If a beach vacation is your dream, the Caribbean is an ideal place for your family holiday. Find the best family vacation spots in Caribbean that will fit everyone’s taste. Choose from several amazing destinations with white sand beaches, turquoise water, and awesome activities.
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1. Mexico is one of the best family vacation spots in Caribbean
Website: https://www.visitmexico.com/en/
The beauty of Mexican beaches is impressive. It is attracting visitors from all around the world, and especially North America. It is easy to reach, taking only a short flight from major US cities. And it offers different destinations with kid-friendly attractions and beaches.
Tulum is among favorites when it comes to family-oriented vacation. It offers great views, fun excursions, amazing family resorts, and a bunch of restaurants and stores. Your kiddos can try authentic Mexican food, ride bicycles around town, and have an incredible time on the beach.
Other very well rated Mexican cities for family holidays are Isla Mujeres, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Los Cabos, and Cozumel. Besides playing in the waves and building sandcastles, you can go on snorkeling adventures, parasailing, visit natural areas and cultural sites.
The Mayan Riviera is located in the eastern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. It includes popular tourist destinations like Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Here you will find large-scale all-inclusive resorts and also some smaller boutique hotels. Travelers come here because of its impressive beauty, coral reefs, and a great number of activities available.
2. Puerto Rico
Website: https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/
Puerto Rico has everything, from historic towns and incredible culture to rainforests, beaches, mountains, and waterfalls. San Juan is the capital and the largest city where most of the hotels are located. Here, you can enjoy beach bars, beautiful beaches, and tasty food.
Visit Old San Juan, the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere, dating back nearly 500 years. It encompasses the city of San Juan’s historic colonial portion. Walking around the city feels like a walk around a museum. Grab a mofongo from street vendors. Stop for a piragua on your way to the fortress, Castillo de San Felipe del Morro.
If you love nature, check out El Yunque National Forest located in the northeast of the island. This forest will take you into a fantasy-like atmosphere. There are trails that lead up to La Mina waterfall and Mount Britton. The area is rich in flora and fauna. There are 240 plant species endemic to Puerto Rico, and a lot of wildlife roaming around.
If your kids are older, then a visit to Bioluminescent Bay in the evening is a must-do. It is a world-famous glow-in-the-dark aquatic wonder. There are only a few bio bays on the planet, three of which are found in Puerto Rico. You can explore this incredible place by kayak.
3. Grand Cayman
Website: https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-gb
If you are looking for the best family vacation spots in Caribbean with excursions consider visiting Grand Cayman. This popular cruise ship destination is a quiet and relaxing place for your holiday, located only a few hours by plane from the continental United States.
The Cayman Islands are home to many family resorts, including The Caribbean Club, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, and many more. Another great option is a holiday rental villa on the beach, perfect for longer stays.
Prepare to go scuba diving or snorkeling in crystal-clear waters at some of the best diving locations in the world. Take your little ones to Stingray City, where they can interact with friendly stingrays, or the Cayman Turtle Centre, where they can see some of the world’s most magnificent sea creatures up close. Other popular excursions are the Atlantis Deep Dive Submarine tours or taking a hike along the Mastic Trail.
Seven Mile Beach is an award-winning white sand beach that stretches along the western end of Grand Cayman island. The beach is impressively beautiful, and you can spend the entire day swimming and making sandcastles. When you have enough of the sun for the day, have lunch or a drink in beach bars and restaurants.
4. Jamaica
Website: https://www.visitjamaica.com/
Among the best family vacation spots in Caribbean is this gorgeous island as well. The Konoko Falls, Mystic Mountain, Ocho Rios Blue Hole, and the Pirates Island Waterpark are some of the must-see attractions in Jamaica for families. This gorgeous place is not just a paradise-like with beautiful nature and long white sand beaches, but it also has amazing culture and cuisine.
In this tropical paradise, the beach is the main attraction. Look for resorts in areas with the best beaches, such as Negril, Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, and Ocho Rios. Jamaica’s coastline is over 500 miles long, and the beaches range from white sand, to more quiet and tucked away coves bordered by cliffs, and frequently cliff divers.
Like many other Caribbean islands, Jamaica has incredible natural beauty with rainforests, rivers, waterfalls, and national parks. Do not miss out on excursions like rafting on the Rio Grande or Martha Brae River, a hike in Dunn’s River Falls and Park, or swimming in a Blue Hole. These attractions are mostly family-friendly but check with your tour operator if the excursion is available for kids of all ages.
While in Jamaica explore unique cuisine in local restaurants. Try Jamaican Jerk Chicken and Pork, Ackee and Saltfish, Jamaican Rice and Peas, and the most common one at street vendors, Beef or Vegetable Patty.
5. St. Maarten
Website: https://www.st-martin.org/us/
Stay in a hotel right off the coast with crystal clear water and coral reefs near the surface. Enjoy sunsets on the beach, while sipping on cocktails and enjoying amazing Caribbean cuisine. The romantic island of St. Maarten is a perfect vacation spot for everyone, from honeymooners to families, and solo travelers.
