What You Need to See, Taste, and Try in the Caribbean

The islands of the Caribbean literally have something to offer for every traveler. No matter what you love to do, it’s better to do it in these beautiful tropical lands.

Aruba

Aruba is one of the few places in the world where you almost never have to give the weather a second thought. It’s a steady 82 degrees and sunny on most days, and the constant warm breeze feels heavenly on this tropical paradise. There is so much to see and do for families looking for lots of activities, or if a romantic getaway is more your speed, this is also the island for you.

Can't miss attractions include:

Arikok National Park – This stunning nature sanctuary takes up almost 20% of the island. The terrain is desert-like with tall cactus and all kinds of interesting fauna. It’s a great place for a hike along cliffs that look out over the incredible coastline.

California Lighthouse – This big, white stone lighthouse is easy to spot. It was built in 1914 and is named after a ship that sunk nearby. Next to it is an area called California White Sand Dunes that is a popular spot to try dune surfing (which is basically propelling yourself down the dunes in whatever crazy way you want).

Natural Bridge – Though the famous bridge by the limestone cliffs collapsed in 2005, the remains are still a popular tourist attraction along with the adjacent intact Baby Bridge. Close by is the Natural Pool. The not-so-secret pool is surrounded by rugged terrain, but filled with all kinds of tiny sea life. Adventure seekers love jumping off the rock cliffs into the ocean below.

De Palm Island – This private island just a short ferry ride away is famous for its blue parrot fish filled waters. One fee covers tons of activities, food, and beverages. Imagine how much kids will love unlimited banana boat rides!

Bermuda

Even though it’s a very short plane hop from almost everywhere on the East Coast, Bermuda is a world away. Filled with pastel colored houses and perfectly manicured gardens, this island is famous for its pink sand beaches, great golf courses, dining, and lots of shopping.

Can't miss attractions include:

Maritime Museum Dockyard – The Island’s largest museum, housed within a large fortress called The Keep at the Royal Navy Dockyard, is over 10 acres with 30-foot high walls surrounding the fort. The museum is dedicated to the country’s long and varied maritime history. There is also a huge statue of King Neptune, which is a required spot to take a selfie!

Dolphin Quest – Get up close and personal with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The organization has been in place for over 20 years and is dedicated to educating tourists about how we can all protect these amazing mammals.

Horseshoe Bay – Many vjsitors believe that the pink sands and blue waters make for one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Jobson’s Cove – Great snorkeling spot surrounded by steep jagged rocks. It’s a small, picturesque site that is usually uncrowded.

West Whale Bay Beach – See the migrating humpback whales. The water here is generally shallow making it a great place to swim with small kids.

Barbados

Often described as the most British island in the Caribbean, Barbados has all the charm of a relaxing getaway spot combined with a local love of cricket and afternoon tea. Along with its nod to tradition, the island also has its own take on great dining and nightlife, plus some simply beautiful beaches where the diving and snorkeling is bar none.

Can’t miss attractions include:

Sunbury Plantation House – Get a taste of long-gone colonial days. The house was built in the 1600s and was a working plantation for many years. Now it is owned by the National Trust as a museum with a very nice restaurant that serves local favorites like pumpkin fritters and sweet potato pie.

The Bridgetown Synagogue – One of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere with burial grounds of early Jewish settlers was built in 1654 and fell into disrepair until it was renovated in 1983. While you are here, be sure to explore historic Bridgetown and its garrison.

Natural Attractions – The Flower Forest, Andromeda Botanical Garden, and Farley Hill National Park are the best places to see fragrant exotic flowers and spice trees on the island.

Oistins Fish Fry – At this popular weekend night spot, chefs cook up fish right in front of you.

St Kitts

One of the best words to describe St. Kitts is “diverse.” The azure waters of the Caribbean and beautiful mountains lure travelers with places to relax and explore. There are quiet beaches, a lively nightlife, and restaurants and shopping to accommodate every taste. Divers and nature lovers say there is so much to see and do that you can’t possibly see it all in one trip.

Can't miss attractions include:

Friar’s Bay—One of the island’s best beaches offers warm waters and lots of fun restaurants and bars to escape to whenever you need a break from the sun.

