Can You Backpack The Caribbean?

Known for its all-inclusive resorts and couples looking for a romantic break, the Caribbean is a dream destination for many. Although it's not a region considered budget-friendly, you can still backpack the Caribbean.

The Caribbean combines Dutch, French, English, and Spanish islands. Depending on which region you visit, each island offers something different, from culture to pirate history to plenty of rum.

For backpackers, steer clear of the glitzier islands of St Barts. These islands are known for attracting celebrities and have a very hefty price tag. The British and U.S. Virgin Islands are also known for their luxurious accommodation.

Accommodation

The Caribbean isn't known for having many hostels, but if you stay on the Dutch islands, Puerto Rico, or San Andres (Colombia), you can find at least one hostel per island. St. Maarten, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba each have a hostel to stay in, too.

Booking Airbnb and staying with a local is an excellent alternative to paying for a fancy hotel or resort. Countries like Cuba offer Casa Particulars, where you only pay $25 a night for a bed and breakfast.

You can even find Couchsurfing on more touristy islands, although some people are more receptive than others, and the speed of responses can vary.

If you're looking to splurge for a night of comfort, finding a perfect villa is easy. Whatever your budget or preferences, it's worth planning where to stay before you arrive.

Food

If you stay in an apartment or a studio, you'll often have access to a kitchen to cook food, which reduces the cost of eating out. Some resorts have supermarkets on-site, but with much of the food imported to the islands (except Dominica), you'll still pay more for fruit and vegetables.

Although it's not as common as in Asia or Latin America, street food can still be found. Puerto Rico, for example, has fantastic street food, including mofongo (a dish made from mashed plantain), which costs just $5.

Fried chicken, rice, and beans are popular in the Caribbean, so avoid fancy restaurants and tourist areas and buy from street vendors or local cafes instead.

Jamaica is known for its traditional foods, including jerk chicken, curry goat, coco bread, and rum cake. If you're planning a trip to Jamaica for food, fun in the sun, and lots of reggae music, remember that a Jamaica immigration card must be completed.

Tours

Tours in the Caribbean don't have to be on a big 30-seater bus, listening to a guide with a microphone point out the places of interest from the windows.

They can be much more interactive, like riding in a jeep or ATV, or sailing around the island. A single full-day tour typically allows you to see an entire island.

Half-day tours are even cheaper, but if you're traveling with one or more people, it may be more cost-effective to hire a car rather than pay for two people.

For popular experiences like swimming with pigs in the Bahamas, you can join a half-day group tour from Staniel Cay or a full-day tour from Nassau.

Buying a prepaid travel SIM card from a company like Simify can help you stay connected while having fun.

Related: Things To Do in the Dominican Republic

Transfers

In my experience, airport transfers are one of the most significant expenses if you want to backpack the Caribbean. These can cost up to $85 each way, making a severe dent in your budget.

The best way to avoid this is to either look for a local bus (which can be a nuisance when carrying your backpack) or hire a car as soon as you arrive to reduce the cost at least one way.

If you book a place through Airbnb, locals tend to offer their services to collect you from the airport for a fraction of the cost you'll pay with an airport taxi.

Getting Around

Some islands have a good bus network. Islands such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Curacao are easily accessible by bus.

If you're limited in time, waiting until a bus (a minivan) fills up can be slightly frustrating if you want to get to your destination, but they are the cheapest way to get around. You may have to hire a car for the islands without sound public transport systems, such as Puerto Rico.

Flights between the islands can be expensive, so book well ahead for a lower price. Some are connected by ferry. St. Marteen, Anguilla, and Saba are easily reached by boat, plus St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, making island-hopping easier.

Related: Backpacking the Turks and Caicos

Buying Goods

Don't get caught without the East Caribbean dollar. Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Anguilla, and Montserrat use the EC dollar. Although souvenirs and food in supermarkets are quoted in EC, they will try to charge you U.S. dollars instead.

Conclusion

Can you backpack the Caribbean? If you look for cheaper alternative accommodation, you can eat street food or cook meals, and hire a car instead of going on a tour.

Visiting the Caribbean during the low season is also a good idea, as accommodation is cheaper than during the high season. The best approach is to choose a group of islands and plan how to get around and where to stay before you go.

Just arriving isn't the best plan for this region, so pre-plan as much as possible to maximize your backpacker budget. Of course, if you desire to lie on a postcard-perfect beach and get a tan, the Caribbean will suit you fine, backpack or no backpack.

We hope this story has opened your eyes to the possibility of backpacking in the Caribbean. 

If you prefer to make things easy and skip the detailed planning, consider a tour with G Adventures:

• Cuban Rhythms: Rum & Fun is a bestselling eight-day trip that begins and ends in vibrant Havana and includes stops in Viñales (the tobacco-growing region), Playa Larga, and Trinidad. 
• Cuba: Salsa & Snorkeling is a 16-day trip that covers the entire island from east to west. Highlights include Havana, Viñales, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, and the beautiful beaches of Baracoa.