The number of visitors to the Caribbean has been steadily climbing for the last decade, with 2019 seeing a record-breaking number of overnight visitors. A total of 31.5 million people chose to spend their vacation amongst the sun, sea, and sand of this magical place – an increase of 4.4% on the previous year, which was the highest rate of tourism growth in the whole of the Americas.

Unfortunately, visitor levels crashed the following year as the global tourism industry suffered a huge blow. For a region that relies so heavily on visitors, it’s been a difficult time. Numbers still aren’t up to their previous levels, but they are definitely rising, and tourists are rediscovering this magical region. And the Caribbean Islands have been pulling out all the stops to make sure that visiting families, couples, and friends, all have a wonderful time.

Peak Season, Peak Problems

Because the Caribbean is such a popular destination, it can be crowded during peak times. Yes, there are plenty of islands to choose from, but if everyone wants to visit the same places then the crowds are going to be hard to avoid. Popular places like Aquaventure on Paradise Island or Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke are always top of popular ‘to-do’ lists, and even on their quietest days you’re going to find yourself wait around.

Travelling outside the peak season will solve some of the problems but won’t help if the point of your holiday is to escape for some winter sun. Instead, take the time to do a bit more research and plan your holiday around the crowds. There are plenty of ways to still take in the beautiful scenery and have fun, without tripping over the tourists at every turn.

Private Islands

With so many different locations to choose from, visitors to the Caribbean are totally spoiled for choice. But because these islands are clustered together, it’s possible to have your cake and eat it too. Staying on one island and travelling to others gives you a chance to experience more of the wonderful beaches and restaurants the area has to offer, without having to move around different hotels.

A great way to island-hop is by chartering your own boat or yacht. There are plenty of local places where you can buy a seat on a small craft and take a day tour, but for complete freedom and solitude you’ll want to arrange your own vessel. For the perfect sail enjoy a Catamaran Charter BVI’s or zoom around the Antilles on a speed boat, using an online chartering service like Borrow A Boat can take all the hassle out of the arrangements. Simple browse their entire catalogue online in the language of your choice, choose your reservation dates and pay through the site. It’s as easy as renting a car.

Beach Days

All the Caribbean Islands have similar a landscape, so while some beaches are better rated than others by holidaymakers, this tends to be because of unique geographical features or the local bars and restaurants that are available. If you just want to spend a day basking in the rays of the tropical sun and splashing around in the clear, blue waters, then you’re as well off finding a secluded spot and taking a picnic. So, while the crowds are heading to Grace Bay or Seven Mile Beach, you can get a local tip off for somewhere quieter.

One of the best things to do in the Caribbean is snorkelling. The diverse marine life includes dolphins and sea turtles, as well as some striking specimens of fish. While there are many local companies offering tours and scheduling snorkelling trips to cenotes and swimming holes, you can see just as much by taking your own kits to any beach. Avoid overcrowded snorkel tours where you’re hurried through the activities and take your time watching the wildlife off the Caribbean coast instead.

Ditch The Tours

If you want to enjoy a day trip to one of the colonial towns, you can avoid the queues by exploring on your own, instead of signing up for a guided tour. These tours will visit the same places and you’ll find yourself having to jostle with other tour groups for the best photos. However, if you get yourself a good guidebook, you can choose your own route and avoid the crowds. And if you turn up at a particular location to find it already busy, you can always come back later.

In Conclusion

The Caribbean Islands are a perpetually popular holiday destination for people from all over the world. Their consistent climate and paradisical landscapes make them the perfect place for getting away from it all. But if that also means getting away from other people, you’ll want to try and avoid the peak seasons and most popular activities. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of other ways to see the islands without having to sign up for oversubscribed tours that always take you to the same tourist traps. Charter your own boat, snorkel off smaller beaches, and design your own tour around town and you can experience paradise without the crowds.