Top 10 Secluded Caribbean Islands
The Best & Most Beautiful for Your Bucket List This Winter—and Beyond
Accessible only by ferry, foot, small sailing vessel, or yachts like SeaDream I and SeaDream II, these idyllic islands are among the most secluded in the Caribbean and, arguably, the world.
Longing for a tropical winter escape? From pristine beaches and off-the-beaten-track hiking trails to the chicest beach resorts in the world, here are our Top 10 recommendations for yachting escapes to the Caribbean. Not surprisingly, these beautiful, secluded islands have topped Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure lists as the best to call on in the world.
Anguilla
Tucked away in the northern Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, the tiny island paradise of Anguilla is often referred to as the “South Beach of the Caribbean.” Due to its hilly coast, Anguilla is protected from winds, making its pearl-white sand perfect for strolling and its turquoise waters perfect for wading. Of the island’s more than 30 accessible beaches, almost all of them are deserted—it is rare that you will encounter more than a handful of visitors on any given day. Anguilla’s beauty is only surpassed by its thriving food and watersports culture, with some of the best snorkeling and diving the Caribbean has to offer. Consistently ranked among the world’s top beaches, it’s easy to see why Shoal Bay and Sandy Ground top our list of quiet beaches not to be overlooked.
Antigua
Also nestled in the Leeward Islands, Antigua shines for its 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. For those wanting to engage in maritime history, look no further than Falmouth Bay, one of the most beautiful natural anchorages in the Caribbean, a short walk to Nelson’s Dockyard and the English Harbor. Mirroring a photo from a history book, Nelson’s Dockyard remains suspended in time. Built in the early eighteenth century, the dockyard is part of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park and the Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in the marina of English Harbor, it is the only continuously working Georgian Era dockyard in the world. Clarence House exemplifies early English Georgian architecture and shines for its beauty.
The Real Bahamas
Just 60 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida, the more than 700 islands and thousands of uninhabited cays make the Bahamas an incomparable delight. Its proximity to the Florida mainland make this part of the world the perfect option for snorkelers, divers, and those who just want to lounge on the islands’ pink-sand beaches. The Bahamas is home to the world's largest underwater cave system, the world's third-largest barrier reef, and the deepest blue hole in the world, Dean’s Blue Hole. Avoid the crowds and join SeaDream Yacht Club in discovering the true beauty of the Bahamas, visiting places like Andros Island, Long Island, and Grand Bahama. All three top our list of our most unmissable island getaways.
Prickly Pear
This secluded tiny paradise of white-sand beaches, brilliant turquoise waters, and vibrant reefs is nestled in the heart of the British Virgin Islands. Great for snorkeling and perfect for relaxing, Prickly Pear is all about letting go. Located on the north side of North Sound, opposite the infamous Baths of the Virgin Gorda, the island is fringed on the northern side by the Bank Barrier Reef, with Eustatia, Mosquito Island, and Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island nearby. SeaDream drops anchor in the island’s bay, so secluded that from the beach it seems like you’re on the shore of a lake, rather than the ocean.
Prickly Pear is a tiny uninhabited island with no permanent residents, only a quiet beach bar. Pristine white sand calls out for a nap under the sun. Brilliant turquoise waters invite a tranquil swim or snorkel directly from the beach. A walk down the beach to the end of the island reveals the island’s rich bird life and aquatic world, boasting some of the most colorful coral and fish you can imagine. For hiking enthusiasts, a trail leads from the SandBox Bar to the North Beach. While hiking, take a rest under a shady tamarind tree, at the top of the hill, and simply enjoy the cool, Caribbean breeze.
READ OUR PRICKLY PEAR SPOTLIGHT
Jost van Dyke
Sitting pretty in the Lesser Antilles, just four miles west of Tortola, lies the tiny island of Jost van Dyke. Named for a seventeenth-century Dutch privateer, Jost van Dyke is one of the British Virgin Islands’ best-kept secrets, accessible only by yachts and small sailing vessels. SeaDream's yachts drop anchor in secluded White Bay, greeted by a palm-lined white-sand beach and turquoise waters backdropped by lush mountains. Jost van Dyke is also home to our signature Champagne & Caviar Splash®. Enjoy champagne & caviar served in the surf, followed by an elegant beach barbecue.
Dominica
Dubbed the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean” due to its unspoiled natural beauty, the mountainous Caribbean island-nation of Dominica is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity. One of its most bountiful destinations is Portsmouth, a palm-fringed beach town that edges onto Prince Rupert Bay. North of town, Cabrits National Park is home to Fort Shirley, once manned by 18th-century British colonialists. Not to be missed, the park marks one end of the Waitukubuli National Trail, which spans the length of the island, and provides excellent hiking and walking paths, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage site, Boiling Lake, the world’s second largest hot spring. On nearby reefs, the coral formations of the Toucari Caves shelter turtles and lobster, and the 100-foot-tall Syndicate Falls offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hike to and swim among refreshing waters.
