Cinnamon Bay, St. John USVI
While Trunk Bay may get all the glory on St. John, Cinnamon Bay offers a much quieter and pristine slice of beach on this enchanting island in the United States Virgin Islands. Photo: James Michael Kruger/iStock
Southeast Peninsula, St. Kitts
Take in the view of the two-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis from the vantage point of Timothy Hill where you’ll see the Atlantic to the left and the Caribbean to the right showcasing the local favorite beach at South Friar’s Bay. Photo: Andrey Sulitskiy/Flickr
English Harbour, Antigua
The curved coastline of Antigua is revealed from the hilltop at Shirley Heights, a hot spot for Sunday’s sunset barbeque. Tropical scenery combined with West Indian culture and British heritage gives this island its unique flavor. A haven for sailors, the harbor fills with sailboats during the annual regatta that takes place in May. Photo: Sam Sabapathy/Flickr
Virgin Gordon, British Virgin Islands
The third-largest island in the BVI, Virgin Gorda offers quiet coves and safe anchorage for sailors who frequent these waters. Well-known for the natural pools and grottoes set in a maze among giant granite boulders, The Baths is a popular on-island attraction for visitors. Panoramic views from Virgin Gorda’s hilltops reveal Prickly Pear Island and Necker Island. Photo: iStock
Terre-de-Haut, Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe
No longer a secret among French tourists, Guadeloupe, and its archipelago has become a favored spot for many world travelers. Crowds are still sparse in Les Saintes, as visitors come by ferry or private boat. Views of the town and bay of the largest of the islands of Les Saintes are best seen from the top of Pain-de-Sucre. Photo: Oliver Hoffmann/iStock
Playa Tortuga, Culebrita, Puerto Rico
Off the beaten path islands of Culebra and Vieques are the pride of Puerto Rico but Culebrita remains a hidden gem. This uninhabited island reachable by boat is a wildlife refuge and feeding grounds for green turtles. Photo: Christian Wheatley/iStock
The Pitons, St. Lucia
From every hairpin turn near the town of Soufriere, youlll find mesmerizing vistas of the iconic twin peaks. Undeniably the most photographed landmark in the Caribbean, these distinctive volcanic pinnacles, Gros Piton and Petit Piton, can be viewed from a sandy beach at sea level or from the top during a day hike. Photo: wildrose/Pixabay
7 Incredible Seascapes You’ll Want to Add to Your Bucket List.
Time it right and you might have one of the most gorgeous beaches in the Caribbean all to yourself. The small, uninhabited island of Culebrita sits just off the northeast coast of the larger and sparsely populated island of Culebra, 15 miles east of the Puerto Rico mainland. Now designated as a National Wildlife Refuge, this mile-long dollop of coral rock features lowland tropical woodlands, wetlands and six pristine beaches.
The best of the bunch is Playa Tortuga, which is arched around a sheltering bay on the island’s leeward side. This positioning provides shelter from prevailing swells, and keeps the beach free of detritus pushed ashore by the easterly trade winds. Turtles prefer this beach for the same reasons as the few humans who visit: seclusion and shelter. Several species of turtle come ashore to nest, and can also be seen gliding about in the shallows, feasting on the sea grasses that grow in the bay.
If you can’t muster your own boat and crew, hire a water taxi to ferry you over from Culebra, itself reachable from the Fajardo area of Puerto Rico by ferry. You’ll need to bring all provisions, as the island is gloriously wild. Once there, sunning, swimming and snorkeling are the order of the day. Hiking trails crisscross the island and a favorite path leads to the ruins of historic Culebrita Lighthouse, built in 1886 and offering panoramic vistas of surrounding islands and the Caribbean.
Sign up for insider tips, destination insights and the latest news and travel deals for your favorite tropical destinations.
