Luxury Living International’s Best of Paradise: Top 12 Beach Bars Blenders, Beach Bars & Bikinis

Anyone can stick up a shack on the sand, stock it with beers and call it a beach bar. But what makes a great beach bar? It could be the sand-in-your-toes factor, or the washing and hissing of the waves nearby, or the sunsets or the people you meet. But the truth is there’s no formula, no magic ingredients that will guarantee a place in a list of the world’s best beach bars—just a perfect confluence of feeling and atmosphere. We’ve included spots that range from the chic and the elite with smooth lines and mesmerizing cocktail waiters, to the haphazard, thrown-together shacks constructed from scavenged driftwood.The only thing these places have in common is that once you’ve been, you inevitably start planning to get back there—someday, somehow.

So, sit back and imagine you’re on a hammock laying under swaying palm trees, watching clouds float by, and sipping on a drink poured into a hollowed-out coconut while you peruse our list of the best beach bars in the Americas. Raise a glass with us—and to the steel drum music and reggae beat of island living—and check out these rum-soaked pieces of tropical paradise.

1. The Soggy Dollar (Jost Van Dyke, BVI)

Sometimes, the original is the best, and “The Dollar,” as it’s called by regulars, is the original home of the Caribbean’s signature drink, “The Painkiller,” as well as one of the best island bars in the British Virgin Islands—and, honestly, the world.

Located at the White Beach on Jost Van Dyke, The Soggy Dollar has recently become accessible by road, though most patrons still swim up from their anchorages. Thanks to their journey, the dollars are often wet, hence the term “Soggy Dollar.” In fact, there is a line where the bills are clipped up so that they can dry off. Hammocks are strung from the trees providing a tropical retreat where you can sip away the pain and sun yourself to your heart’s content, or partake in any number of bar games provided before swimming back to your boat.

2. Willie T’s (Norman Island, BVI)

There can hardly be a discussion about beach bars without referencing the amazing Willie T’s in the British Virgin Islands. Located in floating pirate ship anchored in Bight’s Cove off Norman Island, this hideaway is rumored to be near the fabled treasure trove of Long John Silver.

If the idea of drinking on a pirate ship in the Caribbean isn’t compelling enough, try some of their notoriously strong drinks, such as the “shotski” or their infamous “bodyshots”. As the day goes on at Willie T’s, the crowd gets rowdier and clothing becomes optional. Many pirates-in-training end up “walking the plank” or jumping off the stern, clad only in their birthday suits, much to the delight of their fellow onlookers below.

3. The Office (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)

Settling in for a day at The Office in Cabo San Lucas is worlds away from your desk job. In addition to their classic margaritas and tequila-based cocktails (it is Mexico, after all), The Office has some of the best finger food around, especially their ever-popular breakfast served on tables twenty-five feet from the surf.

In fact, heading to The Office is all day—and night—event. Spend your day lounging around on their portion of Mendano Beach and then head up to a table for one of their bar specials during happy hour, and then dance the night away as things heat up when the sun goes down. This might be the one office gig where you don’t mind working late into the night.

4. Barefoot Beach Bar (Placencia, Belize)

Located on the best beach in the entire country of Belize in the middle of the quaint fishing village of Placencia, there lies a vaunted institution of the Caribbean bar scene: the Barefoot Beach Bar.

This small bar sits about seventy feet from the Caribbean sea and only steps from the village’s picturesque main street, which was dubbed “the worlds smallest main street” by Guinness Book of World Records. It’s essentially a long sidewalk that winds through the village hosting art galleries, t-shirt shops and a few other beach bars—but none can beat the reggae vibes or perfect location of Barefoot.

Barefoot not only sits on a great beach but offers thirsty tourists great bar food and cheap tropical drinks, as well. Their most popular beverages are Belikin Beer (Belize’s official brew) and One Barrel and Coke (Belizes’s official rum), but they offer all your tropical favorites. Don’t miss the reggae bands that play live on most weekend nights, when people from around the world gather under the palms to dance the night away, One Barrel in hand.

5. Nikki Beach (St. Barth’s)

Enjoy a taste of the good life at Nikki Beach in St. Barth’s, beach bar to the fabulous and famous. Nestled up to the beach of St. Jean, Nikki Beach is the place to be see and be seen on the island, yet it still manages to keep that chilled out Caribbean vibe that we know and love. White on white beds, drapery and an abundance of pillows complement the chic European-style beach oasis, and you can expect to be rubbing shoulders with the VIPs and celebrity clientele at this Instagram-worthy hotspot. Resident DJ Jacques Dumas spins a mix of music from around the world while models and tourists alike enjoy the music, the sun, the sand, and the amazing cocktails at this beach bar to the stars.

