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Are you planning a trip to paradise and hoping to catch a great low-season vacation deal? This guide shares the best Caribbean islands to visit in October before the winter crowds touch down so you can get an overview of which destination is suitable for your style of travel.
Below, we discuss the top Caribbean islands, why people visit in October, the best things to do there, and what to eat.
Which island did you choose? Tell us in the comments.
You may also like our guide to the best places to visit in the US in October and National Parks in October.
Top Caribbean Islands to Visit in October
This map will help you visualize the following islands while you research your next October vacation!
Note: Some of the Caribbean islands are popular cruise ports. If you are visiting as part of a cruise and looking for activities to do independently you will also find the overviews below useful.
If you are not cruising, consider accommodation away from the port towns to avoid the crowds coming off the ships.
Antigua For Outdoors Enthusiasts
The Eastern Caribbean is a perfect place to visit in October for its warm weather and amazing beaches, and Antigua is one of the nicest islands in the area.
The island is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, and its coolest temperatures throughout the year land in the seventies.
In October, you’ll be in the middle of low season, which is ideal for cheap rates and lighter tourist crowds.
For outdoor excitement, you can rest and relax on Galleon Beach (264R+276, Freeman’s Bay Saint Paul) or take a hike up Shirley Heights.
Galleon Beach features soft white sand and amazing blue water.
Shirley Heights is a relatively quick hike, but at the top, you’ll be able to see the best view of Antigua.
There is also the hike up to the summit of the highest point, Mount Obama, which is named after the US President.
It takes around 3-4 hours and it said to be very muddy so plan to hike with good footwear.
Check out our hiking gear list for advice.
Did you know that Antigua freed its enslaved people as soon as Britain mandated the act of emancipation?
32,000 plantation worker were released at midnight on August 1, 1834.
This was a unique move among the isles of the West Indies.
Today, you can take a one hour guided tour through Ras Freeman, formerly Willis Freeman Plantation, which is located in one of the first villages to be freed during slavery.
Barbuda For Consistent Tropical Climate
Just north of Antigua is the island of Barbuda, known for its gorgeous coastlines and pristine beaches.
Very few people live on Barbuda itself, but it is still an incredibly popular tourist destination throughout the year.
You’ll hardly experience any temperature variation in Barbuda due to its tropical marine climate, and the entire island is almost completely flat.
Some of the best outdoor adventures include visiting Pink Sand Beach (H5RG+R9Q, Codrington) and the Frigate Bird Sanctuary.
The more adventurous type will love the caves at Two Foot Bay National Park and Darby’s Cove.
The amazing natural landscape makes Barbuda one of the best Caribbean places to visit in October.
Andros Island, Bahamas For Mangroves and Snorkeling
Andros Island is the largest island in the Bahamas, and it is truly one of the best places in the Caribbean to visit in October.
Over 100 miles long and 40 miles wide, Andros Island features hundreds of islets, mangroves, swamplands, and estuaries.
From the deepest Tongue of the Ocean to the giant Andros Barrier Reef, the third-largest fringing barrier reef in the world, and the most biological diversity in the Bahamas, there is so much natural wonder to explore on Andros Island.
West Side National Park was named in 2002 and features pines, mangroves and flats of clear blue water.
It is one of the largest Marine Protected Areas in the Western Atlantic.
The month of October is considered one of the island’s summer months, and it is a perfect time to go snorkeling and scuba diving.
You may also find our free beach packing list useful.
Barbados For A Much Loved Caribbean Vacation
Of all the Caribbean islands, Barbados is the furthest east; it is also quite large and hosts a little less than 300,000 year-round residents.
The month of October is part of Barbados’ wet season, though you’ll still be able to enjoy tons of lovely weather during your visit.
Barbados is one of the best Caribbean Islands to visit in October for its beaches, gardens, caves, and Historic Bridgetown Barbados.
Large waves and intense surf can be found on the eastern coast at Bathsheba Beach; calm water is located on the south shore at Dover’s Beach.
The adventurer will love the Andromeda Botanic Gardens and Harrison’s Cave, while the history lovers should visit St. Nicholas Abbey or the Morgan Lewis Windmill.
Historic Bridgetown Barbados’s The Garrison, is one of the island’s Cultural Heritage Conservation Areas.
Here you can learn more about its military colonial history through its 115 listed buildings.
There’s also a great food scene although you may be fighting against the cruise tourism for a table!
Barbados also features in our guide to the best islands to visit in December for winter vacations.
Turks & Caicos For Popular and Secluded Beaches
Most well-known for its incredible tourist attractions, the two small groups of tropical islands known as Turks and Caicos are accessible primarily by ship from the US.
Featuring one of the longest coral reefs in the world and the only conch farm on the planet, you’ll be able to spend quality time in the waters exploring all the natural wonders the islands have to offer.
Grace Gray Beach is the favorite beach of many visitors, but tons of smaller, more secluded beaches like Malcolm’s Road Beach and Bight Beach are also lovely and not as crowded.
All beaches on the islands are free and public, so the choice is yours; explore the island to find your favorite spots!
The most popular activities in Turks & Caicos take place on and in the water – kayaking, SUP, sailing, and jet skiing.
You even get see-through boards so you won’t miss the life below the ripples as you float or paddle!
