The Caribbean Islands at a Glance (All 31 Major Islands)
Welcome to my complete Caribbean travel guide — the purpose of this page is to give you everything you need to know about the Caribbean, all in one place. The content will continue to be updated so bookmark the page and come back regularly.
Things to Do in the Caribbean
AnguillaThe Valley
Capital: The Valley
Airport: Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
Antigua and BarbudaSt. John's
Capital: St. John's
Airport: V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
ArubaOranjestad
Capital: Oranjestad
Airport: Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)
Language: Dutch, Papiamento; English and Spanish widely spoken
Currency: Aruban florin (AWG)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Casino, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
BarbadosBridgetown, St. Michael
Capital: Bridgetown, St. Michael
Airport: Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)
Language: English
Currency: Barbados dollar (BBD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
BelizeBelmopan
Capital: Belmopan
Airport: Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE)
Language: English (official), Belizean Creole, Spanish, Garifuna, Maya languages
Currency: Belize dollar (BZD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
BonaireKralendijk
Capital: Kralendijk
Airport: Flamingo International Airport (BON)
Language: Papiamento, English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching
British Virgin IslandsRoad Town, Tortola
Capital: Road Town, Tortola
Airport: Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), Tortola; Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ), Virgin Gorda
Language: English
Currency: USD
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
Cayman IslandsGeorge Town, Grand Cayman
Capital: George Town, Grand Cayman
Airport: Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM)
Language: English
Currency: Cayman Islands dollar (KYD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Helicopter Tours, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Kayaking, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons
CubaHavana
Capital: Havana
Airport: Jose Marti International Airport (HAV)
Language: Spanish
Currency: Cuban Peso (CUP)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
CuraçaoWillemstad
Capital: Willemstad
Airport: Curacao International Airport (CUR)
Language: Dutch, Papiamento, English
Currency: Caribbean guilder (XCG)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
DominicaRoseau
Capital: Roseau
Airport: Douglas Charles Airport (DOM)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Rainforest Tours, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
Dominican RepublicSanto Domingo
Capital: Santo Domingo
Airport: Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), Santo Domingo; Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ); Cibao International Airport (STI), Santiago; Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), Puerto Plata
Language: Spanish
Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
GrenadaSt. George's
Capital: St. George's
Airport: Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND)
Language: English
Currency: ECD
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Carnival/Festival, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
GuadeloupeBasse-Terre
Capital: Basse-Terre
Airport: Pointe-a-Pitre International Airport (PTP)
Language: French
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
GuyanaGeorgetown
Capital: Georgetown
Airport: Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO)
Language: English
Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Rainforest Tours, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
HaitiPort-au-Prince
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Airport: Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP), Port-au-Prince; Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP)
Language: Haitian Creole, French
Currency: Haitian gourde (HTG)
Things to do: Biking, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Hiking, Nightlife, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
JamaicaKingston
Capital: Kingston
Airport: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), Kingston; Donald Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Montego Bay
Language: English
Currency: Jamaican dollar (JMD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
MartiniqueFort-de-France
Capital: Fort-de-France
Airport: Martinique Aime Cesaire International Airport (FDF)
Language: French
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
MontserratPlymouth, Brades, Little Bay
Capital: Plymouth, Brades, Little Bay
Airport: John A. Osborne Airport (MNI)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Deep Sea Fishing, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Kayaking, Nightlife, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Weddings/Honeymoons
NevisCharlestown
Capital: Charlestown
Airport: Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Carnival/Festival, Deep Sea Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
Puerto RicoSan Juan
Capital: San Juan
Airport: Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
Language: Spanish
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
SabaThe Bottom
Capital: The Bottom
Airport: Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB)
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Carnival/Festival, Hiking, Scuba Diving, Spas and Wellness, Turtle Watching, Weddings/Honeymoons
Saint LuciaCastries
Capital: Castries
Airport: George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU), Castries; Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), Vieux Fort
