A bird of paradise in constant bloom, the Caribbean perpetually renews itself -- new places to stay in favorite destinations, new combinations of beloved flavors. Best of all for the winter-weary, many Caribbean islands lie just hours away by air from American hubs, with bargains still to be had. Our team of writers and photographers fanned out to see what the near blue sea has done lately. Zoom in on the 25 highlighted spots on the map, and click on the island names below for more content and "Plan Your Trip" links.
Antigua: Verandah Resort & Devils Bridge
Open to commercial jets since World War II, Antigua has one of the best-developed collections of resorts in the Caribbean, so new places have to offer something special. The Verandah Resort & Spa on the Atlantic side flanks its cliffs and secluded pocket beaches with bungalows that exude tradition even amid brand-new plantings. Every room has a deck with a view of the water. At Devil's Bridge, a storied natural feature near the resort, incoming waves enter a culvert beneath the cliff's edge and launch sea foam into the dawn-pink sky. At first light you might have the scene to yourself. --Matthew Miller
Aruba: Kiteboarding, Fisherman's Huts
Boards and bright sails buzz by local fishing boats a short swim offshore. At a glance, all is as it should be at Aruba's famed Fisherman's Huts, long considered a windsurfer's paradise. Look closer, however, and you'll see many of those windsurf sails have been replaced by kites. Recent gear innovations, like four-line and bow kites, have made the young sport of kiteboarding safer, and Aruba, with its warm waters and reliable winds, is an ideal place to give it a try. Numerous beach outfitters offer lessons. Most start with kite-flying classes on land. After that, grab a board, hit the water and, yeah, hang on! --Eddy Patricelli
Barbados: Harrison's Cave
Half an hour into the eerie depths, no one has even broken a sweat -- except for Harrison's Cave itself. It's dripping on everything, including the latest group of spelunkers fearlessly riding an electric tram past ancient mineral formations on a mile-and-a-half circuit. In the Rotunda Room cavern, a breathtaking forest of stalactites and stalagmites thousands of years in the making flanks a groundwater stream. A few minutes beyond, a cascade splashes 20 feet into an emerald pool. The same water, carrying minerals down from the ceiling, created the cave's spectacular formations, cut into Barbados' porous coral limestone foundation. Updated for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the trams make what would be a rugged, exhausting trek every bit as relaxing as a day at the beach. --Zach Stovall
Belize Cayes: Cayo Espanto
The private-island resort of Cayo Espanto in the Belize Cayes offers one new over-water bungalow in addition to five over-land villas. The island itself is a great jumping-off point for excursions like snorkeling in Shark Ray Alley (where nurse sharks play like puppies) and for bonefishing. Enjoy an open-air shower and an alfresco massage and then order a three-course dinner under the stars on your own over-water porch. --Lori Barbely
Bequia: Moonhole Houses
Built of stone, exotic woods, whale bones and other "treasures of dubious value," each rental house on Bequia's Moonhole peninsula has a personality all its own. Overlooking Moonhole Beach, these homes were created by hand starting in 1961, with the contours of the site dictating the floor plans. That's why the multilevel buildings sit amid their natural surroundings so uniquely. Some travelers might consider this roughing it -- there's no electricity in some houses -- but kerosene lamps and daily maid service help. And the moon rising through the namesake Moonhole rock arch offers cosmic alignment. --Lori Barbely
Bermuda: Bungalows of 9 Beaches
Long the accommodation of choice in places like Fiji and Tahiti, over-water bungalows are popping up here, different in feel from their South Pacific predecessors but no less luxurious. Sporting a New England vibe in a Caribbean-style setting, Bermuda's 9 Beaches features soft-sided cabanas made of a material like sailcloth, and a casual, flip-flops-required dress code. Cell phones provided at check-in let guests contact the concierge or order roving room service. --Lori Barbely
