The past year has changed a lot about the travel industry. What hasn’t changed is the world’s love affair with the Caribbean — and while intrepid travelers have already been returning to the region’s shores, demand (and arrival numbers) are expected to surge this year. The Caribbean took a calculated risk in reopening last summer, and the region has largely shown that tourism re-openings, even amid the current challenges, can be done so safely with the adequate protocols. The latest edition of the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit takes you on a whirlwind journey across the entire Caribbean Basin, from places far off the travel radar to some well-known destinations currently undergoing makeovers. So if you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean in 2021, this is where you should start. Here are our favorite Caribbean islands for 2021.
Bonaire You’ll fall in love. Sure, Bonaire was once just marine destination, a place reserved for adventurers with fins or sails. But the last decade has seen this Dutch Caribbean gem truly come into its own, with one of the region’s great gastronomic scenes (including the number one restaurant in the Caribbean, Brass Boer), a growing collection of exceptional hotels like the Harbour Village and the Delfins Beach Resort and an invigorating, breezy personality that will immediately tug on your heartstrings.
Long Island, The Bahamas This 80-mile-long, four-mile-wide island is one of the most beautiful places in The Bahamas, with secret beaches, mesmerizing blue holes and the kind of seclusion we all dream about right now. The island’s leading reosrt, the Stella Maris, is open, with a focus on villa stays.
Antigua Antigua’s been one of the hottest tourism destinations in the Caribbean in recent years, and the current travel climate has made it even more popular, with its spaced-out hotels, low density and beautiful (and numerous) beaches. Whether you’re at a private island getaway like Jumby Bay or spectacular all-inclusives like Galley Bay, Curtain Bluff and Hammock Cove, Antigua is just about perfect right now.
St Thomas The island of St Thomas, always beloved by Caribbean aficionados, is in the midst of a renaissance. From the $100 million renovation at the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas to a pair of brand-new resorts on the way by Marriott, there’s a new energy and buzz here — and a wave of new flights, too. What hasn’t changed is the surfeit of world-class beaches, the fun-loving vibe and the marvelous shopping.
St Kitts The island of St Kitts has all the elements we’re looking for right now: it’s uncrowded, it’s calm, it’s wonderfully beautiful. And it’s also home to the out-of-this-world Park Hyatt St Kitts, the brand’s only Caribbean hotel.
Grand Bahama, The Bahamas This 530-square-mile island is a world unto itself, from the boating haven of West End to the energy of Freeport. And it’s a remarkably rich destination, with a vacation for every kind of traveler, from exploring far-off beaches to a collection of exquisite luxury villas.
St Barth It’s always been an exclusive, rarefied place, but that’s made St Barth even more alluring of late. And the island has largely completed its post-storm comeback, too, with almost all of its signature hotels open and operating. But the best way to enjoy the island is still a villa vacation with a company like WIMCO (with arrival via Tradewind, of course.)
Montego Bay, Jamaica Montego Bay has so much airlift, is so well known and has been a destination for so long that travelers sometimes forget just how complete a destination it is. There’s world-class golf, spectacular sand and Jamaica’s unmatched tourism personality. But the biggest draw to Montego Bay right now is the new Eclipse at Half Moon resort, the addition to the iconic resort that’s the most exciting new hotel in the Caribbean right now.
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands Sure, you can always explore the BVI on a charter boat; but travelers in the know have long flocked to gorgeous Virgin Gorda, an in-the-know, barefoot-luxe destination where the biggest draw are the impressive villas.
Tulum, Mexico Sure, Tulum is no longer a secret. But the Mexican Caribbean destination’s newfound fame hasn’t changed what makes this place cool: the vibe, the carefree attitude, the wellness, the art. And there’s even a brand-new Kimpton, the brand’s first resort in Mexico.
Placencia, Belize Ambergris Caye has always been Belize’s beachy tourism hub, but travelers are increasingly drawn to this tiny peninsula in Beliz’s Stann Creek District, home to a charming Creole fishing village, a thriving cultural scene and some lovely small hotels like the Sirenian Bay.
Grenada Grenada has quietly become one of the region’s hottest luxury outposts, as more top brands zero in on the destination (there’s a Six Senses on the way, too). They’re all gravitating to Grenada’s low-key, laid-back elegance, a place with the kind of tranquility that’s not as ubiquitous in the Caribbean as it once was.
St Croix St Croix is a big part of the USVI’s tourism growth in recent years, and this exceptionally complete destination really does have it all: uncrowded beaches, a sizzling culinary scene, lovely, authentic hotels like The Fred and The Buccaneer and two of the Caribbean’s most vibrant historic towns, Christansted and Frederiksted.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Residential resorts have never been more popular, and the past year has only underscored that. People want their own kitchens, they want space, they want low density. And Turks and Caicos is the Caribbean capital of residential resorts, from luxury stays like the Shore Club to beachy hotspots like The Sands. Wherever you go in Provo, you’ll find the perfect place to stay for the new realities of travel.
Le Carbet, Martinique In recent years, this charming little fishing village has turned into a buzzy beach town, without losing its personality in the process. You can eat at a different beach restaurant just about every day of your trip, and then make a stop at one of the world’s top boutique rum distilleries a two-minute stroll from the sand. (And even spend your vacation at a floating hotel if you want).
St John With almost two thirds of the island covered in national park, St John is one of the Caribbean’s ultimate nature retreats. But it’s the people, the community here that really draw you in — from floating taco bars to the funky, playful soul of Coral Bay. And while there are some lovely small hotels, the island’s villas have never been more popular.
San Blas Islands, Panama Bocas del Toro may be the most famous destination on Panama’s Caribbean coast, but ask any local and they’ll tell you the real beauty is in San Blas, an archipelago of 365 islands blessed with remarkable natural beauty (and, oh yeah, some overwater bungalow resorts, too).
Cartagena, Colombia This five-hundred-year-old city, the jewel of Colombia’s Caribbean coastline, has quietly beome one of the Caribbean’s surging destinations, with rapid hotel development (including a Four Seasons on the way) and a continued airlift growth. And you have your choice of a classic beach getaway or an adventurous city vacation. If you go for the latter, we love designer Sylvia Tcherassi’s eponymous hotel in the old city.
Isla Mujeres, Mexico Less than 20 minutes by boat from Cancun, “Isla” is a world away. Everyone gets around on golf carts, the fishermen still go out each morning and the island’s marine enviroment is still pristine. And then there are the boutique hotels, like the sublime Coco B Isla.
St Martin/St Maarten It’s been three years since Irma, and this two-country island has completed a rather remarkable comeback, and each side offers something different and lovely for travelers, from the unrivaled dining scene in Grand Case to the energy of Maho and the beach bars of Simpson Bay.
Cat Island, The Bahamas If you’re looking for something far from the crowds, this is it. A trip to this gem in the Out Islands of The Bahamas means you practically get the whole place to yourself — and that means exploring stunning beaches (white and pink sand), great hiking and even a trip to the highest point in The Bahamas, home to a mystical old monastery.
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