6. Rick’s Café

This lively bar on Jamaica’s western tip is a nonstop show—from locals performing aerial acrobatic dives from even higher cliffs, to tourists psyching up to take their own leaps from one of five rocky platforms descending from the bar’s clifftop aerie (ignoring red warning signs detailing the risks). Grab a local beer, because is there anything better on a hot Jamaican day than a cold bottle of Red Stripe? Rum drinkers go for Rick’s Famous Planter’s Punch, a sweet, classic blend of rum and fruit juices that is, as the bar menu reminds, “a way of life here, mon.” Consider bringing some extra cash for offering the local divers a tip. And don’t forget to watch for that glorious sunset.  RicksCafeJamaica.com

7. Woody’s (St. John)

“Happy Hour is the reason I get up every afternoon” read the server’s shirts at Woody’s in St. John—and they aren’t kidding. Woody’s is the top destination for the five-to-seven crowd on this island.

Naturally, the small blue and white shack is always packed during those key hours, and accordingly, the food coming out of the kitchen is amazing. Conch fritters and seafood platters are all offered at a very reasonable price, coupled with dollar beers and discounted drink specials, making this this a must-stop-spot in St. John. Never fear, the festivities are not restricted to Happy Hour —you can find a party at Woody’s every night of the week.

8. Foxy’s (Jost Van Dyke, BVI)

Foxy’s is an institution on Jost Van Dyke. Hosting one of the world’s top New Years Eve parties, they are known for their hospitality, relaxed attitude, and general pursuit of a good time. Owner Foxy Callwood is a sixth generation Jost Van Dyke native, and he’s renowned for his original songs and jokes, along with his unique rum and microbrews made on the premises (insider tip: ask for a tour).

The bar hosts many regattas and is always jam packed with sailors and their friends looking for a great time, a rocking band and an icy cold drink in a setting that’s colorful and full of high spirits—both in the form of the bar’s libations and from the company!

9. Encanto (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

At the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean goes glam at the groovy Encanto. Known for the unique traveling cart stocked with seven varieties of their signature mojitos wheeled around to patrons as they lounge poolside in luxurious canopied daybeds and pod chairs, guests at Encanto get to experience the Caribbean equivalent of table service at a hot night club—except for that this service is complementary and its offered around the clock.

At Encanto, there is also the option to rent a tiki hut cabana complete with wi-fi access, flat screen televisions, a full minibar and of course visits from the roaming drink cart. This isn’t exactly a “sand in the toes anything goes” kind of beach bar, but it is a fantastically posh oasis where you can definitely get away from it all.

10. Cow Wreck Beach Bar and Grill (Anegeda, BVI)

Nestled in the sand on the pristine undeveloped island of Anegeda, the Cow Wreck Beach Bar and Grill is a hidden gem of a destination for Caribbean travelers. In fact, the funky bar stands alone surrounded by nothing but unspoiled stretches of sand, palm trees, and crystal blue waters on both sides, making it feel like you’ve stumbled on a crazy party in the middle of a desert island.
In fact, that’s what really sets this bar apart—while the freshness of the delicious food, the strength of the drinks, and the low-key attitude of the guests and staff alike are reason enough to visit, the absolutely stunning location makes it an unforgettable beach bar.

And, by the freshness of the bar menu, we mean seriously fresh: the close proximity to the waters means that their lobster is kept live in underwater cages, and also a la carte are the local sharks that the barman catches every morning. The peaceful beach is great for a lazy day of snorkeling, eating and drinking—plus, you can hit the bar when the sun goes down.

11. Banana Beach (Santa Teresa, Costa Rica)

Banana Beach is a relatively new bar situated right on the beach in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Located just in front of the old Luz de Vida, this is a great place to unwind and enjoy the sunset from a day bed, lounge chair or even a hammock style swing, ice cold cocktail in hand.

Plus, you can rent a cabin and stay right on site – snorkel, swim, and surf during the day, enjoy amazing food and cocktails by night – it’s a little piece of Costa Rican paradise that you’ll never want to leave – Pura Vida.

12. Da Conch Shack and Rumbar (Turks & Caicos)

Da Conch Shack is perhaps the most popular beach bar on Turks & Caicos – and that’s definitely saying something, considering the many popular spots for castaways to wash up on these island shores.

Known for the “Conchknocker”, their signature drink that features plenty of rum, this vibrantly hued ramshackle beach shack is justifiably famous for their fresh conch and seafood dishes, all broiled, spiced, cracked, and fried to perfection. All best enjoyed with your toes in the sand or hanging off the wooden deck on the water’s edge, of course!

There are also live reggae DJs on Sunday afternoons, theme music nights, and even some friendly stray dogs at this beach bar that keeps a neighborhood vibe even though it has achieved international attention.