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
St. Barts (Saint Barthélemy)Gustavia
Capital: Gustavia
Airport: Gustaf III Airport (SBH)
Language: French
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Things to do: Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Hiking, Kayaking, Nightlife, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
St. EustatiusOranjestad
Capital: Oranjestad
Airport: F. D. Roosevelt Airport (EUX)
Language: Dutch, English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Deep Sea Fishing, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Weddings/Honeymoons
St. KittsBasseterre
Capital: Basseterre
Airport: Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
St. MaartenPhilipsburg
Capital: Philipsburg
Airport: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Language: Dutch, English
Currency: Caribbean guilder (XCG)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
St. MartinMarigot
Capital: Marigot
Airport: Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
Language: French
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
St. Vincent and The GrenadinesKingstown
Capital: Kingstown
Airport: Argyle International Airport (SVD)
Language: English
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
The BahamasNassau, New Providence
Capital: Nassau, New Providence
Airport: Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
Trinidad and TobagoPort of Spain, Trinidad
Capital: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Airport: Piarco International Airport (POS) | Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson International Airport (TAB)
Language: English
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Body Surfing, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, River Rafting, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
Turks and Caicos IslandsCockburn Town
Capital: Cockburn Town
Airport: Providenciales International Airport (PLS)
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Cave Exploration, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Tubing, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
U.S. Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Airport: Cyril E. King (STT) | Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) | St. Thomas Seaplane Base Airport (SPB) | Christiansted Harbor Seaplane Base (SSB)
Language: English
Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Things to do: Biking, Bird Watching, Camping, Carnival/Festival, Casino, Deep Sea Fishing, Duty Free Shopping, Golf, Hiking, Helicopter Tours, Historical/Heritage Tours, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Music Festival, Nightlife, Parasailing, Pleasure Boat Tours, Rainforest Tours, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Spas and Wellness, Submarine Tours, Tennis/Squash, Turtle Watching, Volcano Excursions, Waterskiing, Weddings/Honeymoons, Whale/Dolphin Watching, Windsurfing/Kitesurfing, Zip-line/Treetop Touring
Caribbean Tours
Where Are The Caribbean Islands? (Map)
The Caribbean Islands are a string of islands starting with Cuba in the north and actually ending with Guyana which is actually in South America, but considered as a part of the Caribbean as its a part of the Caribbean Economic Community and a founding member. Belize although not an island is also considered a part of the Caribbean due to its colonial history.
Here is a list of the countries/islands that are considered as The Caribbean:
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands (Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda), Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Barts (Saint Barthélemy), St. Eustatius, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas).
Map of the Caribbean
Aerial view of St. Lucea, Jamaica
Best Time to Visit the Caribbean
The classic high season runs from mid-December through April — dry, breezy and busy, with hotel prices and flight loads to match. May through early December is the value season: warmer, greener, noticeably cheaper and far less crowded.
The one thing to plan around is hurricane season, which officially runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks from mid-August through mid-October. That doesn’t mean the region shuts down — most days are fine — but it’s the window when plans can change fast. If you want tropical weather with the least storm risk, look south: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana sit at the bottom edge of (or below) the hurricane belt and are rarely affected.
Now the part the other guides won’t tell you: if you’re flying standby, September and early October are magic. Kids are back in school, the ships are quiet and the planes are wide open — it’s the easiest time of year to nonrev into the Caribbean. The flip side: Christmas through New Year’s, Easter, U.S. school breaks and Carnival in Trinidad (the days before Ash Wednesday) are when flights run full and nonrevs stay home. Wherever you go in storm season, build in a buffer day and have a backup plan.
Which Caribbean Island Should You Choose?
With 31 to pick from, the honest answer is “it depends what you’re after.” Here’s how I’d steer you:
- First Caribbean trip, keep it easy: Aruba, Barbados or Puerto Rico — good flight options, easy logistics, and for U.S. citizens Puerto Rico needs no passport.
- Beaches above all: Antigua (a beach for every day of the year), Anguilla, or a day trip to Barbuda’s pink sand by ferry.
- Diving and snorkeling: Bonaire’s shore diving, the Cayman Islands’ walls, or the marine park around Saba.
- Hiking and nature: Dominica, St. Lucia‘s Pitons, or Montserrat and its volcano.
- Food, music and culture: Jamaica, Trinidad (especially Carnival), or Cuba.
