Caribbean Islands

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We've personally experienced travel to a few of the Caribbean Islands and some have become our favorite destinations. We are all about that laid-back island vibes lifestyle!

We are beach lovers for real- turquoise waters and pristine white-sand beaches are amazing, but we also love the lush tropical landscapes of the islands, the variety of foods, the music, I can go on and on here.

We've travelled to Jamaica the most as we are kind of biased here, with my husband's family with a Jamaican background. But our repertoire of travels to the Caribbean include Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Grand Caymen, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Turks & Caicos. Keep scrolling for a paragraph on each below.

There are so many more to visit! St. Lucia, U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Martinique, St. Kitts and Curacao are on our list.

If you're looking to relax on beautiful beaches, or to immerse yourself in vibrant local cultures, the Caribbean islands offer an unforgettable escape for every type of traveler. Each island really does have its own unique charm, blending indigenous traditions with influences from African, European, and indigenous cultures.

Each island also has its different culinary delights as well which are fun to explore. We are not afraid to venture out for amazing local foods, trying the different fresh seafood, tropical fruits, festivals and spicy cuisine! We've done all-inclusive resorts a few times but we've moved away from them now. Our best experiences have been in smaller hotels with breakfast included, so we can venture out and support local restaurants. While it's nice to not have to worry about your meals and be pampered, for us, going out to local hot spots is all part of the adventure.

The other very important cultural aspect of the islands are the musical vibes from rhythmic beats of reggae, calypso, soca and salsa! Nothing says Caribbean life more than a beach party or having a drink at a beach bar with background island vibes on the speakers.

I have a general handy packing list page and packing tips below for the Caribbean Islands.

Great travel guides:

My basic packing for the Caribbean islands can be found on my Packing Tips page, however, there are some specific island suggestions below.

Aruba

We actually avoided visiting Aruba for a long time (gasp, I know) because we thought it would be a tourist trap with its large casino hotels and overcrowded beaches, but oh my, we were so wrong and pleasantly surprised by this tropical destination! Aruba was our most recent visit to the Caribbean. It's an incredible island with so many things to do, located outside of the hurricane belt and sunshine almost every day!

Aruba is a Dutch Caribbean island. Papiamento is the local language spoken there, but Dutch, English, and Spanish are spoken as well.

Aruba is home to one of the BEST beaches in the world, Eagle Beach. Palm Beach, Arashi Beach, Mancheto Beach, ALL of the beaches we visited in Aruba were beautiful, with Baby Beach being our favorite. You will need sunscreen during your stay for sure! An oxybenzone-free sunscreen to protect the reef. I brought this sunscreen. And this lip protection.

The tap water in Aruba is clean and drinkable - no need to purchase bottled water, but bring your insulated water bottle so you can refill as needed. I brought my reusable Stanley cup.

We rented a car for a few days and that was the best. It was easy to drive on the very decent roads and easy to navigate (driving is on the right side). Your State-issued driver's license is sufficient. Taxis just get too expensive in Aruba.

Dining was exquisite! As Seafood lovers, dining was easy for us and the local restaurants did not disappoint! Fisherman's Hut, the Old Cunucu House, Oak Restaurant (where I had an amazing shrimp kebab and dessert was an unforgettable key lime pie!). On the way to Baby Beach, we stopped at O'Niel's for some delicious Caribbean fare and returned three times during our visit (yup, it was that good!), Azia Restaurant (Asian fusion cuisine in a modern decor, very hip restaurant & bar). There are so many wonderful local restaurants to choose from.

Bahamas

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, aka the Bahamas, in an English-speaking island nation.

We've set foot in the Bahamas a couple of times. Once was during a cruise ship stop in Freeport for a day. We never forgot that visit because we were so close to missing our cruiseship departure! We had adopted the laid-back island life a little too quickly I guess!

The Bahamas is a prosperous Caribbean Island that relies heavily on tourism. With many islands, Blue Lagoon Island, Dean’s Blue Hole, Atlantis, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island and Green Turtle Cay, among others, are the the hot spots. Visiting the pink sand beaches, snorkeling and diving, swimming with pigs, shopping at the markets, are popular activities in the Bahamas.

The other visit was in Nassau. Our stay was split between an Airbnb type rental and then at the famous Atlantis resort for 4 nights. Two very different experiences, both pretty amazing.

Since we are Beach lovers, the part that stood out the most for us in the Bahamas were the waters! The owners of the Airbnb we stayed at took us out in their boat for an afternoon of sailing. It was amazing as we island hopped at nearby smaller islands. They gathered a couple of conch shells and showed us how to prepare conch salad right on the boat. Our stay at the Airbnb was great, but we felt a little too isolated from any activity, stores, etc. Do your research.

