Caribbean Vacation Destinations

Caribbean vacation destinations are often a matter of opinion because people vary on what they want out of a vacation. But the most popular parts of any trip to the Caribbean usually start with beaches and include shopping, nightlife and other things to do. Here is our vote for the top 10 Caribbean destinations.

1. Aruba - Well-known for being outside of the hurricane belt, but not totally immune from bad weather. Palm Beach in particular is one of the better beaches in the Caribbean.
2. Bahamas - One of the top destinations and a major hub for cruise visits. Northernmost location with cooler winter temperatures than other locations.
3. Barbados - A large, well-developed island with a large population. Strong shopping and nightlife opportunities. Swimming with giant sea turtles is one of the better excursions.
4. Belize - This small Central American nation is a common stop for western cruises. It has one of the best eco-tourism excursions in the Caribbean -- tubing along a river through dark caves in Sibun Caves Branch Archaeological Park.
5. Cancun - Another top draw, Cancun is a quick flight for most U.S. airlines compared to other destinations. It is known for its long strip of hotels, shops and restaurants that envelope a large lagoon.
6. 

   Stingray City is one of the best Caribbean excursions
   Cayman Islands - This is a common stop for western cruises. It is know for one of the top excursions in the Caribbean -- Sting Ray City, where visitors can swim in the ocean with a school of friendly sting ray.
7. Costa Rica - Like Belize, Costa Rica is a common stop on western cruises and a well-known eco-tourism destination for long-term stays. One popular excursion is canopying -- zip-lining up in the air from one tree to another.
8. Dominican Republic - The top place to visit for all-inclusive resorts with beautiful white beaches.
9. St. Lucia - St. Lucia has a beautiful, hilly interior that provides numerous excursions such as hiking, biking, horseback and ATV rides. Also has great beaches and resorts.
10. St. Maarten - The smallest island in the world shared by two nations -- Holland and France. Lush tropics with a European flair.Also known for its great beaches.

More Caribbean Destinations

• British Virgin Islands - Quiet and serene. Known for snorkeling, scuba diving and national parks.

• Puerto Rico - Another major cruise hub. A tour of Old San Juan is a worthwhile excursion.

• Turks & Caicos - Located near the Bahamas, this is an up and coming destination, especially among cruise ships. But a growing number of visitors are staying the week.

• U.S. Virgin Islands - Known for duty-free shopping. It shares excellent snorkeling and scuba with its nearby British cousin. You don't need a passport to visit if you are a U.S. citizen.

• Cozumel - Located 35 miles south of Cancun, Cozumel is one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean and mainly popular with cruise visitors during the early months of the year. Also known for scuba, snorkeling and Mayan ruins.

• Jamaica - Famed for its people, Jamaica ranks high with Dominican Republic as an all-inclusive resort destination. Its most famous attraction is Dunns River Falls, which visitors climb in a daisy chain.

• Antigua - This southern island claims it has one beach for every day of the year. It also has one of the nicer shopping districts.

• Bonaire - It is one of the ABC islands along with Aruba and Curacao. As a result, it also avoids most of the bad weather each year. Bonaire also is the smallest of the ABC islands.

• Curacao - This one ranks between Aruba and Bonaire for popularity. All three are Dutch territories, and so this one like the other two has a nice European flair.

• Dominica - Another up and coming destination, Dominica is making a name for itself as an eco-tourism vacation. But for now it is mainly visited by cruise ships.

• Grenada - Here you will find mountains, lush rainforests and quite a few waterfall hikes. A few smaller nearby islands make for a nice day trip.

• Martinique - Martinique has far more vacationers visiting for the long term than by cruise ships. This dependency of France has a European flair with a number of cultural and historical attractions.

• St. Kitts - Here is a place to go for quiet. The island is dominated by one large mountain that provides an opportunity for excursions to the top, nearby rainforest and hiking opportunities.

• St. Vincent - The lesser-known St. Vincent is another eco-tourism destination because of heavy annual rainfall that creates lush interiors. Known for hiking and swimming in waterfalls.

• Trinidad - Location of probably the most famous event in the Caribbean -- Carnival. Otherwise, most people visit for a week or more. It also has the most waterfalls in the region.

Other sources:
Best Caribbean vacations