Caribbean Christmas Destinations

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The Caribbean: Island after island of pristine turquoise water, palm trees swaying in a gentle, warm breeze and powdery soft sand trickling between your sun-kissed toes. Who wouldn’t want to leave the frosty winter weather behind to spend Christmas in the Caribbean?!

With the Caribbean’s hurricane season long gone and only brilliantly sunny days ahead, whisk yourself away to an island paradise where palm trees proudly stand in for evergreens and soft sandy shores replace snowbanks. Christmas in the Caribbean is brimming with bright lights, island rhythms, and mouth-watering food.

Each island has its own unique cultural festivities and parades, from the Bahama’s bedazzled Junkanoo festival to the Turks and Caicos glittery Maskanoo masquerade. Not to mention must-try traditional island delicacies like coconut tarts, cassava pie and Guavaberry Rum. No matter which island you choose, you will undoubtedly find a warm welcome, island hospitality, and a joyous holiday spirit.

Whether you wish to spend Christmas in a colourful colonial city ripe with history and modern comforts or on a secluded beach with only the sound of waves and rustling palm leaves to accompany you, the Caribbean provides many fantastic destinations to choose from.

Caribbean Christmas

Top Tours

20 Places To Spend Christmas In The Caribbean

1- St. George’s, Bermuda

Restless Native Catamaran Sail and Snorkel Tour

St. George’s, perched on the northern tip of Bermuda, is a perfect blend of history and tropical cheer.

The town, founded in 1612, is the island’s former capital and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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St. George’s comes alive during the holiday season with festivities extending throughout December, kicking off with the town’s famous Christmas Walkabout.

The Walkabout features quaint cobblestone streets and pastel-coloured buildings adorned with vibrant twinkling lights and festive decorations.

Historical homes and buildings are open to the public, shops stay open late, offering festive deals, and live music fills the air.

Weave your way through numerous historical forts and an unfinished Gothic church to the northern tip for a dose of beach bliss at Tobacco Bay or St. Catherine’s Beach.

Be sure to indulge in the island’s quintessential cassava pie.

You’ll no doubt encounter the aroma of this traditional Christmas delicacy wafting through the streets of St. George’s.

The Unfinished Church is at Government Hill Road, St. George’s, Bermuda.

Recommended tour: Private Guided Tour of Historic Fortifications in St. George

2- The Exumas, Bahamas

Exuma Full day Experience
Have a fun Christmas in the Caribbean meeting the pigs in the Exumas.

If you’re craving a relaxed Christmas away from the usual holiday rush, the Exumas serve as a perfect desert island paradise.

Spend the holidays island-hopping from Great Exuma, Little Exuma and its chain of 365 cays (let’s face it, you could island-hop all year).

The Exumas are renowned for being home to some of the best beaches in the entire world.

Each one is like stepping into a postcard.

Between bouts of intense beach lounging, the multitude of cays provide a wealth of experiences: swim with nurse sharks on Compass Cay, go starfish gazing on Starfish Beach or splash around with Pigs on Major Cay.

To join the Christmas festivities, head to George Town on Great Exuma for the Junkanoo festival.

This Bahamian Christmas tradition features elaborate costumes, island beats, and bumping dance moves in a vibrant, exciting street celebration.

Recommended tours:

3- Camana Bay, Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is jam-packed with Caribbean-style festive cheer, especially Camana Bay, the island’s intricately decorated Christmas epicentre.

The festive season begins in late November with the annual Tree Lighting event, featuring the lighting of a majestic 40-foot (12 m) Christmas tree perched in the town’s centre.

Camana Bay is a hotspot for fun festive Christmas Markets throughout December, and in true island style, you can even encounter Caribbean Santa adorned with shorts and flip-flops.

Film buffs will love Christmas Films Al Fresco, where they can stretch out on the lawn of The Crescent and watch festive films during the warm island evenings.

Even the boats in the harbour bedecked with bright Christmas lights parade about the waters for a nightly nautical spectacle.

An island getaway isn’t complete without ample beachside bliss.

Splayed out in front of Camana Bay is Grand Cayman’s world-famous Seven Mile Beach.

Splash about, snorkel or stand-up paddle your way through the stunning tropical waters.

Afterwards, reward yourself with the local Christmas delicacies of Cayman-style beef and heavy cake.

The Crescent is at ​8JFF+37 George Town, Cayman Islands.

