Caribbean attractions

The famous Hoyo Azul Lagoon has more to offer than its simple moniker belies. The turquoise-water cenote (underground limestone sinkhole) in Punta Cana at the base of a 200-foot (61-meter) cliff seems to pop out of nowhere. And it's one of the Dominican Republic’s top destinations for swimming, ziplining, nature tours, and more.

One of the best historical sites on Antigua, Nelson's Dockyard National Park has been at the center of Antiguan activity since the first settlers arrived in 500 BC. Today, the centerpiece of the park is the actual dockyard itself, originally developed as a base for the British Navy in 1725. It is now home to old ships and numerous historical artifacts.

Billed as “the Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano,” Sulphur Springs Park is one of the most active geothermal sites in the Lesser Antilles islands. Surrounded by rainforest, the dormant volcano offers an otherworldly landscape to explore, and mineral-rich mud baths to soak in.

For one of the best views on St. Thomas, make the drive to the mountaintop perch at Drake’s Seat. Here you can keep lookout over Magens Bay and the British Virgin Islands, just as Sir Francis Drake was said to do from this very spot in order to catch pirates, privateers and invading naval ships approaching from the north via Drake’s Passage, also bearing his name. Today, this lookout point sports a stone platform with a bench atop it, and it’s a popular top for tour groups. The crowds mostly disperse by evening however, making Drake’s Seat an ideal spot to take in the sunset.

Bioluminescent Bay (aka Mosquito Bay or Puerto Mosquito) is one of Puerto Rico’s three bioluminescent bays, located on the island of Vieques. A popular destination for nighttime boat tours, this bay is by far the brightest. The water is illuminated by dinoflagellates called Pyrodinium bahamense, tiny microorganisms that glow when touched.

Travelers looking to dance the night away while sipping tropical cocktails under flashing lights with thumping beats will love the classic island party experience at Coco Bongo Punta Cana. This lively disco combines the best of a Las Vegas stage show with the music and dance floor of a contemporary club.

Stationed high above the Puerto Rican countryside, these beautiful caves are one of Arecibo’s most popular destinations and offer a unique taste of Taino cultural history, too. While the hike to the top is somewhat technical, amazing views and ancient pre-Columbian rock paintings and carvings make it worth the challenge.

Located in Antigua's capital city, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is the place to learn more about the nation's history and cultural legacy. The museum is housed in the Colonial Court House, built in 1747, making it the oldest building still in use in the city. Through its numerous engaging exhibits, the museum tells the story of the nation, from its geological birth to political independence.

For a fantastic view of the Caribbean waters, one of the best places to go on Antigua is Fort James, which sits in an ideal position overlooking St. John's Harbour. Built by the British in 1706, the fort was intended to prevent the French from invading the island. Today you can see its remains, including the cannons, gunpowder magazine, and foundation of the wall.

Despite its ominous name, Devil's Bridge National Park is a unique must-see, a natural arch carved by the sea out of the soft and hard limestone ledges of the cliffs along Antigua. As enormous breakers from the Atlantic repeatedly hit the rocks throughout the years, the ocean waters eventually eroded away a soft part of limestone to create a bridge-like arch.

Curacao’s Shete Boka National Park offers rocky coastal views and wind-lashed landscapes bordering Christoffel National Park. There are beaches tucked away on the limestone coast, where three species of sea turtles lay their eggs. Scenic hiking trails wind across the cliff tops, offering sweeping coastal views. Boka means inlet in Papiamento, with Shete Boka standing for “seven inlets.”

Gentle surf and waist-high waters earned Baby Beach its name and reputation as one of the most popular beaches for kids in the Caribbean. Add in soft, sugar-like sand and waters as warm as a bathtub, and it’s no wonder this sheltered man-made lagoon on the southeastern tip of Aruba is popular among locals and visitors alike.

This waterfall site in Grenada has three separate falls to visit—from a 35-foot (10.6-meter) cascade near the entrance to two larger waterfalls that require a hike through a forest reserve. The first waterfall is accessible via a paved path with handrails. The natural pools make for a refreshing swim.

Tucked away on the eastern coast of Aruba, in a basin formed by volcanic rock and fed by water from the Caribbean Sea, the Natural Pool is as simple as its name implies—but sometimes simple is simply the best. Unreachable by car, a trip to the Natural Pool in Arikok National Park is all about the adventure through Aruba’s less disturbed countryside, with a dip in pristine waters awaiting those who make the off-the-beaten-track journey.

Just north of Old San Juan, within the San Juan National Historic Site, stands 16th-century Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the northwestern tip of the islet of San Juan, kept watch over the Atlantic and protected Old San Juan and the Bay of San Juan from incoming enemies for centuries.

The Bacardi Rum Factory (Casa Bacardi) is entwined with the history of the Caribbean itself, and the factory’s new visitor center traces the company’s early roots as a small distillery in Cuba through American Prohibition, the Cuban Revolution, and beyond. Today, Bacardi is a well-known brand with a global presence, and its factory in Puerto Rico is the largest premium rum distillery in the world.

