The 10 Best Beaches in the Caribbean to Visit on Your Next Getaway

The best time to visit is whenever you can get away, but the weather is mildest from January through May, and you’ll find great deals in May and June or between mid-October and mid-November. Keep in mind that peak hurricane season throughout most of the region is from mid-August through early October. 

Take a couple of sweaters or a fleece jacket if you’re visiting the Dominican Republic and want to hike up Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean. The average year-round temperature in the Caribbean is between 78 and 86º Fahrenheit (26-30º Celsius)

You should be fine packing only summer clothes: shorts, T-shirts, a light-weight shirt or two, a couple of dresses, or light, flowy trousers, and as many bathing suits or bikinis as you wish. Keep in mind that the sun is more intense the closer you get to the Equator, so you’ll need UV protection, whether it’s sunblock, a surf tee, or both.

Also remember to take a hat; unless you’d rather buy one at a local market to keep as a souvenir. Other than that, make sure your passport is up to date and double-check any visa or other travel requirements once you’ve decided on your destination. Now, without further ado, here is our list of the top Caribbean beaches to visit on your next Caribbean vacation in no particular order:

This breathtaking, picture-perfect sandbank 800-meters off the southeastern shore of the island of Cozumel is so-called—“Cielo” means “Heaven”—because of the huge number of starfish to be found. Bathed in the clearest water in the Caribbean, El Cielo offers what is possibly the best off-beach snorkeling in the Caribbean. Its tranquil waters also make it a great place to visit with children. Private boat tours last between four and five hours and leave from nearby Colombia or Palancar. And you’ll find excellent all-inclusive accommodations on the island. 

As the largest island nation in the Caribbean, Cuba deserves a place of honor in our ranking. If you’re planning a visit to the “pearl of the Caribbean” consider taking the half-hour flight from Havana, or the resort town of Varadero, to visit Playa Paraíso on the secluded Cayo Largo del Sur. The breathtaking “Paradise Island” is a 23-square-mile narrow strip of pearly white sand surrounded by warm crystal-clear waters off the southern shore of Cuba’s main island. Its shallow, protected shores make it one of the best swimming beaches in the Caribbean. The name and the landscape speak for themselves. 

Quisqueya, or the “cradle of life,” as Dominicans affectionately call it, occupies the eastern side of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean, which it shares with Haiti. The oldest country in the Americas has a fascinating history and is famous for its baseball legends, its meringue music, its rum, its humpback whales, and for having some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Playa Cosón, in the town of Las Terras (Samaná) to the north of the island, is one of the best beaches to visit in the Dominican Republic for water sports enthusiasts. The water is a bit too rough for children, but perfect for surfing, windsurfing, body boarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing, wing foiling, etc. 

If you’re planning a visit to Nicaragua, it’s well-worth considering hopping over to the Corn Islands, two little islands 50 miles off Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. To get to Otto Beach, you’ll have to take a flight from Managua to Big Corn Island first and then take a boat to Little Corn Island. Once there, you’ll have to make your way to Otto Beach, to the north of the island, on foot. The island is so tiny that hiking around its entire perimeter takes only four hours.

Not only does it have no airport; it has no cars, golf carts, or even motorcycles. You’ll be rewarded with the chance to enjoy swimming in the multicolored waters of one of the best secluded beaches in the Caribbean. 

A former Spanish colony, Aruba has been part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 1636. The island nation lives up to its motto: “One Happy Island” and is famous for its landmark Fofoti trees. Eagle Beach, Aruba, offers some of the best snorkeling spots in the Caribbean, which is good to know in case you ever tire of lounging on the beach. You can also hire a boat tour, go jet skiing, or check out the Butterfly Farm or the Bubali Bird Sanctuary. Between March and November, you may even see turtles nesting or hatching on the beach. All this makes Eagle Beach the perfect setting for a family vacation, romantic getaway, or destination wedding. And you’re sure to find the perfect Caribbean island beach wedding venue, just make sure to book early.

Why is it that so many beaches include the word “paradise” in their name? This particular Paradise Beach is in Tulum, a bohemian-chic beach town on the Yucatán Peninsula. Visitors flock to this ancient Mayan port town to visit the Tulum archeological site, but the town is known for its beaches as much as for its well-preserved ruins. And you can also take a boat tour from the beach to get a different perspective on the Mayan ruins. The so-called Riviera Maya offers world-class accommodations and some of the best turquoise water in the Caribbean. It’s also home to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Playa Bávaro is the most famous beach in Punta Cana—a resort town in the province of La Altagracia, in the northeastern corner of the Dominican Republic—and the perfect place to enjoy an unforgettable vacation. This Blue Flag-certified, handicap-friendly beach is one of the prettiest accessible beaches along the 30-mile stretch known as “Costa del Coco” or Coconut Coast and is widely considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Whether you’re looking for luxurious experiences or outdoor adventures, there is plenty to do in the area in addition to contemplating its natural beauty. 

Just four miles east of Playa Bávaro lies another stunning mobility-friendly Blue Flag beach. In fact, the Dominican Republic has more Blue Flag beaches than any other country in the Caribbean.

And don’t let the name (“coarse sand”) fool you, Playa de Arena Gorda has some of the finest white sand of any beach on the island and possibly the clearest blue water in the Caribbean. The beach is a popular spot for divers eager to explore the corals and barracudas that have made their home in the Astron, a shipwrecked Russian cargo ship that ran aground in 1978. You’ll also find plenty of activities on offer, including horseback riding, and everything you need for a carefree beach vacation.

There is much to be said for the beauty of volcanic landscapes, and black sand beaches, especially, have an almost otherworldly allure. The fine, sparkling black sand on Playa Negra, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, on  strikes a sharp contrast against what is possibly the bluest water in the Caribbean. This quiet beach is easy to access, great for swimming, and a great place to watch the sunset. The picturesque beach served as the shooting location for the film Endless Summer II and its world-class waves, gradual grade, and the lack of coral makes it an ideal beach for surfers. And it’s just over four hours from San José by car, so you can easily take a side trip from the capital on your next visit to Costa Rica.

Another stunning beach, in the northern province of Matanzas, Varadero, is one of the best beaches in Cuba and one of the best spots on the island to contemplate the sunset or take a long stroll along the shore. A very long stroll: the beach stretches over 13 miles. Hikers, bird watchers, and other nature lovers will be delighted to visit the nearby Varahicacos Ecological Reserve, where they’ll find an ancient burial cave and a 600-year-old cactus known as El Patriarca (“the Patriarch”), among other attractions. The town also offers some of the best accommodations on the island.