6 Caribbean Beaches Perfect for Winter Getaways

When the temps dip, there’s nothing better than booking a flight to a gorgeous white sand beach. While the promise of sun-drenched beaches is enough to lure anyone to the Caribbean in the winter, I find the winter season offers so much more than a simple escape. Across the Caribbean, the streets explode with the electric energy of Carnival celebrations, and the culinary scene hits its peak with lively food festivals. This winter, elevate your Caribbean getaway beyond a simple beach trip by planning it around a local event. To get you started, we’ve rounded up six incredible beaches perfect for an unforgettable adventure.

St. Barts is a long-time winter favorite among travelers, coming alive with parties and chic events all season. St. Jean Beach is the heart of St. Barts, and besides the golden sand and turquoise waters, it’s a famously perfect place to watch small planes land at the adjacent airport. St. Jean Beach is exceptionally calm, ideal for swimming and paddleboarding, but the real draw is the vibrant social scene at world-famous beach clubs like Nikki Beach and Gyp Sea Beach Club. For beachfront accommodations, consider Eden Rock St. Barths, but plan ahead as rooms sell out several months in advance. 

Why Visit? Though St. Barts can be pricey during the winter high season, the reward is getting to experience the non-stop festivities across the island. Consider planning a trip around the St. Barts Gourmet Festival, which takes place annually in November. The weeklong culinary event includes a lineup of award-winning chefs, champagne master classes, and a friendly bartender challenge. 

If you’re looking for a beach that’s off the beaten path, one of your best bets is Loblolly Beach in Anegada, one of the British Virgin Islands. If you’ve never heard of Anegada, the island is one of the BVI’s more low-key destinations and feels like discovering a castaway’s dream. The main attraction here is the world-class snorkeling, with vibrant coral gardens and abundant marine life just steps from the shore.

After exploring the reef, the only thing to do is grab a hammock at a rustic beach bar like the Big Bamboo, order some fresh Anegada lobster, and soak in the profound tranquility. Stay for a few days (or longer) by booking a beachfront stay at Anegada Beach Club or Lolobbly Beach Cottages, two rustic properties perched right on the water. 

Why Visit? November marks lobster season in the British Virgin Islands, and there are events across Anegada celebrating the occasion. The main event is the Anegada Lobster Festival, a three-day culinary festival that’s part of the year-long BVI Food Fête. Local chefs take center stage, serving up a mouthwatering array of local spiny lobster dishes. Festival-goers can savor classics like lobster fritters, lobster mac and cheese, and spicy jerk lobster.

For U.S. travelers, the U.S. Virgin Islands offers an easy, passport-free getaway. Of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is the largest and offers several gorgeous beaches. One is Cane Bay, nestled on St. Croix’s scenic North Shore, and it’s known for its spectacular coral reef that offers unforgettable scuba diving and snorkeling.

Above water, the vibe is pure Caribbean relaxation. The beach itself is a beautiful stretch of sand perfect for sunbathing. With dive shops and laid-back drinking holes like The Landing Beach Bar located directly across the street, you can easily spend an entire day exploring the vibrant reefs and then relax with a rum punch as the sun sets. For a quiet escape, check into The Waves, Cane Bay, an 11-room boutique hotel with patios overlooking the water. 

Why Visit? Head to St. Croix to take advantage of the warm weather and great diving, and make the most of your trip by visiting during one of the island’s most popular events, The Crucian Christmas Festival. The annual event kicks off the day after Christmas and continues through the first week of the new year. Gear up for a Carnival parade featuring the stilt walking Moko Jumbies, live concerts, and a food fair. 

You can’t go wrong with any beach in Nassau, but Cable Beach is tops for a few reasons. Cable Beach is the glamorous heart of Nassau’s resort district, a stunning two-mile stretch of powdery white sand. This iconic shoreline is also home to the sprawling Baha Mar resort complex, which features three luxury hotels: The Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood. While perfect for swimming and sunbathing, the beach is also a hub for water sports, from paddleboarding to jet skiing. 

Why Visit: Two of Nassau’s most beloved events are the annual Junkanoo Parades, which happen on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The parades feature Junkanoo bands with feathered dancers, drummers, and instruments that range from trumpets to cowbells. Grab a ticket to see the parade down Bay Street, and the best part—both parades start at midnight and the party continues until early the next day. 

There are few beaches better than Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Consistently ranked among the world’s best beaches, this magnificent crescent of powdery, coral sand stretches for miles along the island’s western shore. Its most defining feature is the incredibly calm, crystal-clear water, which feels more like a vast swimming pool than the open sea. Take your pick from beach luxury accommodations on Seven Mile Beach like The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and the chic Palm Heights resort.  

Why Visit? The Cayman Cookout, which takes place annually in January, is the island’s premier culinary event. Founded by Chef Eric Ripert, the weeklong festival takes place at The Ritz-Carlton and includes celebrity chef demos, beachside parties, and pickleball sip and soirees.  

Considered one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Aruba’s Eagle Beach is a breathtakingly wide expanse of pristine white sand.  Lined with low-rise resorts like the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort and Manchebo Beach Resort, the atmosphere here is far more serene than its bustling neighbor, Palm Beach. Aruba has the added advantage of being outside of the hurricane belt, so you won’t have to worry about inclement weather during hurricane season, which lasts from June 1st through November 1st. 

Why Visit? Aruba leads with its beaches, but one of the best winter attractions is the Aruba Carnival, which spans several months. Festivities begin in November, but the main events take place in January and February. Visitors can expect street parades filled with music and dazzling costumes, and the grand parade happens mid-February in Oranjestad, the island’s capital.