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Most holidays to the Caribbean start with a juicy query: which island ought to we go for? It’s a scrumptious debate greatest executed with a tot of rum in hand and a map exhibiting the 29 choices, and the excellent news is all of them have their charms. These begin with assured heat, bountiful sunshine, scenic splendour and charismatic individuals. Then comes the dream seashores, upbeat music, spiced-up delicacies, exuberant carnivals and a wealthy and numerous historical past mirrored in 20 World Heritage Websites.
It was with these delights in thoughts that Telegraph Journey crunched the info – for the second yr in succession – to establish the best Caribbean island of all. What has modified to have an effect on our rankings? Lots. A brand new direct flight from British Airways, launched in March 2023, means 40 extra factors for Aruba. The 2023 Telegraph Journey Awards, introduced in July, noticed Antigua and Grenada named amongst your 50 favorite nations – offering every with a lift. Amongst different developments, two new five-star resorts have opened within the Turks and Caicos Islands, serving to its trigger, whereas the crime price in Jamaica has worsened, hindering its rating.
So what’s the ultimate desk this time round? Donning our greatest straw hats and floral shirts, we’ve once more in contrast the contenders throughout 24 standards from chook species and golf programs to the price of dwelling and menace from hurricanes (see ‘Our methodology’, beneath).
In the long run, we welcomed a brand new entry to the highest 10, changing Curaçao, and the winner is a worthy one – it is likely one of the most distinctive and fascinating locations in not simply this balmy area, however the world.
![You can now fly direct to Aruba](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/aruba-GettyImages-977064628.jpg?imwidth=350)
Now you can fly direct to Aruba
Credit score: Getty
“Come for top-class resorts and each sort of delicacies, from Bavarian to Peruvian.”
This vigorous Dutch island 15 miles north of Venezuela has climbed into our high ten due to twice-weekly flights with British Airways launched in March 2023. Direct entry from London Gatwick has appealed to premium travellers grabbing every week of solar and enjoyable at top-class resorts just like the Ritz-Carlton Aruba and the adults-only Bucuti and Tara Seaside Resort on the magnificent sands of Eagle Seaside. Over 100 completely different nationalities stay and work right here, giving the island a formidable multicultural power mirrored in a restaurant scene that gives each sort of delicacies, from Bavarian to Peruvian.
Common with North People, Aruba comes with cruise ships, high-rise resorts and casinos however there may be a lot to find away from the resorts. A fifth of the island is protected by the arid landscapes of Arikok Nationwide Park, which has mountaineering routes and the 1,000-year-old work inside Fontein Cave. New biking trails are in growth and there may be rewarding snorkelling and diving. Choose up island-made tub and sweetness merchandise on the Aruba Aloe Manufacturing facility & Museum and if you wish to get together be there for the Aruba Carnival which is able to attain its peak within the first two weeks of February 2024.
Tropical Sky (01342 395215; tropicalsky.co.uk) has seven nights at Bucuti and Tara Seaside Resort from £1,849 per particular person, together with British Airways flights from London Gatwick on June 16 2024, transfers and breakfast.
![The Pitons, St Lucia](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/st-lucia-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
The Pitons, St Lucia
Credit score: Getty
“The Pitons are the eye-popping marvel on this Caribbean favorite.”
St Lucia’s iconic twin peaks, the Pitons, are the eye-popping marvel on this Caribbean favorite with the bonus that Gros Piton might be climbed in a few (gruelling) hours. The island would rank increased have been it not one of many rainiest within the area, the flip-side being that its wealthy inexperienced inside is right for the cacao tree – the seeds of that are the chief ingredient in chocolate. Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Estate has a superb cacao-themed restaurant and resort overlooking the Pitons whereas Sugar Beach enjoys a billion-dollar location sandwiched between them.
