Caribbean Private Island Resorts

The 800-acre Pine Cay, one of the Turks and Caicos islands, is home to the private Meridian Club, an eco-friendly resort with just 12 rooms, the secluded and tranquil Sand Dollar Cottage, and a variety of private villas for rent. The island and surrounding waters teem with native wildlife, and in addition to swimming, biking and hiking, guests can enjoy the resort's Clubhouse, restaurant, pool, golf, tennis, fishing and more. The island boasts a two-mile-long white sand beach, one of the finest in the Turks and Caicos.

Parrot Cay is quite large by private island standards -- 1,000 acres -- but still feels intimate. Part of the Como Resorts chain, the private island has two restaurants, and a variety of spa and wellness programs. The broad range of accommodations includes rooms, suites, beach houses, villas, and three large estate homes -- the largest, called The Sanctuary, is owned by fashion designer Donna Karan. Activities include kayaking, fishing, sailing, tennis -- unlike smaller private islands, Parrot Cay is really a full-service resort that just happens to have an island all to itself.

Cayo Espanto is tiny -- so small, in fact, that its sixth villa is not on dry land but rather located at the end of a dock and built right over the water. One villa is as luxurious as the next, however, and what this little speck of green lacks in size it makes up with activities (mostly oriented around the water), fine dining, and attentive service.

The terms "private island" and "affordability" rarely walk hand-in-hand, but Coco Plum Cay defies expectation. Ten ocean-front cabanas occupy this intimate 16-acre resort located just eight miles off the coast of Belize, and a short fifteen-minute boat ride from the island's barrier reef. Enjoy three traditional Belizean meals a day, snorkeling, kayaking, and tours of the mainland –– including the Mayan ruins in western Belize –– all for under $300 per night (minimum four-night stay).

It's safe to say you'll never have to fight for a beach chair on Royal Belize. With just three residences on seven-and-a-half acres, and mealtimes and activities (including use of their Wave Runner, kayaks, and snorkels) tailored to your schedule, you'll feel like royalty, too. The retreat boasts exceptional privacy in high style. When you arrive, take the helicopter in from Belize City; not only is it the quickest route, but haven't you always wanted to touch down on your personal helipad?

Turneffe Island is really Turneffe Atoll, a coral-encrusted landmass 25 miles off mainland Belize. The island is a hot spot for fishing, snorkeling, and both deep and shallow reef-dives. The eco-friendly Turneffe Island Resort offers both traditional guest-house rooms and free-standing cabanas furnished with elegant hardwoods and canopied beds that convey a rustic, Hemingway/Lost Generation feel. Service is top-notch, as is the daily Caribbean-fusion cuisine, but come for the marine life: Turneffe Island sports some of the most diverse and populous in the world. 

Windsurfing, snorkeling, bonefishing and tennis -- if these seem incongruous to you, you're probably not on Kamalame Cay, one of the most exclusive of the many tiny islands in the Bahamas. Three-miles of beach abut lush gardens on the resort property, which features just over a dozen accommodations and a generous-sized staff to cater to your every need. Feeling romantic? Have Kamalame's personal chef prepare a dinner for two on the beach. Adventurous? Take a deep-sea fishing expedition or an eco-tour of Andros Island. And when you've finished all that, kick back at the Cay's full-service spa.

World-renown illusionist David Copperfield owns Musha Bay, so make all the metaphor of that you will with regards to an exceptional stay -- forty sugar-sand beaches on 700 tropical acres require no sleight-of-hand to dazzle. Five Tudor-style guesthouses, each with their own private beach dot the main island. Expect extravagant dining with paired wine courses, relaxing evenings at the Cay's outdoor movie theater, as well as massage therapy, tennis instruction, yoga, and on-call fireworks displays at your desire. All land and water amenities except SCUBA are included with the rate, which run upwards of $25,000 per week.

Three villas and a one-to-one (or better) ratio of staff to guests ensure the most personalized and attentive service at Little Whale Cay. Food is flown in fresh daily and prepared and designed by the island's private chef to guests' palate and preference. Amenities on the Cay's 93 acres include private beaches, a sea-view infinity pool, tennis court, fitness center, and watercraft. The retreat also touts its own airstrip, for convenient travel between the island and the mainland.

The all-inclusive Jumby Bay, a Rosewood resort, features 40 private villas spread over about one-third of 300-acre Long island. The island is known for its wildlife and beaches, especially the postcard-perfect Jumby Bay Beach. In addition to native species like the Blue Pelican and Hawksbill Sea Turtles (which nest here), the island is home to a population of wild sheep descended from a herd brought to the island by 16th-century Spanish farmers. Resort amenities include a Sense spa, tennis, two pools (including a 25-meter freshwater lap pool), and excursions to Antigua and her waters.

A small island next to a small island (Little Torch Key) in the Florida Keys, Little Palm Island is dotted with bungalow-style villas and exudes an aura of relaxation with its myriad spa services, Zen garden, and reiki and yoga classes. When you're ready to get up off the yoga mat or beach chair, however, you'll find plenty to do here, from swimming in a lagoon-style pool to diving with PADI-certified instructors, fishing, and boat outings to the nearby Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

Melody Key isn't a resort -- it's a true private-island home, all yours to enjoy and explore during your stay. Located off Summerland Key, the island features a heated pool, jacuzzi, wifi access, and a single residence with 5,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor living space, including three bedrooms, multiple balconies, and a wet bar with a 300-gallon saltwater aquarium. A crow's nest atop the house provides panoramic views of the Florida Keys, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Guests can cook and clean for themselves or arrange for housekeeping and a private chef.