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Planning a trip to the Caribbean can be exciting but also overwhelming with so many islands to choose from.
We’ve traveled to dozens of islands, with our kids and without, and have our pulse on the energy and vibe of each one.
This guide to Caribbean islands will help you focus in on what’s important and get you to the right place with enthusiasm and excitement!
Brainstorm Your Ideal Caribbean Trip
Before diving into the specifics, it’s essential to brainstorm what type of trip you want. Do you need relaxation, adventure, or a mix of both? Understanding your needs will help you narrow down the best Caribbean islands for your family.
When you start planning trips, do you often begin with the question “Where do I want to go?” You start making lists in our minds of dream holiday destinations like Turks and Caicos or Paris or Colombia. While it’s great to keep in mind destinations that have been on your radar, I encourage you to think differently at the start.
Take a few minutes and think about the type of trip you envision.
We’ve made mistakes before by planning extraordinarily adventurous trips with young children because we thought we wanted those types of experiences. However, at those moments in our lives, we really needed rest and relaxation, especially after not sleeping well for a year with a newborn.
There are other times when planning ahead for an adventurous trip feels right, even if it means less downtime. By structuring it to balance activity and rest, it can still be fun and fulfilling. What feels right depends on our kids’ ages, our current life stage, and our overall situation.
Do you need relaxation, adventure, or a mix of both? Underwater vibes or beachside cafes? Hiking and ziplining? Fine dining and childcare? By starting with these questions, you’ll be on the right path to planning a Caribbean vacation that perfectly fits your family’s needs and desires.
And dream big – remember, we’re here to help you accomplish the trips you want with your kids.
How to Compare Caribbean Islands
Every Caribbean island is great with kids for the right family and the right type of trip. This Caribbean island guide aims to explain what various islands are good for, what unique experiences they offer, and why they might work for different family configurations.
The Caribbean is not just a collection of interchangeable islands. While they all certainly offer travelers sand, sun, and beautiful beaches, each island has its own distinctive culture, travel logistics, hotel setups, and activities. Exploring these differences will help you make the right choice when choosing a Caribbean island.
Hidden Gems – Best Caribbean Islands to Get Away From It All
If you’re looking to escape the crowds and find a secluded paradise, consider these hidden gems. These destinations often require a little extra effort to get to – but that’s one of the reasons they’ve remained Mango Tree favorites.
The stunning beaches of the British Virgin Islands give rise to a feeling of total escape. A short ferry ride from the airport takes you to tranquility, where you can enjoy inspiring landscapes and relaxed vibes – but also water sports galore. The islands are perfect for sailing and exploring hidden coves.
Nevis, reachable by boat from St. Kitts, is special with its colonial history and peaceful atmosphere. Nevis is known for its quiet charm, historic sites, and luxurious resorts. The island provides a serene environment ideal for families looking to unwind.
The Grenadines are perfect for island hopping and discovering remote beauty. This chain of islands is well-known among yachters, but its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters can be enjoyd in more traditional hotel settings too – it might just take an extra ferry or hopper flight to reach them. It’s an ideal destination for those who enjoy sailing and exploring multiple islands.
When I think of the Bahamas, I don’t think of Atlantis in Nassau or Paradise Island. Instead, I think of the natural beauty of all the outer islands like the Exumas and Eleuthera, where you get some of the best blue water in the Caribbean and a more remote feeling.
Best Caribbean Islands for Beach Lovers
If you just love the beach and ocean, then you’ve found the right section of our guide to the Caribbean islands. It’s hard to compare Caribbean islands with great beaches because there are just so many, but these ones do stand out when it comes to idyllic white sand beaches.
Turks and Caicos is home to the stunning Grace Bay Beach. Known for its powdery white sands and clear turquoise waters, this island is perfect for a classic beach vacation. You’ll experience that picture in your mind of the clear blue waters of the Caribbean.
Barbados is also famous for its long stretches of sandy beaches. With both calm and surf-friendly coasts, and just an overall friendly and approachable vibe, it’s having a resurgence among family travelers. That’s especially true as we see more and more direct and affordable flights to Barbados.
Anguilla is known for its pristine beaches and tranquil waters – and many would say the best beaches in the Caribbean. Away from cruise ships and without a major international airport, Anguilla maintains a private atmosphere with luxurious beachfront resorts and some of the best dining in the Caribbean.
The Virgin Islands on both the US and British sides offer amazing beach experiences, calling to those who want to hop around and see more than one stretch of sand. From one beach you can gaze across the sea to the next, calling you to come and visit.
Best Caribbean Islands for Cute Cafes and Walkable Towns
For those who enjoy charming cafes and exploring walkable towns, pack your bags and book the first available flights to these charming islands.
Barbados offers chic beach cafes and delicious food. The island’s culinary scene is vibrant, with a mix of local and international flavors, perfect for foodies.
Of all our Caribbean travel guides, the guide to St. Martin has one of the most extensive restaurant lists. This French isle is a hit among Mango Tree Travelers, with walkable towns and a Mediterranean vibe. Stick with the French side for the best food and beaches on your holidays, in our opinion.
Curacao has a European feel with diverse culinary options. The island’s capital, Willemstad, is a real city – known for its colorful architecture and lively food scene. And yet there are some great beach resorts just a stone’s throw away, making it easy to access culture and cuisine on your next beach vacation.
Finally, Belize is known for its laid-back beach bars and chill vibe. The island of Ambergis Caye can be navigated by golf cart, whereas the mainland beach town of Placencia is quite walkable. In either destination, you can enjoy local flavors and fresh seafood right by the water.