Recommended tour: West Bay Sightseeing Tour Plus Seven Mile Beach Visit

4- Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Jamaica Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise with Snorkeling
Party on the water this Christmas in the Caribbean.

Sink into the Christmas vibes in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

An island that’s already known for island beats and vibrant colours takes it to a new level during the festive season.

Get settled in cosy, colourful Ocho Rios, the former fishing village, and its stunning surrounding beaches backed by thick rainforest and let the Christmas spirit work its magic.

Beach choirs singing reggae-infused carols and bands jamming out to Jamaican folk tunes will have you bopping along in your beach chair.

On an island that’s already a feast for the eyes, Christmas time kicks it up a notch with Christmas trees spruced up with Jamaican colours and snowmen made of sand.

Even the taxis are decked out with twinkling holiday decor.

Christmas Eve is centred around the traditional Grand Market, held in town squares islandwide, lasting until Christmas morning.

Vendors come together, selling everything from souvenirs to last-minute gifts and food.

Enjoy the night digging into festive delicacies like curried goat and rum-soaked fruit cake.

Like the Bahamas, Jamaica celebrates a wild Junkanoo street parade with a more traditional vibe but still complete with intricate costumes and folkloric displays.

Recommended tour: Jamaica Dunn’s River Falls Party Cruise with Snorkeling

5- Grace Bay, Turks And Caicos

Stunning White Beach In Turks And Caicos On Carribean
Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos is the perfect Christmas in the Caribbean beach destination.

Spend Christmas soaking up copious amounts of sun and sea at the award-winning Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos.

The island’s blend of world-renowned tropical waters and enthusiastic festive spirit create an unforgettable holiday getaway.

Grace Bay Beach is protected by a barrier reef, leaving a gentle, serene swell lapping the sandy shore.

Put in some hours hard at work on your tan, have a leisurely snorkel taking in views of the decorated seafloor or swoop through the crystalline water by kayak or stand-up paddleboard.

Grace Bay Beach comes alive at Christmas with sunset parties and beachside bonfires.

Resort hotels embrace the festive spirit, gracing the coastline with grand holiday displays of elegant lights and enchanting decorations.

The Maskanoo festival is perhaps the most famous celebration in Turks and Caicos, held on Boxing Day in Grace Bay.

This exhilarating street parade rooted in African tradition showcases colourful, glittering costumes, rhythmic music and dancing and street vendors offering mouth-watering local cuisine.

Recommended tour: 4-Hour Catamaran Sail and Snorkel Tour from Grace Bay

6- Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico boasts the longest Christmas season in the Caribbean, kicking off on American Thanksgiving in mid-November and culminating in mid-January with the Octavitas celebration.

Old San Juan, the capital city’s beautiful colonial Old Town, is a captivating history and culture treasure trove.

Cobblestone streets weave through pastel-coloured buildings enclosed within old city walls.

Old San Juan is teeming with historic sites like Castillo San Felipe del Morro at the western point, Castillo San Cristóbal on the eastern side of the town, La Fortaleza to the south and San Juan Cathedral in the centre.

The best part is that everything is within walking distance.

History buffs and Christmas enthusiasts alike will love Old San Juan during the holiday season.

The town goes all out with beautifully decorated streets and plazas, with the showstoppers being the epic display of glimmering festive lights on historic buildings like San Juan Cathedral and the many forts.

What’s a Christmas staple that Puerto Rico does best? Rum! Enjoy a tour of the Bacardi Rum Distillery just across San Juan Bay.

Sip on samples and learn the process of crafting this flavourful liqueur.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro is at 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Castillo San Cristóbal is at 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
La Fortaleza is at 63 C. de la Fortaleza, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
San Juan Cathedral is at 151 Calle del Cristo, San Juan, 00902, Puerto Rico
Bacardi Distillery is at FV65+33W, PR-870, Toa Baja, Cataño 00949, Puerto Rico

Recommended tour: San Juan Guided Snorkel Tour

7- St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

St Croix Island Tour
Treat yourself to a relaxing Caribbean Christmas vacation this year!

Christmas is an extravagant affair in St. Croix, with celebrations in full swing for the entire month of December.

Regardless of where you are on the island, you’ll be happy you swapped snowmen for sand castles.

The island springs to life with the famous month-long Crucian Christmas Festival kicking off in Frederiksted, with events continuing island-wide.

Between bouts of beach bliss, immerse yourself in calypso nights, steelpan orchestras and a variety of fairs.

