There is something restorative about the beach-the sand, sun and sea have the power to revive us even after long hours of working and months of cold weather back home. Whether you enjoy splashing in the surf, sunning on the shore or simply listening to the waves from the terrace of your villa while relaxing with a cool drink, beach living is about as blissful as it gets.

The Caribbean and Central and Latin America are blessed with some of the finest beaches in the world. Only hours away from most major U.S. and European cities, these beaches offer the added bonus of being easily accessible. For many, it’s an simple choice to own a vacation home or retire to a beach in paradise-not only are these stunning beaches easy to reach (yet worlds away from reality), but many of the countries have a lower cost of living and offer financial incentives to make retiring in paradise more desirable than ever.

Last year, Luxury Living International brought you our expert picks for the Top 10 Places to Live in Paradise. Now, we delve further into life in paradise, providing a detailed look at the Top 10 Beaches to Live on Paradise. From the Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, these are the best beaches, beachside developments and beachfront properties that you would love to call home-and actually can. Our picks represent the best of beach living in paradise-each of these beaches offers luxury, accessibility, great properties and, above all, sublime beauty.

Coson Beach, Las Terrenas, D.R.
Perhaps the Caribbean’s best-kept secret, the once-sleepy fishing village of Las Terrenas is becoming one of the hottest spots for vacation homes in the Caribbean for those in-the-know. Some are even calling it the San Tropez of the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic boats some of the best beaches in the world and Las Terrenas and the Samana Peninsula have the best of the best, including Coson Beach, or Playa Coson, a long, luscious stretch of untouched sand dotted with gently leaning palms. Besides beautiful beaches, Las Terrenas entertains with an eclectic mix of international restaurants and shops and outdoor pursuits from fishing and diving to hiking and whale watching. Los Nomados, the Samana Peninsula’s premier gated community, is the place to find that paradise dream house and own a slice of virginal Playa Coson. Villas such as the sprawling, modern-meets-Caribbean-chic Villa del Mar enjoy a prime spot right on the sands of Playa Coson.
www.palmscollection.com

Langosta Beach, Guancaste, Costa Rica
Langosta beach, located down the sand from bustling town of Tamarindo in Guancaste, Costa Rica, is a paradise for surfers, nature-lovers and beach bums alike-and those seeking R&R in the exclusive properties on Millionaire’s Row overlooking the beach. Surfers enjoy the right and left point breaks that curve off the mouth of the river, and a short boat ride up this river takes you to into a forest home to wild howler monkeys. The wide, sandy beach is big enough for surfers and beach lovers to enjoy it and never feel crowded. Millionaire’s Row overlooks the best beachfront real estate in Costa. Private and gated, Crystal Sands on Millionaire’s Row has 20 luxury and exclusive villas designed to enjoy every inch of the stunning beach.
www.crystalsandscostarica.com

Juanillo Beach, Punta Cana, D.R.
White sand, bright turquoise water, green palms-the colors synonymous with an amazing beach seem turned up just a little brighter at Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana, D.R. Protected by a coral reef, the calm waters of Juanillo Beach can soothe even the most frazzled of nerves. Found within the gates of the massive Cap Cana luxury community-which features beach villas, resorts, Trump estates, a full-service marina, and many fine dining options-Juanillo beach remains pleasantly undeveloped, a reminder to why we love coming to paradise in the first place. Owning a villa in Cap Cana gives you access to Juanillo Beach, which is revered by locals, travel experts and editors alike as one of the best beaches in not just the D.R. or the Caribbean, but the entire world.
www.classicalcapcana.com

Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Visitors to Harbour Island know you don’t need to stray far from home to experience one of the most remarkable beaches in the world. The Bahamas are only 50 miles from Miami, and just a 30-minute flight from Nassau and 1.5 hours from the U.S. is Pink Sand Beach, whose pink-hued grains make it truly one-of-a-kind. Pink is all the rage on Harbour Island-the pink-shelled conch is the local delicacy, try it served up as “cracked conch.” While quaint and laid back, Harbour Island is also a high-end Bahamian Out Island, home to million-dollar villas, luxe resorts and big-money fishing tournaments. Prime real estate opportunities can be found along Pink Sand Beach. One- to three-bedroom villas in Romora Bay allow owners to enjoy resort amenities in their beachside residence.

