The Caribbean is known for its warm weather, vibrant culture, and unique cuisines, as well as an ideal vacation experience. There is no shortage of fun activities in the Caribbean, and its beaches offer an experience you just can’t get in the United States.
So, what are the best Caribbean beaches for families? Our top picks are:
- Reduit Beach, St. Lucia
- Paynes Bay Beach, Barbados
- Grand Anse Beach, Grenada
- Eagle Beach, Aruba
- Maho Beach, St. Maarten
- Playa Knip, Curacao
- Ambergris Caye, Turks and Caicos
- Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Bávaro Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico
Read on to learn more about each of these beaches and why they are the best Caribbean beaches for families.
Reduit Beach, St. Lucia
With a view and the close proximity to Pigeon Island National Park, you and your family will enjoy the unrivaled views of natural beauty that Reduit Beach in St. Lucia has to offer.
One great feature about this beach is Splash Island Water Park, the first Caribbean open water sports park, which offers fun for kids and adults alike. Along the beach, vendors sell snacks and drinks, ensuring you won’t need to leave the beach when you get hungry.
Paynes Bay Beach, Barbados
Located on the island of Barbados’ highly prized Platinum Coast, Paynes Bay Beach offers serene waters and breathtaking views perfect for unwinding and fully immersing yourself in your vacation.
Since Barbados is part of the British Commonwealth, you’ll find many British traditions on the island, such as drinking tea and enjoying a game of cricket.
Paynes Pay Beach boasts warm, golden sands and gentle turquoise waters. The coastal community bursts with local culture and cuisine, so don’t miss out on trying some fresh-caught fish in one of the region’s best restaurants.
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada
Known as Spice Island, Grenada’s air is rich with the scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, which are grown locally on the island. Grand Anse Beach is considered the most beautiful of the dozens of beaches in Grenada, with a two-mile stretch of soft sands, turquoise waters, and lush local greenery.
One of the best features of this beach is its short drive from the airport, which is perfect for those who are aching to hit the waves after a long flight. The public beaches are filled with tourists and locals alike, lending to its rich culture and vibrant atmosphere.
Eagle Beach, Aruba
The arid desert landscape of Aruba offers a different world than many other islands of the Caribbean, which contain lush tropical greenery. Eagle Beach’s white sandy beaches are home to many unique native cacti and other desert plants.
Plenty of resorts are available on the island, which make for this beach being one of the most accessible on our list.
The calm, shallow waters are perfect for swimming and for children of all ages. The island is perfect for photographs, so don’t forget to document your family vacation with pictures and memories that will last a lifetime!
Maho Beach, St. Maarten
St. Maarten is a perfect combination of European influence and Caribbean culture, noticeable in its architecture, cuisine, and wide range of local dialects. One side of the island is French while the other side is Dutch, making for a memorable experience for locals and tourists alike.
Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is famous not only for its warm sands and rolling tide, but for the low-flying planes going to and from Princess Juliana Airport that attract crowds along the shore.
Playa Knip, Curacao
Playa Knip contains two beaches – Grote Knip and Klein Knip – where there is little development and unrivaled natural beauty. Sink your toes in the satin sand of this uncrowded beach while your kids splash in the calm, crystal waters.
The island of Curacao is a colony of the Netherlands, and you can spot many Dutch influences in the island’s architecture and street art.
Check out the local custom of Chichi dolls, which are sold at the many small stores in the island, or learn to make one yourself in available Chichi doll workshops.
Ambergris Caye, Turks and Caicos
Probably the most expensive entry on our list, Ambergris Cay in Turks and Caicos is accessible only through a private plane. Guests stay in beachfront suites equipped with personalized service, a highly exclusive experience for those who can afford it.
The island is bursting with native flowers and rare tropical birds. The private beach is uncrowded and has soft white sands and placid teal waters – the ideal location for making family memories that last a lifetime.
The resort contains fun for the whole family, including a craft space and a game room for the kids, spa treatments for the adults, gourmet cuisine, and exceptional five-star service.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
With coral-colored sand and sparkling cobalt waters, Seven Mile Beach is a perfect destination for you and your family. The beach itself is shaped like a crescent, adding to its aesthetic appeal, and is quiet and uncrowded.
Go snorkeling and view the vibrant underwater world before hopping on a boat and heading to Stingray City, the famous sandbar that is home to a plethora of local stingray species that visitors can interact with.
Bávaro Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Marked by a wall of majestic, swaying palm trees, Bavaro Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Caribbean, so it’s a perfect spot if you don’t mind the crowds.
The long stretch of white sand and gentle turquoise waters are great for splashing, hunting for seashells, or stretching out on the beach.
Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico
With the combined peace and luxury of a resort-style beach and the convenient access to the vibrant culture of the city of San Juan, Isla Verde includes three beaches marked by golden sands and tall, swaying palm trees.
Isla Verde Beach differs from many entries on our list in that it has large, rolling waves ideal for body surfers and boogie-boarders.
Don’t miss out on all Puerto Rico has to offer by visiting Isla Verde Beach and the adjacent San Juan, Puerto Rico.
