Caribbean
Beaches
Below
is just a sample of the beautiful beaches located
throughout the Caribbean
Anguilla, Little Bay
This tiny half moon shaped sandy bay is protected
by high cliffs, so the ambience is tranquil and excellent
for sunbathing and snorkelling. Access by a boat only.
Nearby, Shoal Bay, Rendezvous Bay, or Road Bay offer
a few more facilities and action.
Best mid Dec-mid Apr.
Antigua,
Johnson's Point [Crab Hill]
A chain of secluded coves with white soft-sand beaches
in south-west Antigua is excellent for views over
Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, particularly
at sunset.
If snorkeling is your aim, then head for Pigeon Point
near Falmouth Harbour. Topless or naked bathing are
strictly illegal in Antigua.
Aruba, Palm Beach
White
powder sands as fa as the eye can see, and excellent
swimming conditions in calm water. For changing and
refreshments, you can use the public areas of the
nearby hotels. Hotels also offer their own watertsports
center. Accessible by public bus, taxi or car.
Bahamas, Harbour Island, Pink Beach
This famous pink sand beach is said to be one of the
world's most photographed beaches. It's a 3-mile stretch
of powder coral sand, named for its pink colour because
of flecks of red coral mixed with fine sugar-white
sand. Most of the accommodation is located on the
cliff behind the beach, and reached by water taxi
from Eleuthera.Best Dec-Apr.
Barbados, Crane Beach
Although access is only through the Crane Resort [non-residence
with small fee], Crane Beach is said to be one of
Barbados' - if not the Caribbean's - most beautiful
beaches. The soft white sands with azure water are
embraced by imposing cliffs and protected by a natural
coral reef; a safe and picture-perfect swimming venue.
Belize, Placencia
This is a totally laid-back seaside town, with a pristine
sandy beach on a long, narrow peninsula in SE Belize.
It is is well worth the trip to get there [4-5 hours
from Belize City, but now daily domestic flights are
available.
Facilities are simple but comfortable. Apart from
just lying on the sand, you can do various water sports,
fishing, bird watching, manatee watching [!] and jungle
excursions in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
If you want more action [especially diving], try the
Cayes; resort-oriented Ambergris Caye, or relatively
low-key Caye Caulker. Both are good bases for diving
and snorkelling off the world's second greatest barrier
reef.
The best time to go is Nov - May [the dry season,
but peak time]. July to November is cheaper, with
a risk of storms.
Belize, South Water Caye
This is a place for sun-seekers who want to be part
of marine nature. In fact, Belize is the home of the
world's second longest barrier reef [180 miles from
Mexico to the Sapodilla Cayes], and this tiny 12-acre
island off Dangriga is a part of it. You can experience
the some of the world's most exciting snorkeling,
diving, and fishing there. Ambergris Caye [resort]
and Caye Caulker [low-key] are also excellent places.
The best time to be there is the dry season from Nov-
May.
British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda, The Baths
Palm-lined silky beaches with deep pinky-gray sands
and peppermint green water [what about the purple
prose?]. The Baths is one of the most popular spots
in the British Virgin Islands, but can get crowded.
Good for year-round swimming and snorkelling, especially
going left from the beach. Generally a bit pricey.
Virgin Gorda is one of the friendliest islands in
the Caribbean. Best Dec-March. Avoid Sept.
Cancun
Isla
Cancun only has one long beach stretching along the
entire length of the tiny. Mexican law states that
beaches are public property, so once you step onto
the sand you are free to roam as far as you like in
either direction. In most cases you are allowed to
pass through hotel lobbies to access the beaches.
The
island of Cancun is fronted by the Caribbean Sea and
backed by the Nitchupte lagoon. The lagoon is popular
for activities such as kayaking and jet skiing while
the sea front is popular with swimming and snorkeling.
Cuba,
Varadero. OK, not exactly the Caribbean. Actually
the adjacent Straits of Florida.
20km of clean, nearly white sand adjacent to clean,
warm, nearly turquoise water. Running alongside a
string of efficient upmarket hotels and a few local
facilities, the beach is uncrowded. Officially foreigners
must stay in hotels, which are often all-inclusive
but relatively cheap. No coral in the immediate vicinity
so forget snorkelling. Varadero town is not especially
interesting, but a rental car or bus will get you
too Havana in a couple of hours - which is very lively
and fascinating in a crumbly pre-60's way. Best Dec-March.