And if you want your beach cafes with a side of glitz and glam, who can forget St Barths? A bit harder to get to than other Caribbean destinations, you’ll be able to enjoy beach clubs and cafes to your heart’s content, while walking around the dazzling beachfront town of Saint Jean.
Best Caribbean Islands for Underwater Adventure
For families that love snorkeling and diving, these islands are a must-visit.
Bonaire – if you want to snorkel, run, don’t walk to Bonaire with your kids. Bonaire sits on top of a barrier reef and marine protected area, which makes the snorkeling straight from the beach unparalleled. This gives beginners and advanced snorkelers and divers access to really incredible underwater sights, making it a do-not-miss destination in this guide to the Caribbean islands.
The reef starts right off shore in Roatan, too. The post-dive scene on West Bay Beach can only be described as the tropical version of an apres-ski.
And, home to one of the largest barrier reefs, Belize provides easy access to incredible underwater adventures. What makes it a great snorkel destination for kids, though, are the little cays that can be used as a home base on snorkel outings. Kids can get the full dive day experience but with plenty of beach breaks.
Best Caribbean Islands for Hiking and Jungle
If you love hiking and exploring lush landscapes, these green islands have you covered. Skip the flat islands and get some elevation and dramatic scenery.
Dominica – nicknamed the Nature Island – is known for its mountainous terrain and vibrant rainforests. The island offers challenging hikes, stunning waterfalls, and a chance to explore unspoiled nature.
St. Lucia also provides ziplining, hiking, and lush jungle landscapes. St. Lucia’s Pitons and rainforests are an iconic Caribbean image, with plenty of opportunities for adventure and exploration.
And with no passport needed for US travelers, Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest can’t be overlooked for hiking and waterfalls. This tropical rainforest is perfect for families who love outdoor activities and scenic trails.
Easy Access – Best Caribbean Islands For Direct Flights
Sometimes, convenience is key – especially when looking for the best Caribbean islands with kids. These islands offer frequent direct flights from the US, and tons of hotels for families.
Montego Bay, Jamaica provides easy access with many direct flights. In Montego Bay, you can enjoy reggae beats, delicious jerk chicken, and a handful of really stunning resorts (mixed in with lots of medicare ones, though, so be intentional in your planning).
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic has plenty of direct flights and family-friendly resorts too. This is really the land of the all-inclusive resort, and the land of deals. Often, I hear travelers say that they want an affordable all-inclusive but don’t want to go to the Dominican Republic. But the DR really has this market cornered – the model of big AI resorts here really is not replicated elsewhere.
Nassau, Bahamas offers quick flights from the US, but frankly (in our books) it lacks quite a bit of charm. We have one boutique hotel we love in Nassau for a quick getaway, but we urge you not to forget about the Bahamas outer islands! Add a quick hopper flight from Nassau onto your direct international flight and you’ll be in whole different world.
Antigua is somewhat of a sleeper hit on this easy list! You’ll find direct flights from lots of U.S. cities, and it’s a safe and easy island to explore.
Grand Cayman sits further west than many Caribbean islands and can be forgotten when you’re picking favorites from a map of the Caribbean. But in the Cayman Islands, you can dive into crystal-clear waters and enjoy upscale dining and shopping. The island is renowned for its excellent snorkeling and white stretch of sand.
Turks and Caicos is a favorite among the islands for families, and for good reasons. The easy direct flights, resorts with great suite set-ups for families, and stunningly calm beach checks all the boxes for a quick and memorable tropical getaway.
Finally, Mexico offers direct flights, with Cancun being one of the business international airports around. If you just want to get to beautiful beaches without a long haul, don’t discount the Riviera Maya area south of Cancun.
The range of resort styles outside Cancun is vast – with literally hundreds of options, including everything from budget all-inclusives (not really our style, but we know they serve a purpose) to delightful luxury gems to more rustic boutique hotels of Tulum. You can enjoy stunning beaches, cenotes, and Mayan ruins – but most of all relax by the beach and pools.
Some of Our Favorite Blends
For those who want a mix of everything, here are some top picks.
Grenada has always been one of my favorite destinations in the Caribbean. It has a long stretch of gorgeous beach, unique culture with its spice production, and a rainforest interior that you can access in only 45 minutes from the beach. This mix of beach, culture, and rainforest makes Grenada a standout destination, and we recommend Grenada with kids wholeheartedly to our Mango Tree travelers of all ages.
The dual island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis similarly boats a blend of colonial history, fantastic beaches, and a peaceful vibe. You can hike Mount Nevis, stroll through local villages, and relax on serene beaches. The island’s tranquil atmosphere is perfect for unwinding while still giving active travelers plenty to explore – and just across the way the beach bars of Saint Kitts let you mix in some lively vibes too.
A recent favorite among our custom trip planning clients, Belize provides a “rainforest to reef” experience. One day you can be snorkeling off one of the biggest barrier reefs, and the next, exploring a jungle lodge with howler monkeys and butterflies. This destination has long been popular among divers and honeymooners, but is up-and-coming among families seeking a balanced mix of adventure and relaxation.
Similarly, Roatan, Honduras has been on the radar of most divers for many years but is now emerging as a family destination. It offers an amazing beach with casual beach bars and restaurants, calm waters, vibrant reefs, and a narrow jungle interior. Activities include snorkeling, diving, ziplining, and interacting with local wildlife.