Puerto Rico
From the Beauty of Old Town San Juan to the 28,000-acre tropical rainforest El Yunque, Puerto Rico is unmatched for its rich mix of Spanish Colonial heritage and natural charm. The tiny island of Culebrita is a nature lover’s paradise and part of a wildlife refuge, located just about one mile east of the island of Culebra. Because of its special status, the only permanent structure you'll find on the island is the abandoned lighthouse high on the hill; for the energetic, the trail hike up there is well worth the views over the surrounding area. The island's beaches are also nesting grounds for sea turtles; although you’ll want to avoid their nesting areas, you just might spot one of them in the water.
The island of Vieques is a National Wildlife Refuge and growing tourist destination. Because of the lack of human interference, most of the areas previously closed off to civilians by the Navy feature over 40 gorgeous beaches, and many natural ecotourism locations available for exploration. Blue Beach features an excellent place for snorkeling, Bioluminescent Bay has quickly become a popular spot for its notorious glowing dinoflagellates, and the island is also known for free-roaming feral paso fino horses.
Surrounded by islands and cays, the Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve, and pristine beaches, Fajardo Bay offers much to discover. Explore the picturesque coastline via your yacht’s mountain bikes, pausing to unwind at the crescent-shaped Seven Seas Beach. Sample the gastronomy of the east coast and visit the fishing town of Las Croabas, where the locals go to indulge in seafood. SeaDream I and SeaDream II may just be the only commercial vessels that call on Fajardo Bay, anchoring just off the luxe El Conquistador Resort. Play resort golf, scuba, and night kayaking through its world-renowned bioluminescent bay. The long and narrow canal that leads to the otherworldly glow-in-the-dark phenomenon makes this unique body of water a lagoon perfect for an evening adventure.
Guadeloupe
Îles des Saintes, otherwise known as Les Saintes—an archipelago made of nine islets, only two of which are inhabited—boasts beautiful bays, sheltered coves, exceptional snorkeling, and colorful seaside villages. Considered to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world, Les Saintes Bay on Terre de Haut is arguably best experienced from above, through Fort Napolean, an invigorating hike from the yachting harbor. Swim, snorkel or simply stroll the beautiful beaches of Plage de Pompierre, Anse Crawen, and Grande Anse, the island’s crown jewels.
Perhaps the most tranquil spot on Guadaloupe is the charming fishing village of Deshaies, nestled in verdant hills of the island. It’s here you’ll discover a paradise steep in its past and blessed with incredible diversity, including a rich seabed and rare natural species. Stroll otherworldly botanical gardens, lounge the day away on the golden sands of one of its six secluded beaches (may we recommend La Perle, Fort-Royal, or Anse Riflet?), and enjoy its authentically French seafood restaurants, which you may recognize as the backdrop of the British-French comedy crime drama Death in Paradise. In true SeaDream style, we drop anchor right outside the village.
Saba
Nestled in the Northern Leeward Islands, the Caribbean paradise of Saba is a special municipality of the Netherlands. It is also the location of the tallest, or highest point of the Netherlands, even though it is a few thousand miles away from its European homeland. With an estimated local population of just over 2,000, Saba is known for its many diving, hiking, and climbing opportunities. In fact, the island is so small that there is only one main road, and its airport is well-known for having one of the shortest commercial runways in the world. The island’s intimate size, picturesque red rooftops and lush vegetation make it a perfect island to call on during your Caribbean winter getaway.
St. Lucia
Nestled in the Windward Islands, St. Lucia boasts beautiful coral reefs and incredible bays, perfect for snorkeling, a lush rainforest, sulfur springs and mud baths, and La Soufriere, the island’s active volcano—providing visitors with an incredibly varied landscape. The Diamond Falls and splendid Botanical Garden boast mineral baths that are a so-called Fountain of Youth for locals. (King Louis XIV of France had such great faith in the healing powers of the baths that he had the beautiful pond and waterfall developed as a spa for his troops.) Perhaps most notably, St. Lucia’s majestic twin pitons, Petit Piton and Gross Piton, define the island. With SeaDream, you can call on Soufriere, a small town on the Southwest coast of the island, considered by many to be the island’s unsung gem; Rodney Bay, which offers the perfect anchor spot for local yachts; and Pigeon Island National Park, fringed by a coral reef coveted by divers.
St. Barths
The yachting playground of St. Barths radiates the ambience of the South of France with a chic Caribbean flair, known for its exclusivity, luxe atmosphere, white-sand beaches, and unmatched turquoise waters. So, how could it not make a Top 10 list of the best places in the Caribbean to explore? Many of of SeaDream’s itineraries to the West Indies feature overnight stays or full days and nights in this marquee yachting playground, inviting guests to explore the French-infused island’s flavorful nighttime ambiance.
Although there are plenty of hiking trails and secluded beaches to choose from, may we suggest Marigot Beach? This narrow stretch of U-shaped beach in St. Barths is mostly known to locals. Its waters are part of a marine sanctuary, which makes it perfect for spotting the abundant sea turtles, conches, and marine life that call this region home. While conveniently located near boutique hotels and villas in the Pointe Milou and Grand Cul de Sac areas, there are no restaurants, bars, or shops on Marigot Beach—making it truly off the tourist path.
Are you ready to experience the secluded islands and playful yachting harbors of the Caribbean this winter? SeaDream provides you with an intimate view of these destinations unlike any other boutique travel line. Click here to check availability and reserve your next voyage.