For years, the Caribbean has been a favorite destination for travelers around the world. From adventure seekers to sun worshipers, there’s something for everyone on the extensive bucket list of things to do in the Caribbean.
What are the experiences available for vacationers in the Caribbean and how do I choose the best? Keep reading as we present the ultimate list of 18 top Caribbean attractions and bucket list activities to do the Caribbean.
1. Board the Sugar Train (St Kitts and Nevis)
The St Kitts and Nevis railway is one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, with its narrow gauge and panoramic views of the island’s tropical scenery. Dubbed the Sugar Train, it was built over 14 years, from 1912 to 1926, to transport sugarcane from the sugar plantations to the main sugar mill in Basseterre, the capital city.
As the last working railway in the West Indies, the St Kitts Scenic Railway offers a tropical escape and views that other islands can’t. The two-hour journey across the island on its vintage train make it one of the top things to do in the Eastern Caribbean and contributes to St Kitts and Nevis’s rank as one of the best Caribbean islands to retire.
2. Stroll Seven Mile Beach (Jamaica)
Jamaica has so many attractions to fill your booths on a tropical Caribbean vacation. From diving in the Blue Hole and climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios to tracing the origins of jerk chicken in Portland and sipping blue mountain coffee on top of the cloud-covered Blue Mountains, there’s enough to keep you busy in this tropical paradise. Visiting pristine beaches like Seven Mile Beach or Frenchman’s Cove provide a Jamaican experience like no other when combined with the above attractions.
Located on the most westerly side of the island west of Montego Bay, the white sands of Seven Mile Beach stretch almost seven miles and is a stunning and lively beach. Visitors can enjoy water sports, luxury resorts, reggae beats at the beach bars, and taste Jamaica’s famous Jerk chicken or ackee and saltfish, the national dish. You can also visit the tiny island of Booby Cay just off the coast or take a day trip to the peaceful Little Bay, where Bob Marley owned a beach home.
3. Sail the Tobago Cays (St Vincent and the Grenadines)
In the Grenadines archipelago, the Tobago Cays are a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. This group of five uninhabited islands—Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Jamesby, and Petit Tabac—are known for their natural beauty and marine life. Protected as part of the Tobago Cays Marine Park, the area has crystal-clear turquoise waters and glistening beaches.
Snorkeling in the Tobago Cays is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with the surrounding colorful coral reefs full of marine life, sea turtles, rays, and tropical fish. The coral gardens around Baradal Turtle Sanctuary are the most popular, where you can swim with stingrays and turtles in their natural habitat. If you prefer to stay above water, the area is perfect for sailing or taking a day trip on a catamaran. You can also visit Petit Tabac, famous as a film location for Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, and add a bit of Hollywood glamour to your Caribbean adventure.
4. Scale Gros Piton (St Lucia)
Located on the Caribbean island of St Lucia, Gros Piton is one of two volcanic peaks linked by the Piton Mitan ridge which forms the Pitons Management Area UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gros Piton is a must do for anyone looking for challenging things to do in St Lucia and to get up close and personal with the raw beauty of the Caribbean.
The hike starts near the small St Lucian village of Soufriere and has a well-known and marked 3.2-mile trail to reach the summit. At the top you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the sister mountain, Petit Piton, and several Caribbean islands including the Maria Islands, St Vincent, and fishing villages along the St Lucia coastline.
5. Snorkel through Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park (Grenada)
One of the most unique things to see in the Caribbean and the best things for scuba divers in Grenada is snorkeling through the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park. One of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World, the park next to the sleepy fishing village of Happy Hill was the first of Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater gardens. With 75 pieces covering an area of 800 m2, these unique sculptures are a fusion of art and marine conservation and can be reached with a short boat ride from Grand Anse Beach.
Grenada recently commissioned a new underwater sculpture park named A World Adrift off the coast of Carriacou, the capital city. The new park offers a unique blend of art, environmental awareness, and cultural heritage. Created by renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the park features 30 sculptures resembling paper boats, each molded from the face of a local student. These installations symbolize the country’s boat-building traditions and highlight the importance of marine conservation.
6. Hike El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico)
In the northeastern part of Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System and is a sacred site in Puerto Rico’s cultural heritage.
