Lazing on the beach is something that any vacationer to the Caribbean looks forward to. The blueness of the water, the soft sand, and the friendly, laid-back people are certainly attractive. However, there are jungles to explore, islands to ride across, and reefs to check out underwater when you’re tired of being so inactive.
Caribbeansbest.org has some great information on Mustique and other Caribbean islands, but here is an overview of some of the best islands and what you can do there.
Barbados
The Soup Bowl Beach over in Bathsheba is a great place to soak up the sun and enjoy the soft white sand. There’s plenty to do there, including looking out for the leatherback turtles that sometimes visit the beach. Snorkeling and scuba diving is popular with pretty reefs to view. If you don’t want to go deep into the water under your own power, the submarine excursion is another way to see the sea life up close without getting wet! Beyond that, there are horseback rides to see a different side of the beach and surrounding area. As for accommodation, there are plenty of luxury villas in Barbados that you can rent out for the duration of your stay. A property right by the sandy beach with a view of the crystal-clear waters, and all the sun you can soak up; what more could you ask for?
Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago
Tobago isn’t as well-known as it’s big sister, Trinidad, but its scuba diving complete with large reefs and rays to catch swimming over the reef make any trip there worth the price. The island has natural tropical land adventures where you can go trekking with a guide to see more of the nearby rainforest. The nearby mountain lake is a popular one-day excursion to take too. Hiring a mountain bike and riding around on the island is recommended, as is the horseback riding, which does the same thing at a far more leisurely pace. And if you want to sample some local flavor, goat racing is a thing here. Yes, really.
Puerto Rico
The beach areas are lovely to enjoy and relax. However, that’s not all that Puerto Rico has to offer visitors to the island. The marine life is of interest to people who love to explore under the water. There are paddle boarding and canoe trips, scuba trips or snorkeling. The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is also worth a one-day visit to see animals in their natural environment.
Belize
Sleepy Belize doesn’t jump right out at you as a happening place because it’s so laid-back. It does have a distinctly Caribbean feel though. There are trips into the jungle to spot the manatees that sometimes cooperate for an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity. The Maya culture runs deep here, so Belize is different to other islands in the region. The cuisine is also its own and enjoyably varied in taste and presentation. There are the usual reefs to explore underwater when you get bored of sunbathing on the beach, swimming in the turquoise blue waters, or trekking through the jungle in search of a manatee.
The Caribbean islands each offer their own vacation experience. While there some similarities here and there, the cultures, food, and activities that take place on each island are distinctive. You can easily choose which island to visit based on your personal preferences or plan to spend time on several islands in the region and travel between them. Either approach works for people who love the hospitality of the local people and the sense of getting back to nature once again.