Make sure you take a short ferry ride for a day trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos to see the gorgeous natural landscapes and views.
For food, head to Omar’s, Shark Bite, and quatic North Caicos.
Go for the conch salad!
St. Lucia For Rainforests and Volcanoes
Commonly considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, St. Lucia features twin volcanos, thick forested lands, and beautiful tropical rainforest climates.
Just under 250 square miles in area and over 150,000 year-round residents make this island a small, yet bustling country.
Tourism is very popular in St. Lucia, though most crowds come through between January and April.
Skip the crowds in October and experience a quieter, more private vacation.
Check out the “drive in” volcano, zip lining, the Botanical Garden, and the Pitons twin volcanos.
You can also venture into the rainforests and take a boat cruise around the island.
Whatever you decide to do in St. Lucia, be sure you make some time for snorkeling or scuba diving at the Anse Chastanet Marine National Park.
You’ll love exploring the coral reefs and swimming among incredible sea creatures.
Grand Cayman For Rum and Diving
The Cayman Islands are one of the best Caribbean places to visit in October.
Though Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands, it is still relatively small; it is just about 22 miles long and 8 miles wide.
It is a very flat island, as well, hardly rising higher than 60 feet above sea level.
Most visitors of the island are concentrated around Seven Mile Beach on the western part of the island, north of the capital, George Town.
There’s tons to explore in the city of George Town (port town) as well, like Cayman Crystal Caves, visiting the Cayman Spirits Distillery or shopping downtown.
Cayman Spirits is known for its ageing process which takes place under the sea.
It replicates rum that was aged during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade voyages.
Scuba divers will want to do a tour of one of the best diving sites in the Caribbean, the USS Kittiwake, just off Seven Mile Beach.
Look out for the endangered blue iguana and plentiful stingrays when visiting Grand Cayman.
Grand Cayman also features in our most romantic December honeymoon destinations guide.
British Virgin Islands For Sailing and Swimming
Just to the east of Puerto Rico lie the British Virgin Islands, a grouping of four main islands and more than 50 other small islands and islets.
The largest town, Road Town, is located on the island of Tortola, which is only about 60 square miles large.
It is one of the best Caribbean islands to visit in October, with average temperatures in the mid-to high eighties.
The British Virgin Islands are a popular tourist destination for Americans, though sailors from around the world come to experience some of the best sailing conditions on Earth.
The most iconic experience is to explore the Baths in Virgin Gorda; swimming between massive, smooth boulders in the crystal clear water is a must in the British Virgin Islands.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines For Botanic Gardens
Located in the southeastern part of the Caribbean, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a collection of small islands lying just southwest of Barbados.
St. Vincent is known for its volcanoes and thick forested areas, with the westward side of the islands featuring steep rocky cliffs and the eastward side of the island featuring the soft and sandy beaches loved by travelers.
You’ll definitely want to visit the Mustique Beach or the Saltwater Bay Beach to get your fix of soft white sands and gentle waves.
St. Vincent’s botanic garden is the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, which makes this island in the Caribbean perfect to visit in October, if not every month of the year.
St. Barts For Public Beach Swimming
If you’re looking for a special Caribbean island to visit in October, look no further than Saint Barthelemy, St. Barts.
This small island is located in the southeast region of the Caribbean and is considered a luxury tourist spot; be ready to pull out all the stops when you visit!
The coast thrives with beaches and offshore coral reefs, and much of the island’s marine area is protected by a reserve.
There are 22 public beaches across the island, and about 15 are perfect for swimming.
Stick to the eastern side for calm waters and gentle waves!
If you’d like to try sun bathing on a nude beach, head to Anse de Grande Saline and stretch out by the waves.
About 200,000 tourists visit the island every year, but the majority come for winter holiday; you can avoid the biggest crowds by visiting the Caribbean in October!
Jamaica For Food and Falls
Probably one of the most well-known islands in the Caribbean, Jamaica is perfect for outdoor adventures, late night parties, and incredible beach views.
More than 4.3 million travelers visit Jamaica every year, and for good reason.
Montego Bay is one of the best Caribbean cities to travel to in October, not only for its warm weather and sunny skies, but also for its low tourism season, amazing shopping, and historic natural parks.
Make sure you head to the gorgeous Dunn’s River Falls in the town of St. Ann and the Blue Lagoon in Portland, which is thought to be the result of the crater where an extinct volcano once stood.
With tons of beaches, waterfalls, and sprawling bays, you’ll never run out of outdoor adventures in Jamaica.
Dine on patties, ackee with saltfish, escovitch fish, and jerk pork or chicken obviously.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe features more than 12 islands, though Grande-Terre is a small Caribbean island that is one of the best places to visit in October.
It’s mainly flat, but it is home to coastal cliffs, scenic hills, mangrove stands, white sand beaches and gorgeous coral reefs.
With average temperatures in the high eighties in October, Guadeloupe is a perfect place to go to escape the cool autumn weather.
Guadaloupe National Park, La Soufriere Volcano, and La Grande-Anse are amazing outdoor adventures to embark on during your trip.
For a perfect soft white sand beach, be sure to check out St. Anne Beach on the south coast of Grande-Terre.
