Vieques

For more than 60 years, the U.S. Navy owned three-quarters of this island. After years of civilian protests, the Navy moved out in 2003 opening up that land to the island's residents and visitors, too. Vieques was uncharted territory for the tourism industry, and more resorts and hotels are looking to develop on the island. Because of this, Vieques maintains a laid-back island atmosphere that can be hard to find on more developed Caribbean getaways. There is not a single traffic light on the island, and the beaches are quiet and unspoiled by high-rise buildings and over-development.

Although the island is only 21 miles long, there are 40 beaches on the island and it seems that all of them are perfect. Sun Bay beach on the island's south coast might be the best of them all, with its swaying palm trees and pearly-white sands. Blue beach, named for its striking blue waters, is secluded and quiet, while Green Beach, named for its lush surroundings, is popular for snorkeling. Red Beach is framed by tall mountains on one end and large rocks on the other, with a perfect beach dotted with tiny gazebos right in between. Trying to visit all of the beaches can be exhausting, so do some exploring and find your favorite place to settle down and start relaxing.