St. Croix takes Christmas cuisine seriously.

Don’t miss the chance to indulge in the best coconut tarts, johnnycakes (the tastiest fried bread), Caribbean-style eggnog called Coquito and the island’s quintessential Guavaberry rum.

In true island fashion, boats are a big deal here! One of the best ways to enjoy St.

Croix to the fullest is by embarking on a boat tour to explore every nook and cranny.

Even the boats get dressed up for the holiday season with twinkling lights and themed decorations from bow to stern.

Santa ditches his sleigh for a boat in the Caribbean and cruises in style.

Recommended tour: St Croix Island Tour

8- Shoal Bay Village, Anguilla

Spend Christmas at a different pace in Shoal Bay Village, where the concept of ‘island time’ makes itself known.

Everything slows down, making way for a peaceful, relaxed holiday where nothing matters except your tan and enjoyment of the gentle tides.

Shoal Bay Village is home to Anguilla’s award-winning Shoal Bay Beach.

This stunning 2-mile (3.2 km) beach boasts a spacious stretch of inviting white sand with a pinkish hue contrasted by clear cerulean waters.

This piece of paradise is perfect for long walks on a quiet beach and basking in glorious sunsets.

Alongside swaying palm trees and tropical waters, Christmas time in Anguilla is ripe with festive cheer and a love for decorations.

Colourful, twinkling lights adorn towns, villages and beaches islandwide.

Bounce from town to town, immersing in vibrant holiday displays and indulging in the Christmas cuisine this island takes pride in.

Be sure to sip some sweet sorrel or ginger wine, and don’t leave without tucking into the succulent sweet potato pie.

Recommended tour: Anguilla Getaway Cruise

9- Orient Beach, St. Martin

FUN DAY St.Maarten Island Sightseeing Tour with Beach
St Martin is a relaxing place to spend Christmas in the Caribbean.

Orient Beach is the longest beach on Saint Martin and one of the island’s very best.

The sea is multiple shades of brilliant blue tones with a backdrop of palm trees and rolling verdant hills.

Engage in thrilling beach adventures at Orient Beach, where you can enjoy exciting activities like jet skiing, parasailing, and learning how to windsurf.

The warm December waters draw humpback whales to the region.

Embark on an unforgettable whale-watching tour to witness these majestic beauties up close.

Saint Martin’s small size makes it a breeze to hop from town to town, exploring the fun Christmas celebrations in each one: Marvel at the dazzling lights and festive decorations in Grand Case.

Go shopping for presents in bustling Philipsburg.

Browse the charming Christmas markets in Marigot to fill your bags with festive ornaments and tropical fruit and nibble on fresh conch fritters and plantain chips.

Recommended tour: St Maarten Island Sightseeing Tour

10- Gustavia, St. Barth’s

Pamper yourself for Christmas in Gustavia, the little capital city of St. Barth’s, where indulgence is the name of the game.

Saying Gustavia is charming and classy only begins to touch the surface of how gorgeous this place is.

Red-roofed buildings with whitewashed facades surrounded by luscious rolling hills wrap around a U-shaped harbour.

Pristine streets are graced with upscale designer boutiques, gourmet restaurants and quaint cafés.

Hike up to Fort Karl, built in 1787 on a 95-foot (29 m) hill for sweeping views of the stunning city and the nearby Shell Beach.

Gustavia brings to life a Christmas village during the festive season.

Christmas markets, complete with local handmade goods and food vendors, provide the perfect place for holiday indulgence.

This pint-sized island has over 20 incredible beaches, some with luxurious spas for the ultimate pampering experience, while others offer complete seclusion for maximum beach bliss.

New Year’s Eve is a grand celebration in St. Barth’s.

The island erupts with music, dancing and fireworks.

Hire a yacht and enjoy the island’s festive fun from the bustling harbour.

Fort Karl is at V4VX+JV Gustavia, St Barthélemy.

Recommended tour: Cocktail workshop with a chef mixologist in Gustavia

11- Basseterre, St. Kitts

The Grand Tour of St. Kitts
It might rain in St. Kitts but don’t worry, you’ll still have a great Caribbean Christmas vacation.

Basseterre was founded by the French in 1627 and eventually taken over by the British, traces of which can still be seen in the city’s architecture.

Basseterre is one very resilient city.

Throughout history, it’s suffered colonial wars, riots, fires and natural disasters only to dust itself off and rebuild.

