The Caribbean has long been a favorite destination for winter-weary travelers seeking sunshine, but in recent years, more visitors are catching on to the secret locals know so well: the Caribbean is pretty great in the summertime, too. Travelers who don’t mind the passing afternoon showers that characterize the season are handsomely rewarded with bare beaches, fewer crowds, and deeply discounted prices on everything from resort rates to airfare, making the summer the best opportunity for a more budget-friendly vacation.
However, summer in the Caribbean is also synonymous with tropical weather, and with Atlantic hurricane season stretching from June 1 through Nov. 30, travelers should be aware of the climatic conditions that could impact their summertime trip. Luckily, a few of the region’s most popular destinations are located outside of the part of the Caribbean typically affected by hurricanes, known as the hurricane belt, making them an ideal choice for visitors who don’t want to run the risk of a rained-out vacation.
The Caribbean Hurricane Belt
Chris Marinaccio/Travel + Leisure
The warm waters of the Caribbean are fertile ground for tropical storms that spin east to west across the Atlantic, making a large swath of the region susceptible to hurricanes during the summer months. Though meteorologists caution that hurricanes can technically form anywhere in the Caribbean, climatic conditions tend to push tropical weather west, then north, sparing the southern part of the region from most storms.
Islands in the northwest Caribbean are most likely to experience a major hurricane. Places like The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico are among the hardest hit, as storms typically intensify after first passing across the rest of the region. However, islands further to the east are far from immune to the risk of storms: islands like Dominica, Antigua, and St. Lucia are often the first places where hurricanes touch land as they cut across the Caribbean.
Popular mainland travel destinations along the Caribbean Coast are not immune to the hurricane risk, either. Belize and Mexico can also experience hurricanes despite being located further west within the hurricane belt, with popular Mexican Caribbean destinations like Cancún and Playa del Carmen also susceptible to storms.
Head far enough south, and the risk of hurricane activity drops off. Islands like Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada are generally considered among the safest options, though they are still at risk of storms, with St. Vincent and the Grenadines suffering a devastating hit from Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
Safer still are islands farther south and outside the hurricane belt. Read on for the southern Caribbean destinations that are among the best places to travel for a tropical summer vacation.
Best Caribbean Destinations Outside the Hurricane Belt
Nicole Athayde/Travel + Leisure
Curaçao
The Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao is a dream any time of the year, but it’s quickly becoming a top destination for summertime travel in the Caribbean. “Curaçao’s location outside the hurricane belt gives travelers a level of confidence when planning all year round and is something we consistently see reflected in demand,” said Anthony Bradford, resort manager of Baoase Luxury Resort. Travelers are drawn to Curaçao for its candy-colored capital city, packed with historical monuments and a growing art and culinary scene that gives the island broad appeal. A number of new hotels and resorts have debuted to meet soaring demand, from design-forward boutique hotels to beach resorts like Baoase Luxury Resort, which was named the best resort in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure readers last year.
Aruba
The white-sand beaches wrapping around much of the coastline of Aruba have made it a top year-round destination for travelers, but many find it best for a summertime escape. Home to a cache of high-end resorts from brands like The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, Aruba is arguably the top choice for travelers looking to splurge on a stay while sticking south of the hurricane belt. However, Aruba is one of those rare destinations that feels like a fit for all kinds of travelers, with everything from more affordable all-inclusive resort options and a growing food scene anchored by the buzzy annual food festival Autentico to impressive local dive sites, island excursions, and more.
Bonaire
Tiny Bonaire receives just a fraction of the visitors that flock to neighboring islands like Aruba and Curaçao, but for many travelers, that’s precisely what attracted them to the island in the first place. Now known as the world’s first “Blue Destination,” Bonaire bet big on sustainability several decades ago when it designated 100 percent of its surrounding oceans as a protected marine park. The result is a healthy reef system brimming with colors and more than 80 dive sites, making Bonaire one of the most sought-after destinations for dive vacations in the world. Still, non-divers will be delighted with the island’s beautiful beaches, flocks of flamingos, and boutique resorts offering a truly laid-back style of Caribbean island that feels hard to come by these days.
Trinidad and Tobago
Tucked at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles and just below the hurricane belt, Trinidad and Tobago remain among the Caribbean’s lesser-visited islands, with summer being the perfect time to check them off your list. Trinidad and Tobago’s famous carnival celebrations are world-renowned, and though they take place in the spring, these islands are still considered an incredible destination for cultural travel. Whether you’re here for the delicious local food, year-round events and celebrations, or beaches like Pigeon Point Beach on Tobago that are ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
Cartagena, Colombia
Some of the most enigmatic destinations in the Caribbean aren’t located on islands at all. Set along the clear waters of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the nearly 500-year-old city of Cartagena is trending, a rare destination that is equal parts city escape and beachfront retreat. Within the UNESCO-protected city, there are plenty of historic monuments to explore and fortresses to walk, an award-winning food scene cemented by Chef Jaime Rodriguez’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants-ranked Celele, and the long-awaited Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena that just debuted. But head 20 minutes from Cartagena by boat, and you’re in for a beach day at the eco-luxe Blue Apple Beach on Isla Tierra Bomba, or bioluminescent bays, impressive dive sites, and slender slivers of white sand in the Rosario Islands.
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Panama is another Caribbean-facing destination located well below the hurricane belt that ticks all the boxes for travelers: easy accessibility with one of the best-served international airports in the region, far fewer crowds than neighboring Costa Rica, and everything from a world-class coffee scene to untouched beaches to explore. There are plenty of destinations worth considering along the country’s Caribbean shores, but the Bocas del Toro archipelago is hands-down the most popular choice. This collection of islands connected by water taxis feels like the ultimate place to disconnect, drawing everyone from surfers to more luxury-minded travelers staying at spots like Nayara Bocas del Toro, La Coralina Island House, or the region’s increasing array of eco-friendly overwater bungalows. Even better, with Copa Airlines’ Panama Stopover Program set to expand, travelers connecting through Panama City can now spend more than two weeks exploring Panama without paying additional airfare, offering a two-in-one vacation worth considering.
