If turquoise water, white sand beaches and fiery pink sunsets are what you’re after, then there’s no better place on earth to visit than the Caribbean Sea. Unsurprisingly, the Caribbean is reliably popular every winter, as weary travellers head south in the colder months, seeking sunny days and rum-fuelled nights from the Bahamas down to Trinidad and Tobago. The Beach Boys popularized the Caribbean’s tropical allure in their melodies, and Bob Marley immortalized its soul and ethos in his lyrics. Mustique was a favoured getaway of Princess Margaret looking to escape the press—these days, Beyoncé evades the paparazzi by heading to St. Barts.

But there’s still much to the islands you’ve yet to discover. Even the most discerning, sophisticated traveller would be surprised to find they’d somehow missed these hidden gems tucked away alongside some of the most popular snowbird getaways on earth.

So, if your idea of a perfect tropical vacation doesn’t include massive amounts of tourists, don’t be discouraged. There are more than 7,000 islands in the Caribbean archipelago, of which some are less discovered—and more luxurious—than the rest. From romantic, open-air resorts overlooking the sea in Saint Lucia to the pristine and picturesque beaches of South Caicos, here are the most elegant (and underrated) islands to visit in the Caribbean, guaranteed to bring visitors bliss and solitude (and five-star amenities, of course).