Where To Travel in January Around The Caribbean
Thinking about heading to the Caribbean in January? With over 7000 islands and 26 countries, the Caribbean is more extensive than most realize. There are endless possibilities for which Caribbean islands to head to in January. So, which Caribbean Island in January should you try first? While there are a few factors that alter this decision, such as the Caribbean weather in January, accommodations, and sites, there are ultimately five spots that are must-visits. Grab your passport and get ready to learn about the best Caribbean spots to visit in January.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Island
Beautiful and crystal-clear waters await you on Grand Cayman, Cayman Island. In the summertime, this is one of the warmest Caribbean islands to visit. January offers pleasant, mild weather ranging between 60-80F – this is the ideal time to visit to avoid the rainy season. Grand Cayman is the largest island in the Caymans and offers art, architecture, and beautiful nature spots. Head here for snorkeling, exploring, and adventures with turtles and stingrays. One of the main reasons to visit Cayman Island in January, Is Cayman Cookout.
Cayman Cookout, Cayman Island
Cayman Cookout is one of the world's most treasured and intimate food and beverage festival hosted at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. This event runs every January and offers a place where foodies can join together to wine and dine. This festival is held at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and provides food from world-famous chefs. Some previous chef guests have been Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, José Andrés, and Emeril Lagasse.
Expect activities such as food and cocktails on the beach, snorkeling with the chefs, chef competitions, and a final extravagant dinner to finish the festivities. Who doesn’t love excellent food and cocktails? This highly anticipated event can only be experienced on Grand Cayman Island.
Grenada
Grenada is a picturesque island that features deep blue waters, rain forests, and friendly locals. This island is also known as “The Spice of The Caribbean” for its abundance of spices that grow here. This is an indicator of the delightful food available in Grenada.
You can swim at the beach or hike through the rainforest on this island. Not only are there exciting outdoor activities, but you can also experience the local culture through music, poetry, dance, and cooking. January is a great time to visit Grenada as you’ll be able to avoid the rainy season and have access to many events and activities like Grenada Sailing Festival.
This annual festival brings people from around the world to join in the excitement. Each year, the festivities are held at the end of January and last four days. Captains and crews come to this event to participate in races and other activities. You can even see yacht racing during this festival. Of course, music and delightful food can be expected during this time. If you love sailing, you’ll love this event.
St. Lucia is known as the "only sovereign nation to be named after a woman." This is the perfect spot for both relaxation and adventuring and perfect Caribbean weather. You can sip a drink on the pristine white beaches, zipline, or even take a bath in volcanic mud. There is an excellent nightlife scene and many available restaurants that provide local food to St. Lucia. The restaurants offer French, Asian, and Caribbean-style foods. This island is ideal for families, solo trips, and romantic vacations due to its large variety of activities.
January in St. Lucia offers less humidity, less rain, and temperatures around 85F, making it the best and most popular month to visit.
St. Lucia Food and Rum Festival
This festival offers a three-day event featuring the best food and rum available. The festival offers fixed-price meals to showcase delightful local food. Rum tastings and cocktail-making competitions can be experienced at the St. Lucia Food and Rum Festival. Sampling booths, a celebrity dinner, and Rum awards can be expected at this event.
If you’re wondering what the Rum Awards are – nine judges taste test Caribbean rum and rate them in six different categories. A few of the categories are Best Spiced Rum and Best Gold Rum. Of course, live entertainment is available throughout the festivities. You’ll also be able to experience cooking demonstrations. For anyone who is an aspiring chef, or just a general food lover, this is a fantastic experience.
Barbados
Barbados is a well-rounded island that offers something for everyone. Excellent food, rum, caves, 80+ beaches, and even UNESCO World Heritage Sites await visitors on this island. The beautiful waters can pretty much always be seen here. Craft centers, painting workshops, and galleries are abundant on this island. Barbados is also known for being the birthplace of multiple celebrities like Rihanna.
While Barbados offers lovely warm weather for the entire year, the weather in January you can experience 85F during the day. This is the perfect temperature to enjoy all Barbados has to offer without getting overheated. The temperatures found here make this a tie with St. Lucia for the warmest Caribbean island to visit in January. Looking for an event to do in January in Barbados, check out Barbados Sailing Week.
Round Barbados Sailing Week
Barbados Sailing Week is an experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Initially, this event was known as the Mount Gay Round Barbados Series. This is a week-long event hosted by Mount Gay, Barbados Cruising Club, and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. This event offers contests and races, including coastal races that can be viewed and participated in.
Round Barbados Sailing Week typically runs between January 15-25 each year. A racing event (60nm) offers contestants the ability to win their weight in rum if they break any records. Overall, this is a not to be missed water sports event.
[See Also: Eat Your Way Around The Caribbean - 15 Fine Dining Restaurants You Should Try!]
Bequia (St Vincent and the Grenadines)
Bequia is one out of 32 islands found in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The whole island stretches for seven square miles and features a relaxed vibe and friendly locals. This is not as much of a visited island as other spots in the Caribbean, so head here if you want to avoid too many other tourists. You’ll still get the gorgeous beaches and island experience but on a smaller scale. Explore the charming towns on foot and experience the nightlife in the evenings. St Vincent January weather offers moderate weather between 79-84F, making it the optimal time to visit.
Bequia Music Festival (St Vincent)
This festival lasts for four days at the very end of January each year. The Bequia Music Festival has been ongoing since 2004. The initial idea began when the Bequia Tourism Association asked the Basil Charles Mustique Blues Festival to provide entertainment for one night. The first event was enjoyed thoroughly by locals and visitors that it continued each year until it turned into the Bequia Music Festival.
The festivities combine performers from all over the world, multiple regions, and even island performers. This is unlike any music festival you’ve encountered before – the performances are small so that you can be up close and personal with each artist. The genre of music also varies quite a bit, so there is something for everyone. Head to Bequia in January to experience this exciting event.
Conclusion
The Caribbean in January is a fantastic place to visit. You get to experience the lively islands without the worry of extreme temperatures. Although the islands tend to be busier this month, it is a fantastic time to visit. The events calendar in January is chock full of things to do, there is an ample number of things to see, festivals to experience, and delightful food to indulge in. Head to the above islands in January for an unforgettable experience.
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