18 of the Most Beautiful Caribbean Islands

The World Heritage Twin Pitons are framed by sunlit flowers in the early morning on St. Lucia — Photo:
Wildroze/Getty Images

The islands of the Caribbean region are known for their stunning beaches, brilliantly blue waters, and near-perfect weather. While there are many similarities between them, each has its own topography, history, and culture. The most beautiful Caribbean islands have distinctive natural features, like St. Lucia’s haunting coastal twin peaks, Dominica’s untouched rain forest, and the pink sands of the Bahamas. On some islands, well-preserved historical architecture enhances the idyllic setting.

There are direct flights to many popular Caribbean destinations, but more remote islands, such as Canouan, require an inter-island flight or ferry — or even a private charter. We think you’ll find the secluded beaches and pristine landscapes worth the extra effort. Here are 18 of the most beautiful Caribbean islands to inspire your travels.

Best tourist destination: St. Barts
Underrated hidden gem: Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Best for families: U.S. Virgin Islands
Best for couples: St. Lucia
Best for solo travelers: Puerto Rico

Keep reading to discover the rest of our picks.

St. Barts

Colombier beach on St Barths — Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Known for upscale resorts, villas, boutiques, and visiting yachts, St. Barts is a little over nine square miles with white-sand beaches, lagoons, and inlets. An undersea nature reserve protects the shallow coral reefs surrounding the island, providing excellent snorkeling opportunities. Divers can explore several sunken vessels as well as colorful marine life. The capital, Gustavia, is a picturesque harbor town with promenades, historic buildings, and restaurants.

Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Canouan Island and Mandarin Oriental stay experience — Alisha Prakash/Travel + Leisure

Canouan has the hallmarks of many Caribbean islands: luminous turquoise waters offset by white-sand beaches and verdant hills. But the natural landscapes of the tiny “island of turtles” are hardly touched by tourism, partly thanks to its remote location. Getting there involves chartering a plane or catching a flight or ferry from another island. Climb Canouan’s tallest peak, Mount Royal, for spectacular views of the surrounding islands — including the even more exclusive celebrity playground Mustique.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Aerial view of sailboats in Sanders Bay, Saint John, United States Virgin Islands — John Duarte/Getty Images

About 45 miles from Puerto Rico, this archipelago consists of three main islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, the largest. Known for duty-free shopping, the U.S. Virgin Islands offer much more than bargains, although it’s fun to come home with a special purchase. Visitors can snorkel among coral reefs, mangroves, and colorful marine life. On St. John, the Virgin Islands National Park is home to immaculate beaches, hiking trails, and historic ruins.

St. Lucia

Stunning view of the Pitons (Petit Piton & Gros Piton) from an elevated viewpoint with the rainforest and bay of SoufriÃ¨re in the foreground. — Paul Baggaley/Getty Images

This volcanic island is known for the hauntingly beautiful Piton mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can climb the iconic twin peaks for spectacular views, though the challenging hike is best undertaken with a guide. The lush rain forest of the island's interior is home to native wildlife such as the St. Lucia Parrot. Mineral-rich mud pools, thermal baths, and sulfur springs are reminders of the island’s volcanic origins. The beauty continues under the sea, where divers and snorkelers can see coral, colorful tropical fish, and sea turtles.

Puerto Rico

View of rolling hills and coast line in El Yunque — Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

From beaches to mountains to rain forests, Puerto Rico offers a diverse environment. Trails in El Yunque National Forest lead through lush greenery to natural pools and waterfalls. Spread across roughly 270 miles of coastline, Puerto Rico’s beaches range from secluded coves to lively white-sand stretches with swimming, diving, and water sports. Among the must-visit places in Puerto Rico are its rare bioluminescent bays, where the water appears to glow at night thanks to microscopic organisms that are stimulated by movement.

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

The third largest of the British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda is known for its pristine beaches, history, nature sanctuaries, and the Baths — pools and seawater grottos formed by huge granite boulders. White-sand shores include nearby Spring Bay, with clear water for snorkeling, an expansive lawn, picnic tables, barbecue grills, and a natural swimming pool created by a circle of boulders.

Grenada

This beautiful island is nicknamed the "Spice Isle" for its production of spices, including nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, and vanilla. White-sand beaches on its 75 miles of coastline, rain forests, and waterfalls are part of the appeal, as is its vibrant culture, rum distilleries, and historical architecture. Divers can enjoy its coral reefs, shipwrecks, and underwater sculpture park.

Dominica

Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, Dominica offers untouched natural beauty with rain forests, mountains, and waterfalls. A unique feature on the island is Boiling Lake, a flooded volcanic fumarole that bubbles from the molten magma below. The main town on the island’s north coast is Calibishie, an ancient fishing village about a mile from the rain forest.