Big Corn Island, Culebra, Jost Van Dyke: Secret Snorkel Spots
The Caribbean still has secluded hideaways perfect for snorkeling -- if you know where to look. Nicaragua's Big Corn Island offers southern stingrays, green morays and yellow fairy basslet fish that appear to swim upside down near overhangs. Few travelers go to Culebra, 25 miles east of Puerto Rico. Fewer still trek to Flamenco Beach, the island's best spot for encountering hawksbill turtles, squid and angelfish among the fingers of reef. The east tip of little Jost Van Dyke attracts eagle rays, pompano, tarpon, ocean triggerfish and other large swimmers, in addition to postcard picks such as Creole wrasse and parrotfish. --Brooke Morton
Dominican Republic: Get Wet Tours
Sit back. Relax. It sounds easy enough, except when rappelling down the rock face of a waterfall, and when sitting back means trusting a harness whose effectiveness relies on just-learned belaying techniques. Of course, the guide offers a quicker alternative: "You could jump." He's not kidding. This is canyoneering -- a sport equal parts rappelling, cliff jumping, hiking and swimming. And in Cabarete, canyoneering with Get Wet tours accesses the Dominican Republic's remote jungle interior. The Magic Mushroom waterfall is part of a half-day tour that's safe for all. For those more daring, the 75-foot cliff jump on the full-day Big Bastard tour beckons. --Eddy Patricelli
Grand Cayman: Lighthouse Point
One 19th-century shipwreck lies to the left of the dive dock, another to the right. Go straight, and you'll swim over the edge of a pristine mini-wall that drops to the sand at 65 feet. The little-explored North West Point of Grand Cayman has always held a mystical allure for savvy divers, and now there's direct access from the Caymans' new sustainable condo rentals, Lighthouse Point. (You can dive now and book now, but it won't officially open until this spring.) Blue adventure meets green luxe in the world's original dive mecca. Lush reefs attract sea turtles, tarpon and fat lobsters; anchors and old mining equipment harbor stories. And it's all within a one-hour flight from Miami and a two-minute swim from the dock. --Ty Sawyer
Green Turtle Cay: Green Turtle Club & Marina 
In less time than it takes to fight through rush hour, you could take a flight to one of the most relaxing islands in the Caribbean: Green Turtle Cay. It's an ideal mix of accessibility and authenticity. The 3-mile-long outpost with its one barely paved road lies on the outskirts of the Bahamas' Abaco Islands, yet it's still just a one-hour plane ride (and a 15-minute ferry) from Florida. The 32-room Green Turtle Club and Marina here is perfect for seasoned travelers who want to show the rest of the family what it's like to take a real island trip -- while enjoying a kid-friendly pool and a parent-friendly pool bar (another round of Tipsy Turtles, please). The resort is charmingly retro, with a handful of TV channels and VHS tapes, yet beautifully high-end, with gourmet local-seafood dinners and ultra-clean villas. The historic town of New Plymouth and long beaches are a golf-cart ride away -- no rush hour. --Chris Tauber
Grenada: Grand Etang Forest Reserve
Cloaked in clouds in Grenada's mountainous interior, the Grand Etang Forest Reserve serves as a reminder of nature's power to heal itself. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan knocked down half of the reserve's canopy trees and stripped the leaves off the other half. The popular hiking trails were closed for more than six months. But crews built new railings, placed steps to provide traction, added gravel for drainage and made the trails adventure-ready. Take the Mount Qua Qua Trail to sweeping views from the 2,370-foot summit. On the Shoreline and Morne LaBaye trails, see giant gommier trees, wild orchids, cattle egrets and mona monkeys. And on the St. Margaret's Trail, view the Seven Sisters waterfalls for a sense of renewal. --Jon Whittle
Isla Holbox: Whale Shark Swims