Rodney Bay Beach, St. Lucia, West Indies
People travel to St. Lucia to fall in love-it’s a top destination for weddings and honeymoons-but they end up falling in love with the near-perfect island, perhaps the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Beaches range from black volcanic sand to those with low-slung palms reminiscent of the South Pacific. Then there’s Rodney Bay, with its big crescent-shaped beach on the north end of the island that’s brimming with new marinas, restaurants and resorts and flanked by a white sand beach. The Landings St. Lucia, a Rock Resort property, brings luxury to Rodney Bay and offers up 122 one-, two- and three-bedroom villa suite condo residences, some with plunge pools and all with balconies overlooking the beach below.
www.thelandingsstlucia.com

Cabo San Lucas Beach, Los Cabos, Mexico
It’s hard to go wrong Los Cabos, Mexico, when it comes finding excellent beach living. With its sweeping natural rock formations, Cabo is the backdrop for many a great photograph and those who take up residence on the beach can enjoy this constant “screen saver” of natural beauty. Cabo San Lucas enjoys the vibe of a chill, Mexican beach town that’s turned into a cosmopolitan escape. The luxurious Cabo del Sol development boasts beachfront home sites, villas and condominiums. The community puts a premium on golf as well with a Nicklaus-designed ocean course, a Weiskopf-designed desert course and a 40,000 square foot clubhouse.
www.cabodelsol.com

Treasure Cay Beach, Abaco, Bahamas
Those who relate the Bahamas with the massive resorts Nassau and Freeport don’t know the real Bahamas-the unhurried pace and natural beauty of the Out Islands are what living in paradise is all about. In the Abaco Islands, New England architecture brought over by Loyalists during the American Revolution lends a charming appeal to this part of paradise. Treasure Cay Beach, located on the eponymous Treasure Cay, earned a superb beach ranking from National Geographic. Treasure Cay Real Estate offers beach lots for sale along this more than three-mile-long white sand heaven. Beyond the sand, the Treasure Cay Resort has an 18-hole golf course, full-service marina, retail center and more.

St. Jean Beach, St. Barths
St. Barths is an island rich in French culture, fortune and beaches-14 beautiful beaches in total on the small, exclusive island. The massive (and massively popular) St. Jean beach is split in two by The EdenRock hotel in the middle. The beach is stacked with cafes, resorts and luxury villas. Long and set on a wide bay, it’s the ideal spot for those who enjoy their beach equal parts luxurious and lively. The island has a reputation for being postcard-perfect and safe. If fine dining, high-end shopping, celebrity flair and utmost privacy are what you’re after, St. Barths fits the bill.

Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
The immaculate Grace Bay Beach on the Turks and Caicos island of Providenciales seems so perfect and clean (and the water so clear and refreshing), that you think surely this must be a protected state park. What a surprise when you turn around and your villa is right there, kissing the sands of the lovely Grace Bay Beach. The all-suite Grace Bay Club, on Grace Bay Beach, of course, offers luxe properties for sale along the beach. The Estate of Grace Bay, a collection of 22 custom-designed, high-end residences opened last year. Just south of the Bahamas, this beauty of an island is easy to get to, and scuba divers will have a blast exploring the waters of the Turks and Caicos.
www.estateatgracebay.com

Anse Marcel Beach, St. Martin
Tucked between rolling hills on the northernmost tip of French St. Martin is the secluded village and beach of Anse Marcel. A winding, steep road is the only entrance to Anse Marcel, keeping crowds at bay unless they are coming to visit a dive shop, boutique resort or the protected marina found here. Villas and town homes are available steps away from the beautiful, quiet beach-a favorite secret spot among locals and in-the-know vacationers. This off-the-beaten-track location affords complete relaxation while the high-end shopping found in Marigot Bay the excellent cuisine of Grand Case are only minutes away by car.

The size of the luxury watercraft, the onboard amenities, the crew, and the demand for a ship are key factors used in determining the cost by chartering companies. However, if the mission you are seeking to accomplish is to enjoy the ultimate in opulence and onboard creature comforts, the super yacht Martha Ann will fit that plan. It’s absolutely luxury living on the high seas.

Martha Ann is a 230-foot power yacht by Lurssen, which cruises between 12 and 15 knots like a floating castle on the sea. Launched in 2008, it sleeps 12 guests in seven opulent cabins and has a full crew of 17 to take care of all your needs. The grandiose super yacht has a swimming deck and a lap pool, a cinema and a gym along with a baby grand piano, seven wet bars, in case 5 or 6 wasn’t enough! Then throw in a big barbecue setup and a circular glass elevator onboard. Water toys also are plentiful and include kayaks, wave runners and skis, a wakeboard, and fishing equipment. Ever trolled for dinner behind a 230 footer?!

Martha Ann is available for cruises off the Cayman Islands at a weekly price just under $800,000.

Who doesn’t want to experience the good life and enjoy the pleasures that come with owning a luxury vacation home in the Caribbean or Latin America? You’ve worked hard and earned your success but spending millions on the posh Aspen pad, the Caribbean Villa or the private jet is still tough to justify even if you have the cash. For many, making those goals a reality is only possible through fractional ownership; all the luxury – at a fraction of the costs.

Just four years ago luxury second and vacation homes were the fastest growing segment of residential real estate. Baby boomers flush with cash and equity in their primary homes decided to live the dream of owning that opulent second home in places like the Rockies, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Between 2003 and 2006 luxury developments were selling out in months, in some cases, weeks. Now, those days are gone, probably forever. With much of their equity evaporated and the pile of fun money dwindled, baby boomers have pulled back from the $1M or $2M dollar vacation villa perched on a warm sunny beach.

