The month of July marks the peak of the summer and there is no better time of the year to visit the Caribbean.
Schools are closed and as such communities often host various family friendly events.
Therefore, visitors get to truly delve into and experience the culture, music and flavors of island life.
In this article, we feature 10 amazing destinations which we believe will be ideal for your upcoming Caribbean adventure in July.
Read on for further details and explanations on what are the best Caribbean Islands to visit in July. This article was written by a Caribbean National who lived and traveled throughout the islands.
1. St Croix
If you love the tropical fruit mango, St Croix is a suitable destination to visit for the festival Mango Melee.
The event is hosted at the St George Village Botanical Gardens and offers food competition and mango educational workshops.
This garden was established in the 1970’s and is great for nature enthusiasts as it displays the flora and fauna of the island.
St Croix is the largest island of the US Virgin island group at 84 square miles.
The other major islands are St Thomas, St John and Water Island.
This island is also ideal for persons who want to visit the Caribbean and remain on US soil as St Croix is an overseas dependency of the United States.
Therefore, no passports are required for entry and exit from the island.
Furthermore, St Croix’s proximity to the British Virgin Islands makes it possible to island hop during your stay.
2. Puerto Rico
Lovers of pina colada will be delighted to know that the birthplace of pina colada which is the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico celebrates national Pina Colada Day every July.
To mark the significance of the island, bars and restaurants will sell numerous variations of the drink.
As its regional counterpart aforementioned St Croix, Puerto Rico is also a US overseas territory and as such there are endless direct and non-stop connections from many US cities to the island.
3. Trinidad & Tobago
Located in the Southern region of the Caribbean, Trinidad & Tobago is known globally as the birthplace of steel pan music in the 1930’s.
It is also known as home of the cricket sensation, Brian Lara.
July is a great month to visit Tobago as it hosts its annual Heritage Festival.
The Tobago Heritage Festival arranges various activities such as Ole Time Wedding where traditional elements of local weddings are used.
Fringe events which form part of the Tobago Heritage Festival include queen shows, calypso competition, science completion for kids, salaka feast and many more.
The festival usually ends on Emancipation Day at the beginning of August.
4. Montserrat
The island of Montserrat is another Caribbean island to consider for the month of July as it celebrates Calabash Festival.
Annually, the festival is held the week of July 18th as the island pauses to reflect on the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano which occurred on July 18th, 1995.
This resulted in many of its inhabitants leaving the island.
The Calabash festival is a time of thanksgiving which often begins with a church service.
A key feature of the festival is the focus on products made from the Calabash fruit.
This includes handbags, musical instruments, jewelery, clothing, accessories and so much more.
Though getting to Montserrat can be challenging, it is a perfect time to visit to understand more about the island’s culture as well as to rest and rejuvenate.
Montserrat is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar as its official currency.
5. Belize
Do you love food and music? Then Belize is the country to visit for the international music and food festival in July.
The event features both local and international musicians with a range of genres such as soca, latin beats, reggae, afro-beats, dance hall and so much more.
Restaurants on the island also take the opportunity to serve various local Belizeans dishes.
Belize is also an extraordinary diving and snorkeling destination.
Some of the top spots in the country to consider include Turneffe Atoll, Belize Barrier Reef, Hopkins and Placencia.
Furthermore, Belize has 300km of barrier reef system which is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef which is the second largest system in the world.
This makes the country a diver’s paradise.
6. St Kitts & Nevis
Are you a foodie at heart? Then follow your heart to St Kitts & Nevis.
During the month of July, restaurant week is celebrated where establishments offer special menu at extraordinary prices.
Furthermore, the event is usually themed around an ingredient grown on the island.
As an example in 2022, the theme was sweet potato. Other ingredients used in prior years included yam, breadfruit, plantain, coconut and pumpkin.
There are also cooking classes and wine tasting exercises during the week.
For even more food experiences, head over to the island of Nevis as Mango festival is also celebrated in July.
The island has a created a number of awesome experiences such as cooking classes, quizzes, food tastings and mango eating competitions.
The dual nation has a unique spot in Caribbean history as it was the first island to the colonized by the British.
While in St Kitts, be sure to visit Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
7. Jamaica
If reggae music truly feeds your soul, Jamaica is the destination to visit in July.
Annually, the island hosts ReggaeSumFest which features local reggae artists on the island.
Jamaica is world renowned for reggae music as it is home to reggae sensation, Bob Marley.
Other fringe events such as dance hall parties and beach parties are included as part of the festivities.
Jamaica is well loved by visitors to the region for its amazing white sand beaches.
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 for 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.
8. Bermuda
If you enjoy fishing, Bermuda is the place to be in July. Anglers from the Caribbean and all over the world compete in the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship.
Additionally, Harbor Nights is hosted in Hamilton every Wednesday evenings in this month where you will experience the culture and cuisine of Bermuda.
Bermuda is only 20.54 square miles and it is an archipelago consisting of a total of 181 islands.
It is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and is well loved by visitors for its pink sand beach, Horse Shoe Beach.
1
Are you interested in visiting the British Virgin Islands (BVI)? Is Christmas your favorite time of the year?
Well, head over to the BVI for an event called Christmas in July. Boaters from Puerto Rico go to the island of Virgin Gorda for a week of music, dancing and food.
Virgin Gorda is only 8 square miles and is home to the iconic beach The Baths.
This is a unique national park on the southwest coast of the island. This beach has massive boulders which forms sea pools which are a geological wonder.
There is a fee required for access to this beach. The Baths is an ideal location for swimming and snorkeling.
Visitors to the U S Virgin Islands can visit the BVI as there are daily connections via ferry services.
10. Martinique
Are you craving an explosion of Caribbean culture? Then, Martinique is the place to visit in July.
For three weeks, the capital city of Fort de France is all about music, art, dancing and cultural expression.
Martinique is an overseas territory of France with highest point of elevation being Mount Pelee which stands at 4,583 feet.
One advantage of traveling to Martinique is that travelers have easy access from Martinique to Guadeloupe, Dominica and St Lucia via the ferry services of L’Express Des IIes.
The official currency of the Martinique is the Euro.
Final Thoughts
We trust that you found the information above helpful as you plan your Caribbean vacation during the month of July
Temperatures during the summer months tend to be the highest so remember to stay hydrated.
Need More Information?
Our website aims to provide valuable content to anyone seeking to vacation or relocate to the Caribbean region.
For more information, feel free to use the search bar located at the top of this page.
We have linked the following articles below which we think may also be valuable.
Best Caribbean Islands To Visit In March (8 Great Options)
Best Caribbean Islands To Visit In April (A Complete Guide)
Best Caribbean Islands To Visit In September
Best Caribbean Islands To Visit In November
Best Caribbean Islands To Visit In December
Best Caribbean Islands To Visit In May (The Ultimate Guide)