We went from night to day with our stay at the Atlantis resort. It was super busy and overcrowded. Did we mind? Not really. Was it fun? Absolutely!

We enjoyed some wonderful meals both on and off the resort. Bahamian cuisine consists of a lot of seafood (shellfish, lobsters, crabs) which is used in various dishes such as stewed fish or conch chowder. However, Bahamians also enjoy meats like chicken and mutton in their dishes. Soups are very popular too and a popular Bahamian one is Souse mad with chicken, potatoes, lime and lots of pepper. The local tropical fruits (passion fruit, mango, papaya, pineapple) are used in many desserts which are really delicious.

*Drink bottled water only.

Barbados

Barbados is an independent British Commonwealth Nation with Bridgetown as its capital, and it is truly a tiny island paradise (21 miles long, 14 miles wide). This was definitely one of our favorite trips to the Caribbean. It checked all the boxes for us: beautiful beaches, excellent rum punch, calypso music and delicious seafood.

Barbados' weather is tropical, warm and sunny, nights are slightly cooler. We travelled there in the Summer and we did see quick rains almost daily, but those are followed by sunny skies and everything dries quickly. Hurricanes tend to avoid Barbados.

The island is divided into 11 parishes. We stayed in Christ Church in the St. Lawrence Gap, where there are beautiful calm beaches, excellent restaurants, and exciting nightlife. We chose a large hotel accommodation with a breakfast plan and chose to be flexible to explore local restaurants for lunch and dinner, off the resort. Groceries and dining in Barbados is not cheap, but we made it here and allowed ourselves to splurge a bit.

Our favorite and very informal spot was Oistins Bay Gardens for the Friday night fish fry! Fresh seafood (tuna, swordfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, lobster) and chicken are cooked in front of you on the grill. The national dish of Barbados, flying fish and cou cou (similar to polenta, made with cornmeal and okra), is available to try there as well as Bajan macaroni pie, bajan fish cakes, and Bajan (Mount Gay) Rum punch. It's a whole vibe here! It's frequented by visitors and locals, with local craft vendors and vibrant tunes are playing for dancing.

Do yourself a favor and take an Island Tour with Ted Blades at the beginning of your visit! He is so fun and entertaining and has been doing tours of the island for many, many years. He takes you to Speightstown, Cherry Hill, stops at Bethsheba for spectacular views, to Sunbury Plantation for lunch and rum punch, Oistins and Bridgetown. It was fun to explore and shop in Bridgetown. Well worth it!

There are many reputable car rental companies on the island, but we chose to walk, hire a car and/or take the buses like locals do.

Cuba

Cuba has a vibrant diverse culture, stunning cities (Havana is the largest), heavenly beaches and beautiful parks so there is no surprise that there are currently 9 UNESCO sites in Cuba. The island's main source of income is tourism.

Some facts: Cuba is the largest island of the Caribbean with a coastline of 3500 miles long. Cuba has an authoritarian regime (Communist party) where political opposition is not permitted. Healthcare and education is free. It has the most amount of doctors per capita and the literacy rate is 96.7% (higher than the U.S. and the UK)! Popular sports are baseball and boxing, and Cubans love to play chess! The world famous Bacardi rum comes from Cuba and they also brew their own beer. The island has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Cuba is known for its finest cigars and great coffee. Voting is legally mandatory. And Cubans LOVE to dance!

OVERpack for this destination. Yes, you read that correctly. In fact, bring an extra suitcase if you can. Not just for yourself but the the Cuban people. Keep reading.

Some areas of Cuba suffer from short supply of products, so grocery store shelves are sometimes bare or items are marked up 10x what you would pay in the U.S. Cubans' wages are very low so many struggle to pay for staples like toiletries, milk, and cheese. They will appreciate any goods you can give them.

On our trip there, we stayed in Varadero, a very popular spot for tourists with high-rise hotels. It was an all-inclusive deal, but being the wanderers that we are, we often ventured off the resort without any hesitation or fears. We rented mopeds and zoomed around everywhere, including a visit to Havana. It was amazing! We also traveled to a couple of different schools to deliver school supplies we had brought (pens, pencils, coloring books) and various toiletry items (soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste) for the children there. That was the most rewarding experience of all!

The national dish of Cuban is Ropa Vieja which is a stew served with rice and beans. Popular specialties include roast pork, roast chicken, lobster, shrimp, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, banana chips and other goodies. The food was good, but I'm not going to lie, it wasn't our favorite island food and the choices got a bit repetitive after a few days. That didn't really matter, the beaches compensated for any shortcomings.

Overall, Cuba is a wonderful place to visit and if you can, it is so worth visiting!

