Ten Caribbean beaches the locals love
Even a beach vacation can be “Afar-ish.” Here’s a list of 10 Caribbean beaches that the locals love, assembled by Associate Editor Jennica Peterson. (This list ran last Saturday in the New York Daily News.) If you have Caribbean favorites of your own, let us know by posting a comment.
1. Rosalie Beach, Dominica
Between late March and October on this mountainous island in the lower Caribbean, locals gather on the striking black-sand beach to see hawksbill, leatherback, and green sea turtles crawl ashore to nest.
2. Stocking Island, Exuma, The Bahamas
Pull up a stool at the Chat ’N’ Chill beach bar, owned by local Kenneth (KB) Bowe, order a Kalik beer and a conch burger, and gaze out at one of the most beckoning stretches of white sand in the Bahamas, just a few hundred miles from the Florida Keys.
3. Castara Beach, Tobago
Every evening, the local community and travelers come together to help fishermen pull in the nets on this quiet beach on the northern coast of Tobago, backed by one of the oldest protected rainforests in the Western Hemisphere.
4. Little Knip Beach, Curaçao
On weekends, join the Curaçaoan families who barbecue on this small, powdery beach off the Venezuelan coast, with calm turquoise waters for swimming and shady palapas for afternoon naps.
5. Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla
A long sweep of soft sand makes this one of the best beaches for walking in the entire Caribbean, never mind Anguilla, which is east of the Virgin Islands. Stroll down to the Dune Preserve, a restaurant owned by Anguillan reggae star Bankie Banx, to hear live music.
6. Caye Caulker, Belize
Snorkel with the sharks and stingrays near the island’s palm-shaded beach in this small Central American nation. At the nearby Sunset View disco, you might learn the punta, the fast-moving dance of the local Garifuna people.
7. Piñones Beach, Puerto Rico
Snack shacks selling crispy, meat-filled empanadillas and pasteles lure locals to this golden slice of sand just outside of San Juan.
8. Bathway Beach, Grenada
Protected by a barrier reef, this undeveloped beach in Levera National Park, in the northeast corner of the lower Caribbean country, is where Grenadans go to swim. Scarlet ibis roost in the park’s mangroves nearby.
9. Accra Beach, Barbados
Rent a boogie board and follow the islanders riding the gentle waves onto Accra Beach’s tender shore, located on the southern coast of this eastern Caribbean nation.
10. Little Corn Island, Nicaragua
You won’t find any big resorts on Little Corn, about 45 miles off the east coast of Nicaragua. Just a coral-sand beach, warm waters, coconut palms, and comedors (small eateries) serving large platters of fresh lobster.
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It’s not even cold yet, and I wanna go! RT @AfarMedia 10 Caribbean beaches the locals love http://bit.ly/3UMk1f
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
travelerlauren
26 Oct 09 at 9:24 am
Having lived in the Caribbean for Peace Corps, I’m plenty picky about beaches and can’t believe you left out:
Antigua – Half Moon Bay, Lime Skin Beach, Johnson’s Beach/Turner’s Point & Rendezvous Bay.
or the amazing beaches on Guadeloupe or St Kitts.
Snufkin
26 Oct 09 at 10:59 am
Grenada’s lovely Bathway Beach made this list from Afar magazine: Ten Caribbean beaches the locals love: http://bit.ly/aXoXx via @addthis
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
FacingTheStreet
1 Nov 09 at 8:50 am
I love that you included Little Corn Island… that’s magical place… fragile though… couldn’t handle a crush of tourists.
Dan
4 Nov 09 at 5:52 pm
Turks & Caicos’ Grace Bay wins for the most crystal clear aquamarine Caribbean waters and any of Panama’s 300-mini island archipelago of San Blas Islands will be absolute heaven.
Jessica S
5 Nov 09 at 11:35 am
For many locals and the more adventurous visitors to Tortola, Brewer’s Bay is the perfect beach to spend their day “limin’”.
Brewer’s remains a very secluded and uncrowded beach, perhaps largely because it is only accessible by a steep, switch-back winding road.
Luckily, the bay is out of bounds to all charter yachts because of underwater power cables lying across the cove, which could catch a misplaced anchor.
The beach is a long stretch of immaculate golden sand, protected by coral reefs in a stunning, palm tree-lined setting and the swimming and snorkeling conditions are excellent.
In fitting with the peaceful and natural ambiance of the beach, there are limited amenities here. A “bring your own stuff and cooler” attitude is encouraged.
However, if you came without, Nicole’s Beach Bar, on the west side of the bay, serves a local favorites, roti and conch fritters. Of course, an indigenous drink known as the Painkiller is served or try a Bushwacker, Carib beer or non-alcohol grapefruit flavored Ting to wet your whistle.
You may see the rooster and cat that perches lazily on Nicole’s bar that will remind you how tranquil this environment is.
Wander off just beyond the shoreline to see the ruins of the brewery which gave the bay its name. Presumably built some time in the 18th century, you’ll see parts of machinery and distilling equipment exactly where they were left when the distillery was abandoned over a hundred years ago.
In addition, Brewer’s Bay is home to the only camp site on the island of Tortola – a collection of tents and shelters well hidden among the palm trees and just steps from the water. There are both tent and ‘bare site’ options available for campers, with access to a few showers and washrooms.
On Fridays, locals and visitors alike, mingle and enjoy a communal fish fry and on Sundays, a barbeque. It’s an ideal way to share a chat about a stellar day at the beach.
Donna
17 Apr 10 at 2:01 pm