Gorgeous beaches but still have fun activities? (zip-lining)
 

My family and I are planning on going to the Caribbean around the holidays and I can't decide between which islands we should go to. I've narrowed it down to aruba, cayman islands, and st. Lucia but I'm still so conflicted!

I love beautiful beaches to just relax and not do much but also need water sports and would love to explore and have an adventure on the island we choose to go to. Zip lining is at the top of the list and out of the three only St. Lucia has zip lining however, the beaches are lacking.

Is it stupid that I'm choosing the island based on zip lining because as I type this out I feel kind of ridiculous :( All I'm asking is for any island recommendations that have gorgeous beaches, many fun and adventurous, activities to do, and ZIP LINING! Thanks :)

Can't happen. Best beaches are the flat dry islands.

Hilly islands have the zip line.

Your best compromise is Mexico. I'm sure somewhere in commutable Cancun area has zip lines. Beaches are really nice too.

You need hills to have a zip line. Most of the islands you tagged are flat as pancakes.

Look at Jamaica. Negril is your best bet. It has everything you're looking for. Gorgeous beaches, water sports, lots to do outside of the beaches, and really fun zip lining of which 2 of the lines are vertical. Loved it.

The beaches in St Lucia are not lacking; they are just different. Of course for some this means they are lacking. In the south of the island, the beaches are dark sand & the water is emerald green and clear, very beautiful against the backdrop of the Pitons. One of the hotels in the south, Sugar Beach resort, had it's light sand imported many years ago (when it was the Jalousie Plantation) & this is where Matt Damon recently renewed his wedding vows.

If dark sand beaches do not appeal, the north of the island at Reduit Beach has light sand beaches.

Neighbouring Martinique has alot of activities, it's a well organised, pretty well off beautiful island but you will need a bit of school French to help you get by, although alot of the residents esp younger generation & those in the tourist industry have to speak English. There is lots to do in Martinique, a proper volcano, a destroyed city with ruins, rainforest, stunning beaches (Les Salines for instance), check out things to do in Martinique on TA.

This is a link to an adventure park:-

http://www.mangofil.eu/index.asp?id=40

Look at Roatan in the Bay Islands. Very nice beach at West Bay and quite a few zip-lining options across the island.

The Riviera Maya area of Mexico has some gorgeous beaches, zip lining, ruins to explore, etc.

i 2nd schmerl's suggestion. look at locogringo.com for all the info you'll need.

St. Martin would fit the bill. Nice beaches AND zip lining. And best of all, you will only be a short ferry ride away from some of the best beaches in the Caribbean - Anguilla. better yet, stay on Anguilla and take a day trip to St. Martin for zip lining (:

Mayan Riviera (Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Tulum) or Negril Jamaica are two that fit what you seek (agreeing with what's already mentioned).