The Best Public Beaches in the Caribbean

Explore enough of the Caribbean, and you’ll realize every island is markedly different, from their culture to their food and landscapes. That also means that beaches across the islands are pretty different too, ranging from miles-long stretches of powdery white sand to secluded coves tucked into the base of towering emerald cliffs. Some have gotten so famous you’d be hard-pressed to enjoy the scenery by yourself, while others feel like your own little slice of heaven. These are the best beaches in the Caribbean, whether you’re looking for an iconic site or a true tropical escape.

There are certain staples one associates with a beach in the Caribbean: Turquoise waters, green mountains, and a reef a little offshore perfect for snorkeling. Few beaches check each of these boxes quite like Trunk Bay, the jewel of Virgin Islands National Park.

The beach can get busy when more than one cruise ship is in port in St. Thomas. While it’s impossible to plan your trip around a cruise schedule, your best bet is to hit Trunk Bay early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. If that’s not possible, try heading to the far west side of the beach for more open stretches of shoreline. It’s a long way from the reef, but its lack of snorkeling proximity means there aren’t many people there either.

The Baths is one of the great geological mysteries of the Western Hemisphere. How on Earth did a collection of perfectly smooth boulders end up on the shore of a volcanic island, wedged perfectly against each other to create dreamy, walk-through tunnels? It’s a question worth pondering as you lie on the shores of Virgin Gorda, which looks suspiciously like the kind of place a pirate would call home.

The open sand at The Baths isn’t expansive, so if your plan for the day is to lay out, you’ll find yourself towel-to-towel with other people if you go during the holidays, spring break, or really any of the BVI’s high season - from around November-April. That said, the big draw at The Baths is the walk through its boulders, which offers some of the coolest photo ops on the islands. Once you’ve gotten your requisite selfie among the boulders, rent some snorkel gear and peep the tropical fish that swim near The Baths. Or head to the Top of the Baths restaurant for lunch with a panoramic view of the beach.

“Scenery” can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. To some, it means pristine wilderness abutting a white, sandy beach. To others, it means an Airbus passing terrifyingly close to your head. If you fall into that second camp, this landmark beach in St. Maarten is a must-hit. Maho Beach sits literally across the fence from Princess Juliana International Airport, which means that its placement in Maho Bay makes daring souls often line up against the fence and see how long they can hold on during takeoff. Though technically that’s illegal, so you never heard that from us. The best part: The bar on the beach posts the airport’s takeoff and landing schedule, and has headphones where you can listen to air traffic control.

St. Barths has a global reputation for “rosé-all-day” beach clubs and bachelor(ette) parties with beautiful people. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find there’s abundant natural beauty on this jet-set hotspot, too. Like the natural pools along the desert mountains at Grand Fond, and the reefs and wrecks in the island’s underwater marine park. If you need a little time away from the madness, head to the far northwestern tip of the island and search for the literal end of the road. This viewpoint overlooking Petite Anse Beach marks the beginning of your journey to Colombier Beach.

Take the mile-ish-long path down the cliff, and you’ll find a stunning swath of golden sand. Typically, only a couple of other people make the trek, so you can admire the scenery of St. Barth’s in complete tranquility. Just be warned: While catching the sunset on the island’s western shore is mesmerizing, hiking back up in the dark is not as fun.

Grand Anse Beach is effectively the island of Grenada’s picturesque doorstep, a two-mile stretch of sand that sits exuberantly in front of the city and surrounding mountains welcoming visitors with sparkling waters. As you cruise into the marina packed with tall ships and catamarans for Grenada’s many sailing tours, you’ll find artisan stands, vendors, and little food shacks lining the shore.

If you’re in a tropical-drink-on-the-sand mood, post up at the Umbrella Beach Bar or The First and Last, and enjoy the view, spiced daiquiri in hand. For a taste of The Spice Island, stroll a little down the sand to the Grand Anse Craft and Spice Market, where you’ll find tasty souvenirs to pack your spice rack once you get home.There’s also no shortage of seaside bistros serving fresh seafood and Oil Down - the island’s national dish. The beach offers easy access to the capital settlement of St. George, though you don’t need to leave the sand to get a glimpse into Grenadian culture:

Caribbean beaches are often pictured bordering soaring green mountains. Nowhere do the mountains fall into the sea as dramatically as they do at Jalouse Beach in St. Lucia. The beach sits at the base of the Pitons, the island’s iconic twin peaks that announce to you and whoever’s looking at your story that you’re squarely in St. Lucia.

Jalouse Beach abuts the Sugar Beach resort but is completely open to the public. So, if you don’t have $6,000 to drop on a night at the villa, you can still enjoy this stunning shoreline. If you’re staying closer to the capital in Castries, you may want to opt for the more comfortable, 30-minute boat ride to the beach rather than driving. The road is long and bumpy, and St. Lucia is severely lacking in flat land.

Antigua claims to have 365 beaches in its 108 square miles—one for every day of the year, the locals will happily tell you. And while you’ll get about as many answers when you ask said locals for the “best” on the island as you will asking New Yorkers where to get the “best” slice of pizza, it’s hard to beat the combination of seclusion, scenery, snorkeling, and pristine water you’ll find in Carlisle Bay.

This little cove tucked along Antigua’s southwestern shore is surrounded by lush rainforest, creating a perfect emerald wall around your little semicircle of paradise. The soft golden sands give way to pristine turquoise waters, and if you’re up for a swim, you can head out to a small beach around the bend that’s even more secluded. There, you’ll find a coral reef only a few feet offshore, where you can spend a couple of hours snorkeling before retreating to a slice of sand that feels a world away. The beach is bordered by the Carlisle Bay resort, and if you want the seclusion to last, it’s an ideal place to post up for the week.

What makes Flamenco Beach one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful isn’t its soft, light blue waters, brilliant sand, or lush surroundings; it’s the tanks. In the early part of the 20th century, this island off of Puerto Rico was a military training ground, where bombing runs and artillery missions were the main beach activities. Locals weren’t so thrilled about that, and by the end of the Vietnam War, the intense military activity ceased. Still, the navy realized it was cheaper to just leave the old tanks on the beach than take them back to the mainland, and so they remain.

Today, the tanks are treated more as art pieces than relics, and a big reason why this beach stands apart from its other Caribbean counterparts. It’s not the easiest place to reach, though — you’ll need to drive to the town of Ceiba on the east coast of Puerto Rico to catch a ferry.

The waters surrounding the Turks and Caicos can lay claim to being the most beautiful in the world. While Grace Bay might be the beach that brought the world to the Turks islands, the true gem sits on the north coast of Middle Caicos at Bambarra Beach.

You’ll recognize Bambarra Beach by its collection of colorful shacks stationed just behind the Casuarina trees that line the shore. Post up at one of them with a Turks Head beer and chop it up with locals. Then, venture out of the shade into some of the brightest-turquoise water imaginable. You'll rarely find more than a couple of families and a smattering of kids sharing the beach. Between the sparsely populated sand and the food and drinks from the nearby shacks selling refreshments, the whole place feels like a beach day away from the world.

Barbados’s Atlantic shore is often overlooked by tourists, since the less-hospitable waves and lack of big resorts make the area a little more rustic. But for a more island experience, no beach in Barbados is better, as you’ll enjoy the sunshine under the palm trees with big, crashing waves like you might in Hawaii or the South Pacific.

Swimming is still possible, though, thanks to the pools of calm waters created by the coral rock formations lining the shore. Those formations also give the beach a stony aesthetic that those who don’t venture to this side of the island will rarely see elsewhere.

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