Are you a college student considering a visit to the Caribbean for spring break?
Then this post is exactly what you need the read !
The Caribbean islands are blessed with amazing beaches, sunny weather, vibrant nightlife and friendly people.
In this article, we cover the ones which we believe will be suitable for a fun and enjoyable spring break as these destinations have amazing restaurants, beautiful beaches and lively nightlife atmosphere.
1. Aruba
Aruba is only 69.5 square miles and flat, dry and arid in appearance. It is only three hours flying time from Miami International Airport.
Eagle Beach which is situated in the capital city is one of the most popular and widest beaches on the island. It is one of the must visit stops on your vacation.
However, kindly note that if you are visiting this beach during Easter, that locals are usually camping so it is best to avoid the beach during this time.
Party lovers will enjoy the bars and clubs located along South Beach Aruba.
There are casinos, bowling alleys, cinemas and golf courses so visitors can enjoy a range of entertainment.
One major advantage that Aruba has is the presence of US immigration and customs on island.
If you are traveling to the United States of America, you can complete this process in Aruba thus making your return trip seamless.
2. St Maarten
St Maarten is truly one of the unique destinations in the Caribbean as it shares its landmass with the French overseas territory of St Martin.
Based on square miles, St Martin has the bigger landmass being 37 square miles. On the other hand, St Maarten is only 13 square miles.
It takes a little over three hours from Miami International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport.
St Maarten is well known globally for Maho Beach. Also known as Airplane beach, airplanes approaching the Princess Juliana Airport fly at an altitude of less than 100 feet.
If you are seeking adventure while on spring break you may want to visit this beach to take pictures, make videos or just to experience jet blast.
Nevertheless, remember to exercise due diligence as persons have died in the past due to the effects of jet blast.
The beach itself has suffered significant erosion due to the jet blast. As such there is little vegetation.
St Maarten has earned a reputation in the Caribbean as being a hotspot for parties.
The island has a variety of options to choose from movie theaters, restaurants, casinos, night clubs and discos. There is something available for everyone.
Lotus Night Club is one of the leading spots for dancing and partying on the island in Simpson Bay.
Ocean Lounge Bar in Philipsburg is another venue that attracts visitors as well as business professionals with live music, wine, cocktails and a delicious tapas menu.
3. Puerto Rico
This is a perfect spring break option especially if it is your first time to the Caribbean.
As an overseas territory of the United States of America, you can experience the beauty of the Caribbean and still remain on US soil.
Hence no passport is required for your adventure.
In terms of nighttime adventure, there are two bioluminescent bays being mosquito bay in Vieques and La Parguera in Lajas in Puerto Rico which you can explore.
If you want to party, visit La Placita de Santurce to meet locals on the island, to eat, relax and salsa dance in San Juan.
This area is a market during the day but transforms into an entertainment hot spot at nights.
Other venues to explore outside the city are El Boricua and Le Central Bar for entertainment.
Puerto Rico also has lovely beaches with Flamenco beach being one of the best on the island.
This location is gorgeous and calm waters which make it perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
There are many amenities at this beach which includes camping area, changing rooms, bathrooms and life guards.
When visiting the beaches in Puerto Rico, pay attention to signs and warnings as at times there are undercurrents in the waters.
4. Bahamas
For those with a limited amount of time, the Bahamas is an exceptional option. The flying time from Miami International Airport is only about 90 minutes.
The Bahamas has a landmass of 5,359 square miles with about 700 islands, cays and islets.
If you are near Fort Lauderdale, Florida there is a fast ferry service provided by Balearia Caribbean to the Bahamas.
The ferry docks in Grand Bahama Island and Bimini.
Gold Rock Beach, Cable Beach and Tropic of Cancer Beach are three of the amazing spots to visit for beautiful white and powdery sand.
The Bahamas is also known for having pink sand beaches with one of the most famous one being Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island.
This island is only 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles and is popular stop for affluent visitors.
The sand on pink sand beach has its distinct pink color due to the presence of foraminifera.
For a once in a lifetime experience, Pig Beach on the island of Exuma is the perfect for those who want to swim with pigs.
When it comes to nightlife, the Bahamas also has a lot to offer. Entertainment is mainly focused around nightclubs, beach bars, restaurants and casinos in the Nassau and Freeport areas.
Bones Bar, Aura and the Atlantis are three spots to explore for nightlife while in the Bahamas.
If you are a food enthusiasts, Arawak Cay in Nassau is a must visit stop if you want to delve deeper into local traditional food and drink.
5. Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic has a massive landmass of 18,704 square miles and is home to the highest peak in the entire Caribbean, Pico Duarte.
If you are seeking entertainment, the Dominican Republic has numerous restaurants, bars, casinos, discos and nightclubs.
As a Spanish speaking nation, the music genres primarily are reggaeton, electro and latino music.
Salsa dancing is extremely popular as well on the island.
Some of the popular places for nightlife in Dominican Republic are Onno’s Zona Colonial and La Bodega Bar.
Upscale restaurants tend to enforce a dress code for attendees. Therefore, if you are planning on having dinner, pack something a bit more formal.
Some of the key beach spots to explore include Juanillo Beach, El Corecito Beach and Uvero Alto Beach for amazing white sand beaches in the Dominican Republic.
Considered the best of all beaches in Dominican Republic, playa Bahia de las aguilas is a beautiful sight to behold.
This five mile strip of white sand beach with turquoise waters is protected and preserved as part of Jaragua National Park.
6. Jamaica
Known as the home of the famous track and field champion Usain Bolt, Jamaica has a landmass of 4,244 square miles.
This destination is less than two hours flying time from Miami International Airport and boasts of spectacular beaches, exotic cuisine and amazing nightlife.
The best beach in Jamaica is the beautiful seven mile beach in Negril. It is known for having silky white sand and turquoise waters.
This beach has calm and shallow waters which is perfect several water sporting activities.
Some of the things to do at seven mile beach include jet skiing, horseback riding, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving.
There are various amenities such as life guards, security guards, souvenir shops and restaurants in the vicinity.
If you want to party, the nightlife is mainly concentrated in the major cities of Kingston and Montego Bay.
Two great locations to explore for entertainment include Kingston Dub Club and The Jungle.
On the other hand, if you want to experience a unique night time activity, Luminous Lagoon located in Falmouth is the site of the bioluminescent bay in Jamaica.
Visitors usually get the option to swim and also enjoy this amazing natural wonder.
7. Barbados
This is the most Southern of all the islands in this article and one of the most developed in that region of the Caribbean.
Barbados also has a lively nightlife environment with most of the entertainment located on the South Coast of the island.
Red Door Lounge and Harbour Lights are two of the main nightlife spots to visit.
For an exciting activity to enjoy on Fridays, visit Oistins for the weekly Fish Friday event.
This street festival features live band and vendors selling various local dishes with fish as the key ingredient.
Local craft and souvenir items can also be purchased at this event.
Final Thoughts
The Caribbean islands are perfect destinations for spring break as individuals have many amazing food options, spectacular beaches and entertainment options.
Many airlines provide direct and non-stop flights from major international cities thus making it convenient for students to travel for a short period of time.
Need More Information?
Feel free to browse our website for more content on the Caribbean by using the search bar located at the top of this page.
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