My Beaches Maven

Shoal Bay beach is one of the premier stretches of sand in the Caribbean.

It is also the most popular beach on Anguilla and attracts locals, tourists and day trippers from the neighboring island of St. Martin.

For a glowing review of Shoal Bay, find a copy of Conde Nast Traveller for November 1996. On page 133 in an article entitled “The Secret in the Sand”, Ron Hall describes his search for the most perfect sand in the Caribbean.

He reviews some of Anguilla’s thirty-plus beaches, including Rendezvous Bay, with its “long, curving ribbon of sand held in the protective arms of a two-and-a-half-mile-long bay”, then focuses in on one beach:

“The most pristine sand sample, however, is from long, low, dusty Anguilla, the Caribbean island most envied for the number and quality of its beaches… Shoal Bay’s sand is truly amazing: Not only is it as white as coral sand can ever be, but mixed into it are tiny fragments of pure while shell. The effect of wind on ths mixture is to bring the shell fragments to the surface, where they catch the sun and add a distinctive sheen to the entire beach.”

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I am looking at going to the Caribbean for 2 weeks from Dec. 29- Jan 12, and I was wonder what areas we not touristy and not crowed– yet provide the clear blue waters?

Thanks!

There are really only a few that can get very laid-back.
-Turks and Caicos: These are technically not in the main Caribbean range, but very calm nonetheless.
-Antigua can get calm
-The Bay Islands (off the coast of Honduras)

My personal choice would have to go to The Bay Islands. The beaches can get just as beautiful as other destinations, plus there’s a lot to do there. They are mainly known for the world-class diving (they sit on the second largest barrier reef in the world), but are less expensive than the majority of Caribbean destinations and Belize.

ROATAN: The largest and most developed of The Bay Islands. You might see a crowd or two on The West End, but when you compare this to other Caribbean destinations (Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, etc.) even The West End can be reasonable. If you want to get even more laid back, head to some of the other places on the island: such as Sandy Bay.
Things to do:
-Ocean Kayaking
-Carambola Botanical Gardens
-Diving
-Snorkeling
-Deepsea Submersible: this is one of the more expensive excursions, but unforgettable, and you can’t do it with such quality anywhere else in the world. The captain takes you in a submarine (place is known as Stanley’s Submarines), and you go deep into the Cayman Trench.
-Ziplining

UTILA: Utila is more laid back and cheaper than Roatan. The beaches aren’t as extensive as those of Roatan, but still nice. Utila is known for the several opportunities to dive with whale sharks.

GUANAJA: The hardest, and thus, one of the more expensive of the islands. However, Guanaja is unique in that it is beautifully remote, has an amazing underwater topography (caves, tunnels, canyons, etc.) and is also great for hiking. I recommend Bo Bush’s Island House or Clearwater Paradise: these people will offer you the best experience on Guanaja.
Things to do:
-Ocean Kayaking
-Diving
-Hiking
-Visiting local communities

Also, much closer to Honduras’s North Coast (yet farther from The Bay Islands) are THE CAYOS COCHINOS. These are two small islands surrounded by several cayes. They’re a protected area, so this is the most secluded you can get. Best access is by a tour from La Ceiba. Great beaches, beautiful diving.

I simply recommend The Bay Islands — go now, before they lose all of their tranquility, and get as expensive as the more popular destinations.