By Jackie Bryant

When deciding on a yoga retreat, there are a few things that are absolute musts. Skilled teachers? Yes. Inspiring views? Probably. Good weather? Definitely–especially if you’d like to practice outside. And, not to be overlooked, a comfortable and beautiful hotel and nourishing, delicious food are probably high on the list too. Ideally, would-be retreat-goers want nothing short of perfection, which is exactly where we come in. We’ve scanned the tropics looking for the most luxe retreats in the most idyllic locations. These are our 10 picks for yoga retreats in paradise.

Resort at Pedregal – Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

One of Cabo’s finest luxury resorts, beachside Resort at Pedregal is offering a special retreat for guests who want to get in touch with the power of the moon. The package includes two private yoga classes, a moon meditation and a night yoga class under their oceanside palapa. Also included is a moonstone flow treatment at the resort’s Luna y Mar Spa, which offers energy work and a massage intended to heal and regenerate according to the phase of the moon. $520 USD

Anamaya Resort – Montezuma, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Anamaya’s perch in the jungle overlooking the Pacific Ocean has earned it cult-like status in the yoga practicing world. They offer many styles of retreat: month-long teacher training programs, surf and yoga hybrids, yoga and adventure hybrids, scuba and yoga, and others. At the end of whatever long day you have, relax in the resort’s saltwater infinity pool and retire to one of the many unique styles of rooms: some are treehouses, some have outdoor bathrooms. There might be no better place to integrate with nature and bliss out. Rates start at $895 USD/week for dorm occupancy

Amansala – Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Celebrities and yogis of all kids flock to Amansala, an eco resort on the Riviera Maya of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Even Mandy Ingber, who teaches celebrity clients like Jennifer Aniston, counts Amansala among one of her hallowed places to relax and regroup. Between vinyasa sequences, breathing and meditation workshops, indulgent spa treatments and simply lounging on the resort’s pristine beaches, yogis often take time off to explore the quaint town of Tulum and nearby Mayan ruins. Rates for a 6-day Beach & Bliss retreat begin at $1,775 for triple occupancy

Rachel Brathen Retreats – Aruba

Instagram star Rachel Brathen, otherwise known as “Yoga Girl,” designed an island retreat with her husband so all of her adoring yoga-practicing disciples could come practice with her. She’s Swedish, but has been holed up on Aruba for years now. In addition to some personal enlightenment with Rachel, participants will engage in a Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga session, take a sunset sail, visit Aruba’s natural pool, lounge on the beach and hike on the island’s north shore. Meals will be prepared by an in-house chef and are promised to be nourishing and delicious, and guests will bed down at nearby Costa Esmeralda. Starts at $1,405 USD for 5 days, quad occupancy

Como Parrot Cay – Turks and Caicos

Como Parrot Cay’s retreats are legendary in the yoga world. Beyond yoga, the retreats offer Ayurvedic treatments, aromatherapy, Pilates and other holistic treatments to help guests achieve true mental, physical and spiritual balance. The facilities are pristine and top of the line: a yoga shala that invites natural breezes, an outdoor jacuzzi garden, nine treatment rooms, double massage rooms and Japanese baths. And, of course, guests get to stay in the luxe digs at Como Parrot  Cay, one of the premier resorts in Turks & Caicos. Their next retreat, hosted by the Curry sisters, will be held on May 1st. Beginning at $6,753 USD for double occupancy, 5 days

Jungle Bay – Dominica

Jungle Bay is a wellness-oriented eco resort on the naturally bountiful island of Dominica. They’ve become famous on the yoga circuit for their retreats and facilities, which are top notch and immersive. Accommodations include eco cottages, which are hardwood and elevated on wooden posts for a prime treetop view of the Caribbean Sea. Even the yoga studio is made of reclaimed rock. Each comes equipped with an outdoor raindrop shower and a spacious patio with hammock. Their retreats host a rotating cast of yoga teachers from around the United States, like Elena Brower and Rodney Yee, and in addition to daily classes, retreat-goers will enjoy organic food, nature hikes, detoxifying spa treatments and plenty of beach relaxation. Jungle Bay is currently closed for renovation but is accepting reservations for 2018.

Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat – Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Santa Teresa is best known for being the sleepy little sister to Costa Rica’s bigger surf towns, garnering a reputation as a more secluded, low-key destination. In other words: perfect for yogis. Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat was built by the same group that runs nearby Florablanca, so you’ll know comfort and style are first rate here. Pranamar specializes in surf and yoga packages, which include daily surf and yoga classes, a massage, daily breakfast and accommodations in the resort’s villas and bungalows. All retreats and classes are designed from input from their in-house yogi, Nancy Goodfellow, who specializes in tantric hatha yoga. Begins at $1,005 USD for a 5-day package

Xinalani Retreat – Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico

With a capacity of just 54 people, a retreat at Xinalani is truly just that–a retreat. Its 23 rooms are all oceanfront and are stilted, palm-thatched cottages on stilts in the jungle. Our favorites are the Eco Chic suites, offering a sprawling terrace with the best views on the property and a hammock to enjoy them in.  Xinalani was designed with retreats in mind, and in addition to yoga they offer meditation classes, steam bath sessions and Tamazcal rituals to cleanse mind, body and spirit. Single occupancy in an Eco Chic suite starts at $2,950 USD for a week yoga retreat

BodyHoliday – St. Lucia

Known as St. Lucia’s premier wellness resort, BodyHoliday has guests covered for everything from top-of-the-line rooms to its specially-designed yoga programming from in-house, resident yogi Natascha Zeller. They offer many different styles of yoga and combine the tradition with Ayurvedic techniques and practices to offer another avenue of healing, reintegration and reinvigoration for your mind and body. In particular, we love their “Octoba Yoga” theme month, which is essentially an immersive month-long, resort-wide retreat experience with special spa and massage treatments; Ashtanga, Hatha and Katti yoga classes; and special yogic foods and teas. In addition to yoga, they also offer a full suite of fitness and wellness activities–from horseback riding to scuba diving–for a well-rounded experience in the most beautiful setting. Rates are variable depending on room choice, season and length of stay, but Standard Garden View rooms start at $3,574 USD for one week during high season

Petit St. Vincent – St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Petit. St. Vincent is a tranquil paradise  on a small island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, about 40 miles south of St. Vincent. With the boutique luxury resort’s two open air palapas, one facing the Atlantic Ocean and the other, Conch Bay, the property was built to accommodate yogis and groups of many sizes. Petit St. Vincent offers not one, but two on-site yoga instructors, meaning careful attention and a range of different styles and activities. They also lead instruction out on the pier, which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Their Tranquility Package offers three private yoga sessions, a range of land and sea activities, three massages and a sunset cruise. Double occupancy in a one bedroom cottage starts at $6,300 USD for the seven night Tranquility Package

By Jackie Bryant

The dream is real: you float in a warm, turquoise sea as schools of patterned fish meander past. Corals reach out. A turtle lifts its beak from snacking on a sponge to notice your bubbles and returns to eating. Diving is an exquisite experience and the Caribbean as well as  the east and west coasts of Mexico host many of the best dive sites in the world. If you’ve caught the diving bug, the question is only where to make the dream come true.

What kind of diving experience do you long for? As a new diver, or once certified but out of practice, a resort dive to freshen skills with attentive dive masters will turn you into a relaxed and happy bubble blower. If you’re experienced, confident and looking to add colorful or rare species to your log book, finding a dive operator with deep local knowledge makes all the difference between a so-so trip and a satisfying sojourn.

If you only have a few days off, consider how close dive sites are to your resort or home. Spending hours getting to dive spots and returning cuts into water and vacation time. A live-aboard boat, or hiring a bare-boat charter with crew, also assures that you spend maximum time in the sea. Not only that, but settling permanent in a location well-suited for divers means you’ll never have to factor in travel time ever again.

Options abound throughout the Caribbean and Mexican waters. Here are several locations to make your dive dreams come true and the best places to live if you’re a diver.

Diving Baja Mexico

Loreto

There are five protected islands within the Bay of Loreto National Marine Park with volcanic dive sites, finger reefs, and massive, underwater rock formations. All of them teem with sea life. Dive legend Jacques Cousteau had good reason to call the Sea of Cortez the “Aquarium of the World.”

Within two hours from Los Angeles, the stark Sierra Giganta mountains tower above a bright blue sea, dotted with red volcanic islands. The trim Loreto airport is no stranger to divers and fishermen hauling bags and coolers in and out of the boarding areas. Dive expeditions leave from town, from resorts or from various moorings nearby.

The Villa del Palmar Beach Resort is statuesque on a private bay about ten miles south of town. A dedicated dive staff with gear and small boats wait a few steps from the bathing beach. PADI training for dive certification is also available and the curious can sample diving in one of the pools. The spacious suites in the Villa del Palmar face the bay, and hiking trails, fine and casual dining and the Sabila Spa and Wellness Center are near. The Loreto region has long been an expat destination, so the city and area is dotted with many luxurious accommodations and mooring facilities.

La Paz

Diving tours at La Concha Beach Hotel

A world-class dive destination, La Paz is a three-hour flight from Mexico City or Los Angeles. The drive north of the vacation capital of Los Cabos takes just as long—but be prepared to share the road with buses, trucks and cows. There are at least a dozen dive operators in the area. While famous for large pelagic species such as hammerheads and whale sharks, divers can swim through bait balls, play with sea lions and night divers encounter schools of Mobula rays. Consider the location of your accommodations and dive operation as most of the dive sites are a 30 minute to hour-long boat ride from the closest resorts.

