Top 10 Caribbean Islands

 What are the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean? 

Hard choice. A real paradise on the planet, the Caribbean islands have continually been the maximum desired destination for vacations.

The idea of ​​lying in the sun savoring a cocktail of colors at the foot of a coconut tree seems to many a hardly achievable dream. However, with a Costa del Caribe cruise, it becomes a destination not only achievable but also especially inspiring. Given a huge range of islands and archipelagos, it can be hard to pick the locations, but with Costa, you could go to many islands and not only get a tan however additionally find out about their peculiarities.

Each Caribbean island has very marked characteristics that enhance its originality. The presence of beaches and coral reefs make them especially suitable for practicing water sports, just as the tropical forests offer extraordinary trails for excursions in contact with nature. Many options and all of them are different depending on the island you want to know.

Caribbean Islands

Visiting the cities, with their very particular buildings, of Martinique or Jamaica, is a different experience from visiting the cities of Cuba or the Dominican Republic. It is indeed a question of size, but also of history, uses, and customs that are very different from each other.

However, each island visited leaves its mark on the visitor. The color of the sunset in Guadeloupe, the aroma of the species of Granada, or even the vision of a staircase in Martinique, remain etched in the memory, as happens with the inhabitants of these charming places where they are grown. bananas and chocolate. In the Caribbean, you can go in search of beaches, of very suggestive places such as the island of Grand Cayman, of the practice of underwater sports in the coral reefs or relaxing, but apart from this, the visitor will find something else: the possibility of living in contact with nature. In fact, in the Caribbean one is constantly surrounded by beauty. A Costa Caribbean cruise is not, therefore, a simple vacation, but a life experience.

What are the most beautiful Caribbean islands? Here is our selection.

Caribbean: the most beautiful islands

• Dominican Republic
• Bahamas
• Antilles
• Barbados
• Jamaica
• Puerto Rico
• Ancient
• Barbuda
• Martinique
• Guadeloupe

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of the most famous islands in the Caribbean. Its beaches, such as Punta Cana or Bayahíbe, have an irresistible charm. Described as truly earthly countries, these beaches confirm every description, from the intensity of the blue of the water to the white of the sand, everything is extraordinary. But the beaches of the Dominican Republic are not only ideal to relax with a cocktail, but also offer everything you need to practice water and underwater sports.

 Nor is it the sea at all! Very famous is the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. Founded in the 16th century, it still has original buildings and streets from the time in its fortified historic center, including the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Incarnation, the first to be built in colonial times. What if, on the contrary, they dock with a Costa cruise ship in La Romana? It will seem to you that you are in a movie, heading up the Chavón river by boat dancing Latin American rhythms and you may wish to visit the Altos de Chavón, a town where time seems to have stopped, to be captivated by the charm of the panoramic views. The Dominican Republic will surprise you!

Dominica Republic

Bahamas

The Bahamas have more than 700 islands and islets that will conquer everyone. Unspoiled nature and beaches, endless beaches of intense white or pink color, serve as a framework for an ideal vacation. Password: relax, because in the Bahamas it's far very smooth to abandon the frenetic rhythms and speak to nature.

 The island of Grand Bahama welcomes site visitors with its mangrove swamps and coral reef and is one of the few inhabited islands in the archipelago. It is domestic to Freeport and Lucaya, the two nuclei wherein the nearby populace is focused, however it affords adequate area for parks and nature reserves. Among them is the Garden of the Groves, a tropical garden that houses not only exotic flowers and plants but also many tropical animals and birds, including the pink flamingos, which are the national birds of the Bahamas.

Bahamas

Antilles

The Antilles archipelago is made from predominantly mountainous islands that offer awesome perspectives. Their arc-shaped arrangement makes them extend from Florida to Venezuela and mark the line of separation between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

They are subdivided into the Greater Antilles, which include Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico, and the Lesser Antilles, which in turn are subdivided into the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands.

There are innumerable islands that make up the archipelago, every with its characteristics but united by way of a sea and nature of unforgettable splendor: because of this, travelers who come to the Antilles frequently determine now not to spend their vacations on a single island, but go to numerous of them at some point of your stay. For example, a Costa Caribbean cruise can take you to seven islands in one trip! It is ideal to enjoy not only the beauties on the mainland but also the wonderful sea of ​​the Antilles.

Antilles

Barbados

Barbados, in its 430 km 2, contains a tropical microcosm. The white sand of the beaches, its coral reef, and the possibility of practicing water sports such as snorkeling, are just some of the attractions it offers, in addition to green expanses, meadows, and sugar cane plantations.

Also very interesting is the visit to the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, full of monuments and colonial buildings and with a very lively port. For nature lovers, the Andromeda Gardens with their tropical plants are a must-stop, as well as Farley Hill National Park.

