Best beaches in the Caribbean

I have been fortunate to visit many islands in the Caribbean over the years and want to share my favorite beaches. Most of these beaches are accessible from cruise ports and make a good day trip. The things that I look for in a great beach are calm, clear blue water, soft sand and stunning surrounding landscape. Great snorkeling right off the beach is a bonus!

Ffryes Beach

Ffryes Beach in Antigua is simply stunning. We were on a boating excursion around the island and I will always remember when Ffryes Beach first came into view. The water was such a vibrant turquoise color. It reminded me of photos I have seen of Bora Bora, which is my dream trip.

Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the most gorgeous beaches you will find. It is part of the Virgin Islands National Park and features a 225-yard long underwater snorkeling trail right off the shore. You can get to St. John by ferry from St. Thomas.

The Baths

The Baths National Park on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands had been on my list of places to see for a while and it did not disappoint. The scenery with all of the boulders on the beaches, including Devil’s Bay, was amazing. Unfortunately, the water was a little choppy the day we were there, so I wasn’t able to snorkel. The views and climbing through the boulders still made the unique experience worth the trip.

Seven Mile Beach

If you are looking for the clearest, calmest water and miles of white sand, then Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is the place for you. I have been there a couple of times on cruise stops in the Cayman Islands and it always makes for a relaxing day at the beach. The water there is just incredible.

Honeymoon Beach

We took a snorkeling excursion from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and after snorkeling, we stopped at Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. It wasn’t too crowded and felt like a hidden gem. I love going to smaller, less frequented beaches that are still just as gorgeous. You can also take a ferry to Water Island.

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Most, if not all, Disney Cruises in the Caribbean will make a stop there. There is another section of the island with more activities, including a snorkeling area that I also enjoyed, but I found this quieter, less crowded part to be the most breathtaking.

White Bay

White Bay on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is another awesome beach to visit. It’s known for its Soggy Dollar Bar and is just a great place to hang out and relax in a tropical paradise.

Anse des Pitons

Anse des Pitons on St. Lucia is a natural black sand beach in an incredible setting between the Pitons. The water is very clear and you can snorkel right off the beach at the Anse Piton Marine Reserve. The beach is at the Sugar Beach Resort, but all beaches on the island are public. If you’re not staying at the hotel, the beach is easily accessible by water taxi.

Half Moon Cay

Half Moon Cay is Carnival’s private island in the Bahamas. It’s perfect for swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing and enjoying the views. There are a lot of places in the Bahamas with beautiful water and Half Moon Cay definitely falls into that category.

Playa Flamenco

I highly recommend making the journey to Playa Flamenco on Culebra, an island off Puerto Rico, if you have the chance. We flew to San Juan, drove to eastern Puerto Rico and took a ferry from there to Culebra, and it was well worth the trip. Playa Flamenco is breathtaking and not very crowded much of the year. We practically had the beach to ourselves when we were there. It is a great place to unwind and get away from it all.

What are your favorite beaches in the Caribbean? I’m always looking for new places to go!