Best Caribbean Islands to Visit in Summer
People love the Caribbean all year round with its beautiful beaches, cool evening breezes, poolside cocktails and its ability to leave us feeling utterly relaxed and disconnected from our lives at home. I should know, I lived in the Bahamas for close to a year working at the mega resort Atlantis on Paradise Island in Nassau. No matter how stressed or upset I ever was, as soon as that plane touched Bahamian air space a smile and sense of elation would sweep over my body. While winter may be the most popular time to visit this area of the world, summer offers great savings, and while the temperatures may be warmer it can still be a great time to visit. A lover of the Caribbean I have yet to visit all of its wonderful and unique islands, so I teamed up with some of the best Caribbean experts and put together this list of the best and most sustainable places to visit in the Caribbean in summer that won’t leave you sweltering.
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Cozumel
While not an Island this tropical destination is one of Jenn and Ed from Coleman Concierge’s current favorite places to visit in the Caribbean.
national park in Mexico.
the reef and maybe even nesting on the beach. Non Divers will enjoy submarine tours, snorkeling in clear aqua blue lagoons, and devouring tacos and margaritas. Cozumel offers something for everyone and bargains abound in their early summer shoulder season.
More about Coleman Concierge Jen & Ed offer inspiration and practical advice for activity based transformative travel along with some entertaining stories and random musings. Connect with them at www.colemanconcierge.com
Saint Lucia
Jennifer of The Travel Women has a lot to say about the beautiful island of Saint Lucia and the sustainable resort called Jade Mountain.
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The Travel Women is a community for women by women to empower women to travel outside Their comfort zone. It is full of articles, videos and inspiration for Women interested in Travel, Wildlife & Culture.
Cabarete in the Dominican Republic
Recommended by Caitlin from Purposeful Nomad
For many who visit the Dominican Republic, the exploration stops at the boundary of a walled resort, perhaps in Punta Cana. There is an unbelievable amount to see, do and explore beyond the confines of resort-land and many opportunities to practice conscious travel; you just need to look beneath the surface. One of my favorite places on the island is the North Coast, specifically the areas of Cabarete and to the East all the way down to the Samana peninsula.
They offer a one week retreat to the Cabarete area focusing on nourishing our minds and bodies all while connecting with the community and learning first hand from the people that live there. Learn more about their Renew & Connect trip HERE.
Here are some of my favorite sustainable businesses to visit that are locally run and give back to the local community:
Cabarete Coffee Company, owned by the non-profit, The Mariposa Foundation. Chill spot for coffee and treats.
Taino Farm, one of very few farms on the island that is practicing permaculture and aquaponics to bring the community fresh produce, fish, and herbs.
Extreme Hotel, go check out the restaurant here which uses all their produce from Taino Farm!
Mariposa Foundation– Local nonprofit that empowers young Dominican and Haitian girls through education, language, sports and job training. You can also book tours to see a coffee plantation, fish with the locals, and visit the Mariposa school to see what it is all about!
Beachcomber Hotel– One of my favorite places if you are looking for an affordable off-the-beaten place to stay. About 20 minutes outside Cabarete you will find nothing but peace and tranquility on the beachfront property. You can book massages, yoga classes and horsebacks rides on the beach.
Purposeful Nomad is a community driven travel platform created to inspire, challenge and bring together women from around the globe.
Bermuda
Bermuda is another place that’s great year round. Just a 90 minute flight from New York we took some advice from Kelley of The Culture Collective and owner of the Impact Travel Alliance (a global network for impactful travel companies) whom hopes Bermuda can be her new weekend getaway and maybe yours too. Bermuda is full of beautiful rock outcroppings, beaches and great places to snorkel. While summer is one of the most popular times to visit it can also be one of the best times.
[vc_column_text text_larger=”no” css=”.vc_custom_1566987609735{background-color: #76e9c7 !important;}”]Read more about Kelley’s Travels in Bermuda and what’s she’s doing for sustainable tourism with Impact Travel Alliance
Become a member of the Impact Travel Alliance and make a difference when you travel and let them know I referred you.
Another gorgeous and unspoiled place to visit is Coopers Island Nature Reserve, part of a National Park that was closed to the public until 1995. It’s 12 acres of blissful walking trails and serene white sand beaches. On a hot summer day you will also want to book a tour of Crystal Caves followed by an afternoon of snorkeling. Crystal Cave is more than 500 meters long and can be explored via a series of underground walkways. Mark Twain was the first tourist to ever step foot in Crystal Cave and the underground beauty was also the inspiration for Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock.
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Kelley also suggests staying at the Haslemere Bed & Breakfast: From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel like you’ve found your long-lost British/Bermudian family. Greeted with hugs at the airport, you’ll quickly discover that Ray and Kay are a wealth of knowledge for not only the best places to go on the island, but also regarding the island’s rich colonial history.
Ray and Kay live in a historic house, which is more than 100 years old, and as Kay explained, actually one of the “newer” houses on the island… But the real pleasure of the stay is the couple’s company. I found myself not wanting to leave the breakfast room every morning, fascinated by their history lessons on the area, as well as their personal recollections and stories from their trips to Kenya, Australia, Ecuador and more.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text text_larger=”no”]The Caribbean stretches for thousands of miles and is home to more than 700 islands, so while this list doesn’t even scratch the surface, I sure hope it opens your eyes to a few new places to explore. Got another favorite you want added to the list. Let me know in the comments below… AND NEVER STOP EXPLORING
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Some really great suggestions on here Bermuda is a place I’ve always wanted to visit.