17 of the Best Beaches in the Caribbean

danilovi/Getty Images

The Caribbean is known for many things, including its impeccable weather and music, its superb cuisine and cocktails, and its warm and friendly people. Oh, and of course, it's a region beloved for having the best beaches in the world.

Lulling waters, powdery sands, and swaying palm trees are a few reasons the archipelago has earned its reputation as the spot for serenity. There are countless idyllic stretches of sand to choose from across thousands of islands, but we've rounded up 17 of the best Caribbean beaches so you can start planning your next island getaway with ease.

Related: More beach vacation ideas

Pigeon Point, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago

Westend61/Getty Images

While Trinidad is known to many for having one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the Caribbean, its sister island, Tobago, is where you go to cool off and unwind. There's no better place to do that than Pigeon Point Beach, the island's most popular beach on the southwest end. While here, you may want to consider a glass bottom boat ride to the Nylon Pool, an in-sea shallow point in the waterway where you can safely stand and splash around.

Grand Anse Beach, Grenada

TravelKorner/Getty Images

Postcard-perfect Grand Anse Beach is a two-mile stretch of powdery sand lapped by tranquil, azure water. Sheltered between green hills to the left and right, full of fun bars with local flavor, and dotted with vibrantly colored boats, you can find shade under an almond tree for hours and may never want to leave these panoramic views. Aside from the typical jet skiing and parasailing, you may want to snorkel or dive at the Underwater Sculpture Park – a beautiful underwater museum created to rebuild the coral reef ecosystem previously devastated by hurricane activity.

Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

JoaoBarcelos/Getty Images

Often rated one of the best beaches in the world, the experience at Grace Bay lives up to its accolades. This 13-mile beach touts powder-soft sand and piercing blue waters, which are perfect for swimming. Walking the beach, you will happen upon many of the best hotels and restaurants on the island, so it's easy to visit Providenciales and never have to leave this strip.

Doctor's Cave Beach, Jamaica

Holger Leue/Getty Images

Many of the best beaches in Jamaica are privately operated and connected to hotels. Doctor's Cave Beach, a less than 10-minute drive from the airport in Montego Bay, is a local favorite and is available to the public for a nominal fee (around $6 for adults) from a street-side entrance or for free if you book a stay at the nearby S Hotel. The tranquil water at this beach makes swimming all day an easy task. Replenish in the heat with fresh coconut water from an on-site vendor.

Labadee Beach, Haiti

Cultura RF/Rosanna U/Getty Images

One of the largest islands in the Caribbean, Haiti boasts countless stunning beaches. One of the best to visit is Labadee Beach, which is now a private resort leased to Royal Caribbean, meaning you'll need to book a cruise to access this sandy shore. But if you do, you'll be rewarded with heavenly views, and for the thrill seekers, there is an option to zipline across the water from atop a nearby mountain.

Bávaro Beach, Dominican Republic

Angelita Niedziejko/Getty Images

Palm trees fringe the shores of this white-sand and aqua-colored beach. Located in the popular area of Punta Cana, Bávaro Beach stretches 30 miles, so you can walk for what feels like forever on the pillowy sand that comforts your feet. Nearby all-inclusive resorts make this a complete getaway where you can leave the stress of your everyday life behind.

Caracas Beach, Vieques, Puerto Rico

Beautiful Destinations/Courtesy of Discover Puerto Rico

There is no shortage of beaches in Puerto Rico, but it's worth a quick ferry ride or flight from the main island to nearby Vieques. The beaches in Vieques stand out for how untouched and calm they feel. If you want to feel remote, Caracas is a great choice, as it's not uncommon to be the only one at Caracas Beach, even on a beautiful day.

Varadero Beach, Cuba

Jan Dovica/Getty Images

Spanning 12 magnificent miles, Varadero Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island of Cuba. The sparkling blue waters separate it from the Florida straits. And there's never a shortage of water activities to choose from, including diving to sailing, snorkeling to fishing, or even taking a ride in a glass bottom boat.

Pig Beach, Big Major Cay, The Bahamas

Barcroft/Getty Images

Another unique beach experience is in Exuma, Bahamas. The stunning waters aren't the only showstopper here. On this uninhabited island, a colony of pigs take center stage. It has become a tourist attraction because who doesn't want to take a photo swimming with pigs? You can't stay overnight on this island, but many nearby islands offer excursions, including nearby Staniel Cay.

Brownes Beach, Barbados

Orietta Gaspari/Getty Images

Barbados, the easternmost island in the Caribbean, has some of the most gorgeous beaches, especially along its Platinum Coast. Located in the Carlisle Bay area, Brownes Beach offers some of the most stunning sand and water around. While here, take a catamaran ride out to swim with the sea turtles and snorkel to view an abundance of marine life and a shipwreck under the surface.

Jalousie Beach, St. Lucia

tentpole/Getty Images

Just south of the town of Soufrière, Jalousie Beach boasts crystal-clear waters, bright white sand, and amazing views, thanks to its position between the iconic twin Piton Mountains. This beach is also a popular snorkeling point, as it's near a vast coral reef packed with schools of beautiful fish swimming all around.

Flamingo Beach, Aruba

Philippe Turpin/Getty Images

Eagle Beach and Baby Beach in Aruba attract people with their stunning waters and white sands, but with equally excellent beach quality, you can also have close encounters with flamingos at Flamingo Beach. This private beach is accessible by visiting Renaissance Island, a private island that's part of Aruba Resort & Casino.

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Westend61/Getty Images

If sparkling clear water and coral sand are your thing, look no further than stunning Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. The beach is the perfect place to let your mind drift as you stare off into perfection. Many hotels along this strip also come with large personal floating devices that remain permanently anchored off the shore, allowing for even further relaxation on the water.

Little Ffryes Beach, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda

MichaelUtech/Getty Images

Antigua has 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. Two of the best beaches that are adjacent to each other, Ffryes Beach and Little Ffryes Beach, are all you need to feel at peace. Little Ffryes actually has a leg up in that it's usually less populated and also has a fantastic restaurant serving local food for authentic eats and drinks.

Coki Beach, St. Thomas, USVI

cdwheatley/Getty Images

Coki Beach is where you really feel the flavor of St. Thomas. Here, locals lay out while enjoying fresh seafood and strong cocktails prepared by on-site beach bars. Always-on music and laughter create the soundtrack to the perfect day of frolicking in and out of the beautiful water.

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI

cdwheatley/Getty Images

There are beautiful beaches, and then there are beaches that leave you speechless. A quick ferry from St. Thomas will bring you to St. John, where you'll find Trunk Bay, a beach that most certainly falls into the latter category. Tucked away around 15 minutes from the ferry in St. John, the beach comes with perhaps the whitest sand you've ever seen, even without an Instagram filter.

Maho Beach, St. Maarten

oneworld picture/Getty Images

This beach has great sand and water quality, but that isn't why it's one of the most photographed beaches in the Caribbean. While scrolling on social media, you have likely stumbled upon a photo of someone with a huge jumbo jet seemingly right above their head. That's because it's located right next to the island's Princess Juliana International Airport. On a good day, you can time out a plane landing and land your perfect shot.