The island is split between two countries, France and The Netherlands, and it has a rich culture that is a mix of European and Caribbean heritage. The French side is less crowded, but if you really want to avoid big hordes of cruise ship passengers make sure to check out a docking schedule so you can avoid touristy areas at that time.
There are 37 beaches in St. Maarten, and probably the most famous one is the airplane beach, Maho Beach. It is located in the Dutch part of the island and it is well-known for being close to the Princess Juliana International Airport and is a popular destination for tourists who want to see airplanes flying above their heads.
The island is great for water sports like snorkeling, diving, paddle boarding, jet-skiing, and so much more. Even if you spend all of your time only on the beach sunbathing and swimming you won’t regret it.
6. St. Thomas
Website: https://visitstthomas.com/
St. Thomas is a part of the US Virgin Islands, and it is well-known for its snorkeling locations and stunning beaches. In the capital city, Charlotte Amalie, which was founded by the Danish sailors in the 1600s, you will run into many cruise ship passengers.
Charlotte Amalie is also a place with great shopping and fancy restaurants you might want to check out. For history buffs, there is a history museum downtown, located in 17th-century Fort Christian. Another historic building you can see nearby is a 1679 watchtower called Blackbeard’s Castle, in reference to the area’s pirate history.
If you are a family of adventurers there are plenty of options for you on this island. Start with family-friendly parasailing, then go to a zip-lining park, hike or Skyride to Paradise Point from where you can see almost the entire island, or go to a Coral World Ocean Park.
7. Barbados
Website: https://www.visitbarbados.org/
Barbados is a colorful island with impressive history and culture, some of the best beaches you will ever visit, and friendly locals you will make friends with. A good idea for explorers that want to see the entire island is to rent a car and drive around the island to see all the beautiful corners and hidden coves.
Barbados is an attractive vacation destination for active travelers that love exploring nature, playing golf, visiting historic buildings, and enjoying water sports. Bathsheba Beach is a popular surfing location, while Dover Beach on the south coast is great for those looking for calm waters.
Snorkeling and diving is the common activity in Carlisle Bay near Bridgetown, where you can see numerous shipwrecks off the shore and splendid wildlife, including endangered species of sea turtles. Another way to enjoy marine life is to book a submarine tour with Atlantis Submarines.
8. Bahamas
Website: https://www.bahamas.com/
The location of the Bahamas is the most responsible for the popularity of this Caribbean country. A flight from Miami to the Bahamas is less than one hour, or you can visit this beautiful place by boat, as this is a harbor for many cruise ships sailing out of the US.
The Bahamas are widely regarded as the perfect peaceful Caribbean holiday, with beautiful beaches and large golf courses. Nassau and Freeport both have historic attractions and vibrant marketplaces. Nassau downtown and Paradise Island are a shopping spot for those in search of name-brand duty-free shops selling perfume, liquor, cigars, electronics, and especially jewelry.
Kid-friendly attractions, such as Atlantis’ water park and resort on Paradise Island, make this a great destination for a family trip. And if you’re looking for something more exciting, check out diving tours of the coral reefs, or take a trek around The Glass Window Bridge.
9. Turks and Caicos
Website: https://turksandcaicostourism.com/
For the best family beach vacation spots in Caribbean check out Turks and Caicos. The world-famous Grace Bay Beach is often ranked as the best beach in the world. You can rent a villa or book one of the family-friendly resorts right on the beach.
Many of the stunning beaches are located on the island of Providenciales, but the rest of the archipelago has incredible untouched natural beauty as well. The beaches are never too crowded, and there is always a place you can go to if you want some peace and quiet with your loved ones.
The archipelago is made out of about 100 islands and if you book a charter boat tour you can sail around them and visit some of the uninhabited ones. Swim on empty beaches, bring your snorkeling gear, and enjoy one of the top five coral reefs in the world.
10. Aruba
Website: https://www.aruba.com/us/organization/aruba-tourism-authority
Aruba is amazingly family-friendly with activities for everyone in the family and kids of all ages to enjoy. Your little ones don’t even have to go far from the hotel to get some entertainment, as most of the hotels have activities organized for them all day long.
There are so many things you can do with your family here. From soaking in the sparkling water and making sandcastles to visiting attractions like the Donkey Sanctuary and The Butterfly Farm. Try bodyboarding at the Arashi beach, which has smaller waves and can be a great introduction to surfing for your children.
Arikok National Park’s nature walk is suitable for visitors of all ages and hiking experiences. Other possible activities are horseback riding, underwater tours, and a visit to the Ostrich Farm. Kids have so much fun at the glass bottom boat tours as well.
Conclusion
You won’t regret choosing any of these gorgeous locations. Having a perfect time with your family at the best family vacation spots in Caribbean is on the bucket list of so many people.