Flights to St Lucia land at its southern tip, whereas most resorts are within the northwest. Because of this the switch supplies a 90-minute scenic tour of this lush and mountainous island that gives loads of adventures together with mountaineering, biking and 22 dive websites. Unexpectedly, St Lucians have a love of nation music (a legacy from the Forties when there have been two US army bases right here) and their delicacies is a tasty fusion of French, British and Indian influences. A helpful initiative is Kawabé Krawl, a group of 19 bars dotted across the island that the vacationer board has picked out for his or her genuine flavour.
Turquoise Holidays (01494 678400, turquoiseholidays.co.uk) has seven nights at Sugar Seaside from £3,072 per particular person together with British Airways flights departing London Gatwick on June 16 2024, transfers and breakfast.
![Trafalgar Falls, Dominica](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/dominica-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
Trafalgar Falls, Dominica
Credit score: Getty
“The island is blissfully freed from brash resorts and mega-cruise ships.”
Two thirds of mountainous Dominica is rainforest, so it is smart that it tops the ‘tree cowl’ class. Rising up between the French territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the island is blissfully freed from brash resorts and large cruise ships, and fits energetic travellers who wish to hike, dive and birdwatch. Thrills embody the strenuous ascent to Boiling Lake, the place the water steams like a witches’ cauldron resulting from volcanic exercise, and snorkelling at Champagne Reef, the place the ocean is enlivened with bubbles for a similar purpose.
The hillside Jungle Bay resort, close to Soufriere, makes it simple to discover with its ‘journey wellness’ bundle that features each day yoga and a 30-minute spa remedy plus actions similar to hikes, kayaking and cooking courses. Within the capital, Roseau, the lately upgraded Fort Young Hotel affords adventures together with treks to waterfalls and lionfish looking. Dominica can be the one nation on the planet the place sperm whales reside yr spherical – sightings are most typical from November to March.
Elegant Resorts (01244 897581; elegantresorts.co.uk) has seven nights’ all-inclusive lodging at Jungle Bay from £3,430 per particular person, together with British Airways flights to Barbados, inter-island flights, transfers and actions.
![A hummingbird in Tobago](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/trinidad-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
A hummingbird in Tobago
Credit score: Getty
“It’s house to greater than 500 chook species – essentially the most of any Caribbean nation.”
Birds are a key purpose why this duo of islands makes our high ten, being house to greater than 500 species – essentially the most of any Caribbean nation.
Most British travellers solely go to the small and peaceable isle of Tobago, which is definitely reached on flights from London with British Airways. Right here the star attraction is the Major Ridge Forest Reserve which has been protected since 1776 and has strolling trails, together with Little Tobago, an offshore haven for birds close to Speyside.
Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad, is only a 25-minute flight south so a visit to each islands is possible. Head there to see parrots, motmots and woodpeckers on the Asa Wright Nature Centre, 1,200 ft up within the northern mountains. Geodyssey has a twin-island tour that visits this and the Caroni Fowl Sanctuary, house to hundreds of scarlet ibis, plus a backyard the place you may spot as much as 14 species of hummingbird. Trinidad’s world-famous carnival will hit the streets in February 12-13, 2024, whereas British Airways launched a direct service from London Gatwick to Port of Spain in March 2023.
Geodyssey (020 7281 7788; geodyssey.co.uk) has a personal 14-day ‘Trinidad & Tobago Odyssey’ from £3,985 per particular person, departing any day topic to availability. This contains return British Airways flights from London Gatwick, B&B lodging, all transport, non-public guided excursions on 10 days and a few lunches.
![English Harbour, Antigua](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/antigua-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
English Harbour, Antigua
Credit score: Steve Geer / iStock through Getty
“British travellers are interested in its easy-going model and a shoreline fringed with 365 seashores.”
Antigua got here second within the ‘Luxuries’ class, scoring nicely for its reliable five-star resorts similar to Jumby Bay, Carlisle Bay and Curtain Bluff. It’s one of many best Caribbean islands to succeed in and welcomes numerous British travellers interested in its easy-going model and a shoreline fringed with 365 seashores.
English Harbour, on the south coast, is essentially the most enticing base with its World Heritage-listed Nelson’s Dockyard and a waterfront bristling with traditional crusing boats and constantly-polished superyachts. The adjoining nationwide park has over 11 miles of mountaineering trails whereas the Sunday afternoon barbecue and get together at Shirley Heights is a memorable spot to observe the sundown to the sound of stay metal pan music.
