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The Caribbean has an area of 106,300 square miles and comprises of more than 700 islands, islets, reefs and cays. The population is over 43 million inhabitants.
Generally, many of the islands are safe with warm weather and friendly people.
These attributes makes the Caribbean the perfect vacation spot for young adults.
In this post, we summarize the best Caribbean Islands for young adults to help you make an informed decision for your Caribbean vacation.
Read on for further details and explanations on the best Caribbean Islands for Young Adults. These islands were selected based on their unique cuisine, stunning beaches, ease of island hopping and a bustling entertainment atmosphere.
1. St Maarten/St Martin
This Caribbean island is a unique fusion of Dutch and French cultures as St Maarten and St Martin shares one landmass.
Visitors to this Caribbean island can enjoy the fantastic shopping experience, bustling night life atmosphere and the thrill of seeing planes land at Maho Beach on the Dutch side.
Contrastingly on the French side, persons can enjoy one of the best culinary experiences in the Caribbean.
Front Street, St Maarten is a paradise for individuals who love to shop.
You can find a variety of shops selling clothes, perfume, electronic equipment and jewelery. Most importantly, these are all untaxed.
Additionally, the island offers excellent opportunities for island hopping to neighboring islands such as Anguilla, St Barts, St Eustatius and Saba via fast ferry service.
Young adults who are thrill seekers may also enjoy Maho Beach. Also known as Airplane beach, airplanes approaching the Princess Juliana Airport fly at an altitude of less than 100 feet.
Individuals from all over the world usually flock to this spot to take pictures, make videos and experience the thrill of jet blast.
While being adventurous, great care must be exercised as persons have died in the past due to the effects of the jet blast.
The beach itself has suffered significant erosion due to the jet blast. As such, there is little vegetation.
2. Aruba
Aruba is a fantastic vacation spot for young adults as visitors can enjoy a bubbling nightlife atmosphere as well the sunny weather.
There are a number of options that visitors can enjoy. 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 myriad of entertainment.
Aruba has a longer dry season. On a whole, the rainy season in Aruba is much shorter than other Caribbean Islands.
Annually, the rainy season begins in October and ends in January each year.
This means that sunshine is almost always guaranteed which is ideal to enjoy the many beaches on the island.
The most popular beaches are Malmok Beach, Baby Beach, Eagle Beach and Palm Beach.
Nevertheless, if you want to get up close and personal with flamingos, the Flamingo Beach is the one to visit.
This beach is located on a private island that is owned and operated by the Renaissance hotel where you can get a direct and personal experience with flamingos.
Access to Flamingo beach as it is fondly called must be via the Renaissance hotel which provides boat transfer to the island. Visitors at the hotel can access the beach during their stay.
Another advantage of choosing Aruba for your next vacation spot is that it is located outside of the hurricane belt.
Therefore, the chance of the island experiencing a direct hit from a hurricane is rare.
3. Jamaica
Located just under two hours flying time from Miami, Jamaica is a perfect spot for young adults. Visitors love Jamaica for its unique cuisine, beautiful beaches and bustling nightlife.
Jamaica is known for its excellent creole cuisine with well-loved dishes such as rice and peas and curry goat.
Additionally, Jamaica is well known for jerk food, festival, ackee and salt fish as well as bammy.
The jerk chicken as an example is specially cooked over pimento wood and has a unique flavor which you can only get in Jamaica.
Jerk food is prepared in other Caribbean islands but the Jamaica cuisine in this area is extraordinary.
Festivals are served as a staple with many meals. If you want to make festivals at home, there is a mix available in packets at local supermarkets.
For entertainment, Margaritaville is a one of the popular spots on the island which is built above the sea with a bar and restaurant.
Pier1 is also a very well loved place for locals and visitors which feature an open restaurant which serves Jamaican cuisine with live music and dancing.
Jamaica has a variety of beaches both black and white sand. Seven Mile Beach also knows as Negril beach is Jamaica’s most famous with white sand and beautiful water.
This location is excellent for snorkeling and water based activities. Doctor’s Cave beach and Frenchman’s Cove beach are also excellent and well-loved beach options in Jamaica.
One of the key attractions on the island is the Dunn Falls.
Located near Ocho Rio, there are several activities that you can do at the falls and waterpark which includes zip lining, climbing the falls and purchasing souvenirs at the craft shop.
4. Curacao
Curacao is an excellent Caribbean island for solo female travelers and is known for its awesome beaches.
In Curacao, the beaches have white sand with water is blue and breathtaking.
Visit playa piskado which translates to fisherman’s beach where you get to swim with sea turtles. In addition, you can swim with dolphins at Jan Thiel beach.
Klein Curacao is a small island 15 miles from the mainland where you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling in some of the clearest waters on the island.
While over in Klein Curacao, do not forget to visit the pink lighthouse and dive into the history of the island.
When it comes to unique cuisine, if your food preferences are more around finger foods and snacks, then Curacao may be your preferred destination.
The Dutch snacks and finger foods are unique to the Dutch Caribbean and you would not find these in the Eastern Caribbean islands.
Frikandel and bitterballen are two tasty Dutch snacks that you should try in Curacao.
Curacao has a fantastic choice of night life and as a result many expats enjoy living on the island.
There are many restaurants and casinos that visitors and locals on the island enjoy such as Mambo Beach Boulevard for restaurants and beach clubs.
Another favorite of visitors and locals alike is St Tropez.
5. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the best islands for entertainment in the Caribbean and one of the hottest spots on the island is La Placita de Santurce.
As an overseas department of the United States of America, no passport is required for entry by US citizens.
In the day, this area is a marketplace. However, at around 6pm it is a meeting place to eat, relax and dance salsa. La Placita de Santurce is an excellent venue to meet locals on the island.
In addition, to having an upbeat nightlife atmosphere, Puerto Rico has amazing beaches with Flamenco being one of its finest.
This award winning beach is a favorite of both locals and visitors alike. Its calm waters make it ideal for children and activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling.
There are several amenities available at Flamenco Beach such as lifeguards, bathrooms, showers and camping areas.
6. St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
While St Thomas is the island with the least amount of nightlife on this list, it is a great option for solo female travelers.
St Thomas is a fantastic island for island hopping not only to other US Virgin Islands and also the British Virgin Islands.
US citizens do not need a passport to travel to the US Virgin Islands. However, a passport will be required for island hopping to the British Virgin Islands.
St Thomas is one of the best islands for duty free shopping in the Caribbean. Each visitor including children is allowed $1600 each of duty free purchases back into the USA.
In terms of nightlife, there are several restaurants and beach bars in the Red Hook, Frenchtown and Haven Sight areas.
These are located near to each other so it is easy for individuals to bar hop.
In St Thomas, two of the most visited beaches are Magens Bay Beach and Coki Beach.
Located on the Northern end of the island, Magens Bay Beach is the island’s most popular with both locals and tourists alike.
The water is usually very calm which makes it perfect for small children.
Another well-loved beach on the island is Coki beach. In terms of snorkeling, Coki beach is one of the best options in St Thomas.
This beach is perfect for beginners and individuals new to snorkeling.
Final Thoughts
Hope you found this post valuable on the best Caribbean islands for young adults. Trust this helps you choose the ideal destination for your upcoming Caribbean vacation.
Need More Information?
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Jamaica Vs Curacao ( Which Island Is Better For A Vacation)
St Maarten Vs St Martin ( Which Island Is Better For Vacation)
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