called Devil’s Bridge, the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda, a 17th-century sugar plantation that goes by the name Betty’s Hope, and the impressive St. John Cathedral.
Barbados
Besides the characteristic lush Caribbean landscape and spectacular powdery shores, such as Carlisle Bay, Bathsheba Beach, and Dover Beach, Barbados startles with attractions like the Animal Flower Cave, Harrison’s Cave limestone caverns, St, Nicholas Abbey (actually a rum distillery with a 350-year-old plantation home, beautiful gardens, and a museum on its land), Hunte’s Garden’s, Barbados Boardwalk offering scenic ocean views, Andromeda Botanic Gardens with over 600 plant species and land dotted with streams and ponds, George Washington House, Animal Flower Cave, and Mount Gay Rum distillery. Plus, palatial resorts, verdant golf courses, festivals with calypso tunes, and cricket and horse races at Garrison Savannah!
British Virgin Islands
Ultimately luxurious and ultra-pampering, the British Virgin Islands welcomes visitors with a beautiful coast adorned with stunning, white-sand beaches, such as Cane Garden Bay and the Baths, lots of elite villas, resorts, and restaurants, mountainous cliffs and beaches with changing tides (primarily at Tortola island), delicious Caribbean cuisine and vibrant New Year’s Eve parties (definitely visit Jost Van Dyke island), massive granite boulders enveloping unique grottoes, plenty of fishing and diving opportunities, and a pace that can be as slow or fast as you wish (Anegada is ideal for relaxed experiences).
Other things to see in the British Virgin Islands are Smuggler’s Cove, Brewer’s Bay, and Sage Mountain Park, all on Tortola island.
Grenada
With over 45 sugary beaches to choose from and a marvellous line-up of brightly-coloured buildings adorning its towns and villages, Grenada is a heart-stopping Caribbean destination that bewilders with its natural appeal. Besides the 3-kilometre (2 miles) soft-sand Grand Anse Beach and the idyllic St. George’s harbour, it causes an irresistible sense of total infatuation with landmarks like the exotic wildlife-teeming Grand Etang National Park & Forest Reserve, Belmond Estate & The Grenada Chocolate Company (a 300-year-old plantation with a 400-acre land specialising in spices), Market Square, La Sagesse Nature Centre (former plantation and perfect bird-watching spot), and River Antoine Distillery. A world apart from Barbados and St. Lucia’s glitzy nightclubs, come here if you would like to experience island time in all of its glory!
Turks & Caicos
Travel to this beautiful collection of around 100 coral islands for exclusive and secluded vacations. While here, you will lay eyes on pristine, alabaster shores, such as Grace Bay, one of the largest barrier reef systems on earth, an incredible tropical setting, and magnificent sunsets. Also enabling unforgettable scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities, Turks & Caicos allows you to diversify your adventures with the glamorous Providenciales island, the laid-back Grand Turk island with the cultural and historic core, and the naturally beautiful Sat Cay, one of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. You may also try horseback riding and visiting major local landmarks and attractions, such as the National Museum, Cheshire Hall, Pillory Beach, Mangrove Cay, Turk’s Head Brewery, and the Conch Bar Caves!
St. Lucia
Totally unspoiled and lush, St. Lucia is where you will find upscale resorts, romantic, stylish hotels with mind-blowing views, towering volcanic peaks, sugary shores, and a hiking adventure leading to the imposing Pitons mountains and the only drive-in volcano in the world (aka Sulphur Springs). Many music-loving travellers choose St. Lucia for the Jazz & Arts Festival, while adrenaline-seekers visit the island for a unique zip-lining experience through the rainforest.
Some of the must-see things in St. Lucia are Pigeon Island, the lively Reduit beach, Anse Chastanet (ideal for snorkelling), the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, the Hollywood-beloved Marigot Bay, and the Castries Market.
US Virgin Islands
The St. Thomas Carnival is a huge event that draws spring breakers mainly from the US to the US Virgin Islands. That aside, though, the USVI allures with its unspoiled natural terrain and pristine beaches, such as Trunk Bay Beach. With its lands soaked in history, it also enchants with its St. Croix forts, while also being home to high-end storefronts and a harbour for mega-yachts to moor. For more nature-related activities and a relaxed vibe, you could consider St. John island and its 7,000 acres of parkland! Again, the islands’ colonial heritage, Creole dishes (do try saltfish pate, and thank us later), the Cruzan Rum Distillery, fabulous Magens Bay (St. Thomas), Annaberg Plantation (St. John), Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (St. Croix), Coral World Ocean Park, and Fort Christiansvaern (St. Croix) are some of the things that will most definitely blow your mind!
The Caribbean is a paradisal destination for millions of people every year, who can’t wait to bask at its powdery beaches under the warm sun or dive in its crystalline waters when the rest of the world goes through its chillier and moodier months. But, the Caribbean is much more than spectacular shores and crystal-clear seas. It is a beautiful blend of cultures, cuisines, flavours, aromas, and experiences that create a unique and totally seductive recipe, delivering on its promise of memorable experiences each and every time. In an attempt to create the most comprehensive list of the things to see and visit in the Caribbean, we have split our Caribbean travel guide into two sections. So, welcome to the first part, “Things to see in the Caribbean”, with 8 top Caribbean destinations. For the second part, please refer to our “Places to visit in the Caribbean” guide! Enjoy!