British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0787; britishairways.com/antigua) has seven nights at Carlisle Bay from £3,125 per particular person room solely, together with flights from London Gatwick on February 11 2024.
![The Blue Mountains, Jamaica](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/jamaica-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
The Blue Mountains, Jamaica
Credit score: Getty
“Prime of the to-see listing must be the Blue Mountains, a dramatic vary of lofty peaks.”
This spectacular island has rather more to supply than its quite a few all-inclusive seashore resorts, an idea born right here in 1978. Prime of the to-see listing must be the Blue Mountains, a dramatic vary of lofty peaks north of Kingston that produces elegant espresso – for an introduction go to the Craighton Espresso Property close to Irish City which has a Nice Home courting from 1805.
Jamaica’s capital affords insights into the story of reggae at its Bob Marley Museum, the place your tour information could nicely burst into track, and different rewarding stops are Port Antonio, well-known for its jerk stalls, and Negril with a four-mile seashore that catches the sundown.
Discover! (01252 883101; explore.co.uk) has a nine-night ‘Discover Jamaica’ group tour from £2,379 per particular person, together with lodging, transport, actions and breakfast. Upcoming departures in 2024 embody March 20 and April 24. Flights to Kingston are further.
![Bowling Alley Hill, Barbados](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/barbados-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
Bowling Alley Hill, Barbados
Credit score: Getty
“Britain and Barbados share a mutual love of cricket, church buildings and gardens.”
The easternmost island within the Caribbean is a agency favorite with British travellers for good purpose: we’ve been visiting its light shores since 1625 and share a mutual love of cricket, church buildings and gardens. Barbados can be the birthplace of rum, has a thriving restaurant scene and – as our survey reveals – will get high factors for its density of five-star resorts. Lengthy-established flagship properties on the west coast, similar to Sandy Lane, Coral Reef Club and Cobblers Cove, have set a benchmark for civilised luxurious by the ocean that draws a well-heeled band of regulars each winter.
Barbados additionally scores nicely on the Human Freedom Index, which assesses the diploma of civil liberty in a nation, and the 2022 Environmental Efficiency Index that screens achievements in sustainability. Few guests are conscious of the island’s spectacular ‘inexperienced’ facet, which is manifest within the wonderful free hikes organised by the Barbados Nationwide Belief, the biodynamic PEG Farm with tenting and an excellent restaurant, and regeneration tasks similar to Walkers Reserve, Coco Hill Forest and the Barbados Trailway.
Tropic Breeze (01752 880880; tropicbreeze.co.uk) has seven nights at Tamarind by Elegant Hotels from £2,625 per particular person all-inclusive, together with Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow on February 21 2024 and transfers.
![Alcazar de Colón, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/dominican-republic-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
Alcazar de Colón, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Credit score: Getty
“Scenic versatility contains tropical rainforest, arid desert and a profusion of superb seashores.”
The Dominican Republic is house to the very best and lowest factors within the Caribbean – the ten,174ft Pico Duarte, which might be climbed on a two-day trek, and Lago Enriquillo, which lies 151ft beneath sea stage. This scenic versatility, which incorporates tropical rainforest, fertile valleys, arid desert and a profusion of superb white-sand seashores, is mirrored in a high rating for biodiversity.
Nature-related adventures embody admiring humpback whales on the Samaná Peninsula, white-water rafting on the Río Yaque del Norte and attempting to identify 31 distinctive chook species such because the Hispaniolan woodpecker.
Holidays from the UK are principally geared to the fly-and-flop market utilizing direct providers from London Gatwick to the seashore resorts of Punta Cana, on the jap tip of Hispaniola, with British Airways and Tui (the latter additionally fly from Manchester). On the south coast, Santo Domingo, the capital, is a well-liked port of name for Caribbean cruises with a compelling heritage courting again to its founding in 1496 by Bartholomé Columbus. Even right here, amongst its monumental church buildings and fortifications, nature’s splendour shines by way of at Arroyo Hondo, the most important botanical gardens within the Caribbean with an arboretum containing 1,500 bushes.
