8 Caribbean Islands Where You Don’t Have To Worry About Hurricanes

Summary

• Some Caribbean islands are safer from hurricanes due to their proximity to the equator, reducing the likelihood of direct hits.
• Grenada, Barbados, Curaçao, Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire, San Andrés, and Trinidad are considered safer destination options.
• Visitors planning a summer trip should consider the risks and purchase travel insurance due to the predicted above-normal hurricane season in 2024.

The Caribbean is home to a few dangerous things, among them are hurricanes. Hurricane Irma devastated St. Maarten’s airport in 2017, which only started rebuilding this year. One of the reasons the tourist season on most Caribbean islands happens in the first half of the year is because the hurricane season dominates the second half of the year. The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and goes through November.

However, not all Caribbean islands are equally affected by hurricanes. Hurricanes have difficulty forming and maintaining their momentum closer to the equator (thanks to the earth’s Coriolis Force). Naturally, this means some of the safest Caribbean islands are closest to the equator. Of course, there are a few outliers, but this list covers some of the safest islands visitors can explore without worrying too much about hurricanes. We’ve arranged them from the islands that get hit the most to those that get hit the least by storms during the hurricane season.

Relevant for travelers with a summer trip planned to the Caribbean,
NOAA says 2024 will be an above-normal hurricane season
, predicting four to seven major hurricanes. Travelers should consider purchasing travel insurance and be sure to keep an eye on weather reports leading up to your trip.

8 Grenada

The Spice Island is home to some of the most beautiful beaches

Anyone who’s considered Grenada as a destination knows that there’s a load of good reasons to visit. With its last significant hurricane encounter being Hurricane Philippe in 2023, Grenada has demonstrated resilience and preparedness in the face of potential storms. Visitors can enjoy the island’s stunning beaches, such as Grand Anse Beach, and explore attractions like the Underwater Sculpture Park without excessive worry.

While no Caribbean island is entirely risk-free, Grenada’s location and history suggest a lower likelihood of severe hurricane impacts, making it an appealing destination for those seeking a tropical getaway with peace of mind.

7 Barbados

The westernmost Caribbean island

Barbados is a top favorite Caribbean island and there are a lot of things that visitors should know before visiting this former British colony, including its relatively safe location. Before Tammy struck the island in 2023, Barbados had avoided being a direct hit by most hurricanes. At most, the edge of a hurricane would brush past one of its coastlines.

Visitors can confidently explore the island’s attractions, such as the historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or relax on the pristine beaches like Bathsheba or Carlisle Bay. While no island is completely immune to hurricanes, Barbados’ history and geographic position make it an attractive choice for travelers.

Before Hurricane Tammy struck in 2023, Barbados’ last significant hurricane damage came from Hurricane Tomas in 2010. It caused widespread flooding and infrastructural damage around the island.

6 Curaçao

The ‘C’ of the Dutch Antilles islands

Curaçao, a beautiful Dutch Caribbean island, offers tourists a relatively protected environment during the hurricane season. Outside the primary hurricane belt, the island’s location in the southern Caribbean significantly reduces the likelihood of being directly impacted by major storms. Hurricane Franklin only briefly battered the island in 2023.

Visitors can enjoy the island’s stunning beaches, such as Cas Abao or Playa Kenepa, and explore attractions like the historic capital city of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No Caribbean island is immune to hurricanes completely, but Curaçao is safer than other islands in the chain.

5 Tobago

Trinidad’s smaller sister, also relatively safe from hurricanes

Trinbagonians often hear hurricane watches and warnings for Tobago more so than Trinidad. A Trinidad native, most hurricanes that hit the country were minor brushes through Tobago. Visitors can confidently explore Tobago’s stunning natural attractions, such as the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, or relax on the serene beaches of Pigeon Point or Englishman’s Bay. Tobago’s location close to the equator (at 11 degrees north latitude) makes it an ideal spot for people who are trying to avoid hurricanes to visit.

The most devastating hurricane to hit Tobago was Hurricane Flora, which made landfall in September 1963. The hurricane decimated the island, annihilating up to 83% of all the houses in Tobago.

4 Aruba

Part of the ABC islands of the Dutch Antilles

Another member of the Dutch Antilles, Aruba, is a stunning place to visit for its gorgeous beaches and colorful towns. The island’s location in the southern Caribbean, just outside the main hurricane belt, significantly reduces the likelihood of being directly impacted by major storms. While the island’s last brush with a hurricane was in 2023, most storms don’t hit the island directly. Visitors can confidently enjoy the island’s world-famous beaches, such as Eagle Beach or Palm Beach, and explore attractions like the Arikok National Park, which covers nearly 20% of the island’s land area.

3 Bonaire

The third of the ABC islands, with few direct storm hits in the past 7 years

Bonaire is one of the smaller islands in the Caribbean, which means it’s less likely to be hit by tropical storms or hurricanes. This small island, known for its pristine coral reefs and vibrant marine life, sits in the southern Caribbean, outside the primary hurricane belt. That doesn’t make the island completely immune, however. Hurricane Bret smashed into the island in 2023, but it was still a tropical storm, so the damage was limited.

Bonaire remains one of the premier spots for visitors to explore the Dutch Antilles. The snorkeling and diving on this island is second to none.

Tropical storms have wind speeds
between 39 and 73 miles per hour
. Hurricanes have winds faster than 73 miles per hour. The faster the wind speed, the higher the category. A
Category 4 hurricane
, for example, has winds between 130 and 156 miles per hour and will cause catastrophic levels of damage.

2 San Andrés, Colombia

It’s rare for a major storm to hit this island, but that might be changing

Located in the southwestern Caribbean, San Andrés lies outside the main hurricane belt, meaning fewer hurricanes pass close to the island. Before the 2020s, hurricanes making landfall in San Andrés were a rarity. However, hurricanes are happening more frequently due to climate change, making it more likely for one to hit the island.

The island is perfect for visitors who are into seeing natural sights. Visitors can confidently explore the island’s unique attractions, such as Johnny Cay Regional Park, a stunning natural park with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. The island may not be a frequent spot for hurricanes, but that may change with time.

1 Trinidad

An island blessed to have protection on its side

A phrase visitors will hear from locals is “God is a Trini,” part of that confidence comes from the fact that the island hasn’t had a direct hurricane hit in a long time. The last one to brush past the island’s northeastern coast was Gonzalo in 2020 (when it was a tropical storm), and it was the only one that came close to hitting the island in 7 years. Prior to that, two similarly named hurricanes skimmed over the island (Bret in 2017 and Bret in 1993).

The island’s low tropical storm and hurricane count is due to its location close to the equator. There are many things visitors to the island can do (aside from its fantastic carnival season), but it’s still one of the more dangerous places in the Caribbean to visit because of its crime rate.