The 10 best Caribbean tourist attractions are both popular and memorable.
Click on links to the right for hundreds of attractions for every major destination or go below for our vote for our top 10 favorites, all of which we have visited.
1. Grand Cayman: Stingray City
A Stingray City shore excursion gives visitors a chance to swim with stingrays in shallow water. It’s one of the most entertaining family attractions in the Caribbean.
Our neighbors first told us about their Stingray City tour off Grand Cayman Island. We thought it sounded interesting. It turned out to be fantastic.
2. Jamaica: Dunns River Falls
 |
| Tourists swim with stingrays at Stingray City. © StockPhoto.com |
Dunns River Falls isn’t the tallest or widest falls by any means. But one of the top attractions in the Caribbean draws large and steady crowds. The crowds are there not so much to view the falls but to climb them.
Visitors form a line and hold hands as they work their way up the cascading platforms of water to the top. It is a great Caribbean family excursion. We had a blast climbing them.
3. Puerto Rico: Old San Juan and Historic Site
San Juan National Historic Site is a major park in Old San Juan that offers 500 years of history for visitors to explore.
The park mostly consists of the massive forts of Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. They dominate the entire park and the surrounding Old San Juan as well. Both offer many photo opportunities of the forts and Old San Juan.
4. Belize: Cave Tubing
Cave tubing in Belize is one of the top tourist attractions on western Caribbean cruises. It has been called the most popular adventure trip in the entire country.
We thought it was one of the best shore excursions we have ever taken. Visitors hop into an inner tube and float through an underground river.
5. Cancun: Chichen Itza
 |
| El Castillo dominates the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza near Cancun. © 2022 Scott S. Bateman |
A Chichen Itza shore excursion is one of the best and most educational attractions in the Cancun region.
Anyone approaching the Chichen Itza Mayan ruins by tour bus might see the top of El Castillo (The Castle) through the trees. That first glimpse belies the massive ruins that lie ahead.
6. Aruba: Palm Beach
A Palm Beach shore excursion for Aruba visitors is a chance to indulge in plenty of sunning, swimming, shopping and restaurants.
Palm Beach is often ranked as one of the best Caribbean beaches—both for the beach itself and for the hotels, restaurants and entertainment that line it.
7. Barbados: Swimming with Sea Turtles
Swimming with sea turtles in Barbados is one of the best interactions with natural life in the Caribbean.
It is almost as fun as snorkeling with stingrays at the famous Stingray City off Grand Cayman island.
8. Bahamas: Atlantis Resort Complex
A Bahamas vacation starts with an Atlantis shore excursion on a short list of things to do.
Atlantis on Paradise Island is among the most popular attractions because of Aquaventure, the Atlantis resort marine habitat, Dolphin Cay and the Predator Lagoon.
9. Antigua: English Harbour
An English Harbour shore excursion offers great evidence of New World history.
This historic district was built as a base for the British navy in the 1700s and remained in use until 1889.
English Harbour is now part of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, which covers 15 square miles, and ranks among the best Caribbean historical attractions.
10. Anguilla: Just About Any Beach
The remote Anguilla beaches rank them among the Caribbean's best.
The best Anguilla beaches include Shoal Bay, Crocus Bay and Rendezvous Bay. They get that way because of their beauty and quiet.