Caribbean Holidays

Nobody would blame you for spending your entire Caribbean holiday on the beach, but you can certainly mix sugary sands and transparent seas with some serious exploring. Don’t miss glorious colonial cities like Havana in Cuba or the Puerto Rican capital, San Juan. Head to Jamaica and try rainforest bobsledding on Mystic Mountain and ride the rapids at Dunn’s River Falls. On St Lucia you can climb to the top of the iconic Pitons. Or, if your heart’s set on swimming with turtles – or watching them hatch at the right time of year – make tracks for beautiful Barbados. 

Meanwhile, the Caribbean’s maritime heritage shows its grand side at 17th-century English Harbour on Antigua. But if you’d prefer a wilder take on the seafaring past, Nassau in the Bahamas is loaded with authentic pirate lore. And for divers in search of extraordinary wreck sites, not many come as thrilling as the ones on Grand Cayman.

Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos is repeatedly named the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Beach’, thanks to its flawlessly white sands, immaculate coral reef and perfectly calm, clear seas. But, as gorgeous as Grace Bay is, it’s not even slightly unusual here. On your Caribbean holiday, you’ll truly be spoiled for choice when it comes to beaches.

Seven Mile Beach in Jamaica is literally that length and pristine for every inch. You’ll also find exclusive stretches of sand all along Barbados’ Platinum Coast, but none more celebrity-rich than Sandy Lane Beach – although those in the know also sing the praises of pink-sand Crane Beach. St Lucia boats beaches with views of the famous Pitons, and romantic spots in the island’s historic national parks. But, if you like to have plenty of options, go for Antigua. This stunning island has no less than 365 pristine beaches, and every single one is public and free to use.

The Caribbean is synonymous with carnivals, from Mardi Gras celebrations to harvest festivals and sunny winter spectacles. Catch the Crop Over in Barbados in late July for a wild take on traditional Bajan music, dance and cuisine, as the whole island parties for five days and nights. Meanwhile, outrageous costumes and sensational drumming are the key ingredients of the 200-year-old Junkanoo event, which lights up the Bahamas every Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

For the ultimate Mardi Gras experience, visit Trinidad in spring. It’s one of the most famous carnivals on Earth, and just as unforgettable as you’d imagine it to be. Or, to see the Caribbean’s largest island dancing up a storm, head to Cuba’s Carnival in July. April’s the month for Jamaica’s frenetic ‘Bacchanal’. And if you want carnival spirit laced with lovely local traditions, visit George Town in the Cayman Islands for Batabano in late spring. 

Traditional Caribbean cooking is one of the highlights of carnivals worldwide, so you should take every opportunity to eat as much local food as you can on your Caribbean holiday. Start with jerk chicken – the Jamaican dish is so iconic that it stars in the Montego Bay Jerk Festival every year in August. Don’t fret if you miss that, though, as jerk’s also served every which way in Jamaica, all year round.

Over in Barbados, fish is the staple of the island’s brilliant beach barbecues – the national dish of flying fish with cou-cou is particularly delicious. Cuba deserves a holiday for its food alone, so leave plenty room for local legends like rich beef dish ropa vieja, pescado en escabeche – marinated fish – and, of course, a loaded medianoche sandwich.

Naturally, Caribbean rum deserves some attention on your holiday too. If a taste isn’t enough, try a distillery tour. You’ll find stunning, restored plantations producing artisan rum everywhere from Antigua to Jamaica.