This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read the full disclosure policy here.
Although I have now spent about 2.5 years living and travelling around North America, I still haven’t visited any Caribbean islands. As someone who mostly travels solo, I think I would prefer visiting an island paradise in the Caribbean Sea with a friend or a loved one. Keep reading to learn which Caribbean islands are on my wish list.
Caribbean Bucket List
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic makes the list, as it has a bit of everything you could want on a holiday. It’s home to the breathtaking beaches of Punta Cana, the cosmopolitan hotspot that is Santa Domingo, and the beautiful architecture of La Romana. My ideal vacation in the Dominican Republic would include time at an all-inclusive resort, following this guide to Punta Cana beaches, and taking a city break.
Cuba
Cuba has become a popular travel destination over the past couple of years, particularly for Americans. It isn’t hard to see why so many people want to visit this Caribbean island. It seems impossible to take a bad photo of the colourful architecture, cars, and people of Havana. The beach resort town of Varadero is also as picturesque as most Caribbean beaches. Cuba has the perfect mix of urban and rural destinations that combine to make an unforgettable holiday.
Curaçao
Curaçao wasn’t even on my radar until I repeatedly saw posts about the Caribbean island published on several different travel blogs. Suddenly I was seeing beautiful images of this vibrant island, and I realised I needed to add it to the bucket list immediately. Willemstad is the capital city, where vividly coloured Dutch colonial buildings line the streets. Also, it wouldn’t be a Caribbean island if it didn’t have stunning beaches and diving opportunities.
Jamaica
Jamaica was recently voted one of the world’s top 10 islands. I can imagine days spent at the beach and nights spent dancing to live music. According to the Visit Jamaica website, the island comes alive when the sun goes down. Kingston is also a capital city filled with colonial architecture, heritage sites, breathtaking views, and fantastic bars and restaurants. You can’t go to Jamaica without sampling some of the local rum in a daiquiri or two, either!
Puerto Rico
San Juan is definitely at the top of my list of places to visit in Puerto Rico. The capital city is brimming with Spanish colonial architecture and impressive fortresses. Tourism is one of the city’s main industries, so you can expect many shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs targeting visitors. However, there is more to Puerto Rico than San Juan. El Yunque National Rainforest is another popular tourist destination. Plus, it has stunning beaches like the famous Condado Beach, Boqueron Beach, and Sandy Beach for stunning sunsets.
This wish list of beautiful Caribbean islands is making me want to pack my bags and head off on a sunny adventure immediately! There truly are too many islands to explore, and there is never enough time.
Thank you to GoDoTrip for partnering with me on this post.