Best Caribbean Beach (2015)

Located on the southeastern side of Barbados, secluded and pristine Crane Beach features dramatic natural scenery and plenty of gentle wave action for boogie boarding, body surfing or just splashing around in the Caribbean Sea.
Photo courtesy of The Crane Resort

Two words: pink sands. Bermuda's iconic Horseshoe Bay, a horseshoe-shaped beach lined with natural limestone cliffs, is the crowning jewel of the island's several pink-hued beaches covered in sand made from crushed sea shells and coral. It's one of only a handful of public beaches in the Caribbean that employs lifeguards, making it a favorite of beach-loving families.
Photo courtesy of Bermuda

A half-moon stretch of sand along a serene lagoon, Baby Beach is one of Aruba's best. The crystalline waters remain shallow quite far out, making it an ideal location for swimming (especially for families with young children), and snorkelers can swim out to where the lagoon opens into the sea to view colorful fish and corals in a designated snorkeling area.
Photo courtesy of Aruba Tourism Authority

Located on the western shores of Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, crescent-shaped Seven Mile Beach is both glamorous and picturesque. Home to some of the island's top resorts, the beach boasts restaurants, bars and water sports outfitters, and it's a popular place for snorkeling right from the shore.
Photo courtesy of The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa

The Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands sees leatherback turtles come to nest during part of the year. The rest of the time, it's a stunning and often secluded 2-mile-long beach with shallow waters and plenty of buff-colored sand to sun on. Zero development along the protected beach makes the visitor feel like Robinson Crusoe on a desert island.
Photo courtesy of Turn685/Wikimedia Commons

The pure white sands of Shoal Bay on the island of Anguilla are rarely crowded, but the spread of fun beach bars lends a lively, relaxed vibe to the place. The 2-mile sandy expanse sits in a perfect position for the ultimate romantic sunset views.
Photo courtesy of Medioimages/Photodisc

Beach-goers who want to see and be seen love the party-centric, clothing-optional Orient Bay Beach in Sint Maarten. While not an ideal swimming beach due to a strong undertow, the sandy expanse does offer myriad water sports and a collection of lively beach bars serving cold drinks and live music to the scantily clad crowds.
Photo courtesy of St. Maarten Tourist Bureau

A popular surfer haunt on the island of Barbados, picturesque Bathsheba Beach gets its nickname Soup Bowl Beach from the foamy waves that make the spot so popular. Non-surfing visitors enjoy the stunning natural views, plenty of photo ops and a handful of beach bars perfect for a day of relaxation, piña colada in hand.
Photo courtesy of TommL

While man-made, Curacao's Seaquarium Beach (also called Mambo Beach) has it all: lovely white sand, clear teal waters and plenty of tropical cocktails to wash it all down. A breakwater keeps the waters calm, making it a great beach for swimming, and once the sun sets, small bars lining the water transform the area into one big beach party.
Photo courtesy of BlueOrange Studio

One of the most celebrated beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands (if not the world), heart-shaped Magens Bay on the northern coast of St. Thomas is amazingly photogenic whether you have toes in the sand or are looking down from a nearby hilltop. There's lots to do on the mile-long stretch of sand, and a small entrance fee keeps the crowds (somewhat) at bay.
Photo courtesy of Chang Wong