One of the most developed tropical destinations with many beautiful spots and unique things to do in the Caribbean, many travelers love the contrast between the park’s rainforest and the modern amenities and infrastructure of cities like Bayamón. The park contains a lot of biodiversity to explore, with different plant species, tropical birds, and other animal species including Puerto Rico’s famous coqui frog.
7. Marvel at Kaieteur Falls (Guyana)
Venezuela has Angel Falls, Brazil has Iguaçu Falls, but Guyana has Kaieteur Falls, which more than holds its own by being the world’s largest single-drop waterfall by volume.
In the rainy season (May to July), deep in Guyana’s rainforest, the 226m high Kaieteur Falls in the Kaieteur National Park comes alive, and visitors who take a flight from Georgetown get to see nature’s force and beauty.
8. Swim with Pigs (Bahamas)
Known as “Pig Beach,” Exuma Beach is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches and the only place where you can swim with the island’s pigs. Many ask how the pigs got here; some say they swam from a nearby shipwreck, and others say they were left behind by sailors who’d planned to cook them later.
Whatever the reason, the pigs are friendly and used to human interaction, welcoming visitors with their playful attitude and curiosity.
9. Explore Hato Caves (Curaçao)
One of Curaçao’s most unique features, the Hato Caves, were used as hiding spots for escaped enslaved people during the early days of the Atlantic slave trade. Before the slave trade, Amerindian Arawaks used them for shelter and left behind cave drawings or petroglyphs dating back over 1,500 years.
As one of the Caribbean’s most significant historical sites, a visit to the Hato Caves is a must-do in Curaçao, with their cultural, social, and historical dynamics, as well as a large population of long-nosed bats.
10. Trek Arikok National Park (Aruba)
If you’re after unforgettable experiences in the Caribbean, Aruba has them. One of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao), almost 20 percent of Aruba’s land area is protected as a national park, with rare animals and plants found only on the island. The 7,907 acres of protected land is full of unspoiled beauty.
Its rugged coastlines, parakeets, mockingbirds, lizards, cottontail rabbits, and stunning rock formations will give you a glimpse of Aruba’s natural greenery. The park also offers one of the most unique and fun things to do in the Caribbean with a free monthly “cinema in the park,” where you can spend an evening surrounded by nature and enjoy open-air screenings under the stars.
11. Feel the Rhythm at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Trinidad and Tobago is carnival, and carnival is Trinidad and Tobago, the birthplace of modern carnival, where European and African rhythms collide. The annual event, which has been going on for over 200 years, takes place on Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
The climax of Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival season includes parades from big mas bands like Zain Carnival and Jade Monkey Mas, Soca music, and J’Ouvert celebrations that draw in revelers from all over the world.
Join in on the Caribbean’s biggest carnival through all-inclusive mas band packages that include costumes, drinks, and food, or simply soak up the sun and eat delicious cuisine infused with Trinidad and Tobago’s rich cultural flavors.
12. Wander the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha (Belize)
Visiting the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha in Belize is a journey into the heart of history of the Americas. Located 30 miles north of Belize City, this archaeological site gives you a glimpse into the sophisticated Mayan civilization that existed between 200 BC and 900 AD. Altun Ha, which means “Water of the Rock,” was a significant trading and ceremonial center connecting the Mayan lowlands to coastal routes.
The most iconic structure, the Temple of the Masonry Altars, stands 54 feet tall and offers breathtaking jungle views. This pyramid was a site for rituals, and the discovery of jade artifacts, including the famous Jade Head, makes it a culturally significant site.
Altun Ha is a peaceful yet adventurous experience. You can wander through the plazas, temples, and courtyards and imagine how life was in this busy city centuries ago. Guided tours from companies like Coral Breeze Tours will provide insight into the history, architecture, and Mayan way of life.
13. Get Wet at Devil’s Bridge (Antigua and Barbuda)
Devil’s Bridge National Park is on the eastern side of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and features stunning natural limestone arches carved out by crashing waves of the Caribbean Sea over thousands of years.
One of the top things to do in Antigua and Barbuda, Devil’s Bridge offers adventure and history at one of the island’s most historic sites. The name is said to come from the tragic stories of enslaved people from nearby plantations who, in a brave act of defiance, jumped over the bridge to their deaths rather than live a life of slavery.
14. Discover the Baths on Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands)
The Baths on Virgin Gorda on the south coast of Virgin Gorda Island in the British Virgin Islands are a natural beauty and many people’s favorite place in the Caribbean. The attraction features a series of granite boulders and caverns on powdery white sand beaches.