- Away from the crowds: Saba, St. Eustatius, Bequia and the Grenadines, Tobago, or Guyana for something completely different.
- Aviation geeks (my people): St. Maarten for the Maho Beach arrivals, Saba for the world’s shortest commercial runway, and the Britten-Norman Islander hop to Montserrat.
Whichever one calls you, check the airlines and ferries tables below for how to get there — and the destination guides at the bottom of this page for what to do once you land.
Currency in the Caribbean by Island
Each of the island has their own currency, which is usually pegged against the U.S. dollar. Some of the islands do use US dollars as some are U.S. territories. All will accept the U.S. dollar, but you should get local currency if the U.S. dollar is not the official currency of record.
Maho Bay Beach St. maarten
- Anguilla – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- Antigua and Barbuda – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- The Bahamas – U.S. dollar (USD)
- Barbados – Barbados dollar (BBD)
- Belize – Belize dollar (BZD)
- Bonaire – U.S. dollar (USD)
- British Virgin Islands (Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda) – U.S. dollar (USD)
- Cayman Islands – Cayman Islands dollar (KYD)
- Cuba – Cuban Peso (CUP)
- Curaçao – Antillean guilder (ANG)
- Dominica – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- Dominican Republic – Dominican peso (DOP)
- Grenada – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- Guadeloupe – Euro (EUR)
- Guyana – Guyanese dollar (GYD)
- Haiti – Haitian gourde (HTG)
- Jamaica – Jamaican dollar (JMD)
- Martinique – Euro (EUR)
- Montserrat – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- Puerto Rico – U.S. dollar (USD)
- Saba – U.S. dollar (USD)
- St. Barts (Saint Barthélemy) – Euro (EUR)
- St. Eustatius – U.S. dollar (USD)
- St. Kitts & Nevis – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- St. Lucia – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- St. Maarten – Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
- St. Martin – Euro (EUR)
- St. Vincent and The Grenadines – Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD)
- Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
- Turks and Caicos Islands – U.S. dollar (USD)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas) – U.S. dollar (USD)
Caribbean Visa Requirements
Most islands do not require a visa for Americans, British and Canadian citizens. And as a U.S. citizen, you do not require a visa for visiting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas and St. Croix). You just have to ensure that you have a government issued ID when you travel.
St. Kitts
Check for health and visa information before you go.
Where to Stay in the Caribbean
There are many hotels in the Caribbean of differing price ranges. I’ve partnered with Trip Advisor so you can get a sense of what deals are out there. Check out the list of Caribbean hotels.
Jewel Grande, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Book A Hotel In The Caribbean
How to Get to the Caribbean (Flights, Cruises & Ferries)
There are several ways to get to the Caribbean. It is primarily by air though. Below you’ll find every airline based in the Caribbean — including which ones a nonrev can actually list on — in the airlines table further down this section.
Donald Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Jamaica. You may also, do a flight search from my partner Expedia.com. They will help you to find the lowest fares.
There are a few airlines that flies between islands too. Also, some islands are accessible by ferries from other smaller islands. I’ve included a list of airlines, cruise lines and ferries serving the Caribbean for your review here.
Airlines Based in the Caribbean: The Complete List
The Caribbean’s airline map has changed a lot in the last few years — LIAT was reborn as LIAT Air, Air Antilles was liquidated in April 2026, and Silver Airways shut down in June 2025. So here is the current list of every carrier actually based in the Caribbean, verified against live schedule data (August 2026). Because Passrider is written for airline employees, I’ve added the column nobody else gives you: whether you can actually list on the airline as a nonrev, or whether you should just buy the seat.
