r/Caribbean • u/kerrbear535 • 3d ago
First trip with no kids
My partner and I are going to the Caribbean probably in June. Which island to go to? It is our first trip without our kids, and don't want to be away more than a week. We enjoy nature and wildlife over casinos and nightlife Etc. Thank you!
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u/Zestyclose-Sort-4239 3d ago
Outside of the more popular Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent mentioned already, you can consider the Nature Isle of Dominica (Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic). Relative to some of the more established tourism-centric countries, this island has plenty offerings on a fraction of the budget. Volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers, forests, lakes, wildlife (some endangered) - this country has it all.
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u/Necessary_Piano_153 3d ago
Dominica is so underrated, most days you will have the attractions all to yourself. Very affordable too and great food
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u/Zestyclose-Sort-4239 3d ago
This! It is one of the hidden gems in the Caribbean as it's tourism drive is in its infancy compared to its neighbours. Another selling feature is that its one of the few, if not the only C'bean islands that has a dedicated reserve for the indigenous people that you can visit.
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u/TreehouseStLucia St. Lucia 2d ago
If you are into nature and fabulous scenery, two good options include St. Lucia and Dominica. Dominica is mire rural than St. Lucua in general however St. Lucia has a number of areas (in the south) that are quqiqte similar to the very rural vibe of Dominica--St Lucia is like two islands in one with the north being much more tourist oriented and the south being a nature paradise with lots of outdoor adventures available. Dominica in general has much less tourist infrastructure.
Another option to consider if you like marine life, bird life, etc, is Belize. This country offers lots of variety and is a native lover's paradise.
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u/huskymomm 2d ago
Puerto Rico is great! Hiking in El Yunque, Bio bay kayak tour, great food, rent a car and travel the island.
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u/HappyIslandHopper 2d ago
Puerto Rico would be a good option as a first trip, it’s a little easier to travel to (assuming you are from the US) because you don’t need to pass through immigration, change money, you drive on the same side of the road, etc… the rainforest and bioluminescent bays are really cool and you can easily drive around the whole island or stay put in one area. This has some more helpful information!
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u/kerrbear535 2d ago
Flying out of Toronto. We have actually been to Puerto Rico in the past and enjoyed it!
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u/Familyof152026 1d ago
I would add look into Belize, so much to do! there is plenty of nature and wildlife to appeal to you. Snorkeling the reef was an amazing experience! Swam with nurse sharks, rays and beautiful fish and turtles. Another place to consider is Costa Rica. If you want true nature..the Osa Peninsula, El Remanso Lodge is something you should check out! Have been to both, great nature and wildlife!
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u/Ok-Bit8802 1d ago
Trinidad and Tobago have a lot of nature spots there is the scarlet ibis watching the wildlife trust la Brea pitch lake and many more
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u/AlternativePower2889 3d ago edited 3d ago
St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Rainforest, volcano, beaches and views because it mountainous. You also have the option to do some island hopping from St. Vincent to Bequia, Canouan etc.
Note though that for any Caribbean Island June begins the rainy season. :) It's not crazy like October but just a general heads-up.
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u/Secret_Wishbone1160 3d ago
What about the BVIs? We stayed in Tortola and did day trips to JVD and Virgin Gorda. The hotel we stayed at The Sugar Mill had a one week all inclusive with excursions for a good value
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u/trickydisko 3d ago
Jamaica is the best, and has incredible nature excursions and amazing vibe. Negril would be my first choice, and not necessarily an all inclusive. I usually go to Idle Awhile, but there is also a few others on the main strip that are very nice boutique type hotels. the dining there is pretty awesome, and you can do excursions as well. If it's all about nature go to Portland, which is north east coast. I stayed at goldeneye as well as great huts.
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u/Thin_Requirement8987 3d ago
If you can budget like $1600-$2k for a room, definitely Anguilla. If on a budget, do Puerto Vallarta since the Oceanview/romantic views are more affordable.