But, there is one thing that has not dwindled, their desire to enjoy time and reconnect with family and friends in a beautiful location in a luxurious home in places such as Bermuda, or on a white sand beach in St. Barts or the Dominican Republic. From younger wealthy consumers to millions of Baby Boomers, consumers still have the urge to travel, to have exotic adventures and to do it all from a luxurious vacation home instead of a cramped hotel room. After all, they’ve still earned it.

But spending a couple of million on a beach house that you will probably only a use three or four weeks a year, for most, doesn’t make much financial sense. Upkeep expenses, maintenance hassles, taxes, and property management can really take the fun out of relaxing on the beach or playing a round of golf in paradise.

Luckily, for active and affluent vacationers, back in 1990 an advertising executive in Park City, Utah’s stylish Deer Valley ski resort came up with an idea that changed the vacation home ownership model forever. Steve Dering observed that multi-million-dollar Deer Valley vacation homes sat empty most of the year. Dering’s idea: build the luxury residences the Deer Valley market wanted, provide use that mirrored Deer Valley homeowners, offer more services and amenities than any other real estate product, and make the ownership price and annual cost proportionate to the amount of time they’d use it by spreading them among six owners per residence. The result was the Deer Valley Club.

Hence, the first private Residence Club, the luxury segment of fractional ownership, was born. Today, that simple concept has spread far beyond ski resorts and meets the needs of a new buyer for whom luxury and efficiency go together, and their playgrounds are North America, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe.

The shared ownership business model has now grown into a billion dollar per year real estate option that is expected to grow at a much more rapid rate than traditional vacation home ownership. According to research done by Ragatz Associates there were over 200 residence clubs and other fractional developments in North America in 2006 alone and fractional ownership can now be found throughout the world. Others concur, “Fractional ownership is indisputably growing in popularity as the vacation home market continues to evolve,” said Scott D. Berman, Principal, and Hospitality & Leisure Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Despite the increase in product awareness, there are many US households with means who are still not familiar with fractional ownership and its lifestyle attributes, creating demand-side opportunities where fractional ownership is suitable.”

To put it into simple terms; The real estate is owned as deeded real estate or deeded equivalent in a corporation owned by individuals; each owns a percentage share in the asset and has equal rights and privileges to using the property. Normally a management company provides the daily asset management overseeing upkeep hassles and typically provides services often similar to those you would find in a luxury hotel. From transportation and travel services and grocery shopping to housekeeping, private chefs and pool butlers seems to be the norm in luxury fractional real estate.

Dering is now a principal and founding partner of DCP International, a consulting firm that has brought more than 30 residence clubs to market. He noted that residence clubs were the fastest growing segment within the vacation home market when the recession hit.

“There’s no question that our sales have slowed during this downturn,” Dering said. “However, existing clubs are still selling, albeit at a slower pace, and we are in the process of converting stalled whole ownership developments into residence clubs at ‘reset’ prices. Our concept makes even more sense now that the investment incentive has been removed from the vacation home purchase.”

Bill Shea, with Palms International and a partner in Cielo del Mar, a new boutique fractional project in Las Terrenas, a growing area on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast explains “Our research showed that most people only used their second or vacation homes 20-30 days per year. The fractional ownership model is appealing to more and more affluent buyers even allowing consumers who may not be considered wealthy to enjoy our luxury beachfront villas at a fraction of the cost. And they have many of the services and amenities of a five star resort, services that a single vacation homeowner can’t enjoy without substantial costs and management”.

Some luxury hotel groups run their own private residence clubs including Ritz Carlton, St.Regis and Four Seasons. Occasionally membership in a private residence club grants to its members only a right to use the club properties and services without ownership in the properties themselves. But in the case of Cielo del Mar, a Private Residence Club in the Dominican Republic, members own the real estate and share in potential appreciation. And ownership is a fully transferable asset like any real property.

In addition to luxury fractionals and private residence clubs, single “stand-alone” vacation homes can be converted into fractional ownership. Converting a vacation home can be accomplished by any knowledgeable seller or through a fractional consulting company such as the Palms Collection in the Dominican Republic. The benefit of fractional home conversion includes the ability of the homeowner to keep a portion of the ownership for themselves if they wish, cashing out some of their equity or to pay off debt and offset expenses.

The benefits of fractional home ownership are so compelling that many people who could easily afford their own place are opting for the fractional ownership model instead. Perhaps even more surprising, many people who already own vacation homes are choosing to sell some fractional interests in order to lighten their cost and management load while maintaining use of the property, as often as when they were the sole owner.

Without sounding like a sales pitch, it’s hard to find something that doesn’t make sense about fractional ownership. Lower acquisition costs offer more home for the buck than you could or would normally afford, professional management and luxury resort style services make it easy to see why fractional ownership and the residence club model is predicted to be the fastest growing segment of vacation and second home ownership for a long time to come. It just makes good sense.