| Airline | Home Base | Where It Flies | Nonrev/ZED Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arajet (DM) | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) | Boeing 737 MAX low-cost carrier. Santo Domingo and Punta Cana to the U.S. (Miami, New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando), Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, plus San Juan, Kingston, Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. | No ZED participation. The good news: cash fares are often low enough that it doesn’t matter. |
| Air Caraïbes (TX) | Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe (PTP) | Guadeloupe and Martinique to Paris-Orly, plus the French Caribbean network: St. Martin (SFG), St. Barts, St. Lucia, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and French Guiana. | ZED participant, listable via myIDTravel. Handy for positioning between the French islands when Winair loads are ugly. |
| Air Century (Y2) | Santo Domingo–La Isabela, Dominican Republic (JBQ) | La Isabela to Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Havana and Santiago de Cuba, plus a Havana–Punta Cana sector. | Not on ZED lists — buy a ticket. Note it uses downtown La Isabela airport, not SDQ. |
| Aruba Airlines (AG) | Aruba (AUA) | Listed by Aruba’s airport as a scheduled carrier, but no schedules were filed in the GDS as of August 2026 — operations are mostly charter. Confirm directly before planning around it. | Not a ZED carrier. (And no, this is not the old Air Aruba, which shut down back in 2000.) |
| Bahamasair (UP) | Nassau, The Bahamas (NAS) | The Family Islands lifeline: 15+ domestic Bahamas points (Exuma, Eleuthera, Abaco, Andros, Long Island and more) plus Florida (MIA, FLL, MCO, PBI), Havana, Providenciales and even Port of Spain. | Long-standing ZED participant with many majors — confirm your airline’s bilateral in your travel portal before heading to Nassau. |
| Caicos Express Airways (9Q) | Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (PLS) | Turks & Caicos domestic (Grand Turk, North Caicos) plus Cap-Haïtien, Santiago (DR) and Kingston. | No ZED — commercial ticket. |
| Caribbean Airlines (BW) | Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago (POS), with a Kingston base | The region’s biggest network: Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, Curaçao, Nassau, Havana, Guyana, Suriname and Caracas, plus New York, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Toronto. | Full ZED participant, listable through myIDTravel — the workhorse for nonrevs in the southern Caribbean. |
| Cayman Airways (KX) | Grand Cayman (GCM) | Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman (Cayman Airways Express Twin Otters), Kingston, Montego Bay, plus Miami, Tampa, New York-JFK, Denver, Los Angeles, Austin, Panama City and La Ceiba (Honduras). | ZED participant via myIDTravel. |
| Cubana (CU) | Havana, Cuba (HAV) | Cuban domestic points (Santiago, Cayo Coco, Guantánamo and more) plus Madrid and Buenos Aires. The once-large international network has shrunk considerably. | A few legacy interline bilaterals exist, but most nonrevs will find it simpler to buy a ticket — and U.S. rules for travel to Cuba still apply regardless of how you’re ticketed. |
| Divi Divi Air (3R) | Curaçao (CUR) | Multiple daily Twin Otter hops Curaçao–Bonaire and Curaçao–Aruba, plus charters. | No ZED, but the short-hop fares are reasonable. Great low-level views of the ABC islands. |
| EZ Air (7Z) | Bonaire (BON) | The ABC-islands shuttle: Bonaire–Curaçao, Bonaire–Aruba, Aruba–Curaçao, plus Curaçao to St. Maarten and Medellín/Barranquilla (Colombia). | No ZED — buy the seat. |
| interCaribbean Airways (JY) | Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (PLS) | The closest thing to a pan-Caribbean connector: Turks & Caicos domestic, Nassau, Kingston, Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Cap-Haïtien, Santo Domingo, Santiago (DR), San Juan, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad and Guyana. | Generally not a ZED carrier — it has interline ticketing with several majors for revenue connections, but nonrevs should plan on a paid ticket. Re-check your portal, as its partnerships keep growing. |
| LIAT Air / LIAT (2020) (5L) | Antigua (ANU) | The LIAT name is back, relaunched in 2024 with Air Peace backing: Antigua to Barbados, Dominica, Tortola, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Kingston, Montego Bay, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Port of Spain, Guyana — with Guadeloupe links added in 2026. | Too new for most ZED lists as of August 2026 — assume a commercial fare, and re-check periodically as agreements get added. |
| RED Air (L5) | Santo Domingo / La Romana, Dominican Republic | Small MD-80 operator historically serving Miami, Curaçao and Caracas; only Curaçao–Santo Domingo showed filed schedules in August 2026. Verify before relying on it. | No ZED. |