Grand Caymen

Grand Caymen, as the name suggests, is the largest of the Caymen Islands nestled in the Caribbean sea. It's about 76 square miles and 22 miles long. It's actually a British overseas territory, with English being the official language, while Jamaican patois, Spanish and Tagalog is also spoken there.

Grand Caymen offers lots of activities, accommodations, from simple to mid-scale to luxurious, and attractions for everyone. It is considered one of the wealthiest places in the world so that explains the high prices. It is safe, clean and easy to get around.

There are two main areas to stay in Grand Caymen, along the famous Seven-mile Beach or in the quieter East End.

Honestly, we were only on Grand Caymen for a day, on a cruise ship stop, so that gave us about 8 hours to explore. Our ship anchored in George Town where we walked around and explored the craft markets and colorful buildings. Given our time constraint, all we really wanted to do was head straight to Seven-mile white sandy beach for the day. The water was spectacular! After the beach, we headed to a local lunch spot for some authentic Cayman Islands fare.

The national dish of The Cayman Islands consists of turtle meat. We love turtles so we couldn't do it. Instead, we opted for a Caribbean food restaurant where we picked up some roasted chicken with potato salad and Jicama cole slaw. I remember it being very tasty yet pricey for a lunch. We enjoyed our lunch with a beautiful sea view and then headed back to our ship.

Given our very limited visit, there's not much to report here, but we certainly wouldn't mind returning to The Caymen Islands to explore more of what it has to offer.

Jamaica

We've been to our beloved Jamaica multiple times, and we are a little biased, but nothing ever compares to Jamaica for us in terms of the overall package. I'll explain, keep reading.

Jamaica is the 3rd largest Caribbean island with an area of 4,411 square miles. It is known for its natural beauty and vibrant culture. Jamaicans are a beautiful and lively people! It's the birthplace of Bob Marley, reggae music, and the fastest runners of the world. Visit Usain Bolt's restaurant in Montego Bay.

Jamaica is a perfect island for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts. The rainforests in the lush Blue Mountains, the beautiful waterfalls like Dunn's River Falls, and the beaches like Seven Mile Beach in Negril. There are so many attractions to take in and all the water sports including snorkeling, diving, boating, fishing, parasailing, etc.. Truly a beach-lovers paradise.

Jamaica's economy is driven mostly by tourism and agriculture (sugar cane, bananas, coffee and cocoa). It also produces its own rums and beers. It is a tropical island with warm weather year round and it has been hit by hurricanes in the past.

We've stayed in a variety of locations: Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Duncans Bay, and our favorite being Negril. We've also tried all types of accommodations: a couple times at high-rise, all-inclusive hotels, a few times at smaller hotels with and without meal plans, and one time we rented a Villa with a personal chef. Our preferred way to go are the smaller hotels in Negril with breakfast included. That allows us to plan our day over breakfast on site and then, if we're not just hanging out on the beach for the day, we have the flexibility of hitting the road to visit some sites. We know this isn't for everyone and some prefer to stay on hotel grounds and that's perfectly fine too. Do your research and do what you're comfortable with.

Jamaican food is popular for the use of sauces, coconut, rice, beans and plantains, and fish, chicken, beef for protein. It is intense and full of flavor with a wide variety of selections. The national dish of Jamaica is Ackee & Saltfish, the national fruit, sauteed with salt fish (cod), onions, tomatoes and pepper. Jerk Chicken, curried shrimp, curried goat, Oxtail stew are also some of our favorites. There are many local fruits to try while there as well: mangoes, guava, soursop, breadfruit (ask for roasted breadfuit!), guinep, papaya.

So do you see what we mean when we say Jamaica offers the best overall package? Jamaica is a special island and it's not similar to the others. In terms of accommodations, the beautiful beaches, the best sites and the BEST food, Jamaica has it all. We've never been disappointed on a visit to Jamaicai. We travel smart and everythin is "Irie".

With all the above said, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Jamaica is sometimes on Travel Advisory for tourists. Jamaica gets a bad rap and has its challenges which I won't unpack here, but there are some areas to be avoided.

Do your research, travel smart, follow advisories.

Puerto Rico

An incorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico is located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. It boasts a diverse, rich cultural heritage stemming from Spanish, African and indigenous Taino traditions. San Juan is the capital which is known for its historic colonial architecture, beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife.

Puerto Rico has beautiful beaches, landscapes and an enjoyable tropical climate. Yes, it is in the Hurricane Belt so keep this in mind and prepare ahead, with insurance, if you travel July to November.