When they need a break from their crazed schedules of movie filming, concert tours and paparazzi-dodging, celebrities know there’s no better escape than an island in the sun. Options abound for the star seeking relaxation–from secluded private islands to opulent estates set in luxury developments. Many of the most famous stars of stage and screen have made their home-away-from-home in the Caribbean and Latin America. These tropical paradises are only a quick flight from the U.S. and Europe, yet worlds away from the hectic pace of their everyday lives.

We all need an escape sometimes–and with many of these celebrity villas available for rent, you could stay in the vacation home of Eric Clapton, Bruce Willis or Mick Jagger and enjoy the star treatment that comes with their homes, often including a private chef and a full staff. And just like the celebrities, if you decide you want to stay longer, you can find your own place in the sun and buy property in one of these fabulous spots.

Where to Rent Celebrity Homes in Paradise:

Eric Clapton – Rock Legend Eric Clapton owns a 45-acre retreat on the island of Antigua. Set on a bluff, the 10,000-square-foot “Standfast Point”–boasting grand terraces, alfresco dining areas, two pools and accommodations for up to 14 guests–rents with a full staff for about $50,000/week. www.standfastpoint.com

Steve Martin – Funnyman Steve Martin leases his St. Barth’s home, featuring sweeping views of St. Jean Bay, Balinese-style gazebo and four bedrooms and baths, for about $30,000/week. www.stbarth.com

David Copperfield – Star magician David Copperfield offers guests a wondrous experience at his private Musha Cay and the Islands of Copperfield Bay resort, found in the Exuma Cays chain of the Bahamas. Set amid the spellbindingly blue waters of the Exumas, the entire 700-acre secluded resort can be rented for up to 24 guests, enjoying five guest villas each with its own beach. Rates start at $37,500 per day for 12 people. www.mushacay.com

Mick Jagger – Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger escapes to a Japanese-style beachfront villa on the island of Mustique. Enjoy the lush landscaping, onsite tennis court, outdoor dining, and a staff that includes a personal chef starting at $15,000/week. www.unusualvillarentals.com

Bruce Willis – Movie star Bruce Willis takes his family to the Turks and Caicos when he needs some downtime. Set inside the exclusive Parrot Cay Resort, his six-acre oceanfront estate, called “The Residence,” with a five-bedroom main residence and two three-bedroom guest villas rents for more than $20,000/night. www.parrotcay.como.bz/stay/the-residence

Christie Brinkley – Parrot Cay Resort in the Turks and Caicos is a favorite among the celebrity set–former supermodel Christie Brinkley has one of her many vacation homes here. Her beachfront villa, “Lucky House,” rents with its own butler for about $8,000/night, and guests looking to unwind will enjoy having access to the 13,000-square-foot open-air yoga studio and ayurvedic spa. www.parrotcay.como.bz/stay

Keith Richards – The Rolling Stones’ guitarist also makes his home at Parrot Cay Resort in the Turks and Caicos. His three-bedroom “Rocky Point Villa” has an infinity edge swimming pool overlooking two acres of beachfront property and rents for about $8,000/night. www.parrotcay.como.bz/stay/rocky-point

Richard Branson – Perhaps no celebrity Caribbean home is better known than Richard Branson’s British Virgin Island retreat Necker Island. The island can be rented privately for up to 28 guests, with rates starting at $36,000 per night for a minimum of 16 guests, or during “celebration weeks” throughout the year couples or singles can book rooms and share the house. www.neckerisland.virgin.com

Celebrity Private Islands in the Bahamas: For the celebrity who really wants to disappear, a private island is the obvious choice. Set in spellbinding waters, close to the U.S. for easy stop-overs when their schedules permit and with many uninhabited islands available, the islands of the Bahamas are popular among celebrities.

Situated in the protected Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in the Bahamas, 35-acre Little Hall’s Pond Cay–with six beaches and a private lagoon–is Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp’s place to escape. Other celebs who have laid claim to islands in the Exuma Cays include Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Nicolas Cage and David Copperfield. Eddie Murphy purchased Rooster Cay–located near the Bahamas’ capital of Nassau.

Located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, just a few minutes away from the Punta Cana International Airport, Cap Cana is a world class luxury resort, country club and residential community that has truly set a standard for all luxury Caribbean golf communities to follow. From its stunning beaches, marina village replete with great restaurants and boutique shops to the now infamous Punta Espada Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Cap Cana offers homeowners one of the best experiences available in the Dominican Republic and perhaps the Caribbean.

Jack Nicklaus’ Punta Espada is Cap Cana’s crown jewel that golfers and non-golfers alike will appreciate. His first of three signature courses on the property blends a recipe incorporating the landscapes’ natural features in its stunning layout; from the bluffs, the beach, the lagoons to the foliage which magically come together to create absolute sensory overload.