Jamaica

View of a man in the water swimming at dusk — Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Located about 600 miles from Miami, Jamaica lures visitors with gorgeous beaches. In addition to its palm-fringed sandy shores, the island has rivers flowing from its mountains into the Caribbean. On the northern coast, Dunn’s River Falls attracts hikers and beachgoers who swim in the shallow waters at the base of the waterfall or relax on the stretch of white sand. The Blue Lagoon, with its translucent, cerulean water, is another stunning spot to the east.

Turks and Caicos

While technically in the Atlantic Ocean, Turks and Caicos is included in the Caribbean region. The British Overseas Territory consists of two island groups totaling more than 40 islands, but only eight are inhabited. The island of Providenciales is home to the majority of hotels and resorts and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Grace Bay Beach offers soft white sand, calm waters, and an extensive barrier reef. Take in the island's stunning scenery — above and below the water — while sailing, snorkeling, or paddleboarding.

Anguilla

Located in the eastern Caribbean, Anguilla combines modern, luxurious resorts with well-preserved reminders of the island’s colonial past like the 1785 Wallblake House. Soft, white sand and clear, warm waters attract visitors to resorts along Shoal Bay Beach on the island's eastern side and the West End’s Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, and other beautiful areas.

Necker Island and Moskito Island

luxurious Necker Island, British Virgin Islands taken from a boat — cdwheatley/Getty Images

Sir Richard Branson’s private islands are a few of the Caribbean’s loveliest. Necker Island, a mile north of Virgin Gorda, features plush villas, lush landscaping, and a variety of wildlife, cared for by a team of conservationists. Moskito Island, just across from Necker Island, also offers natural beauty surrounded by clear, blue waters, with estates available for guest buyouts.

Grand Cayman

The largest of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman combines coral sand and lively restaurants and bars on its famed Seven Mile Beach — one of the Caribbean's best beaches. After you've soaked up the idyllic coastal scenery, browse luxe jewelry and perfume in the duty-free stores in the capital, George Town. To immerse yourself in natural beauty, head to the eastern section of the island, where the tropical gardens and two-acre lake at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park provide a haven for native wildlife like endangered blue iguanas.

Cozumel, Mexico

Located off the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Cozumel is on the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Snorkeling and diving in the clear waters around the reef or relaxing on the sandy beaches are just a few ways to enjoy the island. At Punta Sur, an ecological park with white-sand beaches and croc-inhabited lagoons, you can rent kayaks or snorkeling gear. Climb to the top of the lighthouse for breathtaking coastal views.

Martinique

Lush greenery and hummingbird-attracting tropical blooms are on full display in Martinique's Jardin de Balata, one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. Mont Pelée, an active volcano, is another natural wonder of this island north of St. Lucia. Gorgeous beaches, rain forests, and mountains provide visitors with adventures like hiking, kayaking, and exploring the island’s protected parkland. Historic shipwrecks and the island’s abundant marine life make diving a popular activity, too, along with sampling Martinique’s famed rum and cuisine.

Barbados

The easternmost Caribbean island, Barbados boasts more than 80 white-sand beaches (plus the exquisite pink-sand Crane Beach), snorkeling and diving among marine life and shipwrecks, and some of the Caribbean’s best rum. But the dramatic rock formations of the mountainous Scotland District may make you feel you've been transported to the Scottish Highlands. The island’s breezes are perfect for kitesurfing, and water sports like kayaking, paddleboarding, and surfing are popular as well.

Curaçao

View of the colorful buildings of Willemstad, Curacao — Westend61/Getty Images

One of the so-called ABC Islands, along with Aruba and Bonaire, Curaçao is located in the southern Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela. The largest of the three islands, Curaçao offers Caribbean culture with a bit of Dutch flavor, reflecting its colonial heritage. The picturesque historical buildings and location outside of the hurricane belt are part of the allure. Natural landscapes range from powdery white-sand beaches to the striking coral rock formations of Shete Boka and verdant Christoffel National Park with its namesake mountain, wild orchids, and native deer.

Bahamas

There are around 700 islands of the Bahamas, which is part of the Caribbean Community despite its location in the Atlantic Ocean. All of them are beautiful and some are quite unique. Paradise Island features modern resorts, nightlife, and casinos; Eleuthera is more secluded, with pink-sand beaches and historic architecture; and the Exumas are home to swimming pigs and a marine reserve that protects the beautiful undersea life. The Abaco islands, meanwhile, are known for fishing, sailing, boating, and charming colonial towns.