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10 best active Caribbean holidays

If you get bored five minutes into sunbathing, don’t write off the Caribbean. On our active Caribbean holidays you’ll see more of the islands as you sail, salsa, and snorkel your way through their beautiful settings. What’s more, you’ll be helped by expert local guides and welcomed by eco hotels and homestays. Discover our top 10 active holidays in the Caribbean.

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10 best active Caribbean holidays

The palms sway, the waves roll, the rum punches – so why should you just lie on a beach? The many islands of the Caribbean have plenty of adventures beyond the sands if you’re looking to have an active holiday instead of an all-inclusive beach-flop. Thick rainforest, combined with volcanoes, makes for steep and exciting hiking on the larger islands. The steady trade winds mean that there’s great sailing. The tropical waters have coral reefs and an abundance of sea life – joined by fantastic birdlife on land, and some rare mammals – so wildlife-watching is a winner. We’ve whittled our list down to the 10 best active Caribbean holidays. If you want some exercise, might as well exercise in paradise.

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1. Adventure in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean; it's massive and resort-adorned. But the larger portion of Hispaniola is big enough to absorb heaps of visitors, and active travellers can really stretch their wings. Inland, there are rivers that flow in steep cascades - perfect for canyoning, and caves in tropical forests. On the coast, deep mangrove-cloaked inlets give way to surfing and kitesurfing beaches. Isabel de Torres National Park has a miniature replica of the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio, but there's nothing diminutive about the adventures you'll have in the area.

Best time to go: January – October
Our top trip: Dominican Republic adventure tour
See all our trips: Dominican Republic holidays
Read more: Dominican Republic travel guide

2. Bird watching in Tobago

You don’t need to go far for your birdwatching in Tobago. Often you’ll be able to spot dozens of species just clustering around the feeders in your hotel’s gardens. Venture across the rest of the island, and you’ll see even more; there are over 260 bird species on Tobago, and 482 across Trinidad and Tobago. Because South America is so close, these islands are unusually bird-rich, and in keeping with their stunning setting, these are some of the most colourful, beautiful characters in the avian world. The best time to see them is November to April, when they are nesting, and North American migrants are visiting.

Best time to go: All year-round
Our top trip:Trinidad and Tobago nature holiday
See all our trips: Trinidad and Tobago wildlife holidays
Read more:Trinidad and Tobago bird watching guide

3. Walking on Dominica

The Waitukubuli National Trail runs along the spine of Dominica and the trail name comes from the indigenous name for the island, ‘Tall is her body’. Dominica has three national parks, many more waterfalls, and 1,000 species of plants. Walking here allows you to fully appreciate just how green it is. The national trail is the only long-distance walking trail in the Caribbean, and it connects 29 settlements, bringing tourism to communities along the way. Off the route, you can drive around the island to visit local people – community activists, farmers, and Rastafarians among them.

Best time to go: December – April
Our top trip: Walking and sightseeing holiday in Dominica
See all our trips: Dominica holidays
Read more: Dominica travel guide

4. Salsa dancing in Cuba

To master salsa, know that it’s not about how the dance looks, but how it feels, that’s important – and holidays should feel good, right? This holiday flows to the rhythm of the salsa – specifically, Cuban ‘casino’ salsa. The salsa dance originated in New York, but Cubans have their own variety, which came spinning out of its dancehalls. Influenced by African dances, dancers keep their body low, their knees bent, and make lots of turns. This dancing holiday is fantastic for solo travellers; you will be partnered for the week with a professional Cuban dance tutor, whilst your hotel is a friendly homestay in Santiago de Cuba.

Best time to go: November – June
Our top trip: Cuba salsa dance holiday
See all our trips: Cuba holidays
Read more: Cuba travel guide

5. Dominican Republic wildlife tour

The Dominican Republic is large enough to support some surprising wildlife, including two really rare mammals. Reptiles – like the marvellously massive rhinoceros iguanas – are best spotted in the afternoon when it’s sunny, but you need to stay up at night to spot the Caribbean’s weirdest creatures. The solenodon looks like a massive shrew, and then there’s the rat-like hutia. Local trackers help you spot these wild wonders. Many of them are former poachers, given a new and more sustainable income by the tourism industry. Together, you’ll explore Jaragua National Park and Bahoruco National Park, and try to keep up with the hummingbirds at Oviedo Lagoon.