I have played many tropical ocean courses around the world including each one of Mr. Nicklaus’s signature courses in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Punta Espada is now my favorites list. And as anyone knows, there is some stiff competition in paradise. A par 72-championship course Punta Espada perfectly covers more than 7,000 yards, including eight stunning holes that play along and over turquoise Caribbean waters.

The views and long vistas are so mesmerizing they allow you to forget the lost balls and the three-putts along the way. None of that matters because the place is so awe-inspiring that you just don’t care about anything but the idea of playing golf in such an ideal setting.

If you find yourself in Punta Cana or anywhere in the DR, Cap Cana and Punta Espada is a must-see and a must-play. Cap Cana has set the bar very high for Caribbean Living as well as a world-class golf destination. Punta Espada will surely stay on the Top 100 list for a long time. Congrats, once again, Mr. Nicklaus, you make playing golf in paradise an unforgettable experience once again.

You can see the beauty of Punta Espada on television 25-28th as Cap Cana hosts the Champions Tour event – the Cap Cana Championship.

Jack Nicklaus has been called many times the undisputed King of Mexico golf and a huge factor in people looking for luxury living in Mexico…and he has done it again. With a mix of Mayan Culture, Colonial Mexico, endless water and fishing adventures as well as championship golf, offers a privileged lifestyle for owners at Yucatan Country Residential and Golf.

The beautiful new 800-acre master planned community in Merida features luxury villas, condos, and lakeside and golf view estate lots. In April, the master-planned community added the Yucatan Country Club to its portfolio of amenities. The new clubhouse includes several restaurants and a spa and fitness center, as well as water park, game room, and an area for art workshops and fitness classes. It also features a beautiful 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a recreational lake, and state-of-the-art tennis and a Mark Spitz Academy for swimming. The first community of its kind, Yucatan Country Residential and Golf offers residents athletic classes of all levels through its Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf, Wilson Academy of Tennis and FreeMotion Academy of Fitness.

In the Turks & Caicos there is a rustic island community of over 800 acres that remains a refuge of natural beauty on this secluded piece of T&C. The homeowners on Pine Cay have, since the early 1970′s, set and retained high standards to protect the indigenous flora & fauna, to limit the size & site of all buildings, and to contribute to the development of the Turks & Caicos Islands in a responsible manner. From the onset, a strong and proactive environmental ethic has been in place among Pine Cay members to preserve the island’s natural splendor and indigenous vegetation. The limited total membership ensures that the island will forever be uncrowded, with privacy protected for all.

The members own the entire 800 acre island of Pine Cay, including the hotel, 2,800 ft airstrip, staff village, covered boat storage and marina. Becoming an owner of property on Pine Cay is much more than buying a Caribbean retreat – it is joining a very exclusive group of like minded families who treasure their natural hideaway.

Buying a property on Pine Cay is a very special privilege, and an exciting dream come true. The privacy is unrivalled as you walk the beaches or cycle the trails. Here indeed is a Caribbean delight, peaceful, beautiful and tranquil. The 800 acres of this private island offer four distinct property zones – north shore beachfront, east end on the channel, southern bank waterfront and interior wooded lots.

The security of your property investment on Pine Cay is grounded in the limited membership, thus assuring long term protection of this pristine natural island, for the property is worth vastly more than the homes. When you walk the sparkling beach along the turquoise shoreline in quiet seclusion, you will realize the true value of this investment. It is important to come and experience Pine Cay for yourself – its charm will astound you.

Homes and lots for sale start at $1,500,000+. Contact Forbes, Forbes & Forbes Ltd. at info@pinecayrealty.com for limited appointments to tour this exclusive Caribbean island. www.pinecayrealty.com

In a place where palm trees outnumber people 1000 to 1 and the day’s favored pursuit is making your way to the laid back beach bar to sip a rum drink from a carved out coconut shell, the Peninsula House answers the question of where to go in Las Terrenas when total luxury is desired of a hotel. The only catch: the Peninsula House doesn’t consider itself a hotel, but an exclusive guesthouse.

The once-sleepy fishing town of Las Terrenas on the Dominican Republic’s Samana Peninsula is the base for the Peninsula House, which has been named one of the top places to stay in the entire world. Its owner, South African Thomas Stamm, worked with renowned French architect Serge Robin to design the property in the style of an 18th century Caribbean plantation home. The 18,000-square-foot estate sits on a 15-acre bluff side lot and enjoys sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea and the 12-mile-long Coson Beach below. (Las Terrenas isn’t new to appearing on “best of” lists; the town is home to some of the top ranked beaches in the world, Coson being one of them.)

Designed to give guests the feeling of staying in an opulent, classically styled Caribbean residence (complete with parlor, library and billiard room), the Peninsula House is appointed with luxurious yet comfortable antique furnishings, Turkish carpets, 21 antique crystal chandeliers and museum-quality art on the walls.