| SKYhigh Dominicana (DO) | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) | One of the region’s fastest-growing carriers: Santo Domingo to Antigua, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Bonaire, St. Thomas, Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Miami, Guyana and Suriname. | Not on the common ZED lists as of August 2026 — verify in your portal; otherwise buy a ticket. |
| Sunrise Airways (S6) | Cap-Haïtien / Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CAP/PAP) | Haiti’s carrier and now a genuine regional player: Cap-Haïtien to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Boston, Kingston, Providenciales, Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, St. Maarten and Guadeloupe, plus Antigua–St. Maarten/Martinique and St. Kitts sectors down-island. | Doesn’t appear on the usual ZED lists — plan on a paid ticket. |
| Tropic Air (9N) | San Pedro / Belize City, Belize (BZE) | Belize’s main airline: the domestic network (San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, Dangriga, Punta Gorda) plus Cancún, Roatán and San Pedro Sula. | Believe it or not, a myIDTravel/ZED participant — one of the few commuter-sized carriers in the region you can actually list on. |
| Winair (Windward Islands Airways, WM) | St. Maarten (SXM) | The northeast Caribbean’s lifeline: Twin Otters to Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barts, Anguilla, Nevis, Montserrat and Tortola, plus ATR service — expanded after Air Antilles’ collapse — to St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Barbados, Port of Spain, Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. | ZED participant — listing is required for all flights and is done through myIDTravel. The only way to nonrev into Saba’s famously short runway. |
Island commuters and local operators. Below the scheduled carriers sits a layer of small island operators — Twin Otters, Islanders and Cessna Caravans that are often the only way onto the smallest islands. None of these participate in ZED, so just buy the seat; on these sector lengths the fares won’t ruin you.
| Operator | Base | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Air Flamenco | Puerto Rico | San Juan (Isla Grande) and Ceiba to Vieques and Culebra. |
| Anguilla Air Services (Q3) | Anguilla (AXA) | Anguilla to St. Maarten, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Antigua and St. Thomas. |
| FlyMontserrat (5M) | Montserrat (MNI) | The Antigua–Montserrat Britten-Norman Islander hop (yes, the one I’ve written about). |
| Maya Island Air (2M) | Belize | Belize domestic: San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, Dangriga, Punta Gorda. |
| Mustique Airways | St. Vincent (SVD) | Mostly shared charters to Mustique and the Grenadines as part of the Grenadine Air Alliance, though a scheduled St. Vincent–Grenada rotation does show in the GDS. |
| Seaborne Airlines (BB) | San Juan / St. Croix | The St. Croix–St. Thomas seaplane. Survived parent Silver Airways’ 2025 shutdown and flies on independently. Its old myIDTravel access went down with Silver — check current status before counting on a listing. |
| St Barth Commuter (PV) | St. Barts (SBH) | St. Barts to St. Maarten (SXM), Grand Case (SFG) and Pointe-à-Pitre. |
| Southern Air Charter | Nassau, The Bahamas | Nassau to North Eleuthera, Governor’s Harbour, Long Island (Deadman’s Cay), Rum Cay and Duncan Town. |
| SVG Air | St. Vincent (SVD) | Daily flights linking St. Vincent, Bequia, Canouan, Union Island, Carriacou, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua and Montserrat; also flies under the Grenadine Air Alliance banner. |
| Trans Anguilla Airways | Anguilla (AXA) | Anguilla to St. Maarten, St. Barts, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, Nevis, Tortola and Virgin Gorda — and as of June 2026 it’s bookable in the GDS, so your airline’s booking tools can finally see it. |
| Trans Guyana Airways | Georgetown–Ogle, Guyana (OGL) | Guyana’s domestic operator from Ogle to Lethem and the interior airstrips. |
| Vieques Air Link (VD) | Vieques, Puerto Rico (VQS) | Vieques and Culebra to San Juan (Isla Grande) and Ceiba. |
| Western Air (WU) | San Andros, The Bahamas | The Bahamas’ largest privately-owned airline: Nassau to Bimini, Exuma, Freeport, Marsh Harbour, North Eleuthera, Cat Island, San Andros and Congo Town, plus Fort Lauderdale. |
Not Caribbean-based, but worth knowing. A few outside carriers do heavy lifting between the islands: Cape Air (San Juan to Vieques, Culebra, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, St. Thomas, Anguilla and St. Barts), Tradewind Aviation (premium Pilatus service from San Juan to St. Barts, Anguilla and beyond), Contour Airlines (new in 2026: St. Thomas–St. Maarten, plus San Juan–St. Maarten) and Bermuda’s BermudAir, which now touches Anguilla, Providenciales and Belize from the U.S. Northeast and Toronto.
