Five Undiscovered Caribbean Islands
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Traveling to the Caribbean these days, one expects to be part of a crowd. While it may seem that all of the 7,000-plus islands have been overrun and overexposed, there are still amazing, relatively undiscovered islands that offer the solitude, simplicity, and luxury that first attracted tourists to the area 60 years ago. We've narrowed down the list to five spots that provide a wide range of experiences: from rain forest eco-chic to French colonial charm to volcano-relic wonder, these under-the-radar getaways are blissfully free of the usual hullabaloo.
Terre-de-Haut
Bijou of the French West Indies
With its red roofs cascading down craggy peaks, picturesque white-sand beaches, and quiet Mediterranean ambience, tiny Terre-de-Haut, off the southwestern tip of Guadeloupe, resembles its sister island of St. Bart's in many respects but doesn't charge that locale's hefty prices. While the latter was traded back and forth between French and Swedish royalty, Terre-de-Haut was founded by Breton fishermen, and the result is a laid-back place with no haute-couture shops in sight.
Why go: Lined by the spectacular Baie des Saintes—a favorite mooring spot for yachties—Terre-de-Haut is undoubtedly the prettiest of Guadeloupe's outer islands. Its fishing heritage makes up a large part of its charm: colorful boats called Saintoises comprise the Caribbean's best-looking fishing fleet, while women on the pier still sell coconut and guava tourment d’amour (agony of love) cakes in honor of their husbands' long absences at sea. A no-rental-car policy gives the island a refreshing old-fashioned vibe and encourages zipping around by scooter to the pretty, wonderfully undeveloped beaches.
Where to stay: The surprisingly few hotels on Terre-de-Haut tend to be casual inns with modest amenities and lower high-season prices than you'd expect for such a charming island. The best one to book is Hotel Auberge les Petits Saints, a quaint hillside inn with smashing Baie des Saintes views. Its 10 rooms, which are chock-full of antiques (most of which are for sale), may not be for everyone, but the views and first-rate cuisine at the hotel's restaurant amply compensate for any quirkiness (rooms from $190; petitssaints.com).
Barbuda
Ultra-exclusive beach hideaway
Other Caribbean islands with beaches like Barbuda's are colonized with big resorts. Not so on Antigua's lesser-known sister atoll 25 miles to the northeast, which remains almost as unspoiled today as it was when Christopher Columbus discovered it in 1493. The Codrington family may have something to do with its pristine condition: They limited development when they leased the island from 1685 to 1870, a policy that's endured, even though all that's left of their tenure are a couple of ruins and a tiny hamlet (the island's only village) bearing the family name.
Why go: Few islands allow you to completely unplug from it all like this one, where the most common activity is beachcombing for tiny pastel-pink shells. With a population of around 1,500 and only two swanky beach resorts occupying its 68 square miles, you can count on monopolizing miles of deserted pink- and white-sand beaches; snorkeling and diving amid 150 offshore shipwrecks; gazing at the many species of birds at the Frigate Bird Sanctuary; and walking the handful of streets that comprise rustic Codrington.
Where to stay: Barbuda's hotel options are limited to two ultra-luxe resorts—Coco Point Lodge and K Club—both destinations in their own rights, with some of the Caribbean's steepest nightly rates for their posh perks. (Bear in mind that prices usually include breakfast and dinner and that there's little else on which to spend your money.) Between the two, your smart splurge is the K Club, an intimate 29-room hotel designed by Italian couturier Krizia with 9 miles of uncrowded sand at its doorstep; Princess Diana enjoyed the seclusion here so much she stayed here four times (rooms from $2000; kclubbarbuda.com).
Terre-de-Haut
Bijou of the French West Indies
With its red roofs cascading down craggy peaks, picturesque white-sand beaches, and quiet Mediterranean ambience, tiny Terre-de-Haut, off the southwestern tip of Guadeloupe, resembles its sister island of St. Bart's in many respects but doesn't charge that locale's hefty prices. While the latter was traded back and forth between French and Swedish royalty, Terre-de-Haut was founded by Breton fishermen, and the result is a laid-back place with no haute-couture shops in sight.
Why go: Lined by the spectacular Baie des Saintes—a favorite mooring spot for yachties—Terre-de-Haut is undoubtedly the prettiest of Guadeloupe's outer islands. Its fishing heritage makes up a large part of its charm: colorful boats called Saintoises comprise the Caribbean's best-looking fishing fleet, while women on the pier still sell coconut and guava tourment d’amour (agony of love) cakes in honor of their husbands' long absences at sea. A no-rental-car policy gives the island a refreshing old-fashioned vibe and encourages zipping around by scooter to the pretty, wonderfully undeveloped beaches.
Where to stay: The surprisingly few hotels on Terre-de-Haut tend to be casual inns with modest amenities and lower high-season prices than you'd expect for such a charming island. The best one to book is Hotel Auberge les Petits Saints, a quaint hillside inn with smashing Baie des Saintes views. Its 10 rooms, which are chock-full of antiques (most of which are for sale), may not be for everyone, but the views and first-rate cuisine at the hotel's restaurant amply compensate for any quirkiness (rooms from $190; petitssaints.com).
Barbuda
Ultra-exclusive beach hideaway
Other Caribbean islands with beaches like Barbuda's are colonized with big resorts. Not so on Antigua's lesser-known sister atoll 25 miles to the northeast, which remains almost as unspoiled today as it was when Christopher Columbus discovered it in 1493. The Codrington family may have something to do with its pristine condition: They limited development when they leased the island from 1685 to 1870, a policy that's endured, even though all that's left of their tenure are a couple of ruins and a tiny hamlet (the island's only village) bearing the family name.
Why go: Few islands allow you to completely unplug from it all like this one, where the most common activity is beachcombing for tiny pastel-pink shells. With a population of around 1,500 and only two swanky beach resorts occupying its 68 square miles, you can count on monopolizing miles of deserted pink- and white-sand beaches; snorkeling and diving amid 150 offshore shipwrecks; gazing at the many species of birds at the Frigate Bird Sanctuary; and walking the handful of streets that comprise rustic Codrington.
Where to stay: Barbuda's hotel options are limited to two ultra-luxe resorts—Coco Point Lodge and K Club—both destinations in their own rights, with some of the Caribbean's steepest nightly rates for their posh perks. (Bear in mind that prices usually include breakfast and dinner and that there's little else on which to spend your money.) Between the two, your smart splurge is the K Club, an intimate 29-room hotel designed by Italian couturier Krizia with 9 miles of uncrowded sand at its doorstep; Princess Diana enjoyed the seclusion here so much she stayed here four times (rooms from $2000; kclubbarbuda.com).
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