Many people have the Caribbean on their travel bucket list. It is a famous travel destination that screams “holiday.” The name evokes images of clear turquoise waters, white sand, and sunbathing.
The islands are a perfect destination for a vacation. But what about making it your home? Expats who have the liberty of working remotely often choose places that are tranquil, with plenty of opportunities for sports and leisure.
If you want to know the best Caribbean islands that are perfect to visit and live on, here are our top 5 suggestions.
5 Best Caribbean Islands
Here are the 5 best Caribbean islands that are excellent for both travel and permanent residence.
1. Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are a group of three islands—Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Grand Cayman.
Little Cayman is the smallest of the three and boasts diverse wildlife like red-footed boobies and endangered iguanas. Cayman Brac is larger than Little Cayman and is a major spot for fishing.
Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands and is where tourists flock. It has 5-star accommodation options, water sports, resorts, and more to entertain visitors.
The Cayman Islands are one of the best islands in the Caribbean to enjoy clear waters, see flapping sea turtles, swim with stingrays, build sand castles, and enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling.
Explore the entire seven-mile stretch of pristine white sand on the beach as you sink your toes into the glistening turquoise water.
It is also one of the best places to live in. Apart from the gorgeous scenery and non-defining calm that is the Cayman Islands, the island also offers job opportunities.
However, most jobs are related to water, and obtaining a permit can be a bit of a task. But if you are an expat just looking for a home and not a job, the Cayman Islands will be perfect for you.
2. Turks And Caicos
Turks and Caicos is a group of 40 islands, so you know there is nothing that you cannot get here. It is also the location of Grace Bay Beach, which has won the World’s Best Beach award on multiple occasions.
Whether you want to vacation, live, work, or retire, Turks and Caicos will fulfill all your requirements. It has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean and over 300 tiny islets.
The islands have a long stretch of beach and are surrounded by turquoise waters. A coral reef system creates the islands, so the beaches are gorgeous, and the diving experience is great here.
Out of the many islands, only a few are inhabited, and the main tourist spot is Providenciales, aka Provo. It has the best amenities and accepts tourists with love. It has 5-star resorts, bars, restaurants, and transportation to neighboring islands, allowing you to easily escape to deserted beaches.
The islands offer a variety of water sports, boat trips, sunset cruises, and more, making it ideal for a couple’s or family vacation.
If you want to live here, you will have one major problem—you will not want to leave.
People fall in love with the water and make the island their home. There are many job opportunities, especially in the hospitality business, and work permits are easy to get. Additionally, eight airlines offer nonstop flights to and from the states, so it is easy to get back home.
3. Roatán, Honduras
Roatán is the largest of the three principal islands that make up Honduras’ Bay Islands. It is particularly famous for scuba-diving and snorkeling, massive whale sharks, white sand beaches, and dive sites. It also has a mangrove forest and wildlife refuges that are just waiting to be discovered.
The island is a 50-square-mile emerald-green haven. The island is surrounded by hills and fringed by a reef. The island was once quite peaceful, with few inhabitants, but it quickly advanced to the status of “livable heaven.”
Besides the locals, there are also many expats from neighboring countries, like Canada and the USA, as well as from far-off lands like Australia and South Africa.
While the immigrants initially came to experience diving and swimming in the Barrier Reef, the cost of living, laid-back vibe, and weather solidified their decision and even attracted more expats. Hence, Roatán has a comparatively higher population when compared to other islands in the Caribbean.
4. Barbados
Barbados is one of the most popular islands for couples, but it is also ideal for families and living. It is a picturesque island where you can take Instagram-worthy snaps. It has a rugged coastline, relaxed beaches, and friendly locals.
Also, Barbados is not just sand and water but heaven for nature lovers. It has underground caves, a botanic garden, British heritage, and rum distilleries. The Barbados Wildlife Reserve houses several protected species like green monkeys and many other reptiles and birds.
The Barbados Museum and Historical Society is another place where you can learn a lot about the history and culture of the region. The museum enlightens you on the island’s African heritage, colonial history, and sugarcane industry.
You cannot miss the UNESCO-listed city of Bridgetown, which is also the capital of Barbados. If you plan on visiting Barbados, schedule it around one of the Caribbean festivals or during Crop Over (held in August). These events make the place more lively with sailing events, jazz concerts, and other events.
It has plenty of destinations where you can spend a day and numerous water activities worth exploring.
There aren’t many job opportunities, yet there are thousands of expats that call the island their home. People fall in love with the beautiful scenery, delectable cuisine, slow pace of life, and, of course, diving.
5. Isla Mujeres, Mexico
You will fall in love with the island as soon as you set foot on it. It is a laid-back island that does not have the hustle and bustle of its sister islands. The white sand beaches are surrounded by clear azure water and offer a variety of water sports to satisfy your adventurous spirit.
You can go sailing, swim with dolphins, snorkel, visit the ancient Mayan ruins, dive into the coral reef, and more.
If you visit between May and September, you can experience one of the best activities on the island—swimming with whale sharks. During this time, 35-foot-long whale sharks gather in one specific area of the Caribbean Sea. You can get on the boat and have a fun time swimming with the whales.
The island has become very popular with expats due to the gorgeous scenery and very low cost of living. You can own or rent a property at a reasonable price and enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.