Hotel Cantamar, the furthest northern dive resort, has an impressive squadron of new dive boats with Spartan resort rooms and vacation rental facilities. Shuttles run from downtown accommodations to the dive launch, about 20 minutes away. While close to diving, the Cantamar dining offerings don’t compete with the cafes and finer options along the Malecon or tucked within the main village.

La Concha Resort, ten minutes from downtown, is the home of the PADI 5 Star Cortez Club dive operation. The rooms have a ‘rustic chic’ style with gated condominiums adjacent to the hotel.

A pair of luxurious villas are available close to the Cortez Club dive operators in the Playa de La Paz gated community, but you could also live in Los Cabos and make frequent trips up.

Diving the Mexican Riviera

Cozumel

The island of Cozumel, home to a wide variety of cherished dive spots, is close to the coastal playground of Playa del Carmen – a fifteen-minute ferry ride separates the two. Cozumel is well known as a sheltered underwater playground. Cruise ships dock close and the waterfront is dotted with boutique to moderate hotels, which are closest to the dive sites. Further out the road, major resorts dot the leeward side of the island.

The Sabor Cozumel Resort, formerly a Wyndham property, stretches along the longest beach on the island, about ten miles from town. The adult only, all-inclusive resort hosts a dozen lounges, bars and restaurant choices. Sand Dollar Sports has their own pier and PADI dive operation on-site. Scuba-to-advanced diving certifications are available. If you’re traveling with non-divers, helmet diving, snuba and snorkel tours are offered as well.

Isla Mujeres

A short boat ride from the Yucatan playground of Cancun, Isla Mujeres is warmed by the sunrise as the easternmost point in Mexico. Mayan ruins and pioneer artifacts, marine parks and an underwater sculpture garden tempt visitors but the small island is famous as an ocean-focused destination for water lovers. There are diving options but many visit for the chance to snorkel with Whale Sharks who feed nearby during late fall and winter.

Everything is close on the petite island. The sleek, Euro-luxe Privilege Auxles Hotel is a few steps across from guide boats to the shark sites. Divers can delight in the underwater MUSA Sculpture Museum off the southern tip of the island. Glass bottom boats and snorkel tours are available. The project was opened in 2010 as a man-made reef for coral and marine life which are transforming the pieces.

Those looking for a secluded experience might favor docking at the private pier of the Mia Reef Isla Mujeres. The resort hides on the northernmost tip of the island above reefs and tidepools. Being a diving hub, there are plenty of first-rate dive resorts, but there are also plenty of private yacht experiences catered to divers.

Diving the Caribbean

The British Virgin Islands

Live a trade-wind fantasy while exploring more than 60 unspoiled islands, mooring in private bays, tying up dockside for happy hours only open to sailors and diving on a whim in emerald seas. The BVI’s are home to hundreds of dive sites scattered amongst islands and reefs. Most are only accessible via small sailboat and catamarans within view of cruise ships, whose draw confines them to deeper waters.

American visitors may arrive in the BVI’s through San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a short flight into Tortola. Another option is via inter-island ferry from St. Thomas, in the United States Virgin Islands. Door-to-door express service to Tortola is available via the Dolphin Express.

For the particularly dialed-in, diving from Peter Island is luxurious adventure. Visitors arriving in Tortola are served by ferry, helicopter or the resort’s private yacht. Underwater film maker, Chuck Nicklin, has returned several times after filming ‘The Deep’ in the mid-seventies with Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset. He and the crew stayed in the cottages and none were of a mind to ‘dress for dinner,’ Chuck says, ‘I’m sure the island was happy to see us go.’ Today the dining traditions continue.

No boat or skippers license? No problem, as there are many live-aboard yachts and bare-boat charters available. Divers needing equipment and tanks are serviced at several dockside operations throughout the islands.

Live aboard diving offers great freedom. The dive masters travel with you from site to site. Equipment and tanks are serviced on board. The indulgence of having help getting into gear and at the end of the dive, getting back on board makes diving 3 or 4 times a day easy. Dives can be tailored to the group and most boats carry fewer than two dozen guests.

The BVI’s National Parks Trust has installed more than 200 mooring balls to help preserve popular anchorages. There are nearly 30 mooring sites scattered through the islands. Charts and electronic navigation mapping are required for those skippering their vessels. Yachts and Catamarans can be rented, mostly for minimum of a week through several charter companies. And, if you’re in need of a place to permanently bed down, this house is still on the market.

