Caribbean Journal’s 10 most exotic places to live in the Caribbean

The Caribbean’s certainly exotic. But what you’re looking for a place that goes off-off the beaten path — the really exotic places, the ones with very few people and a lot of mystery? That’s where these little islands come in, some developed, others totally untouched. But they’re all equally far from convention — even by Caribbean standards. They’re not populous, but they’re not unlivable, either. These are the most exotic places to live in the Caribbean.

 

Little Cayman

The thing you notice landing here is that the runway is actually on a road, meaning oncoming traffic has to stop when planes land. That’s just the beginning of what makes this lovely, quirky little island in the Cayman Islands so wonderful. Set about 60 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, it has a year-round population of less than 200 people. So why not help grow it?

La Desirade

Part of the beautiful Guadeloupe archipelago, this former leper colony has a population of less than 2,000, and a colorful history. But it’s also a fascinating mix of French and Caribbean, the most exotic place in a part of the Caribbean very few non-French travelers know about.

Saba

This is far the most developed place on this list, which says a lot about the list. This charming little rock near St Maarten is a funky, breezy place with a cast of characters, a surprisingly good food scene and a small-town feel. It was also literally carved out of a rock, meaning for some fascinating topography.

Salt Cay

It’s been said that this is home to the most beautiful beach in the Turks and Caicos (although Grace Bay would have a strong argument against it). But this 2.5-square-mile island is a full-fledged getaway, with centuries of roots in the salt industry and now just a well-kept secret.

Andros

There aren’t many places more mysterious than this, the largest island in the Bahamas and one of the largest in the region. It’s home to the world’s third-largest barrier reef, the mile-deep Tongue of the Ocean and countless blue holes. It’s also a great place to retire for a life of bonefishing.

Culebra

The site of one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, Playa Flamenco, Culebra is the best-kept secret in Puerto Rico (and perhaps all of the United States’ Caribbean territories). There are less than 2,000 people here, and a vibe that makes laid-back look bustling.

Barbuda

Covered in impossibly white-sand beaches, Barbuda is sparsely populated, with less than 2,000 people on 62 square miles. That makes it great for the Caribbean oasis-seeker. It’s a wonderful place to do nothing and love it.

Union Island

A remote outpost in the Grenadines chain, this is home to one of the Caribbean’s most adorable airports and one of its most interesting landings. It’s rather large for this list, with about 3,000 people, but it’s tiny: just three square miles, and a popular yacht stop.

Cat Island

Not even 1,600 people live on this 150-square-mile island in the Bahamas chain. The birthplace of Sidney Poitier, this is an off-the-grid place with natural sites (and Pre-Columbian caves), along with an incredible eight-mile-long pink sand beach.

Marie Galante

Another largely unknown island in the Guadeloupe archipelago, this is paradise for rum-seekers, with three rum distilleries for an island of just 12,000 people. While it’s by far the most populous place on this list, it’s also among the most enchanting — filled with beaches, sugar cane fields and the kind of romance you can only find in the French West Indies.

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