Caribbean Without Crowds: Quiet, Beautiful Beaches
THERE ARE STILL SOME CARIBBEAN BEACHES WHERE YOU CAN RELAX IN RELATIVE SOLITUDE. CHECK OUT THESE QUIET BEACHES BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE FINDS OUT ABOUT THEM!
With its soft sand and beautiful scenery, the Caribbean is one of the most popular destinations in the world for beach vacations. But despite the region’s worldwide appeal, it’s still possible to uncover quiet beaches away from the crowds on many Caribbean islands. When planning your Caribbean travel, make sure to avoid hurricane season, which is June 1st to November 30th. And since the busiest time for the Caribbean is usually December through February, the best time to visit for the most relaxing and peaceful vacation would be in February, March, April or May. So, pack up your sunscreen, travel towel, and water-resistant duffel bag and head to one of these great beaches before everyone else finds out about them.
Jumbie Beach, St. John The majority of St. John lies within Virgin Islands National Park, which provides multiple possibilities for those seeking a quiet Caribbean beach. Lameshur Bay on the southern side of the island is a good option, but for an even more secluded experience, try Jumbie Beach on the north. The surf can be rough on windy days, but the beach is small and has only a few parking spaces, so the crowds never get too large.
Treasure Beach, Jamaica Many tourists flock to Jamaica for the resort towns with popular beaches and crowded nightclubs. Treasure Beach is just the opposite. It’s a fishing community comprised of four small villages. Getting there requires leaving the main highway and navigating a maze of secondary roads, which might be why most visitors to the island don’t make the effort. The rewards are beautiful beaches and great opportunities for genuine interactions with locals.
Pink Beach, Bonaire To find true beauty without the crowds, consider Pink Beach on Bonaire, a Dutch island immediately east of Curacao. Named after the hue of its sand, the beach offers excellent swimming and snorkeling, and divers enjoy checking out Pink Beach’s coral reefs, home to numerous tropical fish, sea turtles and sting rays. The crowds pick up a bit on the weekends when area residents come out to enjoy the sun and sand, but during the week you may have a huge section of the beach to yourself.
North Beach, Barbuda Not to be confused with Barbados, Barbuda is a small island north of Antigua that features white and pink sand and sparsely-populated beaches. Even today, large portions of the island remain undeveloped. It’s so peaceful that frigatebirds, which have a sanctuary here, outnumber people by more than a three to one ratio. Enjoy the solitude at North Beach, located at the northern tip of the island.
Isla Holbox, Mexico Isla Holbox provides a nice break from nearby Cancun and the other party towns on the Yucatan Peninsula. Take the ferry over from the mainland and forget about driving, because residents and tourists get around by bike or golf cart. There are a few bars, restaurants, and gift shops, but Isla Holbox doesn’t see nearly as many tourists as the more popular Yucatan destinations. Visitors walk along the beach, observe flamingos and whale sharks, and participate in various watersports.
Scott Shetler is a freelance journalist and frequent traveler who enjoys national parks, urban nightlife, and everything in between. He blogs about his adventures at http://quirkytravelguy.com.
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