As an American territory, Americans don't need a passport and the currency is the U.S. dollar. Puerto Rican locals are warm, fun-loving and welcoming. They also love a party! You can feel the positive playful energy when you hear the salsa music blasting on the beach. Spanish comes in handy, but English is spoken by most.

Puerto Rico is not only about beaches, it also has lots of mountains ranging from 3000-4000 ft of elevation. There are a lot of activities you can do like ziplining at JungleQui Zipline Park, visiting the El Yunque Rainforest, ATVing at Campo Rico Ranch, for example, in addition to the snorkeling, kayaking and other water sports.

We loved our vacation in Puerto Rico! We stayed at the large Marriott San Juan Resort with beautiful ocean views. It was amazing to wake up to such beauty every morning!

We also loved the food of Puerto Rico. The traditional Puerto Rican dish is Mofongo, basically mashed up fried plantains with meat, fish or vegetables. Once we tasted it, we were hooked and tried it with all the different choices during our stay. A big hit with our family of four, even the kids. The official cocktail of Puerto Rico is the Pina Colada.

A highlight for our family was exploring Old San Juan which we did on multiple days during our stay. The city is spicy, colorful, vibrant, dripping in history and culture. Beautiful colorful buildings, shops, food and people. It has recovered from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the city is full of life and just bustles.

This is definitely a destination that left us in awe and is now on the list of possible return visits.

Turks and Caicos

This was a visit that was way too short, but definitely SWEET! This one-day stop was part of our journey on a Caribbean cruise and the ship anchored at Grand Turk.

Grand Turk is the capital and is one of 40 islands that make up the Turks and Caicos archipelago. It's a very small island, 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. It was known for its sea salt industry up until the 20th century. Now it's known for being a very laid-back island with stunning beaches, the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean and picturesque scenery. The weather on Grand Turk is tropical all year round so we had excellent conditions during our visit.

There are historical sites to visit such as Her Majesty's Prison, the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the one museum on the island, Turks and Caicos National Museum. There is also Margaritaville (see photo) which many fellow cruisers went to, however, we didn't want to waste our day sitting at an overcrowded bar when there was all this beauty to explore.

We could have booked an excursion from our ship's coordinators, but that's just not our style. We did our own thing and it was very safe to do so. Knowing we had a short timeframe (about 8 hours) to enjoy the island, we rented an electric scooter at the closest rental facility and with few instructions, toured the entire island on our own. We literally beach-hopped, hung out at many different beaches and had a nice lunch at a local spot. ALL of the beaches were STUNNING. We've travelled to many beaches and Grand Turk had some of the most crystal clear water, I'd say within our top 3.

For our lunch, we sought out Caribbean fare of course. We had conch fritters to start, coconut conch chowder, and grilled Red Snapper seasoned with red curry, coconut and rum, with Peas and rice which is an authentic part of the local cuisine, topped with Grand Turk's famous delicious hot sauce.

We had a glorious day at Grand Turk and hope that we revisit one day!

Packing tips:

Packing for the Caribbean Islands should be easy and fun! Since it involves a lot of chilling by the beach, engaging in water sports, there are not that much clothing items needed. The items you need will depend on what kind of activities you like to do. Be prepared for daytime outings with good walking shoes, and evening attire for dinners out on or off the resort. You'll find some pointers below:

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PACKING LIST:

*Sun Hat

*Flip flops (forget the heels, you won't need those at all)

*Beach bag

*Underwater camera

*Water shoes

*Insect repellent (maybe)

*Sunscreen (for body and lips)

*After sun products (Aloe for burns, hair detangler)

*Hydration pouches

*Sunglasses

*Reusable Water bottle

*Power adapter

*Rash guard for water activities

*Portable speaker (comes in handy)

*Snorkeling gear (optional)

*Swimwear (bring multiple swimsuits)

*Cover-ups

*Waterproof phone pouch

Quantities guide for a week - do not overpack! It's tropical weather, and it's very casual.

Swimwear (2-4) - you can avoid having to slip into a wet bathing suit

Cover-ups (2) - a light kimono being one of them

Rash guard (1) - great for water sports activities

Undies (8), Bras (3), Socks (5)

Workout outfits (3) - If you intend to work out during your stay

Tank tops or tees (6) - easy to mix and match with shorts or skirts

Shorts (3) - great for activity days and walking around

Long or short skirts (2-3)

Lightweight Dresses (3) - summer dresses that pack easily are the best. It's ok to wear them twice (no one cares)

Pants (1) - palazzo pants are cool and lightweight

Light sweater (1) - one that goes with everything, in case there's a cool night

Shoes (3-4) - flips flops, lightweight sneakers for workouts and walking days, an evening sandal, skip the heels you probably won't need them ever, water shoes for water activities.

Travel clothes

Click on the images below: