9 Best Beaches in the Caribbean

If you’re thinking about planning a trip to the Caribbean, chances are you’re already dreaming about lying out on the beach. It’s no surprise that some of the best beaches in the world are located in the Caribbean; the area’s turquoise water and pristine white sand define the ultimate beach paradise. 

If you’re unsure which beach to hang out on, consider this your guide. Though it would be impossible to showcase every great beach in the Caribbean (seriously, there are thousands), we rounded up nine beaches perfect for your next vacation. 

There’s a variety of beaches included: some quiet and remote and others bustling with water sports and beachside bars, but all are guaranteed to have you swooning over the views. To help plan your trip, we’ve also included the best hotels and resorts close to the beaches. Ready to dive in? Check out our picks of the nine best beaches across the Caribbean. 

Grace Bay in Providenciales, the main island in Turks and Caicos, is a quintessential Caribbean beach: vibrant teal water, dazzling white sand and a relatively uncrowded shoreline. You may not want to do anything except soak up the sun in your beach lounger, but there are a few ways to have fun on the water. Grace Bay Watersports offers parasailing and catamaran tours and if you’re staying at one of the beachfront hotels, many offer complimentary kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkeling gear. 

Where to Stay: There’s a ton of great resorts along Grace Bay, but you can’t go wrong with Seven Stars Resort & Spa. The service is outstanding and the onsite restaurant, The Farm on Grace Bay, serves dishes with ingredients straight from its hydroponic garden. 

St. John in the US Virgin Islands is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets. The tiny island is accessible via ferry from St. Thomas and since 60% of the island is dedicated to the Virgin Islands National Park, it’s a lush, quiet destination. One of the best beaches on St. John is Trunk Bay, a gorgeous slice of beach ringed by mountains. The beach is inside the Virgin Islands National Park and has a small entry fee ($5 per person for ages 16 and up). Once you’re here, head down to the shore and grab a spot on the beach, which can fill up quickly. There’s also a snack bar, The Trunk Bay Snack Shack, steps from the beach that sells burgers, sandwiches and drinks. 

Where to Stay: Since Trunk Bay is tucked inside the island’s National Park, there aren’t any hotels or resorts by its shore, but one of the island’s best hotels is The Westin St. John Villas. The all-villa resort is a great place to explore the island and it’s only a 15-minute drive from Trunk Bay Beach. 

St. Martin/St. Maarten is a dual-island nation and travelers arriving at Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of St. Maarten can easily explore the island’s Dutch and French sides. The island has 37 gorgeous beaches and on the French side of the island, St. Martin’s Orient Bay, has been dubbed “The St. Tropez of the Caribbean.” Orient Bay is a long, stunning stretch of soft white sand, dotted with beach clubs like Coco Beach, which is set to reopen soon. There are also lots of beach chairs and umbrellas for rent and Bikini Watersport offers activities like jet skiing, windsurfing and tubing. 

Where to Stay:  La Playa Orient Bay is a bright, modern boutique hotel with 56 rooms. The hotel is conveniently located right on Orient Bay and the hotel’s eatery, La Playa Restaurant & Bar, is the perfect setting for a long lunch. 

Grand Cayman is a well-known vacation destination and the island’s most popular beachfront is Seven Mile Beach. Though it’s not necessarily an out-of-the-way or remote beach, Seven Mile Beach has earned its spot as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean for a few reasons. The spotless shore has sugar-soft sand and the water is shallow and rock-free, which attracts lots of families. The water off the coast is also incredibly clear, making it easy to spot wildlife underwater, like colorful parrotfish and even sea turtles. 

Where to Stay: Seven Mile Beach has no shortage of hotels and resorts and where you stay depends on what you’re looking for. The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa is a bright, family-friendly property with 24-hour room service and babysitting services. For a stylish stay, check into the Palm Heights, where all 52 suites have ocean views. 

The Bahamas is synonymous with a beach vacation and we recommend venturing outside of popular Nassau to experience one of the island’s best beaches. Harbour Island, a 3.5-mile-long island, is a  2 ½ ferry ride from the capital of Nassau and offers a pale pink cotton candy hued beach. The beach gets its color from tiny shelled organisms called foraminifera, which have pink and red shells that get crushed into the sand. 

Where to Stay: Get close to the pink sands with a stay at Pink Sands Resort, which opened in 1951. The luxe cottages and villas are just steps from the rosy beach. 

There are a few benefits to traveling to Aruba. The island is friendly (locals like to call out “Bon Dia” or Good Day), the beaches are picture perfect and the island is outside the hurricane belt, so you don’t have to worry about inclement weather. Aruba has two main beaches that cater to travelers: Palm Beach and Eagle Beach. Though both are beautiful, Eagle Beach is a bit quieter and it has a vast stretch of sandy beachfront dotted with palapas (thatched-roof huts), which provide plenty of shade. The beachfront is also a haven for surfers (you can take lessons at Aruba Surf and Paddleboarding School) and it’s one of the best places on the island to catch a sunset. 

Where to Stay: Lean into wellness with a stay at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, a low-key resort perched on the sands of Eagle Beach. Some wellness offerings include yoga and pilates classes right on the sand.  

Anguilla’s 33 gorgeous beaches have long attracted celebrities and high-profile guests, and its quiet setting makes it ideal for a romantic getaway. Though you can’t go wrong with any beach in Anguilla, Meads Bay is on the island’s western end and gets top marks for its silky smooth sand and consistently clear, calm waters. One of the island’s beloved restaurants, Blanchard’s Beach Shack, sits on Meads Bay, and the locals and visitors gather at lunch for the generous blackened mahi salad and jerk chicken salad. 

Where to Stay: Go glam with a stay at the Four Seasons Anguilla overlooking Meads Bay. The service is impeccable and the hotel boasts three dramatic pools. Another great option is Frangipani Beach Resort, an intimate beach resort right on Meads Bay. 

Grenada is one of the friendliest islands in the Caribbean and Grand Anse (meaning Big Bay in French) is one of the most picturesque. The two-mile-long beach (the longest in Grenada) is lined with beach bars and restaurants like Umbrellas Beach Bar, which serves a potent rum punch. But if you’re looking for a bit of solace, you can head to the southern end of the beach, where there’s a bit more shade and plenty of room to chill out on the sand. 

Where to Stay: Spice Island Beach Resort is a family-owned boutique just steps from Grand Anse. The all-inclusive, luxury villa property has both beachfront accommodations and pool suites, so you can choose what kind of water view to wake up to. 

Antigua’s winding coastline has 365 beaches, so there’s a beach for every type of traveler. While choosing only one beach isn’t easy, Dickenson Bay is considered the island’s premier beach. It’s not necessarily the quietest, but the easily accessible mile-long beach is excellent for swimming and snorkeling and there are tons of convenient amenities like restaurants and water sport rentals. For both, Tony’s Water Sports offers jet ski rentals alongside a full-service restaurant. 

Where to Stay: For a hassle-free getaway, Sandals Grande Antigua is an adults-only property nestled right on the sands of Dickerson Bay. Some hotel perks include 11 restaurants, six pools and daily entertainment.