16 Best Destinations You Must Visit in Caribbean Islands

Bequia (pronounced ‘beck-way’) is the most perfect island in the whole Grenadines. Stunning beaches dotting the shoreline, accommodations to fit most budgets and a slow pace of life all help to create an environment that is unforgettable.

Among Tortola’s sharp peaks and bougainvillea-clad hillsides you’ll find a mash-up of play places. Take surfing lessons, join fire jugglers at a full-moon party, dive on shipwrecks, and by all means go sailing amid the festive surrounding isles.More than 80% of the BVI’s 28,000 citizens live and work on Tortola.

Dominica defies the Caribbean cliché on many levels. No mass tourism, no white powdery beaches, no rum-fueled pool parties. Nicknamed ‘nature island’ for a reason, the island lures largely individualists and ecoadventurers with its Boiling Lake, Champagne Reef, rainforest-shrouded volcano, sulfurous hot springs, superb diving and the Caribbean's first long-distance hiking trail.

Coin-shaped Nevis (nay-vis) is sprinkled with rustic charm and infused with a keen historical awareness and appreciation. Many visitors come here just for the day but those in the know stay much longer.There's nothing brash about this sweet and unhurried island, whose blissfully uncrowded beaches fringe a forested interior that rises to majestic, often cloud-shrouded, Mt Nevis (3182ft).

You’d be hard pressed to guess that sleepy Cockburn is the capital city of the Turks and Caicos. But what it lacks in polish and sophistication it more than makes up for in rustic charm. That charm can be seriously challenged, however, when thousands of cruise-ship passengers disembark for the day, even if most never leave the gleaming cruise-ship center in the island's south

A small island with a desert landscape, Bonaire is not for everyone – but it is for divers and snorkelers who want to immerse themselves in that vibrant world under the sea. The beauty of Bonaire is that the coral reef, designated a national park, is just a few feet from the shoreline.

azing across Sint Annabaai at the colorful townhouses lined up on the shore, you might think that you're in the Old Country. Until you remember that the sun is shining, it's 28°C (82°F), and you're on your way to the beach. Despite the flawless weather, Willemstad feels like a Dutch city, complete with waterways and street cafes.Residents live in the hills surrounding Schottegat, the deep inland harbor.

The coastal road south of Roseau takes you through a handful of seaside villages past ethereal Champagne Beach via the Mediterranean-style hillside village of Soufriere with its hot sulfur springs, to land's end in scruffy Scotts Head.

Established in 1521, San Juan is the second-oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas and the oldest under US jurisdiction. Shoehorned onto a tiny islet that guards the entrance to San Juan harbor, the old town was inaugurated almost a century before the Mayflower laid anchor in present-day Massachusetts, and it is now a historic wonderland that juxtaposes historical authenticity with pulsating modern energy.

The charmingly sleepy spot of Deshaies has just the right balance of traditional fishing village and good eating and drinking options to keep visitors coming here year-round. There’s a sweet little beach framed by green hills all around, but as it's a working fishing port, the best beach for swimming and sunbathing is at nearby Grande Anse.

Little Statia, as Sint Eustatius is commonly known, has but one town: Oranjestad. The rest of the island is made up of rugged, rural terrain

Les Anses d’Arlet is without a doubt the most charming corner of southern Martinique, retaining as it does an undiscovered feel, some gorgeous scenery and wonderful beaches.

Nicknamed ‘Love City,’ St John’s main town indeed wafts a carefree, spring-break party vibe. Hippies, sea captains, American retirees and reggae worshippers hoist happy-hour drinks in equal measure, and everyone wears a silly grin at their great good fortune for being here.

An unique part of Jamaica that gets all the facets of the quintessential Caribbean experience exactly right. Winding country lanes, a dearth of hustlers, a local population of poets and artists, sublime deserted beaches, no gimmicky resorts, and – above all – a proud, foresighted local community that promotes sustainability and harbors a bonhomous but mellow culture.

The dramatic sky-scraping mountains, isolated stretches of powder-soft sand, windswept cliffs, scrubby green hills and turquoise bays dotted with myriad sailboats. With such a dreamlike setting, St-Barth is, unsurprisingly, a destination of choice for the rich, famous and beautiful, who enjoy the sublime laid-back tempo and opulent hotels.

This one-time fishing and farming hamlet is now the adventure-sports capital of the country, booming with condos and new development. You’ll find a sophisticated, grown-up beach town, with top-notch hotels, and a beach dining experience second to none (not to mention the best winds and waves on the island).