Best time to go: February
Our top trip: Dominican Republic wildlife tour
See all our trips: Dominican Republic holidays
Read more: Dominican Republic travel guide

6. Sailing in Saint Lucia & the Grenadines

The northeast trade winds quickly whisk you down from Saint Lucia to the Grenadines, making a sailing holiday between the two Caribbean nations a breeze. You’ll learn the ropes on board and become part of the crew. But you’ll quickly realise that the best bit about sailing is the freedom to jump in – once you’re anchored, you can get straight in the water and explore uninhabited islands with ease. Pack your snorkel – the Tobago Cays Marine Park awaits, where you can swim with octopuses, and where docile nurse sharks sleep in the shallows.

Best time to go: January – February
Our top trip: St Lucia & the Grenadines sailing holiday
See all our trips: St Lucia holidays
Read more: St Lucia travel guide

7. Cycling holiday in Cuba

Cuba has had more Olympic success than any other country in the Americas except the USA, and the country takes sport – including cycling – very seriously. Lucky for you, ex-pro cyclists often find employment in cycling companies, leading tours of the island’s spectacular terrain. Road cycling here is brilliant for ambitious bicyclists – there’s empty tarmac and there are some steep mountain climbs, should you want them, all with the best expert local guidance. A support vehicle will take you to the start of each day’s ride, which include Old Havana, and around the limestone karsts and tobacco farms of Viñales.

Best time to go: October to July
Our top trip: Cycling holiday in Cuba
See all our trips: Cuba cycling holidays
Read more: Cycling in Cuba travel guide

8. Exploring Jamaica

Most visitors to Jamaica aren’t visiting Jamaica, they’re visiting the confines of a large, all-inclusive resort, from which they won’t venture for more than a day trip. But Jamaica is green, beautiful, and full of cultural highlights – whether that’s music on the beach, or a tour of a Kingston recording studio. It’s easy to spend over a week exploring the third largest island in the Caribbean. The Blue Mountains have hill stations surrounded by coffee plantations, and the rivers hide Jamaican crocodiles. The beaches – there are many – range from resort-lined thoroughfares, to coves with rickety driftwood rum bars and swings hanging from the trees.

Best time to go: October to March
Our top trip: Jamaica highlights tour
See all our trips: Jamaica holidays
Read more: Jamaica travel guide

9. Conserving coral in Grenada

Carriacou’s coral needs protecting, and you can help. The Grenadine island’s name derives from the Kalinago language and means ‘isle surrounded by reefs’. But this beautiful bracelet is under threat from invasive species and climate change. Get your PADI Open Water qualification on site, then join marine biologists on dives to photograph, survey, and monitor the reefs. You may even help plant new coral. Above water, you’ll learn the names of the different species you might see, and regale each other with tales of barracuda showdowns and gigantic starfish over dinner in local restaurants.

Best time to go: May – August
Our top trip: Caribbean coral reef conservation in Carriacou
See all our trips: Grenada holidays
Read more: Grenada travel guide

10. Scuba in Cuba

If you’re a keen diver, Cuba presents a dilemma. Whilst the island has some of the most unspoilt underwater sights in the Caribbean, above water, there are even more treasures you won’t want to miss. Below the water, dive at Maria la Gorda, the Bay of Pigs, and near Trinidad, discovering the coral reefs that ring the island. Above the water, plunge into the city of Havana, the town of Viñales, and explore the subtropical mountains in Sierra Escambray. The variety means that non-divers have plenty of on-shore entertainment if they’re accompanying qualified friends and partners.

Best time to go: November to April
Our top trip: Scuba diving & tour in Cuba
See all our trips: Cuba holidays and scuba diving holidays
Read more: Scuba diving in Cuba travel guide