Aloe is native to Aruba and thanks to its medicinal and restorative properties, aloe has become one of the leading exports of the island nation. Visit the Aruba Aloe Factory and Museum to learn about the history of the plant and its connection to Aruba, plus see facilities such as the cutting room, testing lab, and packaging of products.

Like much of this capital city, Faro a Colon, a bold and imposing cross-shaped structure, serves as a tribute to one of the world’s most famous explorers. Built in a style that’s more urban office building than coastal treasure, this mausoleum and museum does have one distinct feature that’s responsible for its namesake. Columbus Lighthouse projects a unique cross-shaped beam with a light so bright it can be seen from the shores of Puerto Rico.Travelers who venture to this concrete structure can explore a vast collection of Columbian jewelry, an ancient boat from Cuba and what locals say are the remains of Christopher Columbus.

The Rose Hall Great House is a grand estate built in the late 18th century in Montego Bay, Jamaica. One of the area’s most popular historic attractions, the Georgian mansion is the centerpiece of a 650-acre (263-hectare) plantation that is most notable for its famous occupant, Annie Palmer—better known as the White Witch of Rose Hall.

St. Kitt’s capital city Basseterre lies on the southern coast of the island in a small protected harbor and is one of the Eastern Caribbean’s oldest towns. After centuries of French and British colonial rule, the city has taken on a delightful mix of European architecture and culture and laidback island lifestyle.

American novelist James A. Michener called Marigot Bay “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” for its dream-like appeal. The bay is a postcard-worthy stretch that offers small white sand beaches, swaying palms, turquoise waters, and verdant green hillsides—exactly the kind of tropical paradise that the writer described.

One of the top family-friendly attractions in the US Virgin Islands, Coral World Ocean Park combines both indoor and outdoor observation facilities which showcase the region’s diverse and plentiful marine life. Highlights include the hermit crab, starfish, and sea cucumber touch pool and the 50,000-gallon Deep Reef Tank, home to moray eels, tarpon, and plenty of sharks.

On Water Island, south of St. Thomas, Honeymoon Beach curves around the clear waters of Druiff Bay. Soft white sand and swaying palm trees invite visitors to linger in this peaceful tropical paradise, while a bustling beach bar offers amenities, sustenance, and many different ways to play.

Overlooking the city of Nassau from its vantage point atop Bennett’s Hill, Fort Fincastle was built in 1793 to protect the island of New Providence from outside invaders. Much of the imposing building remains intact today. Visitors come to explore the fortifications and enjoy the view from the highest point in Nassau.

The 44-acre (18-hectare) Pigeon Island is a nature reserve on St. Lucia's northern tip, where travelers can trace the island's colonial past, and sunbathe and swim on its beaches. Not only one of the most beautiful spots in St. Lucia, the park is also one of the most historic sites in the Caribbean, holding both national landmark and national park status.

Kenepa Beach is one of those places that’s worth the drive to get there. Located 50 minutes from Willamsted on the northwestern corner of the island, the white sand beach and turquoise water create a Caribbean tableau that ends up on Curacao postcards. Broken up into two beaches that are separated by rocky cliffs, Kenepa Beach is a popular spot for cliff diving, sunbathing, and snorkeling. While it’s possible to snorkel directly offshore above the sandy bottom, strong swimmers and advanced snorkelers can venture out to the reef. Here, it’s possible to find everything from sea turtles to manta rays accompanying the colorful reef fish, and you can refuel later back on shore at the small, laidback snack bar. Climb the trail to the lookout point on the cliff above the two beaches, or simply relax beneath the shade of a pergola right on the sand. And, since Kenepa Beach is a popular spot with visitors as well as locals, there’s a festive atmosphere up on Curacao’s northwestern coast.

Coki Beach is considered St. Thomas’ party beach and is always full of families, revelers, and vendors. Snorkelers and scuba divers love the clear water and sea creatures here, while beach-goers enjoy the white sands, sunshine, and wandering vendors who offer drinks and snacks, souvenirs, sunscreen, and hair braiding.

Just up the coast from Portsmouth in northern Dominica, the Indian River is a brackish river that leads through coastal wetlands. It's a popular place for rowboat adventures and is a great place to see wetland flora and fauna, from barracuda to bwa mang trees.

Swim and snorkel with stingrays in the warm shallow waters around Gibbs Cay, a beautiful and uninhabited 7-acre (2.8-hectare) island. The best place in the Turks and Caicos to see and interact with southern stingrays, Gibbs Cay also features pristine, white-sand beaches, a scenic shoreline, and a hill with sea oats at its center.

The shipwrecks in Carlisle Bay, on Barbados’ west coast, make the protected natural harbor one of the island’s most popular snorkeling and scuba diving spots. Six sunken vessels dot the ocean floor and are home to hundreds of varieties of tropical fish, stingrays, and turtles that draw visitors from all over the world.