Island Time: Our Top 5 Tropical Getaways

Fact: Ice-cold beer just tastes better with sand between your toes. So, if you’re feeling ready to get out of dodge and have some tropical vibes on your mind, we’re about to help you get dialed in for the perfect tropical escape. Sure, there’s a time and a place for the all-inclusive mega-resorts, but this ain’t it. We’re talking sun, fun, adventure, cold drinks and more. Grab your bag, your flight is now boarding at Gate Squatch.

Barbados
One word: Rum. It’s pretty famous here and Barbados produces some of the world’s finest. A trip here is the perfect opportunity to sample Barbados' famous hooch whether you're on a tour of St. Nicholas Abbey or the Mt. Gay distillery or hitting up the famous party scene at St. Lawrence Gap. It’s not all rum though, Barbados is also a surfing and windsurfing paradise (and just a regular paradise) and it has one of the region's best horse tracks at the Barbados Turf Club.

Trinidad & Tobago
Sure the beaches are gorgeous and the beautiful town of Port of Spain has excellent restaurants, live music venues, and bars but the key here is that Trinidad hosts one of the planet's biggest, loudest, and wildest parties—Carnival—every year. Don’t miss it. Of course if you’re looking for more of a laid back trip, the beautiful beaches and Spanish-tinged vibes are great for a low key time too.

Abacos - Bahamas
Just off the tip of Florida lies Great Abacos in the northern section of the Bahamas. The Bahamas offer an absolutely classic Caribbean experience, no matter what island you head to, but Abacos is truly the tourist-free, low key Caribbean vibe you’ve been looking for. Since it’s a bit off the regular tourist route it offers some of the world's best waters for boating, fishing and sailing. You’ll also find secluded pine-fringed beaches, amazing reefs for diving, and chill fishing villages where golf carts and boats are how you get around because cars just aren’t a thing. 

Nicoya Peninsula - Costa Rica
If you’re ready for what the locals call “Pura Vida”, the legendary Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is your spot. With lush jungles, pristine beaches, and perfect barrels Nicoya is THE spot for surfers and adventurous travelers alike. Tamarindo should be your home base as it’s home to Playa Tamarindo and a wide range of restaurants and hotels. From there you can explore other locations for secluded beaches, hiking, fishing, diving, and rainforest adventures.

Ambergris Caye - Belize
The perfect tropical getaway doesn’t have to just be in the Caribbean, Central America has you covered too. Off the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, Ambergris Caye in Belize is the largest of 200 cayes and is an amazing locale for water sports. There’s world-class diving and snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the world’s second largest barrier reef, and adrenaline-pumping shark and stingray diving at Shark Ray Alley. There’s also amazing fishing and the fun, funky town of San Pedro with awesome food and nightlife.