Exclusivity and privacy are at a premium with only six junior suites available—each room is unique and opens onto verandas with sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea or the lushly manicured grounds. The lavish suites feature four-poster king-size beds, hardwood floors, high ceilings, settee areas, and rainforest showers and mahogany soaking tubs in the bathroom. Like the rest of the Peninsula House, the suites are furnished with unique, hand-selected antique items that give the feeling of being in not just a luxe resort, but a friend’s private Caribbean home. And while the furnishings take you back in time, modern-era wi-fi, Bose stereos, TVs and DVD players can be found in each suite.

For those who want to stray from the guest house, the bussling village of Las Terrenas offers beachy bars, eclectic dining and activities ranging from whale watching to horseback-led waterfall treks. Something is happening in Las Terrenas that rarely happens in other Caribbean outposts—the town is becoming more cosmopolitan while still retaining its Caribbean-the-way-it-used-to-be charm. French, Spanish and seafood restaurants as well as luxury accommodations—from private homes to offerings such as the Peninsula House—abound.

Something is brewing in Las Terrenas, drawing French, Dutch, Italian and the stray America visitor to this town’s slow accent as a world-class vacation home spot as well.  At the Peninsula house you can view it all through exceptional accommodations that will pamper you with luxury, soft Caribbean breezes and lush surroundings. The Peninsula House and this little Caribbean town are somehow lost in time but no stranger to every conceivable Caribbean treat.

Not many scenes evoke a feeling of romance like a couple strolling down a beach hand-in-hand-there’s just something about the warm breezes, spellbinding blue water and white sand beaches of paradise that conjures up romance like nothing else. Whether your idea of a romantic getaway includes splashing in the surf, enjoying exquisite French cuisine, exploring a rainforest, or relaxing in natural hot springs, the diverse paradise of the Caribbean and Latin American offer something for every taste. Just in time for Valentine’s Day (and intended for any day you crave a romantic escape), we give you our expert-compiled list of the top 14 romantic getaways in paradise.

Gastronomical Bliss
If your idea of romance is wining, dining and shopping, French St. Martin fits the bill. Grand Case is known as the Gourmet Capital of Caribbean-you can’t walk down the town’s main street without bumping into a gourmet French, Creole or Italian restaurant. While waterfront views are part of Grand Case’s draw, some of the best dining can be found at the intimate L’Auberge Gourmande and the new La Villa. For ocean-view accommodations, retire to the luxurious, cliff side La Samanna Resort and Spa. Rooms from $995; villa rentals from $3,000.

Chocolate Lovers
Instead of giving your valentine a box of store-bought chocolates, treat them to a tour of a working cocoa plantation on the island of Grenada. At Belmont Estates, see the progression of cocoa from wet bean-which tastes light and fruity-to a delicious dark chocolate bar. Spend the night in a private cottage and enjoy a couple’s massage at the beachfront, ultra-romantic Laluna resort, a slice of Balinese-inspired heaven in the Caribbean. From $415.

Luxe Rainforest Hideaway
Escape to a hideaway in the lush, serene rainforest of Belize. The elegantly appointed Tree Top suites at the renowned Chaa Creek eco-lodge offer complete privacy and excellent stargazing from the veranda Jacuzzi (priced from $400). Also in the Maya Mountains, hike to Big Rock Falls, explore ancient Mayan ruins and unwind in the private plunge pool of your Luxury Cabana at Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge. From $400; Francis Ford Coppola Villa from $625.

Rock Steady
For a different take on the long-time favorite romance destination of Jamaica, head away from the compound-style beach resorts and check into the tres-chic RockHouse boutique hotel, set on the cliffs overlooking the sea in Negril. Its westernmost locale makes for fabulous sunsets-enjoy one with your honey from your villa’s private sundeck. Visit the spa for organic and holistic treatments. Standard rooms from $125; villas from $295.

Stylish Surf and Turf
Costa Rica is a small country of big contrasts-take it all in during one romantic getaway. Play in the waves of one of the two beaches, set a tee time for golf and book a couple’s spa treatment at the secluded Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo. Then head for the interior and visit the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, soaking in natural hot springs at the base of the towering Aernal Volcano. Four Seasons from $595; Tabacon from $245.

French Kiss
Stylish and private, it’s no wonder French-influenced St. Barths is a favorite place for the rich and famous to get away. Disappear into a private hillside villa overlooking one of the island’s many picturesque bays or to a beachside retreat like the Eden Rock. The sexy hotel is a Hollywood favorite, offering spacious homes and unique suites such as the Greta Garbo and the Howard Hughes suite. Garden cottages from $690; Big Beach House from $3,500.

Ultimate Sanctuary
From beaches with low-slung palms reminiscent of the South Pacific to the captivating emerald Piton peaks that rise straight up from the sea, St. Lucia is plain sexy. Jade Mountain’s sanctuary rooms have an open fourth wall, big infinity pools and unadulterated views of the twin Pitons. Feeling adventurous? Hike the 3,000-foot Gros Piton and visit the Anse-la-Raye Friday night fish fry. Sky Jacuzzi sanctuary from $900; Star infinity pool sanctuary from $1,150.

