Top 10 Family-Friendly Destinations in the Caribbean

The picture-postcard idyll of the Caribbean vacation is often true. Yes, you’re going to get those perfectly tilted palm trees and champagne sands. Moreover, let’s not forget the balmy sun-filled days and addictive calypso and reggae beats. However, with world-class botanical gardens, mesmerizing cave systems, and unique geological wonders to wow the whole family, the Caribbean is more diverse than you might think.

Daring teens can get their adrenaline fix through all sorts of high-thrill adventures, and the complex history behind the region – explored through forts, colonial cities, and harbors – is a lesson for all. Therefore, if you’re fancying exploring, here are the top 10 destinations for families in the Caribbean.

1. Willemstad, Curaçao

Best trip for tweens and teens

Consider yourselves city-trippers? Don’t pass up the chance to wander around Willemstad, the candy-colored capital of Curaçao, characterized by the Unesco-listed Handelskade waterfront, which serves as a reminder of its 17th-century colonial Dutch past. Spark the kids’ imaginations with a tour of the hip street art and Rif Fort of Otrabanda. Walk across the famous Queen Emma pontoon bridge and pick up some famous Chichi dolls down Punda’s art alley.

If you’re traveling with arty teens, head for Serena’s Art Factory, located east of the city, that holds open-air workshops where visitors can paint these voluptuous clay sculptures (and occasionally animal figures too) in their own style. Don’t forget to treat the family’s taste buds to some Dutch delicacies like bitterballen (deep-fried meatball) and poffertjes (mini pancakes).

Planning tip: Consider a trip between September and November to avoid the crowds.

2. English Harbor, Antigua

Best trip for all-round family fun

Antigua ranks among the best Caribbean islands for family vacations – and rightly so, with its 365 beaches and plentiful kid-friendly beach resorts. However, make time to explore Nelson’s Dockyard National Park on the south coast’s English Harbour. Its supremely-preserved Georgian naval buildings, built by enslaved Africans during the 18th century, and Dockyard Museum offer a compelling history lesson for youngsters. They’re bound to tell their friends about the various canons, muskets, telescopes, and trinkets that are on display here.

Check out the party atmosphere at the famous lookout point Shirley Heights and enjoy BBQs and steelpan bands. It’s a steep walk up, so it’s best to take a taxi or drive, especially with little ones.

Planning tip: Kick back at the all-new Loose Cannon Beach Bar, located at family-friendly Galleon Beach in Freeman’s Bay.

3. Havana, Cuba

Best trip for culture-loving teens

Where better for culture-thirsty kids to get their fill than the exhilarating city of Havana? Excuse the cliché, but the Cuban capital does have that time-stood-still quality everyone speaks of. Therefore, if you’re with teens that are usually hard to please, you might see their eyes light up while jumping into the back of a restored 1950s Oldsmobile and ogling the crumbly-yet-glorious architecture.

Teens won’t find their favorite designer clothing brands or sneaker shops here, but they will discover a one-of-a-kind culture and fascinating street life – from characterful street vendors to Rumba performances – which might just pique the interest of even the most aloof adolescent.

Planning tip: Consider this for a trip of a lifetime in November or December. It’s a great add-on to Varadero’s family beach resorts, down the coast.

4. True Blue Bay Beach Resort and Marina, Grenada

Best for children that love chocolate

This venue is a host of family-friendly holidays and sustainable living. It’s also where the annual week-long Grenada Chocolate Festival is held each May. Celebrate the island’s long cocoa-growing heritage with chocolate-related experiences, from educational walks through Theobroma Cacao forests to tasting sessions. The kids will love “dancing the cocoa” and they might struggle to tear themselves away from the chocolate bakery onsite.

5. Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Best for teens seeking adventures

A popular cruise ship stopover, Ocho Rios offers everything needed for an entertaining family vacation. Take your gang of adrenaline junkies on a Cool Runnings-esque adventure at Mystic Mountain, where a gravity-driven bobsled will take you on a hair-raising ride through the jungle. Bring your rock shoes because Dunn’s River, Jamaica’s most-visited waterfall, is also nearby. Anyone over eight years can attempt to climb its tumbling waters.

Planning tip: Stop by Miss T’s Kitchen for some mouthwatering Caribbean food, including its popular oxtail stew, and perhaps the kids’ first taste of authentic jerk chicken.

6. St Nicholas Abbey, Barbados

Best trip for tots and toddlers

Your toddler will be thrilled at the sight of a heritage locomotive at St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway, one of the newest family attractions in Barbados. Little ones will beam with excitement as this former sugar train snakes its way through mahogany woodlands. Additionally, grown-ups can relish in the stunning views from the Cherry Tree Hill lookout. While on the east of the island, visit the otherworldly rock-strewn Bathsheba Beach.

Planning tip: Check out Hunte’s Gardens, and excellent family favorites like Harrison’s Cave, an echoing chamber of stalactites accessible via a tram, which is also nearby.

7. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Best for kids that love nature

Exploring the colonial remnants of the Dominican Republic’s capital city is an interesting journey, being the oldest European-founded city in the western hemisphere. Additionally, its sprawling Dr Rafael Maria Moscoso Botanic Garden, which features a variety of tree species, offers an outstanding horticultural experience for kids. Other must-see family attractions include The Three Eyes National Park, a natural cave system sure to ignite young imaginations.

8. Baths National Park, Virgin Gorda, The British Virgin Islands

Best trip for pre-teens

Flabbergasted is how you’ll feel when you first catch sight of Baths National Park on Virgin Gorda. These massive granite boulders, made visible during volcanic eruptions, provide a playground for intrepid explorers. They are best enjoyed by confident swimmers who aren’t deterred by sometimes choppy water.

Planning tip: Visit the baths outside of the winter months when swimming conditions are safer.

9. Tobago Cays Marine Park, St Vincent and the Grenadines

Best for teens to see marine wildlife

A quick flight from Barbados transports you to the dreamy paradise of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Here, you can take your own swashbuckling adventure in the Tobago Cays Marine Park, where untouched islands and sea turtle nesting sites inhabit the cobalt blue sea. In short, it’s a diver’s (or snorkeler’s) paradise.

10. Soufriere, St Lucia

Best for adventurous older kids

Head to Soufriere in southwest St Lucia, and you’re within gawking distance of the incredible Unesco-listed Pitons. Additionally, you will find the Sulphur Springs, dubbed the world’s only drive-through volcano. The sulfurous odor is quite strong, but witnessing the fumaroles is an epic experience and a remarkable science lesson for kids.

Planning tip: Make sure to stop by the mountain-top Rabot Hotel for tree-to-bar tours and delectable cacao-infused cuisine – it’s bound to impress any reluctant visitor.