For many folks, a tropical island vacation means a vacation to the Hawaiian islands, and for good reason. With its one-of-a-kind culture, spectacular beaches, and endless room for adventure, to say nothing of the majestic waterfalls, volcanoes, and rugged mountain landscapes waiting to be explored – the appeal of a vacation to Hawaii is obvious.
Until they look at the flights.
When travelers realize that most flights from the west coast of the U.S. are at least 6 hours – along with the cost of that airfare – for many, that is the end of their dreams of a vacation in paradise.
But it’s not necessary to give up hope of enjoying a tropical vacation on a beautiful island. There are a number of Caribbean islands which match Hawaii in beauty (and some would say even better than what you can experience in the Hawaiian Islands). Best of all, you can generally fly to the Caribbean from the U.S. mainland within a few hours, so you can enjoy that exotic experience without flying halfway around the world. (And the airfare is a lot less expensive too!)
Whether you’re looking for white sand beaches, snorkeling and diving, surfing, or volcanoes and waterfalls, you can find it on a Caribbean island. Here are some of the best “Hawaiian alternatives” in the Caribbean for your own vacation in paradise, just a short flight away.
Best Islands for Gorgeous White Sand Beaches
Turks & Caicos is filled with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The turquoise color of the water against white and in some cases pink sand, adds a magical touch that will truly make you feel as though you’re in paradise. These are some of the best beaches you’ll likely come across in a lifetime, and a favorite for visitors is the Grace Bay Beach which offers opportunities to try out new watersports, lounge on the beach, or even go snorkeling further offshore. Flight time from Miami: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Exuma, in the Bahamas has some of the most breath-taking beaches – and turquoise water – in the world, with options to choose from a variety of beautiful white sand beaches to lounge on for every day of your location. Coco Plum Beach is one of the most spellbinding, and it is a popular choice for visitors to Exuma. At low tide, you can walk on the sand right out into the ocean space, picking up sand dollars along the way, and at sunset, you can witness spectacular sunsets. Coco Plum’s location in the exotic Bahamas archipelago guarantees that you will absolutely love how carefree you’ll feel in this space. Flight time from Miami: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Best Island for Amazing Snorkeling and Diving
Grenada has many dive sites where you can witness fascinating coral, amazing sea life, and even some historic shipwrecks. These include Buccaneer, Rhum Runner, King Mitch and more. The Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park is also interesting to explore for divers, and amid the marine life you’ll find a few structures that were incorporated as part of a preservation effort for the reefs in this area. Flight time from closest major U.S. city: 3 hours, 40 minutes
Best Island for Great Surf
Barbados is one of the only smaller islands with a happening surf culture. This makes it a great Hawaii alternative. In fact, the island frequently plays host to surf competitions and other conventions. There are several spots you can check out if you want to go surfing in Barbados including Duppies, a surf beach where the living is easy. Duppies is on the northwestern end of Barbados. Also popular is the Soup Bowl which can be found close to the town of Bathsheba. The Soup Bowl is a popular spot and sometimes hosts international longboard competitions. Then there’s Silver Sands Beach on the south coast where the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Sea meet for some great wave action. Flight time from Miami: 3 hours, 35 minutes
Best Island to Visit an Active Volcano
Saint Lucia’s “Sulphur Springs” is home to the Soufriere drive-in volcano, and this area has evolved over the years to become one of the coolest attractions of its kind in the Caribbean. Located in the midst of a collapsed crater visitors can drive right into this area and do tours, bathe in the Sulphur mud baths or in hots springs. The last minor eruption of the dome volcano in this area was in 1780. Flight time from Miami: 3 hours, 29 minutes
Best Island for Visiting Majestic Waterfalls
Jamaica is home to the famous Dunn’s River Falls which features a waterfall which drops dramatically 100 feet down from the edge of a cliff. It is a sight to behold, and as part of your tour you can choose to walk up the areas of the Falls which aren’t as treacherous. While there, be sure to check out Dunn’s River Falls Beach. Some other great waterfalls in Jamaica include Mayfield Falls, Reach Falls and YS Falls. Flight time from Miami: 1 hour, 45 minutes
While Hawaii undoubtedly has a lot to offer, you don’t need the expensive airfare and long flight to enjoy a true vacation in paradise, and in fact, you can find anything Hawaii has on one of the beautiful tropical islands of the Caribbean. Even better, you can also find something in the Caribbean that you absolutely CANNOT find in Hawaii – an all-inclusive resort vacation where you just show up and start relaxing!
Now, who’s ready for a fruity drink?
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