Brimstone Hill—The 38-acre fortress built by the British is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and often called “The Gibraltar of the West Indies.” There is a fine military museum and nature trails nearby where you can usual spot local vervet monkeys.

Black Rocks—See where lava deposits pushed in from the sea have been turned into all kinds of interesting shapes from the pounding surf to create a very cool geological spot on the Atlantic coast.

Secluded beaches – Relax on quiet enclaves, from the small palm-lined beach of Dieppe Bay to the soft sands of Banana Bay.

St. Martin/Maarten

One side is French, the other is Dutch, and it’s all beautiful and fantastic! The Dutch half has casinos and happening nightlife, while the French side has fashionable shopping and world class restaurants. No matter where you stay, there is snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, and every imaginable water sport available.

Can’t miss attractions include:

Maho Beach – Located at the western end of the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of the island, you can watch jets glide a few feet over your head. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can catch a tan and plane spot at the same time!

Marigot – The main town and capital of the French St. Martin. There are gingerbread houses and bistros everywhere you look. There’s also a great outdoor market with small boutiques in the heart of town.

Grand Case – The gourmet capital of St. Martin has an incredible selection of restaurants from simple to gourmet, in every price range.

Orient Baie Beach – One of the most famous and popular beaches in St Martin. This area also houses a marine park that features some of the best snorkeling on the island.

Philipsburg – The capital city in Dutch St. Maarten. There’s a boardwalk on Front Street with dozens of great places to eat and shop duty free.

St. Maarten Butterfly Farm – What else would you expect to find in a tropical paradise but hundreds of colorful and unique butterflies? This wonderous place also features lovely gardens and a waterfall.

St. Thomas

This island has one of the most beautiful ports in the Caribbean, incredible beaches, and water sports, and is legendary for its fantastic duty free shopping. Since St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a passport is not required for entry/departure.

Can’t miss attractions include:

Shopping in Charlotte Amalie—You can buy everything duty free from liquor to china to jewelry to designer duds. In fact, you can bring home $1,200 in merchandise without paying tax on it. That’s almost twice the amount of anywhere else in the Caribbean.

The Mahogany Golf Course—This public course located on the northeast side of the island is a gem, and at the three holes that comprise the Devil’s Triangle (named that because they are tough), there is the most beautiful view imaginable.

Magens Bay—A very pretty and very popular beach, where the water is usually calm—it’s an ideal spot to swim with small children.

Go Fishing—Enthusiasts come from around the globe to try to catch the elusive Blue Marlin and other sport fish here, and there are dozens of charter companies just waiting to help you catch the big one!

Coral World Ocean Park—View the beauty of a thriving coral reef from a unique undersea observatory, and get up close and personal with sea lions.

Turks & Caicos

The Turks & Caicos are made up of 40 islands that sit in the middle of breathtaking blue waters. Each island has its own unique look and feel. There are eight islands that are uninhabited and dozens of small cays that you are likely to have all to yourself.

Can't miss attractions include:

Chalk Sound – A beautiful turquoise lagoon with Sapodilla Bay and Taylor Bay beaches. Its shallow turquoise waters make this an excellent location for kayaking and paddle boarding. Keep an eye out for Rock Iguanas, the huge lizards that love to eat the prickly pear cactuses nearby.

Grace Bay Beach—Of course there are hundreds of amazing beaches throughout the islands, but Grace Bay is particularly popular because of its wide, white sand beaches and areas of tall sea grass that make it ideal for snorkeling. The snorkeling and scuba diving is impressive nearly everywhere you go here since this is the home of the world’s third largest barrier reef.

JoJo the Dolphin — This wild bottlenose dolphin freely interacts with humans and is considered a national treasure. He can be spotted cruising off Provo and the Caicos Cays.

Caicos Conch Farm—The only known conch farm in the world, this is an interesting spot to learn about the giant sea snail and see why it is such a popular staple of the islands.

Explore more of your chosen island with a Synergy International Travels Escape. These exlusive packages offer unique sightseeing opportunities for travelers to delve deeper into the world’s top beach destinations and include upgraded perks such as a personalized keepsake booklet and document holder, priority access to our 24/7 assistance center, and a future travel credit. Contact your Synergy International Travels consultant to start planning your Escape to one of the Caribbean's enchanting islands today.