They form a hidden path to secret rock pools and the famous Cathedral Room, a peaceful cave with a natural pool where you can relax in the calm waters of the tropical paradise.
15. Take the Floor with Salsa at La Casa De La Musica (Cuba)
Most travelers, when thinking of the best things to do in the Caribbean, think of lying on idyllic beaches, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, and listening to the sounds of the rainforest. But the Caribbean has many island nations, each with a diverse population and rich culture, and music is a big part of it.
Cuba is the birthplace of salsa, where the famous Latin American sound was created in the early 1900s. La Casa de la Musica in the historic city of Havana is on the top list of places to experience salsa music and Caribbean nightlife.
16. Scale the Boiling Lake (Dominica)
Hiking Dominica’s Boiling Lake, the second largest hot lake in the world after the Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand, is one of the top things to do in Dominica and is one of the top 10 natural spectacles of the Caribbean. Only 6.5 miles from the capital, Roseau, the 60-meter diameter and 15-meter-deep lake has grey and blue water veiled in a cloud of water vapor.
Dominica is the top choice for tourists looking for cheap things to do Caribbean, as well as offering one of the lowest costs of living in the Caribbean. A full day’s guided hike from local tour companies like Just Go Dominica is required to get to the lake from sea level, and despite the lake looking inviting to swim in, the water is a scorching 180 to 197 degrees Fahrenheit, so swimming is not possible.
17. Catch the Pico Isabel de Torres Cable Car (Dominican Republic)
The Pico Isabel de Torres Cable Car is the only cable car in the Caribbean, overlooking the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer. While many Caribbean destinations have big mountains with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, travelers have to hike them to reach their summits.
Mount Isabel de Torres in the Dominican Republic has a peaceful cable car ride to the top, from which you can see a stunning view of Puerto Plata and the coastline.
18. Snorkel with Sea Turtles in Maho Bay (US Virgin Islands)
One of the top attractions in Caribbean islands is visiting St John’s Maho Bay in the US Virgin Islands to snorkel with sea turtles in their natural habitat. Besides visiting the bay’s white sandy beaches, it’s one of the best things to do in the Caribbean with kids, where you can take a ferry from St Thomas to St John to see the turtles that frequent the seagrass beds along the shallow bay.
They mostly populate the area between Maho and Cinnamon, where snorkelers and scuba divers encounter other marine life, such as angelfish and octopuses.
Frequently Asked Questions about Things to do in the Caribbeans
Some of the top attractions and fun things to do in the Caribbean for adults and kids include:
- A historic journey on St Kitts and Nevis’s Sugar Train
- Swimming with stingrays and other marine life in Grand Cayman Stingray City in the Cayman Islands
- Sipping rum at Jamaica’s Appleton Estate rum distillery
- Hiking St Lucia’s Gros Piton volcanic peak
- Exploring Harrison’s Cave in Barbados
- Zip lining through Arenal Sanctuary Reserve in Costa Rica
The Caribbean offers diverse cuisines. Those visiting or living in the Caribbean can enjoy dishes like:
- Pastechi in Aruba
- Ropa vieja in Cuba
- Mofongo in the Puerto Rico
- Mtemgee in Guyana
- Jerk chicken in Jamaica
- Créole Mahi-Mahi in Saint Barthélemy
- Saltfish buljol in Trinidad and Tobago
- Moksi Alesi in Suriname
Experiencing genuine Caribbean culture when visiting the top destinations in the Caribbean requires immersing yourself in local communities. You can experience authentic Caribbean culture and cuisine by venturing off areas frequented by tourists, engaging with locals at local restaurants, buying fresh produce at local farmer’s markets, and observing cultural festivals and community events.
