Family vacations in the Caribbean can be anything you want them to be. For some, it could mean relaxing together on a stunning tropical beach. To others, it means taking up adventures, from scuba diving to hiking. But with so many options to choose from, the most challenging part is in choosing the right destination. To help you with this, here’s our list of the best places in the Caribbean for a family getaway.
Best Place in the Caribbean for a Family Getaway
St Lucia
St Lucia is a dream destination for adults and kids, offering plenty of family-friendly activities, from fun days at the beach to scenic hikes through the jungle. What’s more, the island is home to some of the world’s best family-friendly resorts. Some have child-friendly amenities, like a kid’s club, playground, and kiddie pools. Of course, St Lucia also offers numerous fun activities for adults, giving everyone in the family a chance to enjoy a fun-filled getaway.
If you prefer to spend your days hanging out at the beach, take the family to Marigot Bay, one of the most scenic bays in the Caribbean. Featuring lush hillsides and a gorgeous palm-fringed beach, you are guaranteed to have a great time here with the family. You can take the water shuttles ferrying visitors to the bay from the hotels on the opposite side.
If you’re looking for a break away from the sea, consider hiking to the lush jungles of St Lucia. The most popular route is the Tet Paul Nature Trail, offering some of the most spectacular views in the southern part of the island. It’s an easy hike that winds through the island’s tropical forest taking about 45 minutes.
Jamaica
Jamaica is one of those Caribbean islands best suited for families. It offers everything families seek in a holiday, whether escaping to an exhilarating adventure, relaxing in unparalleled natural beauty, or exploring rich culture and history. In addition, some of the Caribbean’s nicest villas are in Jamaica. These villas are spacious enough to accommodate families, allowing for a more enjoyable and relaxing Caribbean getaway.
Swimming with the dolphins is a top activity in Jamaica with the family. You can enjoy this fun activity at Dolphin Cove in the coastal town of Ocho Rios. After spending time with the dolphins, head to Montego Bay’s Doctor’s Cave Beach, a stunning white sand beach with fun amenities for kids, such as trampolines. Your little ones will enjoy swimming in the calm and shallow waters while seeing tiny fishes around them.
The Aquasol Theme Park is a fantastic place to hang out with your kids in Jamaica. It offers exhilarating activities for adults and kids. The park lies on the same stretch of beach in Montego Bay and offers fun amenities, from waterslides to boat rides and bouncy castles.
Grenada
Grenada offers the perfect setting for family adventures. It’s a gorgeous small island south of the Caribbean, famous for its stunning beaches, lush rainforests and majestic waterfalls. Families who love to unwind and spend time in nature will find Grenada a perfect place to visit.
Grenada is another fantastic destination for dolphin and whale-watching adventures. You will sail to the ocean on a catamaran and witness these incredible sea creatures jumping out of the water and playing under the waves while performing a show for your family. After your adventure in the ocean, the best way to relax is to swim and sunbathe at the picture-perfect Grand Anse beach. Featuring powder-white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Grand Anse is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, an ideal spot for swimming, snorkelling, and water sports.
If your family loves to hike, Grenada offers some of the Caribbean’s most scenic hiking trails, which take you to the lush rainforest, home to different animal species. Among them are the Mona monkeys at Grand Etang Lake. These quirky monkeys will let you pet them and pull a joke on you, which makes for an even more exciting experience!
Barbados
As one of the most family-friendly destinations in the Caribbean, booking a trip to Barbados provides the ultimate Caribbean experience. The island offers a wealth of fun activities that the entire family will love. Whether you want to relax at the beach, snorkel and dive through shipwrecks, or witness local wildlife up close, you can enjoy all these in Barbados.
As with any holiday to the Caribbean, no trip to Barbados is complete without spending some time at the beach. After all, the island is home to some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, with some of them offering child-friendly amenities. Carlisle Bay, which has a picturesque stretch of powdery white sands, is one of the best beaches for families. It has calm and shallow waters, so it’s safe for your kids to swim in. The beach also offers a wealth of exciting water sports for all ages, such as snorkelling, kayaking, and glass-bottomed boat tour.
Cruising is another fun way to bond with the family in Barbados. It’s a fantastic way to appreciate the island’s natural beauty while enjoying exciting water activities. Most cruises depart from Bridgetown and will take you along the coast, where you can snorkel in calm waters, swim with turtles, and scuba dive through shipwrecks! Some cruises include a traditional Bajan buffet and other refreshments for a more enjoyable bonding with the family.
Aruba
Offering all-inclusive family resorts, gorgeous beaches, and numerous child-friendly activities, Aruba is another Caribbean destination that’s perfect for families. Here, you can spend fun days on its shallow waters, enjoy snorkelling or other water sports, swim with turtles, or ride a submarine!
Spend the day at Baby Beach, one of Aruba’s family-friendly beaches. The white-sand beach is perfect for seaside relaxation and swimming with the kids in its shallow waters. Eagle Beach is another beach to visit with kids, featuring white-sand shores and calm blue waters.
Perhaps, the most popular and exciting activity for the family in Aruba is riding the Atlantis submarine. It’s a great way to explore the underwater world of shipwrecks and colourful marine life without having to dive!
Whether you get to your destination by ship or by plane – you’ll sure to be happy you went!