Love VIP-Style
For lovers craving privacy and the VIP-treatment, Tortuga Bay in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is where it’s at. With VIP airport service whisking you through Customs and a private concierge on-call, you can unwind and leave the planning to the pros. Stunning villas designed by the world-renowned Oscar de la Renta add to Tortuga Bay’s appeal. Lounge on the private beach and dine at the Mediterranean-inspired Bamboo. Villas from $595.

Tickled Pink
If strolling on a beach in paradise sounds romantic, then walking along a pink sand beach must be off-the-charts. A short flight from the States, Harbour Island’s unbelievable three-mile-long pink sand beach is the Bahamas’ best-kept secret. Stay in one of the 25 pastel-colored cottages at the romance-hued Pink Sands Resort. Garden view cottage from $600; ocean view cottage from $750.

It Takes Two
A renowned golf and fishing destination, Los Cabos, Mexico-comprised of the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo-also lures lovers with its beautiful beaches, fine restaurants, lively nightlife, and great shopping. Cabo del Sol boasts two resorts, two acclaimed golf courses, two spas and many outstanding villa rentals to make your stay comfortable. Ocean view condos from $560; three-bedroom villas from $1,320.

Action-Packed Romance
Adventurous couples will find romance in nature-loving Dominica. After a day of hiking, zip lining, rapelling, or yoga, unwind and enjoy an in-room massage at the ocean view Calibishie Cove luxury eco-lodge. Spend the night in the 1,500-square-foot Paradise Penthouse with a private plunge pool, or for optimal privacy rent the entire four-room villa. Penthouse from $200; villa from $490.

Beachy Keen
With 365 beaches, coves and bays-one for every day of the year-it’s easy find a favorite romantic spot in Antigua. The English-influenced island also boasts a collection of charming shops and restaurants and myriad historical sites. For a true getaway, visit the private Jumby Bay Resort set just off Antigua. Stay in a cozy Roundavel room with a four-poster bed and wrap-around terrace, or indulge in one of the resort’s luxe estates. Roundavel from $900; estates from $3,500.

Private Island Haven
Where do you go to stay in Mick Jagger’s private home? Why Mustique, of course. Set between St. Vincent and Grenada in the Grenadines, the private island of Mustique-owned by shareholders from 17 countires-is the place to rent homes of rock and rollers and truly escape from the real world. Jagger’s Japanese-style beachfront retreat is stocked with mementos from his music career and is just one of the amazing places for rent on the island. Estates starting from $20,000/week.

Something Blue
Couples searching for the simple necessities-a beautiful beach, great diving and dazzling turquoise waters-will find their match in the Turks and Caicos, set just south of the Bahamas. The contemporary Amanyara resort on the tip of Providenciales will envelop you in Asian-inspired luxury and put you close to the diving action of Northwest Point Marine National Park. Be sure to try the island’s local delicacy, conch, part of which is said to be an aphrodisiac. From $1,200.

I have visited literally dozens of luxury resort communities in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past 15 years. I’ve seen a range of possibilities for the affluent traveler, discovering while many developments are quite lovely, some are not all they aspire to be. Then there are the rare, truly exceptional luxury communities in paradise. Those that offer not only breathtaking scenery, luxe accommodations, ample amenities, exciting diversions and the ultimate in privacy, but provide a real sense of community and a distinct lifestyle amid the beauty. The ones that if you have the means, you’ll surely become an owner in order to experience this sublime place again and again.

PUNTACANA Resort and Club is one of these special places. For about 100 fortunate people from around the world who proudly call PUNTACANA home (or home-away-from-home), it’s a place they can’t wait to get back to each time they must depart for the real world. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, PUNTACANA is about more than the amazing Caribbean Sea views, miles of pristine beaches and oceanfront golf that the community is renowned for. It’s about more than the fine dining, world-class spa, full-service marina, exclusive hotels and multi-million dollar homes. PUNTACANA is a way of life, a place that provides its owners and guests, whether they visit once a year or stay for months at a time, with a real sense of community in paradise. Events throughout the year, from Owner’s Weekend to the Oscar de la Renta Tennis Social to the10k Road Race, help build this sense of community.

I was staying at the private Oscar de la Renta-designed Tortuga Bay villas, and from the moment the Tortuga Bay’s VIP service met me at the airport and whisked me through a separate Customs line to a private car awaiting my arrival, I knew this place was special. I quickly noticed PUNTACANA has a way of making you feel at home whether you are staying for a few days or for the entire season.

