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Everyone looks forward to vacationing in the Caribbean, but the good comes with the bad.
Caribbean getaways aren’t exactly original ideas when it comes to Cancun, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay, but there are so many hidden gems that feel much more authentic than the typical towering high-rises and curated experiences you find in such popular destinations.
If you’re not looking forward to getting up early to reserve the perfect beach spot and spending yet another night pretending to know what “salud!” means at Senõr Frog’s, then the following 4 Caribbean beach towns are definitely up your alley.
Dangriga, Belize
Belize may be best known for the Blue Hole natural wonder and numerous pristine cayes, but there’s a hidden beach town nestled on the Caribbean coast that is too overlooked, especially since there are multiple beachfront hotels to choose from.
Travelers often skip Belize’s culture, too, viewing this Central American nation as purely a paradisal beach escape. For the more adventurous, they might trek to one of the country’s fascinating ancient ruin sites.
The beach town of Dangriga is the capital of Belize’s Garifuna culture, which in a nutshell, is vibrant Afro-Indigenous heritage derived from St. Vincent.
UNESCO recognized it as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Nowadays, visitors can partake in music, drumming, and food not found in the Americanized cayes.
That being said, Dangriga serves as a great stopover if one of Belize’s famous cayes is your ultimate destination, but this more authentic slice of paradise boasts beautiful blue-water shores too as well as the following beachfront stays:
Tela, Honduras
You’ve probably heard of Honduras’ gorgeous Caribbean island, Roatan, whether it’s been on your cruise itinerary or you recently scoped it out as the host of Love Is Blind’s never-gonna-work-out couples.
Roatan is where you’ll find numerous Americans and Europeans vacationing, and rightfully so.
Tela, on the other hand, is arguably just as beautiful and where many Hondurans opt to go for a beach day, giving this lesser-known Caribbean getaway a more authentic vibe than the fancy resort-lined beaches of Roatan.
Believe it or not, Tela shares in Garufina culture as well, but this beach hideaway is more lively, with locals flocking toward seafood shacks and beachfront bars.
Tela is under 2 hours from San Pedro Sula, the easiest entry point to Honduras. Once you arrive in Tela, you’ll have ample waterfront boutique hotels to choose from such as top-rated Hotel y Cabañas Villas del Mar.
Make sure to check out Punta Sal National Park too. You’ll find secluded coves, crystal-clear waters, and common wildlife sightings in the lush jungles backdropping the scenic shores.
Hellshire, Jamaica
When I visited Jamaica in 2023 and discovered Kingston wasn’t laden with jerk chicken stands and reggae blasting from every corner, the truth is I was a bit disappointed.
Ultimately, my day trip to Port Antonio was way more authentic than what I hoped Kingston would be, as Jamaica’s capital isn’t exactly the cultural beach haven I imagined despite being on the coast.
However, I did discover Hellshire, the biggest surprise of the trip. A reasonably priced Uber ride from downtown Kingston’s vibrant waterfront lies the quaint beach town of Hellshire just past the suburb of Portmore.
Here you’ll find dirt roads leading to what feels like a secret cove vacationers don’t know about, yet is often favored by locals, which on one hand is a bit of a downer.
Many Jamaican’s don’t have the chance to visit their own stunning beaches due to high-priced resorts owning the land.
Hellshire is a small slice of paradise backdropped with blaring Reggae and teeming with authentic seafood shacks nestled beachside overlooking the vivid blue Caribbean waters you expect to see — a far cry from Kingston’s murky, polluted waterways.
This Kingston hideaway is not exactly Montego Bay either, but that’s part of the charm. You’ll find dim-lit bars serving up ice-cold beer and literal shacks offering variations of fresh lobster, among other ‘catch of the day’.
There are numerous vacation rentals nearby, but El Cielo is the only hotel in Hellshire.
Cockburn Harbour, Turks and Caicos
Still under development, yet receiving new hype with the first-ever flight from the U.S., South Caicos is one of the Caribbean’s trendiest islands in 2025.
Away from the buzzing port town “Provo” lies Cockburn Harbour, a quieter retreat in South Caicos, but already equipped with lavish resorts, including the newly opened Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa.
South Caicos’ shores are truly pristine and almost always warm enough to soak in, passing the “bath water” test.
Before ritzy resorts began opening doors here, the island’s claim to fame is bonefishing of all things, but there are numerous other popular activities and excursions, such as snorkeling (obviously!), kayaking, fishing, and paddleboarding.
There may be no better time to visit South Caicos before the secret leaks out! With new flights and surely more resorts to putting shovels to dirt beat the crowds to the Caribbean’s unsung paradise.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 30 countries and written over 400 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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