Best Caribbean Islands For A Winter Getaway

When the temperature drops and many flee to the country's coasts, there are marvelous tropics to be discovered for a whole other-world experience overseas. Featuring endless beaches and wild rainforests, this list of the Caribbean islands will attest to even the most-weathered travelers for a perfect winter getaway. 

Anguilla

A tiny British Overseas Territory located in  Eastern Caribbean, Anguilla is a thriving all-year resort destination despite having weathered the toll of Hurricanes Irma and Jose. This island is blessed with dozens of white-sand beaches and relatively flat terrain allowing easy, full-scope exploration of the paradise during a winter holiday. One can swim and sunbathe on the beaches, sight-see dolphins and turtles, as well as scuba dive and snorkel for in-depth marine life before heading out into the town for the eclectic cuisine and nightlife. The island offers various ocean-view stays, from charming rentals to luxury villas. There’s golf, boating adventures, and many coastal restaurants with their own spin on the freshest seafood for a more varied time spent. In-town explorations include local souvenir shops, the Heritage Collection Museum, and the Dolphin Discovery Anguilla St. Maarten, which is especially popular among families with kids. 

Aruba

Belonging to the Netherlands, Aruba is a 20 mi. by 6 mi. Island with breathtaking white-sand beaches, rich culture, and consistently beautiful weather. Known for the lowest rainfall in the Southern Caribbean, one can enjoy the coastline or interior public beaches and hikes exploring the beautiful island year-round. The vast Eagle Beach, inter-spaced with palms and thatched umbrellas, offers a shaded, semi-private R&R with the calm waters excellent for swimming. The southern tip's Baby Beach comes with a relaxed atmosphere and a few laid-back eateries by the water. One can explore the nearby reef and other treasures in the depths of the crystal-clear ocean via snorkeling, followed by the Arashi dunes and conical Hooiberg peak beyond the beach. The capital of Oranjestad is brimful with architecture, shops, museums, as well as trolleys to avoid walking in the mid-day heat. After seeing the Fort Zoutman, the Parliament Building, and National Archaeological Museum, one can stroll to the Renaissance or Surfside Beaches with easy access from downtown. Among the many restaurants, there are also local must-grub stands serving specialties like curry and chicken roti at Havenstraat on Lolita's street-side.

Curaçao

Known for the stunning cove beaches and warm, aqua blue waters complemented by complacent weather, Curaçao is also home to the vibrant, Dutch-inspired architecture and many festivals in a year. Set 37 miles-off Venezuela's coast, it is popular among lost-stay vacationers, with all the must-sees in the airport's proximity, including the beachside, the Swinging Queen Emma Bridge, and the Curaçao Sea Aquarium. The variety of cultural influences, including Dutch and Chinese, are best sighted in the capital Willemstad with Dutch colonial architecture reminiscent of Amsterdam. In its Punda neighborhood, the Handelskade is filled with colorful buildings, while Pietermaai offers a range of museums, shops, and cafes. There's a wide array of cuisine throughout the island, along with bars called "Snacks" serving Chinese food. The circular Ronde Markt (New Market) comes with cheap eats, including Ayaka meat tamales and Keshi yena, the stuffed Gouda balls. The impressive topography of the small island includes the Christoffel National Park to the north, with hiking trails through the arid landscape of cacti and scrubby trees to the summit of Mount Christoffel. The Shete Boka National comes with many craggy limestone islets and caves weathered by pounding waves for more scenic exploration. The 30-some public beaches include the lively Mambo Beach's sandy shores and the Grote Knip's expansive sand, crystalline water, and offshore reef.

Dominica

The off-the-radar, unique and stunning Dominica is a mountainous island full of wild beaches and rainforests with tropical waterfalls and natural hot springs to recharge one's spirits. Located in the Eastern Caribbean Sea, the "Nature Island" is contended as one of the most breathtakingly beautiful nations on the planet. It is known for the wild, less-tamed landscapes than its neighbors' in the Windward Island chain, coming with boiling lakes, champagne reefs, and volcanic valleys. Outdoor fans and nature-lovers will rejoice in seeing the Boiling Lake, Jungle Bay, and the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, known for its healing herbs to better health through the hands of Mother Earth. The grand sight of the sperm whale population (year-round) just off Roseau's coast is grounding to re-establish oneself as part of something bigger. Receiving a spotlight from Travel & Leisure 2019, Dominica also re-invested itself with a new luxury Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski set within the Cabrits National Park and overlooking Douglas Bay.

Grenada

Known as the "Spice Island," Grenada comprises an enclosed harbor of fishermen, sailors, and vacationers, with balmy temperatures in winter months, beautiful scenery, and a celebratory ambiance year-round. Tucked away to the east of Barbados in the Windward Islands, it is covered with lush tropical forests and a pristine coastline to bask in the sun after exploring. There's the Grand Etang Lake, rainforest-covered hilly terrain, tropical lagoons, and waterfalls of idyllic beauty for more natural sights. Grenada's charming capital, St. George, comes with an 18-century fort to climb for some of the best panoramic views of the island.

