Five Caribbean Islands to Spend Spring Break

Image: A picturesque Aruban coastline. (photo courtesy of Aruba Tourism Authority)

by Valentín Fuentes
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Sat March 2, 2024

Travelers can enjoy more than just radiant sunshine, memorable beaches, rum, and culture during this spring break in the charming Caribbean region.?

Here are five great island options to enjoy.

Aruba

This easy-to-reach Caribbean destination is distinguished by its arid vegetation with palm trees, unlike the typical islands where visitors tour in the middle of the jungle. Here, activities are primarily focused on watersports and stunning beaches.

In Aruba, there are plenty of activities to enjoy as a family, with a wide range of resorts focused on children with experiences designed for their age. On the other hand, the island also has intense nightlife in restaurants and bars, offering special promotions during this spring holiday season.

During this time, every day is sunny, so tourists can spend long hours enjoying the quiet waves of its beaches and white sand bays, as well as a refreshing breeze in the shade of the coconut trees. For adrenaline-seekers, Malmok Beach is perfect for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Saint Lucia

This island, located northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique, is a privileged place adorned by the majestic Piton Mountains. It has become a favorite for couples and families wanting to enjoy the Caribbean sun, partake in all kinds of water sports, and have the benefit of excellent accommodations adapted to all budgets.

Saint Lucia is not only the ideal place to rest in the middle of beautiful landscapes, which include unique experiences such as volcanic mud baths and sports activities on beaches of intense sun and white sand, it is also a renowned cultural center for the realization of the famous Santa Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, which will be held this year from April 30 to May 12, and where representative artists of different genres will be presented, such as Afro beats, jazz, rock, gospel, Soca, reggae, Zouk, and pop, among others.

There are countless natural beauties on the island, among which are beautiful waterfalls, lazy rivers, and many beaches, to which a water park is added. Water sports enthusiasts have various options, such as kayaking on the Roseau River, sea trekking to admire marine life, scuba diving, snorkeling, or snuba.

In addition, there are also other great fun options, such as kitesurfing or climbing within the Saint Lucia Three Peaks Challenge program that includes an ascent to the peaks Gros Piton, Mount Gimie, and Petit Piton, which is the most technically difficult since it requires ropes to ascend certain parts.

Anguilla

On this small but popular Caribbean island, more than 30 white sand beaches welcome visitors in accommodations with high-quality services and an excellent gastronomic offer with traditional food dishes, primarily based on fish.

The most recommended activities for this season of sunny days are boat trips with glass bottoms and experiences in water sports such as diving and snorkeling. One of the great attractions of The Valley, the capital city, is its cultural offerings, which include many art galleries and luxury restaurants with menus based on local and international culinary specialties.

Visitors strolling through The Valley enjoy the charm of a romantic island that mixes traditional buildings with luxurious properties. Nearby is the iconic Shoal Bay East, the best beach in Anguilla, where snorkeling lovers enjoy the beauty of the reef and its rich marine ecosystem.

In Little Bay and Barnes, nature lovers can see various species of turtles, Green and Carey types, nesting in the sand. The favorite beaches of these animals are Maundays Bay, Captains, and Meads. As for diving, nobody can miss Prickly Pear Keys, an underwater cavern where several shark types coexist. In addition, divers can admire the remains of ancient sunken ships.

St. John

Visitors from the United States do not need a passport to travel to this fabulous island, the smallest of the three thriving U.S. Virgin Islands. The great attraction for its visitors is the extraordinary Virgin Islands National Park, which occupies half of the territory.

Nature lovers can practice trekking and observation activities of many resident and migratory bird species. On the other hand, dolphins and different types of turtles, such as Carey and Green, can often be observed from the coast. In addition, in the Hurricane Hole mangrove area, species such as corals and anemones, among others, abound.

St. John's extraordinary underwater life makes it one of the Caribbean's most iconic diving sites. At Eagle Schoals, divers can go to the famous underwater cave, The Cathedral, adorned with many sponges and where several species of turtles and rays swim along with the divers.

For those who like cultural visits, St John is home to the Annaberg Plantation, founded in 1780 and originally dedicated to producing cane to manufacture high-quality sugar and rum. Another place devoted to the manufacture of sugar and rum is Catherineberg, now in ruins, which tourists can visit to learn about the history of slavery in the region.

Visiting Cinnamon Beach, in front of beautiful cays, is highly recommended for those looking to spend a day of sun and white sand. Here tourists can practice water sports, mainly diving. Windsurfing is also very popular in Cinnamon Bay, a nature trail along the jungle where ancient ruins can be found. On other beaches, lovers of tranquility find the necessary relaxation in areas with picnic tables, grills, and bathrooms. Another beautiful spot is Trunk Bay, where divers and snorkelers find underwater signs with valuable information.

The ferries that visit the island arrive in Bay Town, a place full of restaurants of various gastronomic specialties, craft shops, houses, condominiums, hotels, guest houses, and suppliers of water sports equipment. Highlights the beauty of Coral Bay, where tourists enjoy excellent dining options in restaurants and cozy bars, as well as shops and accommodations for all budgets.

Bermuda

Visitors to this destination are discerning with sophisticated tastes, such as cricket and golf on courses with the best views of the Caribbean. In addition, a great variety of water sports can be enjoyed, such as snorkeling and scuba diving, sailing tours, windsurfing, water skiing, and sport fishing, to mention a few.

The tourism of this destination is exclusive and luxurious and offers world-class services in lodging, gastronomy, and products. Its visitors have an exclusive offer of sports activities plus specialized wellness plans. These activities are in addition to artistic and cultural experiences such as concerts and exhibitions of artists who spend seasons living on the region's islands.

One of the great attractions for nature lovers is the rich marine fauna of the islands, in which species such as dolphins, turtles, tuna, and whales coexist. In addition, there are impressive coral reefs where divers meet with many animal species. Church Bay is one of the most recommended places to dive or snorkel due to the remarkable habitat that can be found there.?Those who prefer to relax on the oceanfront can admire many bird species, such as the Bermuda Longtail and the Eastern Bluebird, emblematic of this area of the Caribbean.

Gastronomy results from mixing cultures so travelers can find local restaurants with influences from different places such as Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. This diversity also makes Bermuda a rich cultural place thanks to the influence of immigrants from Africa, Jamaica, Portugal, Ireland, and the United States. Here, reggae and calypso music are enjoyed with excellent rum and beers with the rhythm of Gombey Dancers, who show the influence of African and Amerindian cultures.?

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