Gone since this page was first written: the original LIAT (1974) is no more — LIAT Air above is its successor; Air Antilles was liquidated in April 2026 after losing its operating certificate; Silver Airways (which had absorbed Seaborne) ceased operations in June 2025; and Curaçao’s JetAir Caribbean went bankrupt in 2024. The Caribbean airline scene moves fast — that’s exactly why this table gets re-verified against live schedule data.
ZED and interline bilaterals change constantly and vary by employer. Everything above was checked in August 2026 — always confirm in myIDTravel or your own airline’s travel portal before you fly, and check loads before committing to an island with one flight a day.
Cruise Lines Serving The Caribbean
Cruising is the other big way into the region — and it’s a sneaky-good option for airline employees, because most major cruise lines offer discounted interline rates to airline staff (typically booked through interline agencies such as PERX or the interline desks at the big cruise sellers). One golden rule if you’re flying standby to your ship: fly in at least a day early. The ship will not wait for you, and peak-season flights to cruise-port cities run full.
| Cruise Line | Main Caribbean Home Ports | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Galveston, New Orleans and more | The biggest Caribbean operator by volume. Its new private destination, Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, opened in July 2025 and is on many Bahamas/Caribbean itineraries. |
| Royal Caribbean | Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Galveston, Cape Liberty (NJ) and seasonal San Juan | Home of the mega-ships (Icon and Oasis classes). Most Bahamas/Caribbean sailings call at its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. |
| Celebrity Cruises | Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa | Royal Caribbean’s premium sister line — a step up in food and service for not much more money on Caribbean runs. |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Miami, Port Canaveral and seasonal San Juan | Freestyle (no fixed dining) cruising; private island Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. San Juan departures make for great southern Caribbean island-hopping itineraries. |
| MSC Cruises | Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston | European style at aggressive prices; its private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, is a former industrial site turned marine sanctuary south of Bimini. |
| Virgin Voyages | Miami | Adults-only (18+). Most sailings include a stop at its Beach Club at Bimini. This is the correct name by the way — it launched as Virgin Voyages, not Virgin Cruises. |
| Disney Cruise Line | Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston | Two private Bahamas stops: Castaway Cay and the newer Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point (opened 2024). Book early; it rarely discounts. |
| Princess Cruises | Fort Lauderdale, Galveston | Classic big-ship cruising with its own Bahamas beach stop, Princess Cays on Eleuthera. |
| Holland America Line | Fort Lauderdale | Longer, port-heavy Caribbean itineraries and the beloved Half Moon Cay private island (shared with sister line Carnival). |
Want to sail? If you’d like to book any of these cruises — interline rate or regular fare — contact me and I’ll help you get set up.
Beyond the big names, a handful of small-ship and luxury lines (Windstar, SeaDream, Star Clippers and others) sail the southern Caribbean from ports like San Juan, St. Maarten and Barbados — ideal if you’d rather visit the small islands from the airlines table above by sea. Check the interline agencies for these too; the discounts on luxury lines are often the deepest.
Ferries Between Caribbean Islands
Only select islands have ferry service between them, but where it exists it’s worth knowing cold — for nonrevs, a ferry from a bigger air hub is often the best backup plan when the loads on a small inter-island flight fall apart. Remember that crossings between different countries are international: bring your passport and expect immigration on both ends.