It's only 40 miles northwest from Cancún to Isla Holbox (HOHL-bosh), yet this rustic island seems a world and a century removed from the modern revelry of Mexico's Riviera Maya. Boutique lodgings range from refined duplexes to whimsical huts that Gilligan could have built, virtually all fronting on a sprawling, 7-mile-long beach. Explore the village life, sample lobster pizza at Edelin and catch the sight of pink flamingos preening in Yalahao Lagoon. From spring through September, you must don mask, snorkel and flippers to mingle with Holbox's most enduring repeat visitors: the docile whale sharks that each season congregate offshore. --Ted Alan Stedman
Jamaica: Island Outpost's Geejam Hotel
If resorts could talk, this one would say, "I hope you like jammin', too." At Island Outpost's new Geejam hotel, open since March, guests live out rock 'n' roll fantasies (and launch careers), recording in the state-of-the-art on-site studio. (Production help and backing musicians can be arranged.) Founder Jon Baker blended technology, posh style and Jamaica's "one love" vibe without eclipsing the wild setting of San San, close to Port Antonio. Lounge by the central waterfall; dine at Geejam's Bushbar (serving stellar Jamaican-Japanese cuisine); dodge the paparazzi. No Doubt, Indie.Arie and others have recorded here, but you don't have to be a star to enjoy Geejam. --Jenny Block
Providenciales: Grace Bay Club
Scents of garlic, Scotch bonnet pepper and cilantro waft from the cooking class held in a penthouse at Grace Bay Club on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Chefs Kevin and Eion, accustomed to the view, wait patiently and then present, in a very TV-cooking-show fashion, all the pre-cut, pre-portioned ingredients of your meal. The resort's new class centers around the Caribbean's signature food -- conch -- and although this marine snail (call it escargot of the sea) might not be for everyone, the lessons are. Kevin slices red and green bell peppers for the raw conch salad while holding your gaze. "Looking down," he says, "is when you lose a finger." Towering Eion, almost 7 feet tall in a chef's hat, hammers and fries fresh-from-the-sea conch into gastronomic gastropod deliciousness. And now it's your turn. --Ashley Knaus
South Andros: Tiamo Resorts Culinary Experience
Chef Joanne Gibson of Tiamo Resorts watches as a guest chops an onion to make chicken picadilla empanadas. "You have to rock the knife," Joanne says, her Bahamian accent echoing the soft waves that lap the beach outside this South Andros Island eco-resort. Joanne demonstrates and then gently hands back the knife. "Careful," she coos. As part of Tiamo's new Culinary Experience package, guests learn not only how to cook, but also how to embrace the everything's-all-right vibe of the Bahamian people. Caribbean-inspired dishes like jerked rack of lamb with coconut red-wine glaze and seared yellow-fin snapper with pineapple sauce, plus wine-tasting and cocktail-mixing sessions make learning delectable. --Jennica Peterson
St. Barts: Janes Gallery at Eden Rock Hotel
Beware -- the decadence of a croissant and French-roast coffee served seaside at Eden Rock's open-air cafe on St. Barts might awaken your inner Renoir. And fortunately, Janes Gallery -- situated beside the white-sand beach, with doors usually open to the sea breeze -- welcomes wandering guests looking to express their creativity. The artist in residence props an easel wherever inspiration strikes. Guests can paint, too, or browse the current gallery exhibit. This artistic infusion comes courtesy of co-owner Jane Matthews. Her career includes a brush with the arts, a fascination evidenced throughout the hotel. Like any good artistic movement, this one is constantly evolving, with a new exhibit and artist in residence every season. --Adrienne Egolf
St. Croix: Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute
The ruby-red tea tastes like hibiscus and sunlight. The genuine calm in the open-air central building creates a sense of inclusion and well-being. And Ben Jones, VISFI's affable founder and director, smiles as if nothing bad ever happens here. He may be right. This year for the first time, the farm in St. Croix's pocket-size rainforest welcomes overnight guests. The farm-stay program offers accommodations in stilted cabanas and in the stately Hawk's Nest with its panoramic view. Guests don't have to toil in the fields, but most will at least want to learn the practices by which such peace can be sustained. --Matthew Miller
