The **Caribbean Islands** is a massive archipelago located in the Caribbean Sea, that can be subdivided into a few different regions: the Lucayan Archipelago, the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles and the ABC Islands. There are 13 sovereign states and 17 dependent territories in the Caribbean, and the predominant languages are English, Spanish, French, Dutch and Antillean creole. The Caribbean sprawls across more than 1.06 million square miles and is primarily located between North America and South America. It's no secret that Caribbean has some of the world's best beaches – the trouble is picking just one. Are you looking for a silvery stretch of sand with the occasional palm tree? A deserted bay reachable only by a descent down a steep cliff? A party scene where everyone smells of coconut oil? The Caribbean offers all of these scenarios.
Some of our favorites are Baie Orientale (St. Maarten/St. Martin), The Baths National Park (Virgin Gorda), Eagle Beach (Aruba), Half Moon Bay (Turks and Caicos), Macaroni Beach (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), Negril Beach (Jamaica), Seven Mile Beach (Grand Cayman), and Shoal Bay (Anguilla). Each is strikingly beautiful and provides a stunning backdrop for days on the beach. Check out our destination guides for more information on what makes each of these beaches so special.
If you want to be a bit more active, there are several destinations that top the bucket lists of many snorkelers and scuba divers. These include Anegada (British Virgin Islands), Bloody Bay Wall (Little Cayman), and the Tobago Cays (St. Vincent and the Grenadines). If you have time, take a quick scuba certification course at your resort – we promise it will be worth the investment. And almost every destination has a wide range of water sports, from short sea kayaking trips to day-long fishing excursions.