I've been to 20 Caribbean islands. Here are 5 things you must do when you visit the region — and 2 you can skip.
I enjoyed land sailing in Bonaire.
Bonaire has strong trade winds, which make for ideal conditions for land sailing. In this activity, drivers race a wheeled vehicle with a sail.
I went land sailing on my last visit to the island and picked it up quickly. The vehicle didn't have gas or brakes, so I had to navigate my sail using a rope. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to zip around the track.
I saw kids as young as 12 participate, which makes this a fun afternoon activity for the whole family.
Travelers can have up-close encounters with animals in Grand Cayman or the Bahamas.
Stingray City in Grand Cayman provides visitors the unique opportunity to swim with stingrays at a shallow sandbank about 25 miles from the shore. On my last visit, I booked a boat tour to see the wild stingrays that come to the sandbar every day to feed.
In the Bahamas, the famous Pig Beach offers a similar experience. Travelers come from all over to feed and take photos with the dozen or so wild pigs that live on Big Major Cay in the Exumas.
For both experiences, it's important to remember that the animals are wild, and you should proceed with caution.
The sulfur springs in St. Lucia can get crowded.
St. Lucia's Sulfur Springs are a collection of pools filled with warm, mineral-rich water. I took the plunge on a recent visit and had a (smelly) good time. However, if you don't like crowds, I would skip this activity.
If you do plan on visiting, I recommend getting there as early as possible, as the pools can fill up quickly.
To experience St. Lucia's natural beauty in a different way, consider going straight to Piton Falls, which is less crowded and has two concrete pools and a warm waterfall.
This story was originally published on July 30, 2024, and most recently updated on July 15, 2025.