St. Kitts: Wilbert the Pig
When the Turtle Bay Bar & Grill on St. Kitts succumbed to a developer's bulldozer in 2007, it wasn't the potent margaritas, the grilled lobster or the idyllic seaside setting that devotees missed most. It was Wilbert, an affable 500-pound hog who had become the bar's beloved mascot. Owner Gary Pereira rescued Wilbert as a piglet from his fate on the dinner plate. Rest assured, Wilbert has the run of the beach (when he's not wallowing in the bay) at Pereira's new Reggae Beach Bar & Grill, now running full-tilt at nearby Cockelshell Bay. Relish the food (anything but pork), relax with drinks (mudslide?) and don't forget to pat the pig. --Ted Alan Stedman
St. Lucia: The Edge Restaurant Bar & Sushi
The "honeymoon table," a.k.a. table 33 at the Edge Restaurant in Rodney Bay Village, St. Lucia, glows with Caribbean chic. Couples have been sharing this table since the marina-front restaurant opened in 2005, but moonlight and white linen make everything new. Taste the romance (and the rum) in the award-winning Mango Tease Me, made with sweet Julie mangos. The "Eurobbean" menu includes classics like the ceviche trio, and seasonal twists keep it fresh. With true St. Lucian hospitality, Scandinavian chef Bobo Bergström mingles with guests wherever they may be seated. --Adrienne Egolf
St. Maarten: 12-Metre Challenge
While most Caribbean getaways slow the pulse to just above flat-line, this regatta gets novice sailors -- and their hearts -- racing. As the 12-Metre Challenge starts in the waters off St. Maarten, five 70-foot yachts made famous in the America's Cup (yes, including the Stars & Stripes) line up to race. Travelers-turned-crew man their posts while their veteran captains jockey for position in close quarters and call out commands. That frenzy continues throughout the three-hour race. Many guests come aboard with no skills, but everyone disembarks a (more) competent sailor, win or lose. --David Hillegas
Trinidad: Carnival Steel-Band Season
Pan means war. Top Trinidad steel-pan drum bands share songs in the off-season, but when the orchestras swell to 120 persons and move from makeshift, tin-roofed pan yards to the main stages during Trinidad's Carnival celebrations, musical combat of the fire-tempered-iron variety breaks out. Trinidad invented steel drums, made from oil barrels, and the island still grooves to their rhythm. Tradition figures heavily in the festivities, held in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday (on Feb. 24 in 2009). See if the band Phase II Pan Groove can defend its title in the Panorama contest. Phase II's advantage? Leader Len "Boogsie" Sharpe has been called "the Mozart of Pan." Hear music samples at islands.com/trinidad. --Jon Whittle
Vieques: Glowing Bio Bay
Tunnels of red mangroves obscure Puerto Rico's night sky as paddlers slip through silky black water on the way to Vieques' Puerto Mosquito. That's OK because the real show is happening below their paddles. Tiny bioluminescent dinoflagellates twinkle with every ripple in the water. On a moonless night, you might even catch the outline of a grouper as it darts by. For the ultimate experience, get in the warm water and make a bioluminescent "snow angel." (Don't worry, the dinoflagellates are too small to bite.) Then spend the night on Vieques -- there's no transportation off the island after dark -- and do some stargazing of the regular sort. --Josh Sampiero
Virgin Gorda: Sense Spa, Rosewood Little Dix Bay
Fittingly, the Sense spa itself has experienced rejuvenation. The spa recently changed its approach based on a simple-yet-ingenious idea: Make it more Caribbean. Perched above the Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort on the British Virgin Islands' Virgin Gorda, this hilltop jungle enclave of bougainvillea-scented privacy overlooking the blue-on-blue Sir Francis Drake Channel immerses guests in island culture. Therapists perform body scrubs with a blend of brown sugar, fresh mango and papaya; body wraps include local goat milk, honey and bananas. Your skin gets exfoliated, and the essence of the Caribbean enters your pores. Extended treatment windows allow time for, as spa director Glen Ross puts it, "drifting back into the real world." --Ken McAlpine