| Route | Who Runs It | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua ↔ Barbuda | Barbuda Express | About 90 minutes each way — day trips to Barbuda’s pink-sand beaches are very doable. |
| Antigua ↔ Montserrat | Service runs intermittently | The ferry comes and goes over the years — confirm with Montserrat tourism before you plan around it. FlyMontserrat (in the airlines table above) is the reliable fallback. |
| St. Maarten/St. Martin ↔ Anguilla | Public ferry + shared boat transfers | Public ferry from Marigot to Blowing Point, plus shared transfers direct from SXM airport. A classic nonrev move: when the Anguilla flights are full, fly to SXM and take the boat. |
| St. Maarten ↔ Saba | Saba C-Transport | The sea alternative when you can’t get on Winair’s Twin Otter. It’s an open-ocean crossing — take the seasickness advice seriously. |
| St. Maarten ↔ St. Barts | Great Bay Ferry and others | Boats run from both the Dutch and French sides — often cheaper than the SBH airfare, and you skip the famous (but weight-restricted) short runway. |
| St. Maarten ↔ St. Eustatius, and Saba ↔ Statia | Makana Ferry Service | Links the three Dutch islands by sea a few days a week. |
| St. Kitts ↔ Nevis | Passenger ferries and water taxis | Frequent, short and cheap — fly into either island and ferry to the other. |
| Guadeloupe ↔ Dominica ↔ Martinique ↔ St. Lucia | L’Express des Îles | The workhorse fast ferry of the French Antilles. Nonrev gold: wide-open loads to PTP or FDF plus a ferry ticket beats fighting for the last seat on a small plane to Dominica or St. Lucia. |
| St. Vincent ↔ Bequia & the Grenadines | Bequia Express and other local ferries | Multiple daily crossings to Bequia (about an hour); onward boats serve the smaller Grenadines. |
| Grenada ↔ Carriacou ↔ Petite Martinique | Osprey fast ferry | The easy way to add Carriacou to a Grenada trip without the small-plane hop. |
| Trinidad ↔ Tobago | National inter-island ferry (Port of Spain ↔ Scarborough) | Cheap and frequent — a good backup when the POS–TAB air shuttle is full. |
| Puerto Rico (Ceiba) ↔ Vieques & Culebra | Puerto Rico Ferry | Runs from Ceiba, about an hour’s drive from San Juan. Locals get boarding priority at peak times — the little planes from Isla Grande or Ceiba (airlines table above) are the time-saver. |
| St. Thomas ↔ St. John | Red Hook ↔ Cruz Bay ferries | Runs roughly hourly into the evening — St. John has no airport, so this is how everyone gets there. |
| St. Croix ↔ St. Thomas | QE IV Ferry | The sea link between the two big USVI islands; the Seaborne seaplane (above) is the fun alternative. |
| USVI ↔ BVI | Scheduled ferries and water taxis, incl. St. Thomas Water Taxi and Dolphin Water Taxi | St. Thomas and St. John to Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Bring your passport — it’s an international crossing. Often easier than chasing seats on the small BVI flights. |
| San Juan ↔ Santo Domingo | Ferries del Caribe (overnight) | An overnight car-and-passenger ferry has long linked Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic — verify the current schedule before building a trip around it. |
Island Hopping in the Caribbean
The Caribbean’s best-kept secret is that you don’t have to pick just one island. The region is built for hopping — you just need to know the hubs, because almost every inter-island connection runs through one of them:
- St. Maarten (SXM): the king of the day trip. Winair’s Twin Otters reach Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barts, Anguilla, Nevis and Montserrat, and the ferries in the table above cover Anguilla, St. Barts, Saba and Statia by sea. You can base here a week and touch five islands.
- Antigua (ANU): LIAT Air’s hub for the Eastern Caribbean, plus the Barbuda ferry and the Montserrat Islander hop.
- San Juan (SJU): the gateway for Vieques, Culebra, the USVI and the BVI — small planes on one side, ferries on the other. U.S. citizens don’t even need a passport until they cross into the BVI.
- Guadeloupe and Martinique (PTP/FDF): Air Caraïbes overhead and L’Express des Îles on the water, linking the French islands with Dominica and St. Lucia.
- St. Vincent (SVD) and Grenada (GND): SVG Air and the Bequia ferry open up the Grenadines; the Osprey ferry adds Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
- Port of Spain (POS): Caribbean Airlines fans out across the whole southern Caribbean, and the Tobago ferry is the budget backup for the air shuttle.