The city’s spirit awakens during the Christmas season with Sugar Mas, a thrilling six-week-long celebration.

The city is abuzz with non-stop events, parties and parades showcasing folklore through extravagant costumes and bejewelled dancers, where songs, drum beats, soca and calypso fill the air.

Grab some locally-crafted rum punch and join in the festivities!

While Basseterre is the epicentre of Christmas excitement, St. Kitts is an island worth exploring: luscious green land with a volcano at its heart and a perimeter of postcard-perfect beaches.

Embark on a Christmas adventure and climb to the top of Mount Liamuiga, the jungle-swept dormant volcano or tour the surrounding land on the Sugar Train Scenic Railway tour.

The double-decker train, built in the 1920s to carry sugar cane, chugs along the island’s verdant countryside.

I highly recommend visiting Frigate Bay and the Timothy Hill overlook for breathtaking views of the narrow sliver of rolling hills sandwiched by the Atlantic and Caribbean Seas.

St. Kitts Scenic Railway is at Needsmust Train Station Basseterre St. Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Timothy Hill Overlook is at 78JC+FCW, Unnamed Road, Frigate Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Recommended tour: The Grand Tour of St. Kitts

12- Dickenson Bay, Antigua

Treat yourself to a Christmas getaway on Antigua, an island known for its abundance of beaches.

With a jaw-dropping 365 to choose from, Dickenson Bay Beach is one of the best.

Dickenson Bay Beach is loved by locals and visitors alike, for its calm swell and milky blue hues, where fish will dance around your feet.

Lounge on a beach chair sipping rum, watch sailboats lazily sway by and toast the Christmas season.

With so many beaches within reach, give yourself the gift of beach-hopping in paradise.

Use Dickenson Bay as a launchpad and immerse yourself in as much of Antigua’s stunning waters as possible.

Head over to St. John’s, the beautifully multicoloured capital city of the island, and bask in its vibrant festive lights and decorations.

Enjoy holiday shopping at Heritage Quay Complex or delve into Antiguan history and panoramic views at the Fort James ruins.

Heritage Quay Complex is at 45C3+FM6, High St, St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
Fort James is at 44JP+4G5, St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.

Recommended tour: Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John’s

13- Little Bay, Montserrat

Happy Family On The Caribbean Beach Celebrating Christmas Vacation
Looking for a Caribbean Christmas beach vacation? Here are some ideas.

Affectionately called The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, Montserrat is a lesser-known island not to be overlooked.

This little gem’s Irish and African roots fuse, creating distinct traditions and Christmas celebrations.

Montserrat’s renowned Carnival is jam-packed with events throughout December to early January.

Festival Village in Little Bay is the epicentre of exhilarating celebrations.

Street jams, steel pan nights, soca and calypso competitions prevail throughout the month, culminating in Festival Day on New Year’s Eve.

The streets of Little Bay go wild on Festival Day.

Glittering costumes, colourful folkloric masquerades, drum beats and dancers parade through the streets while the crowd watches, sipping local ginger wine.

Communities, homes and businesses enhance the spirit with epic lights and decorations.

Montserrat is a rugged little chunk of land.

Take a break from street parties and explore its wild side.

Hike up to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and be awestruck by the views of Soufriere Hill Volcano and its smokey plumes.

The volcano was dormant for centuries before it erupted in 1997, rendering the southern half of the island uninhabitable.

Montserrat Volcano Observatory is at PQXP+GW Salem, Montserrat.

14- St. Lucia

Land and Sea Tour in St. Lucia
Sugar Beach in Saint Lucia is a top spot to spend Christmas in the Caribbean.

St. Lucia is, without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking islands in the Caribbean.

Among stunning beaches, dense rainforest and luxury villas, The Pitons, towering shard-like jungle-swept volcanic formations, stand out as the island’s most iconic feature.

Christmas is a fantastic affair throughout St. Lucia, whether you find yourself on the silky sands of Rodney Bay Beach or in the presence of the Pitons in Soufriere.

The season starts with The Festival of Lights and lantern competitions in mid-December.

This festival celebrates the Patron Saint of Light, St. Lucy, the island’s namesake.

Enjoying festive decorations and sipping sorrel (a spiced hibiscus Caribbean drink) are quintessential Christmas traditions on the island.

The most unique of all is the Bamboo Burst, where cannons are made out of bamboo cane.

