12. Martinique
Martinique could easily pass for the south of France—whitewashed walls and red-tile roofs, techno pouring from the open doors of a waterfront disco, the aroma of garlic and wine wafting from some country kitchen, the tricolor flying from French naval ships. It’s the tropical beaches—and those ubiquitous coconut-palm trees—that keep reminding you that you are actually in the Caribbean.
13. Nevis
Little Nevis, one of the smallest landfalls in the Caribbean, has a huge heart, making it one of the most friendly islands for visitors. With countryside dotted by old sugarcane plantations and highlands dominated by a hulking volcano, Nevis is also one of the most scenic of the Caribbean isles.
14. Puerto Rico
This huge, mountainous island may be part of the U.S.A., but the thoroughly Latin ambience gives it the feel of an exotic foreign land. You can base yourself in one place (like San Juan or the west coast) or
15. St. Barthélemy
This chic French island is all about being gorgeous, rich and famous—or at least pretending to be—whether you find yourself lounging on some beautiful beach, zipping around in a Smart Car or dining at a trendy café.
16. St. Kitts
Thus far, friendly St. Kitts, which is home to green mountainside rain forests and historic sites, has remained less developed than Nevis, its sister island. While the island has been independent since 1983, it retains strong ties to its English heritage and offers a taste of an unhurried, uncrowded Caribbean.
17. St. Lucia
Best known for its dramatic landmark mountains, The Pitons, the French West Indies island of St. Lucia is also home to abundant rain forests, mountainous terrain and spectacular dive sites.
18. Saint Martin/Sint Maarten
Saint Martin (or Sint Maarten, its Dutch name) has a split personality. About a third of the island is Dutch—gingerbread houses, English-speaking and home to some delicious cheese. The other two-thirds is French—a bit more posh, a bit quieter and wine that’s out of this world.
19. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
If your romantic fantasies include swashbuckling sword fights (or Johnny Depp), then SVG is the place for you. This lovely archipelago in the southern Caribbean is where the original Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed and where the two sequels were recently completed. St. Vincent is the volcano-crowned main island; the Grenadines are a chain of smaller upscale landfalls that sprawl to the south along the turquoise sea.
20. Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago are the odd couple of the Caribbean, islands that couldn’t be more unlike one another but are now joined at the hip as one sovereign country. With its diverse population and humid lowlands, Trinidad feels more like South America than part of the West Indies. Tobago, on the other hand, is a bona fide island paradise of palm trees and golden sands.
21. Turks and Caicos
Just over an hour’s flight from Miami, this British territory is actually a chain of 40 islands and cays—many uninhabited—which you can easily hop to from the hub, Providenciales (Provo).
22. The U.S. Virgin Islands
Of the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands—St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix—St. Thomas offers more choices in hotels and activities, while being the most convenient to reach (most major airlines offer nonstop flights).
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