Here are 10 beach activities that will beat boredom and make your vacation extra-special!
Who doesn’t love relaxing on the beach? Well…there are a few of us out there who would take active beach games or sports over sunbathing any day.
So, for everyone out there who wants to keep busy on the beach, here are our favorite must-try beach activities for your Caribbean vacation, organized by type.
Beach activities: games
One of the best ways to have fun on the beach is to play some water games! You’re already in your bathing suit and (probably) planning on getting wet anyway, so why not stage some friendly competition? The following games are great for families with children, groups of friends, or perhaps for entertaining the guests before or after a Caribbean wedding.

1. Water bucket relay
What you’ll need: A cup, spoon, or large shell for each team, and a bucket for each team.
The premise of this game is super simple: see which team can fill up their bucket the fastest by running to the sea, filling up cups with water, and running back to throw it into the bucket. The teams can be as small as one player each. Alternatively, you can play with a time limit, and the winning team is the one with the most water in their bucket.
This game is perfect for all ages, and especially for kids, because of its simplicity. If you want to make it more exciting, you can have participants carry the water on their heads, either in a cup or with a big sponge.
2. Towel volleyball
What you’ll need: beach towels, a lightweight beach ball
Towel volleyball can be played with the towels that everyone would already bring to the beach with them anyway, so the only “extra” you’ll need is a beach ball. Divide the players into two teams, draw a line in the sand, and have each team pick a side. You can use rules similar to a regular game of volleyball, except that players pair up and hold a towel between them, which they’ll use to hit the ball over to the other side. This game could get a bit tricky for younger kids, so it’s best for teens or adults.
3. Sand Hopscotch
What you’ll need: A few rocks or shells from the beach.
Take advantage of the fact that there is sand literally everywhere to draw a hopscotch grid wherever you want it. Grab some small rocks or shells to use as markers, and get hopping!
4. Beach Scavenger Hunt
What you’ll need: a list of items to find
First, make a list of items to hunt for. Items could include types (or colors) of shells, plants, creatures, driftwood, rocks, something “blue” or “yellow”, feathers, or even lost footwear. Give each participant the list, and allow a certain amount of time to find everything on it. The winner is the person who finds the most items in the shortest amount of time.

5. Sandman competition
What you’ll need: Tools for digging and molding sand (shovels, buckets, etc)
There are all kinds of competitions to be had with sand. One option is to see who can build the biggest or best “sandman” (like a snowman, but with sand).
Another sandy competition could be to see which team can bury one its players in the sand (up to his neck) the fastest.
Or, you could compete to build the best sand castle or fort.
Beach activities: sports
Beach volleyball is certainly a good choice, but there are many other beach and water sports to play if you’re tired of the usual.
6. Flyboarding
If you haven’t heard of flyboarding, you’re not alone. This beach activity is fairly new, and it’s not for the faint of heart. Basically, it implies hovering over the ocean, propelled by power water jets. If you can get the hang of it, you can try some spectacular flips and spins. But even if you can only handle the basics, you’ll still feel like a superhero!
There are plenty of places to try flyboarding in the Caribbean. Check out Zapata Flyboard Caribbean in Willemstad, Curacao, or St. Thomas Flyboarding in the Virgin Islands.
7. Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate frisbee can be even more fun on the sand! You can even include part of the ocean in your parameters. It’s best with a group of 8 people or more, but you can always just toss the frisbee around for fun if it’s just you and a few friends (or your dog). However, there’s one thing you need to be sure of if you decide to take your frisbee into the water: does it float? If not, get one made of neoprene, or designed specifically for water use.
8. Beach flags
This game can get a bit crazy if you’re not careful! It’s played like musical chairs, except each player has to grab a flag placed somewhere along the beach instead of a chair. Sound too simple? Trust us, running on sand isn’t as easy as you might think.
In fact, this simple beach activity is actually a real competitive sport in some countries. It’s popular in Australia, and is even broadcast on TV.
9. Zorbing
Yes, you read that right. Zorbing is an actual water sport in which people run around in giant transparent orbs on the beach or on top of the water.
There are plenty of places to try it out in the Caribbean. For example, Bavaro Adventure Park in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic offers zorbing in its lineup of beach activities.
10. Snuba
Snuba diving is like scuba diving, except divers receive oxygen through long tubes connected to rafts on the surface. It’s fun and easy to do, and it doesn’t require any knowledge of scuba diving or snorkeling. It’s the perfect way for beginners and children to enjoy the treasures of the ocean floor safely and easily.
Places to enjoy SNUBA in the Caribbean:
- Aruba
- St. Lucia
- St. Maarten
- Grand Cayman
- See more locations at the SNUBA website
Looking for some great Caribbean beaches where you can try out these awesome beach activities? Read The 10 Best Beaches in the Caribbean for 2019.
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