10 Great Caribbean Tourist Attractions

The best Caribbean tourist attractions can be a matter of opinion, but some of them get so many visitors it is hard to argue about their popularity.

The Caribbean's year-round warm and sunny weather makes the region a popular place to vacation, but it is more than just the warmth that draws people and keeps them coming back.

Visitors on a seven-day cruise often stop at four or five destinations and take advantage of the chance to get off ship and walk around the island. Vacationers who visit a week or more will be tempted to get off the beach to break up their day in the sun.

But no matter how they get there, vacationers will find that the Caribbean often means a chance to experience unique historical, cultural and natural attractions. Here is a quick list of some of the favorites.

1) Stingray City at Grand Cayman

What a great family excursion. We took a boat ride out to a sandbar where a school of stingray lives.

The stingray have become used to human touch. We got into the water, which was about waist high, and watched as they glided past us.

Often they would rub their wings over our legs as they passed.

Stingray City is a paid excursion that can be arranged by cruise visitors on their own or via the ship's staff. Arranging it on your own is an additional hassle, but it can save money.

2) Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica

Dunn's River Falls is a series of cascading waterfalls that climb about 600 feet. Visitors start at the bottom and work their way up the falls in a daisy chain -- basically holding hands with each other to prevent any slipping.

3) Cave tubing in Belize

Imagine jumping into an inner tube and floating along a river into a pitch-black, eerily quiet cave system that extends for hundreds of yards.

Fortunately, visitors to Sibun Caves Branch Archaeological Park have caving helmets with lights to see where they are going. But then the guide tells everyone to turn off the lights.

4) Swimming with sea turtles in Barbados

Swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman mainly involves standing in waste-deep water and watching them glide by. Swimming with sea turtles in Barbados requires snorkeling and being underwater to see them glide within inches of your feet. These giant turtles are remarkably peaceful.

5) Exploring the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza

Words can't easily describe the massive achievement of early Mayans at Chichen Itza. The 90-minute bus ride required to go from Cancun is well worth it for this UNESCO World Heritage site and the second most-visited archaeological site in Mexico.

6) Shopping in St. Maarten, Playa del Carmen or Nassau

Every Caribbean destination has shopping, and much of it is the same. What makes a few destinations stand out is the size and ambiance of the shopping district.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Playa del Carmen near Cozumel, Mexico; and Nassau in the Bahamas all have the kind of shopping districts that can fill a vacationer's entire day with browsing, eating and just hanging out.

7) Wandering through Old San Juan

Old San Juan also is a great shopping district, but what makes it unique is the Spanish colonial heritage including cobblestone streets, massive old forts and other centuries-old architecture.

It also has wonderful ambiance because of the statues, fountains, parks and tree-lined streets.

8) Canopy (zip line) over rain forests, especially in Costa Rica

It's just plain scary to climb nearly 100 feet up a tree -- sometimes it felt more like 1,000 feet -- have a guide hook your harness to a wire and jump off the platform.

Some people turned around and climbed back down rather than try it. We did, we lived through it and we now have yet another great family memory.

9) Snorkeling or scuba diving in the Belize barrier reef

Western Caribbean cruises or anyone simply visiting destinations such as Cozumel, Roatan or Belize will find plenty of snorkeling and diving experiences in one of the largest reefs in the world.

10) So Many Great Beaches

Start with Palm Beach in Aruba, Cane Garden Bay in British Virgin Islands or Seven Mile at Grand Cayman. But let's define what we mean by great beaches, which is a matter of opinion:

• Expansive white sand
• Plenty of room to sunbath
• Turquoise water
• Nearby dining and shopping when it's time for a break

The best Caribbean tourist attractions are guaranteed to create memorable experiences -- and some great photos as well.