Fuel is loaded into the hole, and when lit, creates a loud boom! Pops are heard islandwide during the warm, festive evenings.

St. Lucia heats up with Jouvert, a grand celebration starting immediately after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

Communities across the island party in the street, leaving behind the stress of the past year until the sun rises on Christmas morning.

The island is passionate about festive cuisine.

Christmas will have you tucking into traditional roast lamb, yams and plantain.

Indulge in rum-soaked black cake and spicy ginger beer to top it all off.

Recommended tour: Land and Sea Tour in St. Lucia

15- Kingstown, St. Vincent And The Grenadines

In Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Christmas is celebrated with the Nine Mornings Festival.

For nine consecutive mornings leading up to Christmas Day, locals wake at 4 am and gather in Heritage Square for lively street parades.

Vibrant holiday lights are on displays and steelpan bands come out in full force for a morning of rhythms and dancing in the street.

Coconut bread and cups overflowing with ginger beer fuel the crowds until dawn.

Celebrations carry on during the day as towns and villages host festive parties and fairs.

Kingstown, the island’s capital, is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the celebration.

Between bouts of festive fun, explore Kingstown’s many fantastic sites.

Its Botanical Gardens, established in 1765, provide a peaceful escape with a wealth of tropical plants and birds.

Peruse the 17th-century Fort Charlotte for sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea.

The Botanical Gardens are at 5Q8C+4W2, New Montrose, & St Vincent, Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines.
Fort Charlotte is at 5Q55+65C, Clare Valley, St Vincent & the Grenadines.

Recommended tour: Dark View Waterfall and Beach Tour

16- Bridgetown, Barbados

Barbados is known for its vibrant Christmas light displays all across the island.

Bridgetown, the capital city, takes this tradition to another level.

Streets and plazas twinkle and shine, and roundabouts across the city are decked out with different festive themes.

Locals and visitors alike enjoy leisurely driving tours, taking in the magical holiday displays.

Queen’s Park is the place to be on Christmas Day; everyone mingles while dressed in their festive best before tucking into a Christmas feast.

Baked, sorrel-glazed ham, jug jug (inspired by Scottish haggis) and black cake (rum-soaked fruitcake) are traditional festive fare.

If you’re in the Caribbean for Christmas, you no doubt want to dig into a slice of tropical paradise.

It’s not often you find an island’s most stunning beaches next to a bustling capital city, but in Bridgetown, you’ll find exactly that.

The island’s best beaches line Carlisle Bay.

Pebble Beach, Brownes Beach and Bayshore Beach offer the soft sand and stunning aquamarine water we all dream of.

Come prepared with snorkelling gear because Carlisle Bay is teeming with sea life.

Queen’s Park is at 39XR+89V, Constitution Rd, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Recommended tour: Barbados Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkel Adventure

17- Grenada

Grenada is a verdant chunk of land ripe with Christmas flavour where celebrations and festive spirit can be found islandwide.

Lovingly called the Spice Island, it’s not unusual to see Christmas trees bedecked with nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and seashells.

As you would expect, Christmas delicacies like ginger beer, sorrel and black cake are much more flavourful in Grenada, fully loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Quarantine Point Recreational Park in Grenada’s southern region transforms into a magical Christmas wonderland in December.

This tradition began with a local family lavishly decorating their home.

The display drew crowds year after year and was moved to the park and expanded to the extravagant event that it is today, complete with a glowing archway leading to the holiday spectacle.

Parang, the Caribbean’s answer to Christmas carols, is a big deal.

On Carriacou, Grenada’s tiny sister island hosts a grand Parang Festival, attracting hundreds of people from all over.

Parang bands adorned with colourful, creative outfits perform their songs, accompanied by guitars, drums, maracas and tambourines.

Songs can often be satirical and fun, making light of island events that took place that year.

Quarantine Point is at 26FF+JRG, The Lime, Grenada.

Recommended tour: Full-Day Tour: Concord Waterfall, Chocolate Factory, Rum Distillery, Grand Etang

18- Port Of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago

Young Couple Relaxing At A Wooden Pier In Ocean
Looking for a romantic Caribbean Christmas vacation?

If you enjoy the busy buzz of Christmas but want a Caribbean twist, Trinidad’s Port of Spain is the place to be.

Anticipation and preparation for the festive season start earlier than most islands.

Trinidad is passionate about parang, whose sounds can be heard throughout the island starting as early as October.

Parang has a history dating back to the 18th century, brought over by Venezuelan cocoa farmers.