Aruba
Whether you are visiting the Caribbean for soul-filling nature explorations, hiking, trekking, swimming, snorkelling, diving, sailing, fishing, or even hitting the casinos, Aruba will speak directly to your heart. Feel free to soak up some sand at Eagle Beach or Palm Beach on a lounge chair, check out Arikok National Park, visit the unique Ostrich Farm and Butterfly Farm, hike through the Ayo and Casibari rock formations, see the California Lighthouse from up close, and explore Pedernales shipwreck 25 feet below sea level.
Antigua
Be prepared to be flabbergasted by the 365 beaches that fringe Antigua, offering all sorts of experiences, from people-watching to secluded beach time. Some of the most popular shores are Dickenson Bay (lively), Half Moon Bay (romantic), Hawksbill Beaches (a set of four secluded beaches), surfing-perfect Galley Bay Beach, and serene Valley Church Beach. Other attractions that will steal your heart are Nelson’s Dockyard which speaks of the island's colonial past, the exquisite lookout point called Shirley Heights, a natural limestone arch called Devil’s Bridge, the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda, a 17th-century sugar plantation that goes by the name Betty’s Hope, and the impressive St. John Cathedral.
Barbados
Besides the characteristic lush Caribbean landscape and spectacular powdery shores, such as Carlisle Bay, Bathsheba Beach, and Dover Beach, Barbados startles with attractions like the Animal Flower Cave, Harrison’s Cave limestone caverns, St, Nicholas Abbey (actually a rum distillery with a 350-year-old plantation home, beautiful gardens, and a museum on its land), Hunte’s Garden’s, Barbados Boardwalk offering scenic ocean views, Andromeda Botanic Gardens with over 600 plant species and land dotted with streams and ponds, George Washington House, Animal Flower Cave, and Mount Gay Rum distillery. Plus, palatial resorts, verdant golf courses, festivals with calypso tunes, and cricket and horse races at Garrison Savannah!
British Virgin Islands
Ultimately luxurious and ultra-pampering, the British Virgin Islands welcomes visitors with a beautiful coast adorned with stunning, white-sand beaches, such as Cane Garden Bay and the Baths, lots of elite villas, resorts, and restaurants, mountainous cliffs and beaches with changing tides (primarily at Tortola island), delicious Caribbean cuisine and vibrant New Year’s Eve parties (definitely visit Jost Van Dyke island), massive granite boulders enveloping unique grottoes, plenty of fishing and diving opportunities, and a pace that can be as slow or fast as you wish (Anegada is ideal for relaxed experiences).
Other things to see in the British Virgin Islands are Smuggler’s Cove, Brewer’s Bay, and Sage Mountain Park, all on Tortola island.
Grenada
With over 45 sugary beaches to choose from and a marvellous line-up of brightly-coloured buildings adorning its towns and villages, Grenada is a heart-stopping Caribbean destination that bewilders with its natural appeal. Besides the 3-kilometre (2 miles) soft-sand Grand Anse Beach and the idyllic St. George’s harbour, it causes an irresistible sense of total infatuation with landmarks like the exotic wildlife-teeming Grand Etang National Park & Forest Reserve, Belmond Estate & The Grenada Chocolate Company (a 300-year-old plantation with a 400-acre land specialising in spices), Market Square, La Sagesse Nature Centre (former plantation and perfect bird-watching spot), and River Antoine Distillery. A world apart from Barbados and St. Lucia’s glitzy nightclubs, come here if you would like to experience island time in all of its glory!
Turks & Caicos
Travel to this beautiful collection of around 100 coral islands for exclusive and secluded vacations. While here, you will lay eyes on pristine, alabaster shores, such as Grace Bay, one of the largest barrier reef systems on earth, an incredible tropical setting, and magnificent sunsets. Also enabling unforgettable scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities, Turks & Caicos allows you to diversify your adventures with the glamorous Providenciales island, the laid-back Grand Turk island with the cultural and historic core, and the naturally beautiful Sat Cay, one of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. You may also try horseback riding and visiting major local landmarks and attractions, such as the National Museum, Cheshire Hall, Pillory Beach, Mangrove Cay, Turk’s Head Brewery, and the Conch Bar Caves!
St. Lucia
Totally unspoiled and lush, St. Lucia is where you will find upscale resorts, romantic, stylish hotels with mind-blowing views, towering volcanic peaks, sugary shores, and a hiking adventure leading to the imposing Pitons mountains and the only drive-in volcano in the world (aka Sulphur Springs). Many music-loving travellers choose St. Lucia for the Jazz & Arts Festival, while adrenaline-seekers visit the island for a unique zip-lining experience through the rainforest.
Some of the must-see things in St. Lucia are Pigeon Island, the lively Reduit beach, Anse Chastanet (ideal for snorkelling), the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, the Hollywood-beloved Marigot Bay, and the Castries Market.
US Virgin Islands
The St. Thomas Carnival is a huge event that draws spring breakers mainly from the US to the US Virgin Islands. That aside, though, the USVI allures with its unspoiled natural terrain and pristine beaches, such as Trunk Bay Beach. With its lands soaked in history, it also enchants with its St. Croix forts, while also being home to high-end storefronts and a harbour for mega-yachts to moor. For more nature-related activities and a relaxed vibe, you could consider St. John island and its 7,000 acres of parkland! Again, the islands’ colonial heritage, Creole dishes (do try saltfish pate, and thank us later), the Cruzan Rum Distillery, fabulous Magens Bay (St. Thomas), Annaberg Plantation (St. John), Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (St. Croix), Coral World Ocean Park, and Fort Christiansvaern (St. Croix) are some of the things that will most definitely blow your mind!