Sunset at Playa Varadero in Cuba. dotmiller1986/Shutterstock
Beautiful bays fringed by palm trees gently waving in the breeze, shallow reefs full of tropical fish and rustic rum bars that welcome you in like a warm hug – it's difficult to beat the Caribbean when it comes to a picture-perfect beach vacation.
You’ll find thousands of shores with clear waters and warm weather on these diverse islands, which extend in a chain from the southern tip of Florida to the northern coast of Venezuela. From St Lucia and St Vincent to Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, there are ample options across the tourist-friendly region when it comes to powdery stretches of sand. Take all the hard work out of narrowing down your favorites with this list of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
1. Playa Varadero, Cuba
Best beach for plentiful tourist facilities
Cuba’s famous “blue beach” comprises several pristine areas that stretch out over 20km (12.4 miles) along a long peninsula. Silky white sand, shady palms and warm waters await sunseekers who want a picture-perfect shoreline to explore.
Natural beauty blends seamlessly with beach amenities at Playa Varadero. Resorts are plentiful here and offer guests access to chairs and loungers, as well as a good variety of beach activities, should you tire of swimming and sipping cocktails.
Planning tip: Keep an eye out for bicycle souvenir kiosks that regularly roll along the beach selling a selection of bongos, sarongs, sun hats and shell jewelry to bartering tourists.
Location: Northwest coast of the island, 140km (87 miles) east of Havana.
How to get there: Hotels along the beach have free parking for guests and there are also parking lots in the area.
Amenities: There are numerous bars and restaurants all along the shore, and many big resorts offer day passes if you're not a guest.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Varadero is not pet friendly.
2. Anse Chastanet Beach, St Lucia
Best beach for reef diving
In the shadow of the towering Pitons (a World Heritage site) lies secluded Anse Chastanet Beach. Bordering 600 tropical acres, this black-sand beach has prime snorkeling and diving opportunities among coral-covered rocks.
Just meters from the water’s edge, the protected house reef is home to over 150 species of fish, including moray eels, parrotfish and angelfish. The team at the on-site dive shop can kit you up shoreside and take you on guided scuba and snorkel trips through the colorful corals.
After a big snorkeling session, unwind with a cheeky rum cocktail (or three) from the beach bar and stay for the sunset as the skies blaze with a kaleidoscope of pastel colors.
Planning tip: Like all beaches in St Lucia, Anse Chastanet is a public beach with free access to all, and you don’t need to be a resort resident to sunbathe here. Beach day trippers can arrive by car, taxi or boat and are welcome to use the on-site restaurant, beach bar and dive shop.
Location: The southwest coast of St Lucia, near Soufrière.
How to get there: It's just over a kilometer's walk from Soufrière or you can take a water taxi from the town dock.
Amenities: If you're not staying at the resort behind the beach, you can pay for a day pass to use their facilities. The beach is free to access for everyone.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Pets are not permitted on the beach.
3. Playa Los Patos, Dominican Republic
Best beach for experienced surfers
Located on the coastal highway on the Península de Pedernales is the popular pebble beach Playa Los Patos. This pretty swim-and-surf spot also has several shacks selling ice-cold cerveza (beer) and tasty snacks – perfect for post-surf refreshment.
Experienced surfers can take advantage of the consistent and strong swells, which provide long rides along the shore. Be mindful of rocks and rips while riding the fast-breaking waters – they can catch even pro wave riders out.
Detour: There’s a natural swim spot near the beach by the Los Patos River, where a wide natural pool has formed, providing for a refreshing dip away from the rocky reefs.
Location: The south coast, near the town of Paraíso.
How to get there: There is a secure car park next to the beach that costs RD$0.50 pesos.
Amenities: Several bars and food huts line the beach and there are also restrooms nearby.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a leash.
4. Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica
Best beach for old-school luxury
Clear river waters empty into an unspoiled turquoise bay surrounded by lush gardens and green headlands – it’s a piece of paradise in Port Antonio.
Beloved by celebrities, Frenchman’s Cove is a private enterprise (owned by Garfield Weston), and access to this beach utopia costs around J$2500 (US$15.60) a day. And it’s worth it, as you sunbathe on a white-sanded shore, paddle in warm waters and order fruity drinks and flavorsome food from the locally owned beach bar.
Location: The northeast coast, next to Port Antonio.
How to get there: There is parking available along the road to the beach or you can get a taxi from nearby Port Antonio.
Amenities: A locally operated beach bar and grill, freshwater showers and restrooms.
Hours: Open 9am to 5pm.
Dog friendly: Pets are not allowed on the beach.
5. Magazine Beach, Grenada
Best beach for snorkeling
A long stretch of white sand located in the island’s southwest, Magazine Beach is a serene snorkel spot in Grenada where you can float above sea fans, damselfish and angelfish.
Sustenance can be found at the southern end of the beach at Aquarium Restaurant. Serving cold Carib beers and fiery jerk dishes, this spot is renowned for the raucous beach BBQ and live music held every Sunday.
Planning tip: Magazine Beach is next to the airport and visitors often use it as a last taste of sun and sand before heading home.
Location: The southwest coast of Grenada.
How to get there: Parking spaces are available next to the beach.
Amenities: There are several hotels, bars and restaurants located along the beach.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a leash.
