Travel Outside the South 9 Secret Caribbean Resorts That Are Pure Paradise By Coastal Living Coastal Living Published quarterly, Coastal Living reaches consumers who love life on the coast. Whether they are living right on the water or are dreaming of their next beach escape, these passionate consumers want the coastal lifestyle in their home, travel, and every other aspect of their lives. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 5, 2022 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Jillian is a freelance writer, editor and fact-checker with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. In addition to fact-checking for Southern Living, Jillian works on multiple verticals across Dotdash-Meredith, including TripSavvy, The Spruce, and Travel + Leisure. brand's fact checking process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Kip Dawkins Photography If to you a vacation sounds like private beaches, coconut palms, panoramic views, and even butler service, then bypass the mega-resorts and crowded beaches and check out these sublime Caribbean hideaway resorts and hotels. Savor a personalized four-course meal. Enjoy a private bonfire on the beach. Spend the day paddleboarding in crystal blue-green waters or sunning on a secluded white sand beach, and top off the evening with fruits from the island or local rum. With luxury like this, you may just forget about life on the mainland and never want to leave. Here are 10 secret Caribbean resorts that are pure paradise. 01 of 09 Yemaya, Little Corn Island, Nicaragua Courtesy of Yemaya Island Hideway & Spa Discover a truly untrammeled side of the Caribbean on this blissfully lost-in-time, car-free island. Yemaya Reefs offers a buffet of options from wildly affordable accommodation-only rates to luxe packages that include all meals, Wi-Fi, and use of water sports equipment. The chic, low-key resort features 16 oceanfront suites, five with plunge pools, all overlooking a white sand beach lined with coconut palms. The restaurant prepares healthful, delicious Creole and Caribbean dishes using organic produce from the hotel's gardens, and staff can even arrange a romantic private bonfire dinner for two beachside; 303-327-8143, Northern End, Little Corn Island, Nicaragua. 02 of 09 Fowl Cay, Bahamas Kip Dawkins Photography If you're the kind of traveler who considers privacy the ultimate luxury, this 50-acre private island resort comes close to Utopia. Housing just six whitewashed villas set at a blissfully far distance from one another, this under-the-radar Bahamian retreat serves up a mix of the sybaritic—cocktails on the deck at the stylish Hill House, games of bocce on the private beach, languid dinners on the terrace—and the active. Each villa comes with its own motorboat for exploring the dazzling natural beauty of the Exumas, made of up 365 tiny islands and cays. Even more appealing: everything is included in the rate, from the fully stocked kitchen in your villa to all meals and drinks at the Hill House; 877-845-5275, Fowl Cay, Exumas, Bahamas. 03 of 09 Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barths Emily Lab The idyllic French-Caribbean island of St. Barths might have been well and truly discovered by the jetset, but there are still a handful of lesser-known gems to uncover, like this swanky hilltop hideaway set high above Toiny Bay. Reopened in October 2018 following a year-long closure and $2 million restoration after Hurricane Irma, this discreet beauty debuted eight new freestanding villas to join its 14 classic villas, along with a beachfront pool and bar. The much-loved Toiny Restaurant features an expansive oyster bar and upscale island favorites; 1-800-680-0832, 97133 Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies, Caribbean. 04 of 09 Amanera, Dominican Republic Courtesy of Aman Located on the Dominican Republic's tranquil northern shore is this drop-dead-gorgeous haven, the Aman group's second Caribbean hotel. The crowd-shy will thrill to the resort's secluded setting among 2,170 acres of pristine tropical forest overlooking the windswept golden sands of mile-long Playa Grande. There are just 25 villas set atop 60-foot cliffs, each with private pools and expansive beach views, along with a world-class spa that pays homage to the country's shamanic healing traditions. Dine on fresh, organic dishes with a Dominican spin in the restaurant for dazzling floor-to-ceiling ocean views, or repair to the Club de Playa for a sand-between-the-toes beachfront dining experience; 1-809-589-2888, Highway 5, Cabrera Rio San Juan 33300, Dominican Republic. 05 of 09 Hotel Plein Soleil, Martinique Adrian Stone The French Territory of Martinique is something of an insider's secret in itself, despite its prominent location at the heart of the Caribbean archipelago. This charmant 16-room boutique hideout is positioned between two bays and features a Creole-style main house and five villas with white gingerbread trim set among lush tropical gardens abloom with bougainvillea. There's plenty of room to explore thanks to the hotel's vast gardens and its vantage point overlooking Baie de François, dotted with tiny islets. In the restaurant, chef Rudy Réclair whips up Franco-Caribbean dishes based on his daily market finds; +596 (0)596 380 777, Pointe Thalémont I 97240, Le François 97240, Martinique. 06 of 09 Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands Courtesy of TripAdvisor Rentals If your vacation style involves putting as much distance between yourself and civilization as possible, Virgin Gorda's Oil Nut Bay could be your ideal escape. Set on the tip of the island's eastern peninsula, this resort community can only be reached by boat, helicopter or private jet. Once ashore, home awaits in the form of ultra-luxe villas, access to one of the longest white-sand beaches in the BVI, and a host of fun water-based activities, from snorkeling to paddleboarding. Add butler service, a luxe beach club, and a marina, and there's really not much incentive to book that heli-flight back home; 1-800-761-0377, Virgin Gorda Oil Nut Bay, British Virgin Islands. 07 of 09 Guana Island, British Virgin Islands Erhard Pfeiffer/Guana Island An 850-acre private island provides the perfect formula for losing yourself on dreamy beaches and along remote forest tracks, then finding yourself again at cocktail hour: that's the routine on beautiful Guana Island, where a few lucky souls gather at dusk each day to raise glasses on the Sunset Terrace, an open-air patio perched on a ridgeline overlooking the Atlantic. The island is rich in natural beauty, including perfect white-sand beaches, lofty walking trails, and even an orchard where guests can stop and sample the tropical bounty: papaya, jackfruit, soursop, and fresh coconuts. After dark, the resort is lit with torches and the restaurant begins dazzling diners with inventive dishes from chef Kael Mendoza, whose Mexican heritage and impressive resume elevate the experience to even greater heights; 1-800-544-8262, Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. 08 of 09 Cooper Island Beach Club, British Virgin Islands Cooper Island Beach Club If the boating life is your cup of tea, this stylishly laid-back port in the British Virgin Islands might be just the ticket. The island is a favorite stop for yachtspeople cruising the archipelago's famously blue clear waters: 40 moorings are available in beautiful Manchioneel Bay, along with eight beachy-chic guest rooms set among tropical gardens facing The Sir Francis Drake Channel and the islands beyond. Seek refreshments at the island's seasonally inspired restaurant, the hip coffee shop, or the rum bar. There's even a solar-powered microbrewery on the island; 1-800-542-4624, Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island, British Virgin Islands. 09 of 09 Secret Bay, Dominica Secret Bay, Dominica Located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, the lush, volcanic island of Dominica is drawing a new generation of eco-minded travelers seeking a wilder, less touristed side of the Caribbean. This aptly named resort, dramatically set on a cliff overlooking the ocean and between two beaches, is the perfect base from which to explore the region's beauty both overland and beneath the waves. (Dominica is considered one of the best diving locations in the world.) Check into one of the treehouse-style villas and bungalows, designed by Venezuelan architect Fruto Vivas and built using sustainably harvested Guyanese hardwood, and prepare to retreat from the world in the most luxurious way. Guests can dine in the splendor of their villa or repair to the Zing Zing restaurant, where the menu changes according to the local markets and the seasons; 1-833-916-0833, Portsmouth, Dominica. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit