USA TODAY 10Best
Best beach in the Caribbean? Readers choose Aruba's Eagle Beach
Best Caribbean Beach (2020)
Beach junkies and sun lovers will find some of the world's most spectacular stretches of sand on the islands of the Caribbean. With so many palm tree-lined, silky sand expanses leading down to warm, azure water, it's hard to narrow it down to just 10. But that's the task we gave our readers.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Caribbean Beach are as follows:
- Honeymoon Beach - St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Gold Rock Beach - Bahamas
- Fortune Beach - Freeport, Bahamas
- Grace Bay Beach - Turks and Caicos
- Tahiti Beach - Bahamas
- Grand Anse Beach - Grenada
- Bambarra Beach - Turks and Caicos
- Grote Knip - Curacao
- Brownes Beach - Barbados
- Eagle Beach - Aruba
Photo courtesy of iStock / vladispas
No. 10:
Honeymoon Beach, inside Virgin Islands National Park on the island of St. John, offers soft white wand, shallow water and shade from coconut palms. Beach goers can rent water sports equipment from an outfitter right in the sand.
Photo courtesy of iStock / espiegle
No. 9:
Located within the protected Lucayan National Park, Gold Rock Beach comprises a spectacular and secluded stretch of sand known as Grand Bahama’s “welcome mat.” Beach goers can make use of BBQ pits, picnic tables and benches, and at low tide, the sand stretches for yards out to sea.
Photo courtesy of iStock / AnthonyRosenberg
No. 8:
This quiet beach near Freeport got its name from a shipwreck estimated to be worth some $2 million. Since the beach can only be accessed by private transportation, visitors will often have the sand to themselves (and the patrons of Banana Bay restaurant).
Photo courtesy of iStock / JoaoBarcelos
No. 7:
On the north side of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos sits three-mile-long Grace Bay, a long stretch of sand lined with excellent resorts and tourist services. The endless (and unbelievably soft) white sand and mesmerizing turquoise water are often rather quiet, as there isn't a cruise ship in sight.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Warchi
No. 6:
This beach on the southern tip of Elbow Cay features soft white sand shaded by coconut trees and clear, calm water perfect for swimming. It’s only accessible on foot or by bike or boat, and at low tide, its large sand bar is ideal for shelling.
Photo courtesy of Grenada Tourism Authority
No. 5:
Many a visitor to the Caribbean's Spice Island never leave the 2-mile stretch of creamy white sand known as Grand Anse Beach. Located conveniently close to St. George's, the beach has an old Caribbean feel, plenty of room for walking and loads of restaurants, hotels and shops to meet any beach-goer's needs.
Photo courtesy of iStock / argalis
No. 4:
Bambarra Beach, situated in the Middle Caicos, seems to stretch on forever. What this secluded beach lacks in amenities it makes up for with its calm, clear and warm water – perfect for swimming and snorkeling – and plenty of room to spread out and relax.
Photo courtesy of iStock / zstockphotos
No. 3:
This curve of white sand backed by verdant hills is popular with locals as well as tourists, busy on weekends but almost deserted on weekdays. Strong swimmers can snorkel above a reef offshore.
Photo courtesy of iStock / oriredmouse
No. 2:
One of the largest stretches of sand on Barbados, Brownes Beach extends from The Boatyard to Needham’s Point just outside Bridgetown. Calm waters and lifeguards make this a perfect swimming beach.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Diego Mariottini
No. 1:
Aruba's widest beach is also one of its most spectacular, thanks to its blindingly white sand, warm Caribbean waters and some of the island's most famous (and photographed) fofoti trees.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning beaches!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist... Read More
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Melanie Reffes
Melanie Reffes is a seasoned travel journalist specializing in the Caribbean. She is often circling the globe in search of a good story or racing through airports trying to make a flight. Melanie is a contributor to USA TODAY Travel and CaribbeanTravel.com, she covers the Caribbean for Montreal's The Suburban newspaper and she is the author of the blog The Caribbean Romance Report on MarryCaribbean.com and a contributor to the travel aviation publication Captain Jetson (captainjetson.com). When she's not taking five the under a palm tree, you'll find her at home on the sunny island of Montreal. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a... Read More
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a travel writer, on-screen host and self-described “Carivangelist,” who goes to the beach and beyond to share the culture, lifestyle and personalities of the Caribbean with the world. Based in Miami, she is a special correspondent for Travel + Leisure magazine and creates content for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler; Afar; Food & Wine; Islands.com; and the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper. Sarah is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com where her passions – travel, style and fitness – meet. Follow her adventures on Instagram and Facebook @JetSetSarah.
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon (aka JetSetSarah) is a travel writer, on-screen host and self-described “Carivangelist,” who goes to the beach and beyond to share the culture, lifestyle and personalities of the Caribbean with the world. Based in Miami, she is a special correspondent for Travel + Leisure magazine and creates content for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler; Afar; Food & Wine; Islands.com; and the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper. Sarah is also jetsetter-in-chief at JetSetSarah.com where her passions – travel, style and fitness – meet. Follow her adventures on Instagram and Facebook @JetSetSarah.