Martinique

Part of overseas France, Martinique is a unique blend of French and Creole cultures. Southwestern tip's public Plage des Salines is known for soft, sandy shores and clear, tranquil sea. The arc of sand ringed by palms with only a few casual eateries and beach-side bars comprises a postcard-like, unspoiled atmosphere. In the north, a marvelous hiking trail stretches for 16 kilometers along the foothills of looming Mount Pelée, taking one from a humble fishing village of Grand'Rivière over varied terrain and dense forest. Ending at the scenic black-sand beaches at Le Prêcheur, one can truly relax or attempt the Grande Savane trail from Le Prêcheur to the crater of Mount Pelée. Its last 1902 eruption destroyed the former capital of St. Pierre with 30,000 inhabitants that later re-emerged as a quaint seaside town, known for the ruins of an 18th-century theater and shipwrecks in the harbor to scuba dive around. The island's bustling new capital of Fort-de-France comes with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and the 17th century Fort Saint Louis-turned French naval base. The Jardin de Balata contains thousands of tropical plant varieties, while the Cascade Absalon waterfall in the jungle with a refreshing swimming hole is just a short hike away.

Punta Cana

Punta Cana comprises a perfect winter-time submersion into a tropical lifestyle that will make one feel transported into another world far from the wind, rain, and snow. The coastline offers everything from spending days at the beach to horseback riding along the shores to catamaran adventures around the island, with stops to snorkel for the stunning marine life. On land, there is the Hoyo Azul Scape Park to explore by foot, while other forests come with zip-lines and ATV tours. With many activities and recreational options, one can set base at one of the luxurious villa rentals or in a unique, tropical treehouse to commence the exploration of the stunning Punta Cana.

Roatán

Roatán is an island paradise where nature reigns supreme and beautiful sunsets over the pristine waters induce a feeling of true tranquility for an unforgettable winter getaway without the hike in prices. Offering a perfect mix of adventure and serenity, it is easy to see why some visitors turn into long-time ex-pats, comprising communities from West Bay to Camp Bay to Port Royal. The white soft-sand beaches with beautiful, reef-lined waters beckon the swimmers, sunbathers, snorkelers, and scuba-divers. The lush, green hilly landscapes call out for treks and picnics, while the jungle comes with many of the island's exotic species, such as monkeys, sloths, and iguanas. For diversified time spent, there are glass-bottom boat tours, paddling through the mangroves, and discovering the Mayatlantis underwater museum, a replica of the Mayan civilization.

St. Kitts

The unpretentious island of St. Kitts provides a wealth of public beaches and an authentic Caribbean experience surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Its southern tips’ iconic beaches include the casual Cockleshell with calm waters and beach bars, the less-crowded Banana Bay, and the Major’s Bay with the best views of Nevis’ rising conical peak and snorkeling for the abandoned barge resting in the shallows. There are also coves of the Caribbean Sea to explore, along with scuba diving and deep-sea fishing off the coast. The modest mountainous interior includes Mount Liamuiga, which warrants a day trip to conquer the 3,792-foot dormant volcano for great views of the crater and far beyond. Its wild trails pass through steep terrain and thick rainforest full of numerous bird species and mischievous monkeys. Built by enslaved Africans during British colonization, there is a well-preserved fortress UNESCO World Heritage site on St. Kitts’s western coast, surrounded by the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. 

Trinidad

Teeming with laid-back fishing villages, a scenic coastline, and densely forested hill country, Trinidad offers a getaway of a lifetime just in time for winter, when the hurricane season is replaced by an amplitude of sunshine with limited rainfall. Coral reefs, remote bio-diverse rainforests, and even the lively cities scream of tropics, where the world-renowned Carnival celebration takes place in February in the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago's capital. Free to participate, there's a parade with mascaraed and traditionally-dressed characters, a steel-pan band competition, and dancing through the night to soca music. The Maracas Beach on the northern coast offers an idyllic scene with swaying palms and a tranquil bay, while the Las Cuevas Beach in the east provides solitude with nearby caves to explore. For nature enthusiasts, the Asa Wright Nature Centre and Brasso Seco are great for hiking, exotic bird watching, and cocoa cultivation sights.

South Caicos

Wildly secluded with an intoxicating blend of the most beautiful tropical elements, South Caicos is a known getaway for couples. Becoming populated during the winter holidays, it still remains the land of wild donkeys and undisturbed sunset viewings more than crowds, with romantic vistas at every turn. The island comprises a picturesque color palette of limestone beaches dotted with patches of pink, as well as crystal-clear waters that appear lime-green in the shallows and turquoise in the depths. The coastal beauty and secluded environs call for long walks on the beach with that special other, while the beach scene comes with cocktails during the night and relaxing spa treatments in the daytime.