The best villas in the Caribbean

Sun-worshippers have been seeking out gin-clear water and sugar-soft sand since tourism began. And where better to find the winning combination than on the prettiest Caribbean islands? These villas are the most elegant hideouts from which to base yourself, whether making tracks for the untouched islands of Turks and Caicos or hunting down good times in Barbados. All bookable with onefinestay, which handpicks the greatest homes, these are the best villas in the Caribbean

Cheemaun Beach Villa

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

The 300 acres that make up Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda – perhaps the most beautiful of the British Virgin Islands – are set on a coral reef, with a half-mile stretch of sand unfurling next to expansive mangrove forests. It’s this beach, and the Caribbean Sea beyond, that the living room at the three-bedroom Cheemaun Beach Villa looks onto – beyond the pool and outdoor dining area. Widescreen views are a theme here, with the glossy marble kitchen, each of the bedrooms (two have direct access to the terrace) and even the freestanding baths in the bathrooms providing sea panoramas.

Sleeps: eight
Price: from £2,011 a night

Belamour

Pointe Milou, St Barth's

St Barth's might be the ultimate Caribbean island – a place of pink sand, beach clubs and handsome hotels. Booking into a onefinestay villa is a surefire way to discover a more authentic side. Teeny Belamour – a devastatingly romantic lair on the craggy cliffs that rise above the coast – is just big enough for two. A glass wall folds away completely, which means you can step straight from the squishy sofa to the pool. And the dedicated concierge service is never more welcome than on a romantic getaway, when experts can make every moment seamless.

Sleeps: two
Price: from £772 a night

Casa Tesoro

Punta Mita, Nayarit

Away from the buzz of Punta Mita’s popular resorts, Casa Tesoro offers your own pocket of paradise within one of Nayarit’s hidden coves, courtesy of onefinestay. The property’s neutral tones, clean-lined architecture and natural materials nod to a less-is-more attitude. However, this mindset begins and ends with the decor. While members of your crew spend time lounging by the infinity pool and working out in the gym, ask the on-site house manager to organise tee-off at a nearby golf course or plan a diving excursion down at the beach so you can enjoy the best of the surrounding area before regrouping over a Mexican feast freshly prepared by your private chef.

Sleeps: 18
Price: from £10,192 a night

Antares

Mont Jean, St Barth's

The blues and whites at this four-bedroom villa feel more Greek Island than Caribbean, but they are a nod to the nautical location (the sea appears just past the edge of the dazzling infinity pool). A shady veranda wraps around the house and while all eyes are drawn to the ocean first, there’s plenty of tropical greenery to explore if you’re looking for an alternative to the pool. The setting in a private gated community gives Antares a real sense of exclusivity – a knockout, waterfront home that’s every bit as contemporary inside as it is traditional outside.

Sleeps: eight
Price: from £3,779 a night

Salacia

Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Perfectly positioned on the edge of Grace Bay beach, this sprawling property has undisturbed views of the crystalline waters and miles-long sandy shore that define the paradisiacal island of Providenciales. Spread across a main house and guest house so your party can make the most of the space, Salacia marries the best of a premium getaway with classic home comforts: a private chef to whisk up your favourite suppers, an abundance of cosy living spaces and a generously sized games room with a bar area. Gather your group for sunset cocktails on the raised deck before putting on a classic film in the cinema room.

Sleeps: 12
Price: from £6,360 a night

Kiko

Paynes Bay, St James, Barbados

Big enough for the whole crew, Kiko in Barbados is a palatial manse with playful touches that would fit a big group of friends as wonderfully as a multi-generational family. This is a space where serious home comforts come as part of the package – ask the concierge to arrange a wellness specialist to lay on treatments in the spa, or for a trainer to lead a class in the yoga studio or a session in the gym. The games room comes with an old-school 10-pin bowling lane, and a private chef whips up breakfast, lunch and dinner. And that’s all before you step outside to the three al-fresco hangout spots and enormous pool.

Sleeps: 18
Price: from £6,379 a night

West Enclave 7

Cabo, Mexico

Set directly on the golden sands of the exclusive Puerto Los Cabos, at the very tip of Mexico's Baja California, this five-bedroom villa is designed to make the most of the natural surroundings. Contemporary yet still embracing natural materials, West Enclave 7 is set on one of the best stretches of beach with expansive views over the Sea of Cortez.  A large, open-plan living area captures that indoor/outdoor synergy, with a sensational view dominating every aspect. The gourmet kitchen takes centre stage where guests have everything they need to cook up a feast or hire a private chef to serve dinner in the elegant dining area or al fresco on the terrace. Brilliant for families, one of the five bedrooms is a bunk room which can sleep up to four children or teens.

Sleeps: 16
Price: from £5,000/night

Casa de la Playa

Terres Basses, St Martin

Bursts of lollipop red and ceramic lizards climbing the walls will delight little beachcombers at Casa de la Playa, a villa big enough for the whole gang on St Martin, the French side of the dual-nation Caribbean island that also encompasses Dutch Sint Maarten. There’s also a billiards table, an open-air cinema in the garden and a horizon-edge saltwater pool with a diving board for bombing. Grown-ups might fight it out for the master suite, which is kept well out of the way in its own wing.

Sleeps: 12
Price: from £2,938 a night

June

Corossol, St Barth's

After strolling along the boutique-lined lanes of Gustavia and catching some serious sunshine on one of St Barth’s famous beaches, retreat to the hillside haven that is June – a sprawling villa in the quiet village of Corossol. As you stand on the sun-bathed terrace, it’s hard to decipher where the infinity pool ends and the glistening waves of the Caribbean begin, and these unforgettable vistas continue in each of the bedrooms thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Through onefinestay, smaller groups can rent out fewer bedrooms at the property for a reduced rate while still enjoying all the villa's facilities.

Sleeps: 12
Price: from £5,125 a night

Las Jalousies

Rum Point, Cayman Islands

Concealed by towering palm trees and with its own private dock, Les Jalousies is the epitome of a private idyll. Echoing the laidback lifestyle of Grand Cayman’s north shore, this beachfront villa has an airy open-plan design and an abundance of cosy nooks that make relaxation a way of life. Take your time chasing the sun from the poolside loungers to the swinging benches on the dock before seeking shade in a sheltered hammocks as tranquil days melt into starry nights.

Sleeps: eight
Price: from £938 a night

Amanoka

Discovery Bay, Jamaica

Balinese details are spread throughout Amanoka (meaning ‘peaceful home’ in Indonesia), a property dotted across a thoroughly Jamaican setting. There’s a Bali-inspired pavilion and plenty of bamboo and teak, while the colour palette veers away from the usual island blues and whites to yellows and greens in the bedrooms. Indonesian furniture, fabrics and art continue the South-east Asian feel, but outside, the private beach and split-level pool are textbook Caribbean. Splash out on spa treatments at the wellness centre that appears to float in a lily pond.

Sleeps: 14
Price: from £1,914 a night

To book your stay, visit onefinestay.com or contact reservations at [email protected], +44 800 808 5830 (UK) / +1-855-553-4954 (US)