There are many wonderful reasons to go to on Caribbean vacations. You can lie on sandy white beaches working on your great tan or dive into the crystal clear waters to explore the amazing breadth of marine life that lives there. The food is delicious with many places featuring outdoor dining experiences where you can watch the gorgeous sunsets while dining. History lovers will adore the history of the Caribbean. It is important, however, to choose the Caribbean destination that fits your needs the best. These places were carefully chosen to give you the widest choices possible, so everyone is sure to find a Caribbean vacation they will enjoy.
8 Best Caribbean Vacations You Need to Go On
1. Hike in Jamaica
Explore the island where Ian Fleming wrote his famous James Bond novels by hiking on the Blue Mountain Peak Trail taking them to Jamaica’s highest peak right through the heart of where Jamaican coffee is grown or choose to take the Mayfield Falls Trail running beside two beautiful waterfalls.
Visiting Jamaica during their festivals is a great way to explore the island’s culture. Accompong Maroon Festival features the signing of the pact ending the First Maroon War. Bob Marley’s Birthday Bash features four days of outstanding reggae music annually.
2.Explore the Beaches in the Turks and Caicos
Those looking at Caribbean vacations with lots of opportunity to lie on the beach need to consider the Turks and Caicos offering over 230 miles of white sandy beaches. Grace Bay Beach has been named as the top beach in the world by TripAdisor.com.
The Conch Festival pays tribute to the fact that conch is only raised commercially here with a weekend festival featuring the conch, along with family entertainment and ripsaw and steel pan music.
3. Surf in Puerto Rico
Surfers love Caribbean vacations and the surfing does not get any better than in Puerto Rico offers 311 miles of perfect surfing conditions. Playa Aviones, near San Juan, is the most popular with tourists. If you love standup paddleboarding, then head to La Islita. The Puerto Rico Triple Crown draws world-class surfers to the waters near Boca del Cibuco.
Casals Festival is the preeminent classical musical festival in the world. Saborea! held in April regularly attracts the world’s leading celebrity chefs to compete against local talent.
4. Explore the Landscape of Barbados
If you are looking for a vacation filled with great natural beauty, head to Barbados. Visit the Andromeda Botanic Gardens featuring tropical plants from around the world especially their breadfruit tree collection that was started by Captain Blight, and the bearded fig trees for which the island may have been named. Also, visit the Welchman Hall Gully that includes over 200 species of tropical plants.
The 12-week Crop Over Festival ends the local sugar cane harvest with harvest feasts, steel pan music competitions and heritage events.
5. See Ancient History in Aruba
History lovers often find Aruba one of the best spots for Caribbean vacations. Be sure to stroll the streets of Oranjestad with to view the pastel-painted Dutch architecture buildings. Be sure to visit the King Willem III Tower at Fort Zoutman to learn more about the island’s history. Have a picnic at the historic California Lighthouse. Visit the Alto Vista Church built in 1750 with its fascinating Stations of the Cross.
The Bon Bini Festival takes place at Fort Zoutman every Tuesday night showcasing this island’s folklore and music.
6. Dive at St. Lucia
St. Lucia is the sight where the 1967 Dr. Doolittle movie was filmed. Those looking for Caribbean vacations featuring great diving opportunities need t consider St. Lucia. The waters at Anse Chastanet Marine National Park offer coral-diving opportunities where divers can see marine life ranging from parrotfish to barracuda. Explore the caves to see the unique frogfish that live there.
Creole Day is a large festival occurring every October. Locals dress in beautiful multilayered historic clothing while feasting on a variety of foods including bouyon and Johnny cake.
7. Interact with Marine Life near the Cayman Islands
Guests looking for opportunities to interact with marine life on Caribbean vacations may find the Cayman Islands the perfect vacation spot. Guests can cuddle and kiss stingrays at Stingray City where the water is so shallow that non-swimmers can stay on their knees. Visitors can also wade with three species of sea turtles at the Cayman Turtle Farm where researchers work to heal injured turtles.
Come be a pirate during Pirates Week where mock pirates invade the capital, parades take to the streets and fireworks are shot into the air.
8. Hear the Birds Sing at Trinidad and Tobago
These two beautiful islands are a great place to go on a birdwatching vacation. The scarlet ibis, the national bird, is easy to spot on a cruise to Caroni Bird Sanctuary. At the 1500-acre Asa Wright Nature Centre is a dense rainforest where hummingbirds, pygmy owls and oilbirds live. Tourist funds are used to protect the quickly disappearing rainforest environment.
These two islands are culturally diverse from the rest of the Caribbean. Carnival is huge in Trinidad and Tobago. This festival is a great place to hear soca and calypso music.
These Caribbean vacations have been carefully chosen so that everyone can find the one that interests them the most based on their own personal interests. If you looking to interact with nature, then make sure to carefully consider Jamaica, Barbados, Cayman Islands along with Trinidad and Tobago. Alternatively, if you love to lie on white sandy beaches, then make sure to go to the Turks and Caicos. History lovers should consider Aruba while those looking for marine-life vacations need to think about the Cayman Islands. Finally, those looking for active water sports need to consider Puerto Rico and St. Lucia.
Images taken from depositphotos.com.