Cayman Islands

Divers touch down on Grand Cayman before flying off to the smaller islands of Little Cayman, one of our must-visit locales for 2017, and Cayman Brac. Each is dedicated to diving but there are still diversions for non-divers with lush Caribbean dining, and milky-white beaches bordering crystal blue seas. The Cayman Brac Beach resort is all-inclusive and features first class, ‘valet diving’ services for new and experienced divers. Real estate has been heating up on the big island of Grand Cayman, making it the ideal place to purchase a home while traveling to the smaller islands for frequent dive excursions.

Bahamas

Diving in the Outislands of the Bahamas.

The Bahamas are home to wrecks, reefs, walls and sharks. Divers venture to Nassau and most dive with Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas adventures. Stuart Cove has built his dive services in Nassau over thirty years and has received awards for educating the public about sharks in the Bahamas.

If the Hilton British Colonial was good enough for James Bond it works for divers in Nassau as well. Spreading over 8 acres of the Old Fort the hotel defines sophisticated luxury with contemporary touches. It’s located a short walk from markets and nightlife. There are shuttles to the dive boats from the hotel dock. A boutique hotel full of the island’s Junkanoo flavor and culture, Compass Point Beach Resort is ten minutes from the airport with 18 brightly colored huts; the closest accommodations to the Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas facility.

Belize

The UNESCO World Heritage site, the Belize Barrier Reef, is the second-largest coral system in the world. With more than seven marine reserves and over 400 cayes,  90% of the Belize Reef has yet to be researched – a tantalizing prospect for divers. International diving hotspot, the Hole, was made famous by Jacques Cousteau. It’s about 1,000 feet across and a little over 400 feet deep with immense stalactites and circling schools of Reef sharks. Visiting bubble blowers can find pampering or simple tropical getaways across the atolls and islands.

Lighthouse Reef, is closest to the Great Blue Hole and home to the Huracan Dive Resort. Staying there comes with the privilege of diving the Hole free from crowds. Private resort boats arrive twice weekly from Belize City and helicopters are available for hire.

Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort is a top vote winner in TripAdvisor polls for service and hugs several hundred feet of beach. Guests may choose to sleep in a private treehouse or a beachfront suite then mingle in the Great House, reminiscent of a plantation home.

Concierge diving experiences are available from Premier divers at Ambergris Caye. Their commitment to environmental best practices is helping preserve the natural beauty of the area through careful diving and supporting conservation projects.

By:  Elaine J. Masters

Your childlike wonder has reawakened since becoming a home owner in a Caribbean golf course community. Maybe this has something to do with your morning ritual of sipping freshly-squeezed passion fruit juice as you pull back the sliding glass door for the day’s grand unveiling. Your heart leaps a bit as you step out on your deck, and gaze at this morning’s version of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.

The juice, the view, and a quick shower are all you need before embarking on the activity that’s the signature perk of your new residence. One of the reasons you chose this home, next to this golf course, on this island, is that golf carts are the preferred form of transportation. No rush hour, only friendly “hellos” from fellow island enthusiasts as you motor to the first tee box.

What’s sublime about golf in the Caribbean is there’s a chance you’re playing 18 holes on a course designed by one of the game’s most legendary names. Nicklaus, Norman, and Trent Jones have all staked a claim on this region of pristine beaches, palm trees, conch shell tee markers, pink flamingos, and Paspalum fairways. The question is, “If you love to golf, which island is best for your dream home?

Abaco Club at Winding Bay on Great Abaco

If you have any doubt that Abaco Island is the Bahamas version of golf utopia, all you need to know can be found at The Abaco Club’s practice area. If it appears this massive targeted practice range seems like something the professionals would love, you’d be right.

Not only is the Abaco Club a great place to golf, the resort amenities are so high-end that several PGA players own second homes there. The ocean views encompassing the golf course, the restaurants, and the luxury villas are second to none.

In addition to cabanas and villas, a member of the Abaco Club’s experienced real estate team will discuss the option of building a four-bedroom estate as your Caribbean long-term escape. Amenities include tennis, spa, fitness center, and personal chef. http://theabacoclub.com/homes/

Baker’s Bay Golf and Ocean Club in Great Guana Cay

Discovery Land Company does it again. Creating the best of the best. The 585-acre Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club on tiny Great Guana Cay fits the saying, “Great things come in small packages. The sheer breadth of real estate and amenity  imagination occurring on this seven-mile long island translates into everything you could ask for in an luxury island golf community.

The Tom Fazio-designed golf course is the centerpiece of this community that includes a 200-slip deep water marina, restaurant, bar, spa, and retail center. The course flanked by the Sea of Abaco on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other is home to Baker’s island-style “sip sip” comfort stations.

Living the Baker’s Bay home owner dream starts at $3 million for those desiring a Marina Villa Residence or Boathouse. The island life at Baker’s Bay can also be enjoyed in cottages, flats, townhomes, waterfront residences, and estate homes up to $10 million.