Tui (020 3451 2688; tui.co.uk) has seven nights at Spectacular Punta Cana from £1,353 per particular person all-inclusive, together with Tui Airways flights from London Gatwick to Punta Cana departing March 17 2024 and transfers.
![Little Exuma Island, The Bahamas](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/bahamas-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
Little Exuma Island, The Bahamas
Credit score: Getty
“Magnificent Pink Sands Seaside is likely one of the greatest within the Caribbean.”
Broadly thought-about a part of the Caribbean regardless of not bordering the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas simply tops our Pure Wonders class on account of its 700 islands and a couple of,400 cays, which stretch south-east from Florida for 760 miles. It additionally has the bottom inhabitants density of the contenders. Much more spectacular is its 32 nationwide parks – greater than double its closest rival.
To benefit from a visit to this prosperous archipelago, which was a British colony for 325 years, it’s important to journey past the gateway island of New Windfall, dominated by the cruising hub of Nassau. A 30-minute flight east, Eleuthera is a slim, 110 mile-long island with pineapple farms, browsing spots and a tranquil vibe. Alternatively, be part of the partying on Harbour Island, only a five-minute water-taxi journey from North Eleuthera airport. That is the quintessence of the small, moneyed Bahamas escape with sensible resorts, elegant eating places and the magnificent Pink Sands Seaside – probably the greatest within the Caribbean.
Bon Voyage (0800 316 0194; bon-voyage.co.uk) has seven nights at Valentines Resort on Harbour Island from £4,275 per particular person room solely, together with British Airways flights from London Heathrow to Nassau departing February 2 2024, inter-island flights, ferry switch and golf cart rental.
![Havana, Cuba](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/travel/2022/10/13/cuba-best-island-sq.jpg?imwidth=350)
Havana, Cuba
Credit score: Getty
“Cuba has an environment like nowhere else, born out of revolution and mirrored in pale grandeur.”
Cubans have many abilities – music, dancing, rolling cigars and simply getting by way of the day in a state-run economic system that was severely whacked in 2022 by Hurricane Ian. Type-filling is clearly one other, judging from the shocking proven fact that the most important nation within the Caribbean boasts 9 World Heritage websites, plus one other three on Unesco’s ‘tentative’ listing, which is by far the best tally within the area.
That is one purpose it’s made it to the highest of our survey as the best Caribbean island, plus the truth that it tops the closely-contested ‘Expertise and Atmosphere’ class. Oh sure, Cuba has an environment like nowhere else, born out of revolution and mirrored in its shiny classic vehicles, seductive soundtrack and the pale grandeur of its Spanish colonial cities. Cuba can be secure, with one of many lowest crime charges, and being 750 miles lengthy it affords a lot to take pleasure in from the nightlife of Havana to horse driving in Viñales and diving the clear waters off Isla de Juventud. The island’s political and financial isolation has an apparent impression in the case of luxurious spas and superb eating, however it makes up for this by delivering a Caribbean expertise like no different.
The one direct path to Cuba from the UK is aboard Tui’s constitution flights from Manchester to the seashore resorts of Varadero, however these will cease on the finish of April 2024. Intrepid Journey, which has been working small group excursions right here for greater than 15 years, recommends travelling through Madrid. The operator has a ‘Premium Cuba’ tour visiting 4 cities with a salsa lesson and journey in a traditional automotive included. Word that UK travellers who go to Cuba is probably not eligible for the US’ Esta visa-waiver programme, and will as an alternative want to use for a costlier vacationer visa that requires a visit to a US embassy.
Intrepid (0808 274 5111; intrepidtravel.com) has an eight-night ‘Premium Cuba’ group tour from £2,295 per particular person, together with lodging, transport, actions, breakfast and a few meals. Upcoming departures in 2024 embody March 23 and Could 18. Flights to Havana are further.
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