After the endless open-air proposals, you can visit Harrison's Cave, caves full of stalactites and stalagmites, lakes and waterfalls, a true Barbados natural treasure that since 1891 can be visited with a practical tram.

Barbados

Jamaica

Jamaica is certainly one of the most famous islands inside the Caribbean Sea. Montego Bay, with its beaches, coral reefs, and rainforests, similarly to its colonial structure, and Negril, a real paradise for lovers of diving, are destinations without problems blanketed within the want lists of humans of all ages.

It's easy to imagine yourself in the sun, dancing at night time to reggae song with a cocktail in hand, or being captivated via nature and the Dunn's River waterfalls.

Jamaica's pulsating core is the city of Kingston, drawn with a perpendicular and grid geometric plan based on some projects designed for the reconstruction of London after the fire of 1666. A modern city with a historical center in which there is no lack of a dedicated museum to Bob Marley, the singer, and guitarist famous Jamaican reggae worldwide.

Jamaica

Puerto Rico

American or not? Puerto Rico is an unincorporated nation of the US, and despite the fact that its population declare themselves unbiased, they observe the suggestions of the President himself. Despite this peculiarity, this island is undoubtedly one of the pearls of the Caribbean.

A visit to San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, allows you to understand how different its uses and customs are from the American frenzy, and it is worth making a stop at one of its picturesque beach bars or letting yourself be captivated by Old San Juan, historic center and soul of the island with its two old fortresses: El Morro and La Fortaleza.

But you cannot leave Puerto Rico without entering the El Yunque National Forest and being amazed by the La Mina waterfall. A waterfall that can be accessed from three different trails, located in the center of the forest. A wonder of nature that offers the opportunity to swim in clean, freshwaters.

Puerto Rico

Ancient

Antigua always impresses. With its 150 km of coastline, it has 365 beaches that allow you to enjoy relaxation but also practice all kinds of water sports or other activities. Among them, going with Costa to swim with stingrays, an unforgettable experience to share with friends.

The surfers should not miss your appointment on the beach of Galley Bay, besides palm trees and lush vegetation is the beach where nesting sea turtles, where you can even attend the birth of their offspring.

For lovers of views, we recommend Shirley Heights, a hill that still houses the ruins of an old fortress, but from which you can see the entire bay and neighboring islands, and at sunset, it offers chilling views. A walk thru the capital, Saint John, as well as a visit to its Cathedral, will provide you the opportunity of discovering the colors and animation of Antigua.

Ancient

Barbuda

Barbuda is the suitable destination for those searching for tranquility and relaxation. Being a small island, its white beaches follow one another in front of a coral reef that is often visible even with the naked eye. Gravenor Bay is one of the favourite beaches for snorkeling lovers, but inside the waters of Barbuda, it's miles common to locate your self swimming amidst all forms of fish.

Among the beaches, it is also worth highlighting the one that goes from the archaeological site of Palmetto Point to Cedar Tree Point, which with the first light of dawn turns pink. The sunrises in the Caribbean always deserve an early awakening because they give light and colors unheard of in other parts of the world.

What if they're looking for something special? The Frigate Bird Sanctuary of Barbudavi will thrill you. An authentic ornithological reserve is located in the middle of the mangroves of Codrington lagoon, where you will find more than 170 species of birds.

Barbuda

Martinique

Martinique is a delight. Its colors and contrasts are fascinating and surprise visitors from the moment they arrive. Modernity and tradition coexist on an island full of charming beaches and sugar cane and cocoa plantations.

Its capital, Fort de France, formerly Fort-Royal which Napoleon renamed, is the perfect example. In the center of a modern square stands the splendid Schoelcher Library by the architect Henri Picq. The building, built in Paris, was disassembled and rebuilt in Martinique, where there are other works by the same architect such as the Cathedral of Saint Louis and the Covered Market. The latter is worth a visit because it contains a universe of aromas and colors. Bananas, vanilla, chocolate, and countless spices ... A constant temptation!

But Martinique is unique, also for its culture, which includes great authors from many danceable musical genres such as Bel Air, Calendar, Mazurka, or Zouk.

Martinique

Guadeloupe

The sunsets in Guadeloupe are magical. An island that contains in itself everything that could be expected of the Caribbean. Beaches with white, golden, or black sand, surrounded by unspoiled nature, await tourists with dreamlike views. How to resist the temptation to enter the crystal clear turquoise waters that caress them? Impossible.

Guadeloupe

A walk through Point-à-Pitre will be just as inspiring, with a succession of typical houses surrounded by more modern buildings. The spacious Place de la Victoire, slightly sloping, vaguely evokes a modern amphitheater, with huge coconut trees rearing their heads. And how can you not get lost in the streets of the handicraft and spice market? In Guadeloupe, there are thousands of colors that harmonize with the sunset, before leaving space for the intense blue of the sea and the night sky, with an indelible memory in the heart.