SunBeach Travel

A quick 2 1/2-hour flight from Miami, Puerto Rico is an intoxicating blend of Spanish, Indian, and African influences, all melded into a tropical atmosphere of beaches, rainforest, and a fast-growing element of luxury. Whether you’re exploring the time capsule of Old San Juan, the posh designer boutiques of Condado, the beach towns on the island’s southern and eastern coasts, or the pristine jungle of El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s distinct culture and lively spirit is never far from sight.

Home to the biggest cruise port in the Caribbean, St. Thomas seems at first glance a place with little to offer beyond duty-free shopping. In reality, this 32-square-mile island has more texture than meets the eye. Along the narrow streets of capital Charlotte Amalie, you’ll find reminders of the 17th-century Danish settlers, such as the 99 Steps, constructed of old ships’ ballast bricks, and the 1679 Blackbeard’s Castle Tower (named for that legendary pirate). Beyond town, hilly roads with staggering views of untouched coastline lead to little hamlets like Frenchtown, where some of the residents still speak Creole. But the real appeal of this island is found along its perimeter: miles upon miles of white-sand beaches.

One of the largest landfalls in the Caribbean, Jamaica is ringed with some of the world’s most spectacular beaches. But there are plenty of other ways to amuse oneself in paradise. Adventure sports from mountain-biking to diving to fishing abound. The tropical vegetation attracts a stunning array of exotic birds (and bird-watchers). A food renaissance has elevated island cooking into a compelling nouvelle cuisine, albeit one that retains a traditional local flavor. And, of course, the inimitable range of musics pioneered here—from ska to reggae to dub to dancehall—endure and echo down every lane and on every fragrant ocean breeze.  

Like a scattered string of pearls, the islands of the Bahamas stretch from their most northerly point (less than an hour’s flight from Miami) south across 500 miles of the Caribbean Sea. The still-relatively-young commonwealth, which achieved independence in 1973 after 325 years of British rule, encompasses 700 different islands-each with its own character. But whether they’re havens of unspoiled wilderness, decadent celebrity-studded oases, or glitzy gambling and entertainment meccas, all are suffused with the same laid-back, carefree, distinctly Bahamian attitude.

This bar and café perched on Negril’s West End Cliffs is famous for the spectacular sunset-viewing from its expansive terrace—and also for the wild after-dark parties that spill onto the beach below.