Forty years ago, PUNTACANA was little more than 58 million square-meters of uninhabited jungle on the easternmost tip of the D.R. The story of the inception and evolution of the now 2,500-acre luxury master-planned community is one of determination and commitment. Two men can be credited with PUNTACANA’s existence. Ted Kheel was part of a group of American investors (most of whom had never stepped foot on the island) who chipped in to buy the land, and D.R.-local Frank Rainieri was the shining light who helped guide Kheel on exactly what to do with the mass they had acquired. Facing many challenges over the years—from raising capital to appeasing shareholders to dealing with the local government—Rainieri and Kheel brought PUNTACANA from quaint hotel to a mature resort community that puts a premium on the private, personalized club experience.

Before the development reached its peak, they first built an airport, which in 1984 brought in 2,460 visitors. It’s fitting that the pretty, thatched-roof airport is designed and owned by a resort and not a government. Today, the privately owned, commercially operated Punta Cana International Airport welcomes more than three million passengers a year and is the leading point of entry in the D.R. A two-hour flight from Miami makes the Punta Cana area an easy get-away.

It was the arrival of two new partners and residents in 1997, world-renowned Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta and his friend musician Julio Iglesias, that really put Puntacana on the map. Many celebrities and high-profile individuals are attracted to PUNTACANA for its blend of wide-open spaces and privacy. “Low density is one of our key ingredients,” says Rainieri, who saw to it that PUNTACANA was designed so houses are spread apart, green spaces are numerous and nature, while contained, reigns supreme.

For 28 years, de la Renta had owned a home in Casa de Campo, another of the island’s resort communities. “It was just too congested and I decided to move on,” he says. “I had never been to the Punta Cana area, but I flew over in a helicopter, and there was a natural beauty to the place. And the proximity to the airport was also very important.” The fashion designer owns the largest piece of land in the development, and his neighbor Iglesias is said to own the largest home in PUNTACANA.

“I believe in sustainable development, sustainable tourism and sustainability,” Rainieri says. “When no one was talking about sustainability back in the late ’80s, we were involved in it here.” From the very beginning, Kheel and Rainieri have sought to support the local Dominican economy and protect the environment. PUNTACANA has set aside 1,500 acres of land for a nature preserve and established and the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation, and Oscar de la Renta has designed furniture made from sustainable local woods and fabrics that can be manufactured in the D.R.

As nature goes, this place has it all. The clearest and most stunning blue-green waters, miles of white sand beaches, 15 natural springs, and a bird population so diverse that a book Discovering the Remarkable Birds of Punta CanaM has been published.

But a mainstay in the fabric of this great resort community is golf. Its first course, La Cana, a PB Dye signature, offers up challenging but fair oceanfront Caribbean golf with six holes on the sea. La Cana not only features great looking golf with spectacular vistas, but is also sparsely lined with about 100 beautiful luxury homes, some of which are so unique and spectacular they actually add to view. Homes around La Cana average well over 5,000 square feet and range from $1.7 million to more than $5 million. “We are a beach and golf destination and much more,” Rainieri says. “Normally, when [travelers] go to the Caribbean, they go to a beach destination or a golf destination, but our mix is unique. They can have a house 400 yards from the beach with a golf course in front, and that’s not an easy thing.”

Villa and private home rentals are a fantastic option for those wanting to experience PUNTACANA firsthand. The community also hosts two hotels, the recently renovated PUNTACANA Hotel and the private de la Renta-designed Tortuga Bay. Oscar de la Renta has infused his Dominican heritage into the design of each villa, creating an artful harmony between simplicity and elegance. “I wanted to add to the peace of the surroundings,” he says.

PUNTACANA will add another signature course to its golf line-up and real estate offerings with Hacienda, which meanders through the thick green vegetation just a few hundred meters from La Cana. But the crown jewel of this amazing golf community at PUNTACANA will without a doubt be what many are already calling one of the finest and most spectacular 18 holes on the planet, the soon-to-be-famous Corales. With more than 235 acres of grass (average courses may have 80 acres) that resembles a fine, velvet carpet set over an undulating landscape set right on edge cliffs that are kissed by the amazingly blue Caribbean Sea, Corales has the look of a Scottish course set in paradise.

Rumored to be acclaimed golf course designer Tom Fazio’s last design, he was given as much land as he wanted and an open checkbook (a rarity today) to produce a golf experience that would be unrivaled in the Americas. He didn’t disappoint. With huge rolling fairways and a gorgeous natural backdrop enjoyed by few places in the world, Fazio may have just sealed his legacy as one of the best maestros of dirt, grass and sand.

With current residents of the exclusive Corales community set within PUNTACANA including Oscar de la Renta, Julio Englais and many political giants (from former presidents to current heads of state), Corales is quickly becoming a place for the rich and famous to escape their busy lives. The private beach club for Corales owners on a protected lagoon may be one of the sexiest beaches I’ve seen. With home sites in ultra-exclusive Corales starting at $1.8 million, those who have worked hard for their success can enjoy one of the most spectacular golf course communities in the Caribbean and quite possibly the world.