6. Pink Sands Beach, the Bahamas
Best beach for rose-tinted views
On Harbour Island, you’ll find one of the most renowned and elegant beaches in the Bahamas. Along this 5km (3.1 miles) sandy stretch, snap-happy tourists flock for pink-sand selfies among luxury accommodations and excellent dining options.
The pale-pink hues under your feet are a quirk of science. They’re created by foraminifera, microscopic coral insects whose reddish-pink shell mixes with the sand to create a unique pink shoreline that practically shimmers during the sunset.
Planning tip: Enjoy a slower pace of island life and rent a bicycle or golf cart to get around car-free Harbour Island.
Location: On Harbour Island.
How to get there: Take a ferry or short connecting flight from Nassau.
Amenities: Limited, so bring your own umbrella and beach towel. The nearby Pink Sands Resort has dining and drinking options.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a leash.
7. Apple Bay, British Virgin Islands
Best beach for big waves
White-sand Apple Bay is a surfing hotspot where you’ll find some of the best riding waves and swells in the Caribbean. Located on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, the beach suffered huge destruction during the 2017 hurricanes, and many of the rickety beach bars sadly never returned.
Location: North shore of Tortola's west end.
How to get there: Street parking is available nearby.
Amenities: There are lounges and umbrellas for rent, as well as several hotels, bars and restaurants located near the beach.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are not permitted on the beach.
8. Fisherman’s Hut Beach, Aruba
Best beach for windsurfing
This white-powder beach is one of the best flat-water windsurfing locations in the world. Also known as Hadicurari, it’s where pro windsurfers and kitesurfers come in Aruba to practice slicing through shallow waters and to compete in the annual Hi-Winds windsurfing competition. Newbies can book kitesurf lessons on the beach or hop on a Jet Ski to rip along the shoreline.
Location: Aruba's northwest coast.
How to get there: Parking is available in the Palm Beach area, just a short walk from Fisherman's Hut Beach.
Amenities: There are nearby bars and restaurants, and watersport centers for kit hire.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a leash.
9. Playa Caracas, Puerto Rico
Best beach for getting away from it all
Located in Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, Playa Caracas is one of the more remote beaches in Vieques – or really all of Puerto Rico. Here, you’ll find a wide, white-sand cove framed by small palm trees.
From the left side of the shoreline, there are snorkeling opportunities in clear waters, where you can explore a sea-fan garden populated by colorful fish. Amenities are limited here, so pack a picnic and plenty of water.
Planning tip: There’s very little shade here, so bring a beach umbrella if possible.
Location: The south coast of Vieques Island.
How to get there: Take the ferry from Ceiba.
Amenities: Limited to a picnic pavilion with shade and a composting toilet.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a leash.
10. Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
Best beach for little swimmers
Powder-fine sand, towering palms and calm, cerulean waters: Shoal Bay East in Anguilla has all the required elements for a sublime Caribbean beach break.
Swim or snorkel through the shallow waters, keeping an eye out for sea fans and schools of blue tangs as you venture towards the outer reefs. Restaurants, beach bars and hotels line the beach, renting chaise lounges and umbrellas to guests.
Location: North shore of Anguilla.
How to get there: Parking is available next to the beach and taxis to the area are plentiful.
Amenities: Small resorts and beach bars line the sand.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
11. Crane Beach, Barbados
Best beach for boogie boarding
Originally a working harbor – the large loading crane still present gives the beach its name – this lush, subtropical idyll is now considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Barbados. While swimming is possible here, the often choppy waters make it a great spot for boogie boarding, so make sure to bring a board and ride the lively waves.
The connected Crane Resort also offers beach chairs and umbrellas to rent, and food and drinks are available to both resort guests and beach day trippers.
Location: Southeastern coast of Barbados.
How to get there: Parking is very limited next to the beach. Alternatively, take the bus from the Fairchild Street Terminal and get off at the Crane Resort stop.
Amenities: Chairs and umbrellas are available to rent from Crane Resort. They also serve food and drinks.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
12. Governor’s Beach, Grand Cayman
Best beach for families with kids
A segment of Grand Cayman’s famous Seven Mile Beach, adjacent to Government House, this peaceful stretch of sand is known for being a family-friendly beach. Let the kids roll around on sugar-soft sand, swim or snorkel in marine life-rich waters and eat falling fruit from the sea-grape trees during the summer months. Beach facilities are plentiful, with toilets, parking and watersports rentals all available in the immediate vicinity.
Planning tip: Hungry? Near the beach, you’ll find shopping malls with a decent selection of restaurants where you can grab a reasonably priced lunch.
Location: Next to the Governor's Mansion on the west coast of Grand Cayman.
How to get there: A large, free parking lot is next to the beach.
Amenities: The area is lined with resorts, shops and bars. Public toilets and watersports rentals are available.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
13. Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos
Best beach for scuba diving
Regularly topping rankings of the best beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach is regarded as the prettiest beach in Turks and Caicos. Located on the main island of Providenciales and part of the protected Princess Alexandra National Park, the beach is a great option for families due to its calm, shallow waters.
An offshore barrier – and the world’s third largest coral reef – safeguards the coast from Atlantic sea swells and is highly-regarded as a prime site for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Location: Northeast coast of the island of Providenciales.
How to get there: Ample free parking is next to the beach.
Amenities: Lots of resorts offer loungers to rent and the sand is lined with bars and watersports centers.
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Dog friendly: Dogs are only allowed on certain parts of the beach and they need to be leashed.