CuisinArt Golf Course in Anguilla

When Anguilla’s CuisinArt Golf Course opened in 2011, golf was a new sport for this cricket-loving 18-mile-long island. Half a decade after CuisinArt burst on the golf scene, the course has garnered a wealth of awards heralding it as one of the Caribbean’s best.

Adding a Greg Norman design to an island with 33 of the most beautiful beaches in the world may feel like heaven on earth for the golf enthusiast. Cuisinart has a long-term solution for those who fall in love with its golf course, Five-Star hospitality, Rendezvous Bay Beach, and Anguilla’s splendid island beauty.

In November, Cuisinart Golf Resort & Spa opened The Reef, featuring 30 beachfront suites and 50 suites with either golf or sea view. This choice opportunity to own in Anguilla includes all the amenities that goes with staying at one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Guests at the Reef enjoy Cuisinart’s spa, tennis, water sports, five restaurants, hydroponic farm, and of course, golf. http://cuisinartresort.com/

El Camaleon in the Riviera Maya

Greg Norman introduces golfers to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sand traps on El Camaleon’s very first hole. El Cameleon’s first fairway unveils a cavernous centuries- old cenote that was uncovered during the construction of the course.

El Camaleon’s course conditions are pro-worthy to the point that the PGA’s televised Mayakoba Pro-Am is held there each February. For the golfer yearning for near-perfect temps and five-star accommodations, El Camaleon is surrounded by the best of the best in luxury hospitality amenities.

New home owners plant stakes amidst a Jim McLean Golf School, environmental beauty worthy of Audobon certification, canals reminiscent of Venice, and the ultra-turquoise Caribbean Sea. Home choices abound while choosing a beachfront villa residence within the Banyan Tree, Fairmont, or Rosewood properties.  http://mayakobaresidences.com/

Emerald Reef Golf Course on Great Exuma

Greg Norman so loves picturesque Exuma, and his signature-designed Emerald Reef Golf Course, that he vacations there regularly. Great Exuma has gained fame as the prime locale for swimsuit issues, private island retreats, top-notch bonefishing, and Johnny Depp’s most famous film series.

The source of the Great Exuma fuss is the surrounding high-octane water color. If turquoise is your favorite hue, then you’ll delight in the fact that half of Emerald Reef’s 18 holes hug the Caribbean Sea.

Five-star ownership possibilities are found on Emerald Reef’s back nine as several golf holes wrap around the luxurious Grand Isle Resort. The resort is home to 78 ready-to-own villas.  Imagine choosing from golf course views, ocean views, and in most cases, both. http://www.grandisleresort.com/

Four Seasons Nevis Golf Course

When was the last time you played golf at the base of a volcano? When was the last time you exchanged glances with a vervet monkey? When was the last time you teed off with a centuries-old sugar mill at your back? You’ll find all this and more at the Four Seasons Nevis Golf Course.

If Nevis is the site of your next tee time, realize that you’ll be playing 18 holes in the presence of Mt.Nevis, a 3,200-ft volcano. This Robert Trent Jones-designed course is so scenic that a golf cart tour is the favorite excursion of Four Seasons’ pampered guests.

The Four Seasons legendary service may have you exploring Nevis as a second home retreat. The Villas at Four Seasons Nevis is for vacationers wishing to call Nevis home for more than a week. Purchase one of the 78 existing Four Seasons Residence villas, or start fresh by building your Caribbean dream home on one of the remaining 23 lots on this 350-acre oasis.  fsrenevis.com

The Green Monkey Golf Course at Sandy Lane in Barbados

Tom Fazio clearly outdid himself with his Barbados golf masterpiece. On the 16th hole, the Green Monkey’s iconic Par 3, golfers gape at a sand trap shaped like the course’s namesake.  Leading up to this visual you’ll experience stone cliff walls, roller coaster undulations, and gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea.

For golfers looking to spread their wings, Barbados’ west coast is also home to Royal Westmoreland and Apes Hill Club. Then again, it’s hard to leave the opulence of the Sandy Lane property, especially considering the style oozing from the resort’s oceanfront restaurants and top-ranked 47,000-square-foot spa.

For buyers seeking to go all in on Barbados, the residences at One Sandy Lane are arguably the most luxurious properties ever built on Barbados. These residences, or “palatial units,” range in size from 8,500 to 10,000 square feet. One of the Sandy Lane properties was re-designed by the same French company known for restoring the Palace of Versailles. http://www.onesandylane.com/

If world-class golf and living the island life is your idea of heaven, owning a home in Great Exuma, Nevis, Punta Cana, Great Abaco, Riviera Maya, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, Barbados, and Anguilla could be your ticket to paradise.

Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic

Playa Grande Golf Course in the Dominican Republic was bound to happen. When savvy real estate investors explored beyond Punta Cana, the Dominican’s golf epicenter, they discovered Playa Grande. Opening as the first golf course to position itself on Dominican’s lush northeast coast, Playa Grande was born in 2015.

Aman Resorts is the hospitality and real estate brain trust behind Playa Grande. Aman first tapped Robert Trent Jones, and then son Rees, to provide the golf artistic touches within its 2,000-acres. Playa Grande is a wonderful mix of the Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea, two beaches, a mountain range, and a natural preserve. Luxury connoisseurs will note that Playa Grande Club & Reserve is the first Aman property to include golf.

Owners purchasing a three to six-bedroom Amanera villa also receive a complimentary membership to Playa Grande Golf Course. Playa Grande’s 18-hole layout features 10 magnificent ocean holes. On the heels of their early villa ownership success, Aman is already planning a second real estate phase with the Villas at Playa Navio and the Mountain Reserve.   http://www.playagrande.com/real-estate/

Provo Golf Club in Turks and Caicos

Location, location, location is the ultimate real estate mantra. On the Turks and Caicos island of Providenciales, the island’s lone golf course is positioned next to what many consider “the best beach in the world.”

Year after year, gorgeous Grace Bay Beach is ranked as number one, not just in the Caribbean, but the entire planet. This stunning five-mile long stretch of beach is located just a driver’s length from Provo Golf Club’s first tee box.

For second home explorers who find great golf and endless beach to be a best of both worlds situation, then Providenciales is as good as it gets. If owning on Grace Bay is a must on your new home wish list, check out the quiet Beach Enclave Grace Bay, a gated community with a prime beach location. If you’re more into the seclusion of Providenciales next big thing, consider the new Shore Club villas on the uber-exclusive Long Bay side of the island.  http://www.beachenclave.com/   http://theshoreclubtc.com/

Punta Espada in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

So which golf course is the Caribbean’s best? A strong case could be made for Punta Espada in Punta Cana.  After winning the 2010 Cap Cana Championship at Punta Espada, Fred Couples declared this 7300-yard layout as Jack Nicklaus’ best-ever course design. That’s saying a lot when you consider that the Golden Bear has designed over 400 courses in 41 countries.

If ocean holes make your heart go pitter-pat, realize that eight of Punta Espada’s spectacular golf holes embrace the Caribbean Sea. Punta Espada is the golf jewel in a Cap Cana gated community that also includes the clifftop Farallon restaurant, a marina, a spa, polo, and residential choices ranging from Caleton Eden Roc’s 26 luxury condominiums or a new start on the spacious acreage of Los Establos.

Although Cap Cana got hammered in the global real estate crash of 2008/09, like everyone else, its coming back because of its overwhelming beauty and the sheer size of the community. The real estate options in Cap Cana and Punta Cana just down the road are many. From luxury, beachfront condos to marina villas and luxurious homes on one of the two golf courses, Cap Cana is coming back and properties in both Cap Cana and Punta Resorts offer some of the best value for luxury properties found in the Caribbean based on the amazing beaches and amenities.
http://www.classicalrealtyint.com

Royal Isabela in Puerto Rico

Imagine giant cliffs, a hint of jungle, perfect greens, and crashing waves. Royal Isabela is a Caribbean design in which preserving the environment can be felt and appreciated. The result is a terrific 18-hole design with altitude, epic ocean holes, and a hint of Scottish flair.

From Royal Isabela’s elevated vantage point you can visualize this boutique resort as a perfect site for a destination wedding, yoga immersion, your next home, and one-of-a-kind golf. Caddies are mandatory for navigating turns and bonding at the sight of exhilarating ocean views on the back nine.

Prospective homeowners choose within a 550-acre panoramic master plan. At Royal Isabela you can count on stunning vistas of the Atlantic, indoor-outdoor living, and becoming one with nature.  http://royalisabela.com/real-estate/

Teeth of the Dog in Punta Cana

Not only is the Teeth of the Dog one of Punta Cana’s most challenging and scenic golf courses, the Pete Dye design also has one of the best names in golf.

During construction in the early ‘70s, Dye heard workers liken the course’s jagged coral shoreline to “the teeth of the dog.” Nearly 50 years later, the layout Dye claimed he co-created with God is a Caribbean bucket list must.

Intrigued by the course’s name and the beauty of its host resort Casa de Campo, waves of golfers arrive at the Teeth of the Dog via the La Romana, Punta Cana, or Santo Domingo International Airports.  Today, living the Caribbean golf dream is as simple as owning a home in the 7,000-acre Casa de Campo residential community. Amenities range from daily breakfast, a private butler, and airport transfers.

Written By Tim Cotroneo

Tim Cotroneo is a freelance writer specializing in Caribbean, travel, business, and golf. 

Featured Image:  Playa Grande Dominican Republic