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The Caribbean offers an irresistible mix of postcard-perfect beaches, lush rainforests, and diverse landscapes that promise breathtaking scenery at every turn.
Visitors can choose from a wide range of lodging options, from luxurious resorts to charming boutique stays, and savor top-notch restaurants showcasing vibrant local flavors. Beyond the beauty, each island invites travelers to immerse themselves in rich culture and traditions.
But which island holds the most appeal? We asked an expert panel to nominate their top island picks, and now it’s your turn to crown the best.
Which island would you most like to visit? Vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, December 29 at noon ET. The 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, January 7.
Located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, Anguilla is only about 16 miles long, but it’s rich with African and British influences that appear in its many festivals as well as on the table at many of its waterfront restaurants. The beaches offer soft, powdery, white sands that are a perfect contrast to the calm aqua waters perfect for exploring.
Visitors may travel to Aruba for its pristine beaches and warm seas, but once there, they may stay for the inland adventures like hiking to the peak of Hooiberg hill, exploring Arikok National Park, and admiring the natural wonders of Fontein Cave and the Natural Pool. Golfers will also enjoy the island’s three major golf courses that provide a perfect backdrop to make par.
Whether you’re diving the island’s shipwrecks, indulging in spiced cuisine influenced by Creole and Portuguese culture, learning about the country’s long history with rum, or visiting Historic Bridgetown (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Barbados is more than just a beach getaway. Of course, its beaches are stunning too, but visitors should definitely take advantage of the rest of its attractions by booking more than just a weekend trip here.
With 85 dive sites, Bonaire is renowned for its shore diving and abundance of healthy reefs. There are also salt pans, flocks of pink flamingos, and Washington Slagbaai National Park full of cacti and rugged cliffs. The island isn’t as developed with hotels as others in the Caribbean, which makes all its accommodations an authentic experience, from boutique villa rentals to bed and breakfasts.
This Dutch Caribbean island features a colonial downtown lined with pastel facades, providing shopping and dining in between lazy beach days on strips of white sand that feel like a private oasis. For adventure enthusiasts, there’s off-road ATV tours and hiking in Christoffel National Park, while for the leisure traveler, sunset sails are a must-book.
As one of the 700 coral islands in the Bahamas, Eleuthera is famed for the curious wild pigs that might paddle up and say ‘hi’ while you’re swimming in the calm, turquoise water. This idyllic spot also boasts many private coves to explore.
When you’re not lounging on the beach against emerald and aqua waters, Grand Bahama sates the adventure junkie’s appetite with Jeep safaris, biking tours, and swimming with dolphins. The island’s cultural events calendar is stacked with festivals and celebrations year-round from fish fries to bonfires and live music.
Scuba diving and snorkeling are at the top of many travelers’ agendas on Grand Cayman, but in recent years, the island has emerged as a culinary hub. Plenty of food festivals happen throughout the year, like the Cayman Cookout at The Ritz-Carlton, headlined by both global Michelin-starred chefs and local talent. In between festivals, the restaurants and beach huts are consistently serving up lip-smacking culinary options.
The white sand beaches and turquoise waters are consistently ranked as some of the best in the Caribbean with an added perk — JoJo the dolphin, who’s an island celebrity known for being friendly with snorkelers and swimmers. Visitors to Grand Turk can explore the capital city of the Turks & Caicos archipelago, including the homes and businesses of Cockburn Town, which look like they dropped out of the pages of a storybook.
History buffs will appreciate Grenada’s forts, eco-enthusiasts will marvel at the waterfalls like Concord Falls, and epicureans will love Grenada’s spice and rum plantations. The island is also home to tropical rainforest-lined beaches as well as hot springs and wildlife sanctuaries. The crescent-shaped Grand Anse Beach is one of the famed white beaches, with nearly 2 miles of uninterrupted sands.
While many Caribbean islands are praised for their white sands, Harbour Island is an outlier that’s visited for its pale pink sands at Pink Sand Beach. Sailing trips are also popular for sunning and swimming around the swirling sandbars of the island where swings await for a perfect picture and nostalgic moment.
The most populous island in the West Indies, Hispaniola is unique as it is divided between two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The island’s natural beauty shines with deep blue seas that fade to light aqua closer to shore and 130 bird species.
Zip-line through the rainforest, sip rum in the town of Negril, or explore the jerk chicken stalls around Montego Bay and you’ll realize why visitors keep returning to this 146-mile-long island. Plus, there are a large number of luxury hotels waiting to spoil guests.