The songs kept the farmers rooted in their cultural traditions.

Parang has since evolved, but many songs are still in Spanish, a language not widely spoken in Trinidad.

In Port of Spain, you’ll find many bars and halls with Parang performances.

Grab a glass of sorrel with rum and swoon along to the festive songs.

Queen’s Park Savannah hosts a wealth of Christmas wonders in the heart of the city.

The Archbishop’s House in the park’s west end displays an immense 50-foot-high (15 m) nativity scene.

Enjoy a weekend Christmas movie at the Botanical Garden’s “Movie Night Under The Lights”.

Step away from the hustle and bustle for a soak in the sea at Maracas Beach.

The Christmas spirit will follow you as you bask in the warm tropical sun, sipping rum-filled coconuts.

Queen’s Park Savannah is at 11 Queen’s Park E, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
The Archbishop’s House is at 27 Maraval Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.

Recommended tour: Trinidad Highlights and Scenic Drive Tour

19- Willemstad, Curaçao

Willemstad is Curaçao’s picturesque capital city renowned for its colourful Dutch colonial architecture.

Handelskade, the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, is lined with magnificent pastel-painted buildings along the waterfront, a site you must see while in Curaçao.

Willemstad is the perfect destination for Christmas shopping.

The city is famous for its Christmas markets, where local artists and handcrafters offer quality goods.

If you just can’t be pulled away from basking in beach bliss, let the market come to you.

The stunning Jan Thiel Beach hosts a popular Christmas market, complete with live music, drinks and festive nibbles, right along the sea.

Stick around to shop, sip and squish your feet in the sand in front of Jan Thiel Beach’s stunning sunset.

If that doesn’t sound like an ideal Christmas setting, I don’t know what does.

Jan Thiel Beach is at Jan Thiel Beach z/n, Willemstad, Curaçao.

Recommended tour: Swimming with Sea Turtles and Grote Knip Beach

20- Eagle Beach, Aruba

UTV or ATV to Aruba's Secret Beach and Cave Pool Adventure
Eagle beach in Aruba is an interesting spot to visit when spending Christmas in the Caribbean.

Aruba, the A of the ABC islands, is small in size but packs a big Christmas punch.

If ever there was a perfect destination to spend the holidays, Aruba is it.

Arubans have turned decorating for Christmas into an art form.

The entire island is decked out and lit up.

Every hotel, business, park and roundabout is strung with sparkling lights and families turn their homes into bright festive displays.

Most glorious are the lobbies of resort hotels, alight with gingerbread houses, trees, nativity scenes and glittery garlands dangling from every nook and cranny.

Drive around the island in the evening, or hop on a party bus and take in the gorgeous spectacle.

I highly recommend strolling along the beautiful Palm Beach to enjoy each resort’s glorious Christmas exhibit.

If you’ve come to Aruba, you no doubt want to indulge in the island’s many breathtaking beaches.

Eagle Beach is Aruba’s most beautiful and a perfect launch pad for exploring the rest.

It’s hard to pry yourself away from Eagle Beach’s wide stretch of powdery sand and perfect cerulean water, but you must.

Just to the north is the resort-lined Palm Beach in its decorated glory and Malmok Beach, the snorkelling paradise.

To the south, you’ll find the stunning Divi Beach and the pastel-coloured capital city Oranjestad.

Whether you’re sunning yourself to perfection or browsing shops in the city, festive music fills the air.

Arubans are passionate about classic Christmas carols and gaita, a festive Venezuelan folk music.

Make sure to taste ayacas, Aruba’s traditional Christmas food made of corn-meal dough stuffed with seasoned meat, and wrapped in banana leaves. 

Recommended tour: UTV or ATV to Aruba’s Secret Beach and Cave Pool Adventure

Looking for something fun to do this Christmas? Try these:

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Kay Wales
Kay Wales loves doing what she does best: travelling. Now a freelance travel writer and blogger, she’s a ‘slowmad’ extraordinaire going it solo. Since 2014 she’s visited many countries and lived in Costa Rica, Colombia and Gabon where she worked as a French/English interpreter. She loves staying long enough to really get to know a place, mostly on foot to get into its nooks and crannies. Kay has a passion for learning about ancient cultures, especially if archaeology is involved, but she’s happiest on small tropical islands. She can be found bouncing between her village in the Gabonese jungle and with her toes dug in the sand in Isla San Andres.