Some of the top and most idyllic beaches in the Caribbean for families include:
- Eagle Beach in Aruba, one of the island’s most serene secluded white sand beaches
- Pigeon Point Beach in Tobago, lined with tall palm trees
- Grace Bay in Turk and Caicos Islands, the ideal beach for a day full of water sports
- Te Amo Beach in Bonaire, with outdoor activities such as wind sailing and snorkeling, suitable for young kids
- Playa Bavaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, offering a friendly environment for families
- Manzanillo Beach in Costa Rica, with its unique shipwreck
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean include:
- Blue and John Crow Mountains in Jamaica
- Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica
- La Fortaleza in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in St Kitts and Nevis
- Viñales Valley in Cuba
- The Core of the Mayan Area (Altun Ha) in Belize
- National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers in Haiti
- Antigua Naval Dockyard (Nelson’s Dockyard) in Antigua and Barbuda
- Pitons Management Area in St Lucia
- Colonial City of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic
- Sian Ka’an in Mexico
Some of the best adventure activities for thrill seekers to experience outdoors in the Caribbean include:
- Deep sea fishing off Grenada’s coast
- Hiking Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica
- Attending a rally event at Rally Barbados
- Skydiving in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- Kite surfing in Southern Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
- Climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica
To sail or cruise around the Caribbean islands, follow these steps:
- Decide on your itinerary and trip length, which islands you want to visit, and how long.
- Research the best routes, weather patterns, currents, and distances between islands.
- Do you charter a boat or join a cruise? Chartering a yacht requires some sailing experience to navigate the Caribbean safely.
- If you are chartering a yacht, choose a reputable charter company and select the type and size of yacht that suits your needs and the number of passengers.
- Stock up on essentials and provisions for your trip and consider which islands you can restock if needed.
- Consider hiring an experienced captain or guide to help with navigation and show you the best anchorages, snorkeling spots, and local island attractions.
- Be flexible. The Caribbean is tropical, so sailors should expect sudden weather changes.
The Caribbean is tropical all year round, but the best time to visit is from February to May, the dry season. June to November is the region’s wettest period, coinciding with hurricane season.
Most destinations offer great tourist attractions in the Caribbean; it depends on what you like and are interested in. If you like history, you might be fascinated by Jamaica’s House Museum of Bob Marley or Fort James in Antigua and Barbuda. If you want peaceful, clear waters and the best beaches, Turks and Caicos or Anguilla might be the place for you.
For first timers to the Caribbean, popular places to go are the Bahamas, with its beautiful beaches and palm trees, and Jamaica, with its coves in cities like Port Antonio and waterfalls, including the Blue Hole in Ocho Rios.
First-timers can experience the Caribbean’s history by walking the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan or having a magical experience in one of Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays. Another great spot is Cuba, where you can hear and dance to the best salsa music in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The Caribbean is famous for its many white sand beaches, cultural diversity, and warm and welcoming locals. With its beautiful islands, blue waters, and palm tree-laden beaches, the region is heaven and the perfect place for a tropical getaway in paradise.
While Haiti has amazing sites like Bassin Bleu Waterfall and UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Citadelle Laferrière and Sans Souci Palace, it is not the best place to vacation in the Caribbean due to current political unrest and elevated criminality.
Two Caribbean islands many consider not worth visiting are Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago. While you should always be cautious of crime, in countries like Trinidad and Tobago, crime is an internal issue mainly confined to inner city areas. In Haiti, it’s a more complex and unpredictable situation with safety concerns affecting larger areas, including popular tourist spots, and one of the most fractured Caribbean healthcare systems.
With its rich cultural heritage, the Caribbean has many cultural events to experience. Some of the most popular annual festivals are:
- St Vincent and the Grenadines Viny Mas in June/July
- St Lucia Creole Heritage Month in October
- St Barth Mardi Gras in March/April
- Anguilla Regatta in May
- Barbados Crop Over Festival in June and August
- Guyana Mashramani Festival in February
- Belize Benque Viejo del Carmen Fiesta in July
- Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim in March
- Jamaica’s Portland Jerk Festival in July
- Bonaire Simadan Festival in March and April
- Trinindad and Tobago Phagwah in March
Several Caribbean countries make the Caribbean bucket list of best things to do in Caribbean islands, each with its own unique attractions and experiences. Jamaica is famous for its reggae scene, waterfalls like Dunn’s River Falls, and other activities, such as swimming in bioluminescent bays in Falmouth. Belize has white sand beaches, mountain biking, and Mayan ruins like Altun Ha and Xunantunich. Dominican Republic is one of the best places to visit in the Caribbean as it offers cultural immersion in the colonial district of Santo Domingo, eco-tourism in Los Haitises National Park, and beach resorts suitable for families and couples in Punta Cana.
It’s hard to say where is the most beautiful place in the Caribbean as all islands are beautiful in their own way, but some of the prettiest places are:
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- St Lucia
- Martinique
- Cayman Islands
- Barbados
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- The Bahamas