4 days Varadero, 3 days Havana would be an excellent
week. See 24 pages of Cuba Pictures.
Grenada, Carriacou, Anse la Roche
This is a must-do beach, a perfect postcard of white
sand with a superb view of Union Island across the
water. About 45 minute walk from Bogles but it's quite
easy to get lost and it might be better to take a
water taxi. There are no facilities and very few people,
so take food and drink. Grand Anse Beach on the main
island is also known to be one of the finest of clichéd
tropical beaches in the Caribbean. Best Dec-Apr, August
[because of the local regatta]. Avoid Sept.
Jamaica, Negril Beach
Looking for a nudist paradise? Negril Beach is the
one for you if you can cope with the crowds and some
local harassments. Otherwise the beach is Jamaica's
prettiest with a laid-back atmosphere. It's much less
busy than the famous Seven Mile Beach.
Long Bay Beach Park at northern end of Negril Beach
is a bit more tranquil as is Bloody Bay Beach further
along. There are reports of occasional thefts and
mugging.
Puerto Rico, Culebra Island, Playa Flamenco
If all you need is sun, sand, and tranquility in Caribbean,
head to the little-known Culebra, located halfway
between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Because
it has been kept as a nature reserve the wide sandy
beaches, especially Playa Flamenco, are in excellent
condition, with very discreet development.
It is excellent for snorkelling, diving and birdwatching
and has one of the Caribbean's most substantial turtle
nesting sites too.
There is an hour ferry service to Dewey from Fajardo,
and flights from Fajardo and San Juan.
Alternatively Puerto Rico's main island has excellent
beaches, especially at the totally undeveloped Boqueron
in the SW.
The best time is Dec - April, peak season. The stormy
season is May - Nov, though they are infrequent.
St Lucia, Rodney Bay - Reduit Beach.
This is St. Lucia's most popular beach with good reason.
Located near to the Royal St. Lucian Hotel, you will
find everything you need for a comfortable day on
the sand. A variety of restaurants and bar provide
refreshments, and you can arrange water sports of
all kinds at the many kiosks dotting the mile-long
strip of beige sand.
St Maarten, Simpson Bay
This is a lovely beach and frequented only by few.
It is well worth the visit for lovers of deserted
beaches. It has some watersports, yet it is still
a quiet and relaxing beach.
Access to Simpson Bay Beach is possible either from
the Mary´s Boon Beach Plantation or from behind
the Pizza Hut, off Airport Road.
St Vincent and the Grenadines, Palm Island, Casuarina
Beach
Casuarina is the prettiest of four beaches on this
privately-owned Caribbean island [originally known
as Prune Island], with hundreds of coconut palms surrounded
by coral reefs.
Stay at the very private all-inclusive resort - the
Grenadines' finest - or dine at their restaurants;
reservations only.
It's about a mile from Union Island.
Tobago, Englishman's Bay
Tobago is one of the hippest destination for celebrities
and rich stiffs due to some new and stylish boutique
hotels. Diving is also becoming well-known here, like
at Pigeon Point beach, but for escapism Englishman's
Bay is the one - sheltered by palm-jungle, it has
a white sand beach with very little development. This
secluded beach is good for year-round swimming and
snorkelling, though as usual Dec- April is best, busiest
and most expensive. Avoid Sept.
Turks and Caicos, Provo Island, Grace Bay
The American astronaut John Glenn said that it must
be paradise when he spotted the 40 Turks and Caicos
coral islands from space.
Grace Bay's 12 mile stretch of sand is white and fine
as baby powder, the water is turquoise, calm - protected
by a barrier reef - and safe for swimming. The beach
is part of a national marine park so developement
is strictly controlled, as are motorised water sports,
though some still think Grace Bay is overdevleoped
and metamorphosing into a fast food paradise.
Hotels are widely dispersed and are expensive, as
are restaurants.
For even more expensive and secluded celebrity hotels,
try the two islands of Parrot Cay or Pine Cay.
The weather is not as intense as other Caribbean islands.
Best Dec-Apr.
The US Virgin Islands, St John, Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay, regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches
in the world is often over-crowded but still glorious,
and excellent for swimming, snorkeling and diving.
It also hosts the world's first marked underwater
trails [National Park Underwater Trail] near the shore,
and the place is one of the best snorkeling spots
in the Caribbean. Local people are friendly and appreciate
tourists. Best Dec-Apr.
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