The Caribbean has thousands of beaches — but a handful keep appearing on every "world's best" list. Here are 20 that have earned the reputation:
1. Grace Bay, Providenciales (Turks and Caicos)
— 5 km of powder-white sand and turquoise water in a protected lagoon. Consistently ranked #1 in the world. Excellent for snorkeling at Smith's Reef.
2. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
— Crescent of white sand fringed by sea grape trees. Calm water perfect for families, no vendors, no pressure.
3. Eagle Beach, Aruba
— Wide, white, with iconic divi-divi trees bent by trade winds. CARIBBEAN Travel Awards 2023 winner.
4. Trunk Bay, St. John (USVI)
— Inside Virgin Islands National Park. The only beach with an underwater snorkel trail explaining the coral reef.
5. Pink Sands Beach, Eleuthera (Bahamas)
— 5 km of genuine pink sand from microscopic red foraminifera shells. Best at sunset.
6. Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
— 3 km of brilliant white sand, calm Caribbean water, beach bars (Gwen's Reggae Grill, Tropical Sunset).
7. Maho Beach, Sint Maarten
— Famous for jet liners landing meters above sunbathers. Plane spotting and water sports.
8. Seven Mile Beach, Negril (Jamaica)
— Sunset cliff-diving at Rick's Café and Pirates Cave caves.
9. The Baths, Virgin Gorda (BVI)
— Granite boulders forming grottos and saltwater pools. Snorkel between Devil's Bay and The Caves.
10. Magens Bay, St. Thomas (USVI)
— Heart-shaped bay with 1 km of white sand and forested hills.
11. Playa Bávaro, Punta Cana (DR)
— 30 km of beach, all-inclusive resorts, calm Atlantic-Caribbean meeting point.
12. Varadero Beach, Cuba
— 20 km of soft white sand on the Hicacos peninsula. Cuba's beach resort capital.
13. Cane Garden Bay, Tortola (BVI)
— Long stretch of palm-fringed sand, Quito's Gazebo for live music nights.
14. Crane Beach, Barbados
— Pink-tinged sand with cliffs and a luxury resort overlooking the Atlantic.
15. Pigeon Point, Tobago
— The picture-postcard Caribbean — palm trees, calm shallow water, glass-bottom boats to Buccoo Reef.
16. White Bay, Jost Van Dyke (BVI)
— Home of the Soggy Dollar Bar and the original Painkiller cocktail.
17. Pinney's Beach, Nevis
— 6 km of golden-grey volcanic sand, Sunshine's Beach Bar serving Killer Bee rum cocktails.
18. Boca Catalina, Aruba
— Calmer than Eagle Beach, excellent snorkeling, fewer crowds.
19. Saona Island, Dominican Republic
— Day-trip from Bayahibe — white sand spit and natural swimming pool full of starfish.
20. Flamenco Beach, Culebra (Puerto Rico)
— Crescent of white sand, rusted WW2 tanks in the surf, Discovery Channel #2 beach in 2018.
When to go: December–April for dry weather, lower humidity and zero hurricane risk. Avoid Caribbean side of Tobago/Trinidad May–November for sargassum seaweed.