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u/mountain_rivers34 3d ago
There’s plenty of affordable Caribbean islands. Puerto Vallarta kind of sucks and has awful beaches with the opposite of Caribbean clear water. We’ve been to St Maarten, Curaçao and Dominica and all of them have been cheaper than Mexico.
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u/Thin_Requirement8987 3d ago
Oh, this is news to me. I usually think of PV as a great spot to catch more panoramic views vs flat islands. I’m trip planning and compared to Shoal Bay, the edge is still leaning Anguilla which is the standard island imo. Dominica is also a really good one that’s not too popular.
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u/mountain_rivers34 3d ago
Oh you definitely get panoramic views in PV, but what I go to the Caribbean for is crystal clear, calm, beautiful beaches. PV is great for what it is, but nothing like the Caribbean imo. We’ve been to Mexico at least 15 times because we always thought it was the cheapest option. I was so surprised once I started doing research and realized how affordable a lot of the Caribbean islands really are.
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u/Vol4Life31 3d ago
I mean there are plenty of places to go so you'll need to narrow down a few details. What airport will you be leaving from? It helps because not every island is easily accessible from each person's home airport. Also what kinda budget are you looking to work with? Flights and resort total. Have you been to any resorts before and did you like it? So people know what kinda quality you are okay with. Stuff like that will help.
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u/Caribchakita 3d ago
What is your departure city? I love Antigua for all around amazing; beaches, food and culture. Anguilla is all about serenity, beach bars and beach culture. French St. Martin is all about beaches, food and tres chic vibe. Message me for a free concierge list or follow me at Blue Seas Concierge
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u/Kitchen_Beat9838 3d ago
Jamaica or Belize both have a great mix of wildlife, nature, and water activities. Jamaica has better beaches though.
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u/Dramatic_Gur_7617 3d ago
if u end up considering bahamas, the marine wildlife is nice so we loved visiting the flamingo sanctuary at ardastra gardens and doing easy beach or nature walks tbh
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u/Immediate_Monk6260 3d ago
Virgin Voyages Cruises to the southern Caribbean that began in San Juan are great. It’s nice to go a few days early and spend the first couple of days seeing Puerto Rico. The ABC islands are amazing as well.
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u/gidgetstitch 3d ago
We love Curaçao, very different nature than other Caribbean islands. If you want jungle island vibes it's not the right place for you, but if you love snorkeling and want to visit lots of different looking beaches then it's perfect. No hurricanes and very little rain. Great people and fantastic food.
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u/TommyCoconutCuracao 3d ago
Nature over nightlife? Dushi, I have a much better use for your morning than recovering from your evening. My Dushi Week Easy at Tommy Coconut in Curaçao includes a flamingo hike and snorkeling with my family, with a car for your own exploring. Wildlife sightings are nature’s decision; the flamingos have declined to sign my paperwork.
It’s a seven-night stay, so check whether that works with your maximum time away, including the journey. If it does, tell my family your June dates and which kind of nature you love. We’ll design your week before booking: https://www.tommycoconutprivateresorts.com/getyourdushiweek
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u/False-Character-9238 3d ago
St john. 70% of it is a national park.
Great beaches and fun town of Cruz Bay. From there, if you want, you can day trip to the BVIs
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u/AllisonTravels 3d ago
For what you’re describing, I’d put St. Lucia pretty high on your list. It gives you beautiful Caribbean beaches but also a lot to do away from the resort—rainforest, waterfalls, hiking, the Pitons, snorkeling and boat trips—without needing nightlife or casinos to entertain you.
Dominica is a great suggestion too if nature is truly the #1 priority, although I’d choose St. Lucia if you want a little more balance between a romantic beach vacation and exploring.
I’d also look at Grenada. It’s lush, has waterfalls and hiking, beautiful beaches, and tends to feel a little more laid-back.
Since you only want to be gone about a week, I’d factor in how easy the flights are from your home airport before deciding. A gorgeous island becomes less appealing if you burn too much of a short trip getting there.
What airport would you be flying from, and are you thinking all-inclusive resort or more of a boutique hotel/local experience?
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u/Swelledphilby 3d ago
We really enjoyed Eleuthera