7 Caribbean Islands for People Who Actually Hate Crowds

You're standing on the main pier in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and the horn of a 4,000-passenger cruise ship lets out a bone-shaking blast. Suddenly, the narrow streets are flooded with people clutching duty-free bags and searching for the nearest spot to buy a ten-dollar piña colada. It’s the exact moment many travelers realize they’ve made a terrible mistake if they were looking for actual peace. This list covers seven islands that the mass-market travel industry usually ignores because they don't have the infrastructure (or the desire) to handle thousands of people at once. These spots are for those of us who want a beach where the only footprints are our own and where the local culture hasn't been polished down into a generic, tourist-friendly souvenir.

Which Caribbean islands are the least touristy?

Finding a spot that isn't overrun usually means giving up something—often a direct flight or a sprawling white-sand beach. But for the right person, that trade-off is more than worth it. Most of the islands below require a puddle-jumper flight or a ferry ride from a larger hub, which acts as a natural filter for the crowds. You won't find high-rise hotels here, and you certainly won't find a Starbucks. Instead, you'll find places where people still know their neighbors and the pace of life is dictated by the sun and the sea, not a cruise director's schedule.

1. Dominica: The Island for People Who Hate Beaches

Don't confuse this with the Dominican Republic. Dominica is the "Nature Island," and it’s a rugged, volcanic mass of green that looks like it belongs in the Jurassic period. Because it lacks the long, flat stretches of white sand that developers love, it has escaped the fate of its neighbors. You come here for the 365 rivers, the Boiling Lake—the second largest of its kind in the world—and the black sand that stays cool under your feet. The hiking here is serious business. The Waitukubuli National Trail stretches across the entire island, taking you through rainforests and over mountain ridges. It’s hard work, but the reward is a complete lack of noise pollution. You can check out more about their conservation efforts at the