The Underrated Attractions Of The Caribbean

The Caribbean is a destination people visit from all over the world, and with good reason. The entire region, more or less, exemplifies tropical beauty, and there are all sorts of things to do there. Whether it’s staying at the resorts of the Bahamas, strolling the old town of San Juan, Puerto Rico, snorkeling in Barbados, or simply laying out on a soft, white sand beach, it’s almost hard not to have a relaxing time. Best of all, the Caribbean feels remarkably under-commercialized for all its popularity. 

To further celebrate the region and all it has to offer though, I wanted to use this space to talk about some of its underrated attractions, rather than the same old top beaches, best scuba spots, etc. These, for travelers all over the world, are the highlights that can make a trip more fun and which sometimes go unnoticed. Enjoy! 

Interior Hiking 

Long walks on the beach are a given more or less anywhere in the Caribbean. However, there tends to be so much emphasis on the coastal spots that a lot of travelers remain largely unaware of the beautiful interior nature so many of the islands also possess, and some of the incredible hikes that can be had through it. Whatever island you may be traveling to, take some time to look toward its center and some of the forested areas flush with hiking trails. Places like Concord Falls in Grenada, El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, and El Choo National Park in the Dominican Republic, just to name a few, offer truly gorgeous hiking experiences. 

Sailing Between Islands 

Plenty of people want to visit islands and take boats out if possible, but usually this means something like a fishing trip, offshore scuba dive, party boat, or jet ski rental. What’s underrated is the potential in certain spots to sail – or, better yet, take a catamaran – from one island to another. It’s a majestic experience and can make for an ideal excursion, even if you’re simply booking a place and not controlling the vessel yourself. 

The Local Sports 

The sports scene in the Caribbean isn’t talked about particularly often, perhaps mostly because the major North and South American countries are simply better known for certain sports. However, depending somewhat on which islands you’re visiting, there are actually some very strong sports in the area. For instance, the Dominican Republic is probably the best country in the world at baseball on a per capita basis, and other destinations like Curacao and Puerto Rico excel similarly. Cricket and soccer are popular on a number of the islands, and even basketball has taken off to some extent, particularly in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Because of all this, a local sporting event can actually be a terrific attraction. 

Local Cuisines 

For some reason the local preparations of the Caribbean are almost never discussed. People head to the region generally expecting to get some seafood, but are generally fairly ignorant as to the styles and specific dishes that can be found around the islands. The truth is that there’s a little bit of everything: incredible fish preparations, hearty rice-based dishes, empanadas filled with most anything, assorted street foods, entire roast chickens, and more. It’s a region full of bright dishes and bold flavors, and frankly an underrated part of the world in which to eat!