10 Lesser-Known Caribbean islands you should visit
They May Not Be Hotspots, but They Deserve a Visit
The Caribbean is a beloved region of the world for travelers. Warm turquoise waters, beautiful beaches, lush islands and welcoming and diverse cultures all create an attractive region of the world that is a fan favorite for everyone! But some destinations are more popular than others. In this slideshow, we’ll present ten less popular Caribbean islands that we think you should visit, from islands boasting fascinating histories to lush, secluded isles that offer sanctuaries for more animal life than human. Click through this slideshow to see some incredible Caribbean islands you might not know much about.
Anguilla
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory that consists of a main island and many surrounding smaller islands. It’s also a Caribbean paradise. The coastline ranges from tall, dramatic cliffs to soft-sand beaches, while the rest of the island is best discovered through a guided hike with the Anguilla National Trust.
Along the way, travelers can enjoy views of the island’s rocky coastline and get to know its past, visiting the ruins of a sugar plantation estate. The Big Spring Heritage Site offers views of petroglyphs that date over 1,000 years old and provide an insight into the island’s first inhabitants, who are believed to have lived on the island as far back as 600 AD.
Other fun experiences include birdwatching at East End Pond, an internationally recognized reserve for wetland birds, watching a boat race, the island’s favorite sporting event, or enjoying a rousing game of dominoes, a favorite across the Caribbean.
Montserrat
The volcanic island of Montserrat is a true nature lover’s paradise. Part of the Lesser Antilles and a British Overseas Territory, it’s home to verdant jungles, endemic plant and animal species, a smoking volcano and is surrounded by coral reefs. One of the islands that Christopher Columbus found, it boasts a history dating even farther back, but it was the Irish who settled on the island during the mid-1600s that gave it its nickname of “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.”
Nature lovers can enjoy the island’s black-sand volcanic beaches, like Little Bay Beach, before heading off into the jungle in search of the endemic Montserrat oriole on the 1.3-mile Oriole Walkway Trail or discovering the beautiful fruit bats that call the island their home at the Bat Cave at Rendezvous Bay. Center Hills, a nature reserve, and the island’s botanical garden are also great places to discover the endemic animal and plant life, including orchids.
Hikers can enjoy the best views of the smoking Soufrière Hills volcano at Garibaldi Hills. History lovers will enjoy hiking to the Amerindian petroglyphs along the Soldier Ghaut Trail, dating back 1,000 to 1,500 years, or taking a tour to Plymouth, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1995-96, leaving it frozen in time.
Grenada
Nicknamed the “Spice Isle” due to its numerous nutmeg plantations, the island of Grenada and its other islands offer 40 beaches, 15 waterfalls, five chocolate factories and over 30 dive sites, including the Caribbean’s largest shipwreck and the world’s first underwater sculpture park. The island of Grenada itself is home to the colorful capital of St. George’s, where history lovers can learn about Grenada’s history at Fort Frederick and Fort Matthew.
Travelers can tour the Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station to learn how nutmeg is made, then take some home as a souvenir, or they can head to one of the nutmeg plantations or gardens to see how they grow. Nature lovers can explore two national parks: Levera National Park and the more mountainous Grand Etang National Park & Forest Reserve. Participating in wellness activities, wandering the garden or sampling award-winning honey are all great experiences for travelers visiting Jessamine Eden Wellness Farm.
Grenada offers the best of the Caribbean, and so much more that’s unique to its islands.
Dominica
Dominica, commonly confused with the Dominican Republic, is a verdant Caribbean island with rainforests and natural hot springs warmed by volcanic activity. Like many Caribbean islands, it was inhabited long before the European discovery of the region. The Kalinago people (also called Carib) called the island Waitukubuli, which means “tall is her body” due to the steep volcanic mountains.
It also offers a deeply rich personal history, having been inhabited since circa 3100 BC; it remains the only island with a living population of indigenous Caribbean people. Responsible travelers can join a Kalinago guide into Kalinago Territory to learn about how they’ve preserved their culture over time.
Its volcanic heritage also makes it the scene for thriving coral reefs and hundreds of different marine animals, which snorkelers and scuba divers can enjoy without crowds, like Champagne Reef.
Wellness travel is also alive on this island: due to the natural occurrence of hot springs, there are plenty of spas located across the island, usually offering outdoor areas surrounded by tropical forests.
The island also offers three national parks and a Work in Nature program that allows remote workers to enjoy up to 18 months of Caribbean living with a variety of benefits.
