Best Caribbean Attraction (2018)

This fascinating slice of wildlife is an easy day trip from San Juan. More than 100 billion gallons of rain falls each year on the 28,000-acre forest, and ore than 240 species of trees, 50 species of ferns and 20 varieties of wild orchids are represented here.
Photo courtesy of iStock / dennisvdw

The cobbled streets and colorful colonial architecture of Old San Juan have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highlight of the old city is La Fortaleza, an imposing series of defensive structures built between the 16th and 20th centuries to protect the city.
Photo courtesy of iStock / dennisvdw

Covering the wave-exposed northern coast of Curacao, Shete Boka National Park is famous for its rugged terrain, wave-cut caverns and numerous beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs.
Photo courtesy of iStock photo

Covering 20 percent of the island of Aruba, Arikok National Park features cacti-covered hills and a dramatic coastline. Visitors to the park can climb into ruins of an old gold mine, search for Arawak petroglyphs or go snorkeling in a natural pool.
Photo courtesy of Aruba Tourism Authority

Travelers can easily spend a day at Mystic Mountain on the zip line or scenic tramway floating 700 feet above the rainforest canopy. Stroll through the hummingbird and butterfly gardens and take a ride down a water slide or dip in the swimming pool. The bobsled ride is the park's signature attraction.
Photo courtesy of Mystic River Rainforest Adventures

Dunn's River Fall's 600-foot long waterfall (180 feet high) with several tiers and wading pools presents a striking centerpiece for the mountain-like setting. Visitors can hike to the top of the falls with an experienced guide for a modest price, or they can just opt for a picnic at its base and allow the cool mist to give them welcome relief from the heat.
Photo courtesy of Bahman / Flickr

When cars replaced donkeys as the main mode of transportation on the island of Aruba, the animals were abandoned to wander, often susceptible to abuse. Founded in 1997, Donkey Sanctuary Aruba provides a protected environment for 130 donkeys.
Photo courtesy of Art Vandelay / Flickr

Situated in the heart of the Barbados rainforest, Hunte's Gardens are the work of famous local horticulturalist Anthony Hunte. Aside from the numerous tropical plants, monkeys, lizards and other critters often visit the garden.
Photo courtesy of Alex Dixon / Flickr

Recently opened in fall of 2017, Rainforest Adventures in Sint Maarten is home to the world's steepest zipline, where riders reach speeds of 56 miles per hour while descending 1,050 feet along the 2,800-foot line. Other attractions in the park include an aerial tramway, chairlift and bobsled.
Photo courtesy of Rainforest Adventures St Maarten / Facebook

This stone and wood great house, dating back to the seventeenth century, is one of the last remaining Jacobean-style houses in the Western Hemisphere. The first floor is still furnished with period pieces, and visitors can watch cane grinding in an old rum distillery out back.
Photo courtesy of bixentro / Flickr