- Providenciales (PLS): interCaribbean’s web touches more countries than any other regional carrier — handy for stringing together the odd pairs nobody else connects.
For airline employees this is where the region really shines: position in on your own airline’s metal, then hop with ZED listings on Winair, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways or Air Caraïbes — and just buy the seat on the commuters, where fares are short-hop cheap. The full standby strategy, island by island, is in the Caribbean Islands Non-Rev Planning Playbook.
Caribbean Travel FAQ
How many Caribbean islands are there?
Thousands, if you count every island and cay — but as a traveler you’re choosing between the 31 major island destinations covered on this page, spread across 13 sovereign countries and more than a dozen territories.
What is the best time of year to visit the Caribbean?
Mid-December through April for the driest, busiest high season; May through early December for better prices and fewer people. If you’re flying standby, September is the sweet spot — the planes are at their emptiest.
When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?
June 1 through November 30, peaking mid-August to mid-October. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana sit at the southern edge of the belt and are rarely affected.
What is the cheapest Caribbean island to fly to?
Usually the ones with the most competition: the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, helped by low-cost carriers like Arajet), San Juan and Montego Bay. The small islands served by one or two carriers — St. Barts, Saba, Barbuda — cost the most per mile but are often worth it.
Do U.S. citizens need a passport for the Caribbean?
Not for Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands — a government-issued ID does it. Everywhere else, yes, including the quick ferry from St. Thomas over to the British Virgin Islands.
Can you travel between Caribbean islands by ferry?
Yes, on select routes — St. Maarten to Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Barts; the French Antilles chain via L’Express des Îles; Antigua to Barbuda; St. Kitts to Nevis; Trinidad to Tobago and more. The full rundown is in the ferries table above.
Which Caribbean islands can you fly to nonstop from the U.S.?
As of August 2026, verified against live schedules: The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti (via Cap-Haïtien), Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Belize and Guyana all have nonstop service from U.S. gateways. The rest — Saba, Statia, St. Barts, Montserrat, Dominica, the BVI and the Grenadines — need one connection through the hubs above.
What currency is used in the Caribbean?
It varies by island — see the island-by-island list above. The U.S. dollar is accepted nearly everywhere, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (used by eight islands) has been pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1 for decades.
Additional Information About The Caribbean Islands
Here are additional bits and pieces I’ve written or pieces by my fellow travel bloggers about the Caribbean. First up is a video about Caribbean food in Jamaica; jerk pork/chicken in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
View this post on Instagram
- Antigua and Barbuda – Destination Information and 365 Beaches
- Barbados – All you need to know for your next visit
- Cuba – The low down on visiting Cuba
- Curaçao – How to get to Curaçao: flights, airports and what to do
- Guadeloupe – A French Caribbean Hidden Gem
- Guyana – Georgetown, the forgotten “Caribbean island”
- Jamaica – What you need to know when visiting Jamaica
- Martinique – A rugged Caribbean beauty
- Montserrat – Flying from Antigua to Montserrat on a Britten-Norman Islander
- Puerto Rico – Information on what to do in Puerto Rico
- Saba – The Unspoiled Queen and its famous short runway
- St. Kitts and Nevis – Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis, the unknown Caribbean island
- St. Lucia – An Unfamiliar Destination
- St. Vincent and The Grenadines – International nonstops from St. Vincent and where to stay near SVD airport
- Tobago – The Forgotten Paradise and a hidden-gem guest house in Buccoo
St. Kitts
General Information
- The Caribbean Islands Non-Rev Planning Playbook – If you’re flying standby around the region, start here. It’s the companion piece to this page.
- Intra-Caribbean Routings – How to actually piece together flights between the islands, hub by hub.
- U.S. Preclearance Guide – Some Caribbean airports (Nassau and Aruba among them) let you clear U.S. immigration before you board, so you land as a domestic passenger.
- Non-Rev Travel Guides by Destination – The full library of Passrider destination guides, Caribbean and beyond.
- Smallest Countries/Territories in the World – A number, at least four, of Caribbean islands are mentioned in this story. Check them out.
- 10 Caribbean Facts
Winair Twin Otters in St. Maarten