The landscape of Nevis is unique with its towering volcanic peak rising out of the serene waters that are home to a plethora of healthy reefs and marine life like sea turtles. Deep sea fishing and scuba diving are ocean highlights. On land, biking, cooking classes, and ATVing provide hours of entertainment.
Home to the Bahamas’ capital of Nassau as well as the main port of entry to access Atlantis on Paradise Island (which is connected via bridge to New Providence), this island is a culture hub with frequent culinary and arts festivals with stalls that feature local delicacies and artisan crafts. It’s also home to Baha Mar, a trio of five-star hotels that cater to every vacationer from families to honeymooners.
Home to Grace Bay Beach, considered one of the world’s best beaches, Providenciales is the perfect place to lounge on the beach for days. The most populated island in Turks and Caicos hosts some of the world’s top resort brands from the Aman’s Amanyara to The Ritz-Carlton to ensure you’re lounging in luxury with butler service and beachside bars.
U.S. travelers don’t even need to pack a passport to visit this U.S. territory in between the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands. Aside from the beaches, El Yunque tropical rainforest is a huge draw with its waterfalls and epic trails as well as Arenales Caves, Old San Juan, and the bioluminescent bays of Vieques.
As the former capital of the Danish West Indies, Christiansted is a great place to start to explore St. Croix’s history before wandering around Frederiksted. Travelers also love seeing St. Croix from the water on a sailboat that can transport you to remote beaches tricky to access by foot.
Some of the most luxurious resorts on St. Lucia makes it easy to see the island’s main selling point — the Pitons — without leaving your resort’s infinity pool or private villa terraces. A trip here feels otherworldly thanks to the topography; nature trails culminate at waterfalls, fishing villages welcome guests to try local cuisine like pepper pots (traditional stew), and hot springs support the island’s prominent wellness scene.
This island’s northern shores steep visitors in French culture while the southern side reveals its Dutch customs. The island is actually two countries, and travelers will experience two very different sides to the island by visiting both. No matter what side you’re on, there are stunning beaches and active wildlife viewings.
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles.
She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education.
She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
Chelle Koster Walton took her first Caribbean trip to Jamaica in the 1970s and has been in love with the region ever since. Author of the award-winning Caribbean Ways: A Cultural Guide, she served as contributing editor and contributor for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine for more than 15 years. Two-time winner of the Bahamas Cacique Award for International Writer, Walton is also the author of Explorers Guide: The Bahamas and a guidebook app about Nassau.
Laura Sangster is the founder of The Journey Group and Caribbean Journey, bringing over 24 years of expertise in luxury travel planning. Having visited the Caribbean more than 150 times, Laura has a unique understanding of the region and is known for her talent in transforming clients’ travel ideas into meaningful, unforgettable journeys. Her guidance spans all stages of life—from dream honeymoons and family vacations to ultra-luxury, bucket-list adventures.
Laura leads a dedicated team of advisors who take time to understand each client’s vision, crafting every journey with authenticity and ease. With trusted partnerships and boutique accommodations, Laura and her team offer access to hidden gems, local insights, and seamless experiences that let clients experience each destination in a unique way.
Passionate about creating transformative travel, Laura and her team make travel planning effortless and inspiring, allowing clients to focus on savoring the journey. Caribbean Journey prioritizes sustainable travel brands, so clients can explore the world with peace of mind, supported by companies that care about our planet. Driven by a love for the authentic Caribbean and a deep respect for clients’ time, Laura and her team handle every detail, so travelers can simply look forward to their journey. Follow their adventures around the Caribbean on Instagram and Facebook.
Melanie is an island girl at heart . Born in Manhattan, she now lives on the sunny island of Montreal and covers the Caribbean for a variety of publications including USA TODAY 10Best, CaribbeanTravel.com and MarryCaribbean.com.
A journalist with a boatload of writer awards under her belt, Melanie’s affection for the Caribbean started young when her family vacationed in Puerto Rico. An avid fan of spicy food, Melanie enjoys the diversity of Montreal – especially during the warmer months -when she’s not en route to the Caribbean. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto.
Sharon is a native to the Philadelphia area, but loves to wander from its familiar borders. She has traveled to more than 40 countries, trekked five continents, ventured out with family, friends and on solo trips and tackled numerous adventures that were both in and well out of her comfort zone. When she’s not traveling, you may find her out on her bicycle on the local roads and trails dreaming up her next adventure. Her other works can be found at AAA The Extra Mile, The Chicago Tribune, Trekaroo.com, FWT Magazine, NJ Family and a variety of other online publications.
Catherine Smith, Expert and Award Eligibility Coordinator for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, has a special interest in health and wellness, family travel, women’s solo travel and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
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