La Desirade, Guadeloupe
La Desirade is one of the islands that comprise Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. Named “the Forgotten” in French, it’s a naturally gorgeous island that’s a must-visit for anyone visiting the bigger islands in the chain. The island is considered one of the oldest in the Caribbean geologically, which makes it home to many endemic plant and animal species; as such, it’s also designated a National Geological Reserve.
The surrounding waters are also part of the AGOA Marine Mammal Reserve, which aims to protect whales from harmful human interactions, both direct and indirect; twenty-four species of whales and dolphins have been identified in the waters around La Desirade.
While there, travelers can discover the large population of iguanas that are protected on the island, enjoy a fun beach day at Fifi Beach or hike the River Trail in search of some of the island’s endemic plant species.
Les Saintes, Guadeloupe
Another destination in Guadeloupe is the collection of islands called Les Saintes, or “The Saints.” This collection of nine islands has only two that are inhabited by humans, Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas. The islands’ beautiful beaches, photogenic towns and culinary focus will delight beachgoers and foodies alike.
Travelers can enjoy the Pain de Sucre beach, taste the Tourment D’Amour tart, a local delicacy; hike up to Fort Napoleon, where they’ll also find a cactus conservatory; and take photos of the gorgeous Les Saintes Bay, considered by UNESCO as one of the most beautiful bays in the world and learn of its history with naval battles and pirates.
A trip to Terre de Bas brings travelers to a less populated but larger island than Terre de Haut, where they can hike and discover the island’s ancient history.
Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Jost Van Dyke is one of the smallest islands in the popular British Virgin Islands, but its attractions are definitely worth discovering during a visit. It boasts an ancient history like many of the islands on this list, but its natural beauty is at the forefront, with turquoise water that seems to glow and plenty of white-sand beaches to enjoy.
It’s also home to the Bubbly Pool, a warm swimming hole. Travelers can book a variety of accommodations to stay there, or they can boat over from a nearby island for a day trip. Either way, a variety of tour operators offer eco-tours throughout the island, as well as snorkeling or scuba diving excursions.
Inagua, The Bahamas
At the southernmost tip of The Bahamas lies Inagua, two sparsely populated yet very important islands. With less than 1,000 human inhabitants, it’s nicknamed the birdwatching capital of The Bahamas, and for good reason.
It’s home to 80,000 flamingos and 140 species of native and migratory birds, all protected by three national parks. Great Inagua and Little Inagua, the two islands, offer a practically untouched Caribbean wilderness, perfect for adventurers, wildlife enthusiasts and travelers looking to get away from tourist-dense destinations.
Accommodation options can be humble or sparse depending on availability, but travelers can boat in from other islands in The Bahamas for a day trip, too.
Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis
Nevis is the smaller island of the two-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, an up-and-coming cruise destination. It’s most recognized as being the birthplace of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, of which they will unveil a new statue in July at the island’s Museum of Nevis History.
The island offers pristine natural beaches and forests, plus a rich personal history as home to indigenous peoples prior to the European discovery. Along with St. Kitts, it became one of the islands notable for its sugar production, many abandoned estates which survive in differing states of ruin for exploration and learning experiences.
Other attractions include the Botanical Gardens of Nevis, in which travelers can have a luncheon and tea, the Bath Hotel and Spring House, which dates back to the 1700s, as well as the historic town of Charlestown, one of the best surviving examples of 18th and 19th-century Georgian-style buildings. The island also offers a range of accommodations, from the Four Seasons Resort Nevis to eco-friendly, family-owned Oualie Beach Resort.
Saba, Caribbean Netherlands
While it’s not the least populated island on this list, the island of Saba is one that feels remote, though it’s only a 90-minute ferry ride away from St. Maarten. It’s part of the Netherlands and boasts only five square miles of land. A true remote worker’s paradise, it’s home to a rich history that includes indigenous peoples (from 3,000 years ago) to pirates and more.
During the 1800s, it was nicknamed the “Isle of Women,” since the majority of the menfolk obtained jobs sailing or fishing throughout the year, leaving the women to do work on land with everything from child-rearing to hard labor, medicine and more. Today, travelers wanting a small-town feel with rich Caribbean culture and remote, untouched wilderness will enjoy Saba.
There are four main towns on the island: its capital, The Bottom; Windwardside, the more tourist-centric town, St. John’s, perched high up on the mountain and Zion’s Hill, nicknamed Hell’s Gate for its now-defunct sulfur mine. Travelers can head over to the Saba Heritage Center to learn about the island’s history, talk with its resident archaeologist and perhaps even join them on an excavation. Divers and snorkelers will especially enjoy Saba Marine Park.