Travelers looking to stay active while on vacation will find myriad opportunities in the Caribbean, where an increasing number of resorts have upped the ante by investing in extensive sports facilities. These offerings — a far cry from the ordinary hotel fitness center — aim to entice sports enthusiasts, with everything from championship golf courses to well-equipped pickleball courts and celebrity-branded tennis complexes.
Among the latest examples: Zel Punta Cana, which opened last year in the Dominican Republic and this year will unveil a tennis center named for Spanish pro Rafael Nadal, complete with five tennis courts, four padel courts and six pickleball courts.
Here are several ways to connect clients with sports-infused excitement around the region.
Great Tennis Facilities in the Caribbean
Among the most noteworthy news for vacation-bound tennis fans is the debut of the John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar, which opened in late 2024 as the tennis legend’s first branded destination tennis center in the region. The facility, located in the Bahamas, features eight courts (including six professional-grade hard courts and two Har-Tru clay courts), as well as six pickleball courts. Guests can sign up for private sessions, clinics and resort tennis packages, and the property also has a pro shop stocked with tennis gear, clothing and accessories.
The John McEnroe Tennis Center at Baha Mar
Credit: 2025 Baha Mar
Also carrying the name of a celebrated tennis player are the Monica Puig Tennis Courts at Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Here, guests can enroll in private and group lessons, rent equipment and take advantage of a free, one-hour court rental that’s included in the resort fee.
Additional choices for tennis players include Wyndham Palmas Beach & Golf Boutique Resort in Puerto Rico — which features an impressive 25 courts and surfaces and hosts clinics, tournaments and private lessons — and Couples Swept Away in Jamaica, where the 10-acre sports facility offers 10 tennis courts, four pickleball courts, two squash courts, a basketball court and two racquetball courts. Tennis pros at Swept Away offer daily U.S. Professional Tennis Registry instruction as well as group clinics.
On a smaller scale is Carlisle Bay Antigua, where guests can make use of five tennis courts and two pickleball courts, with free clinics led by pros Rennie George and Nigel Anthony.
Where to Play Pickleball in the Caribbean
Pickleball’s recent surge in popularity has resulted in the creation of ever-more places to play the sport. Sandals Resorts, for example, offers a total of 64 pickleball courts across its portfolio of 14 all-inclusive Caribbean properties, with private lessons available to help guests sharpen their skills.
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, meanwhile, is home to 11 pickleball courts and also offers private lessons, clinics and tournaments. In St. Eustatius, Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort has pickleball courts that complement its tennis, basketball and padel courts, while The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman offers five dedicated pickleball courts. Also offering pickleball facilities in Grand Cayman are Holiday Inn Resort Grand Cayman and The Grand Caymanian Resort.
The pickleball courts at Baha Mar
Credit: 2025 Baha MarDestination Golf
It’s easy to see how the beautiful Caribbean islands can provide a memorable backdrop for practicing one’s swing. Some of the freshest options for golf are offered at Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, which recently debuted a new short course to complement its 18-hole golf course; both have been redesigned by Greg Norman Golf Course Design.
In Aruba, meanwhile, golfers can consider a brand-new accommodation option at Joia Aruba by Iberostar, recently opened near the 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones II-designed Tierra del Sol Golf Course by Iberostar.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is another top choice for teeing off; The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grand Cayman offers personalized instruction and equipment rental and is home to the Greg Norman-designed golf course.
The Reserve at Grace Bay by Beach Enclave in Turks and Caicos, is one of several properties in the Caribbean offering comprehensive, multisport facilities. Its facilities include a 4,500-square-foot golf green complex; courts for tennis, padel, pickleball and beach volleyball; and a 24-hour fitness center — all accessible only for travelers who book one the resort’s three seven-bedroom villas. The property also has an outdoor game lounge where guests can play bocce ball and cornhole.
Guests can enjoy playing pickeball and padel at Golden Rock Resort.
Credit: 2025 Golden Rock ResortSecrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa and Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa, both of which open this summer in the Dominican Republic, will also offer multiple options for sporting activities, including tennis courts, volleyball courts, a bungee trampoline and a basketball court. The dual-branded resort will even have a batting cage — tying in with the Dominican Republic’s legendary love for baseball, with equipment use included.
Also in the works are two new golf courses at Jack’s Bay in the Bahamas: the just-opened Tiger Woods 10-Hole Playground Course and an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Heritage course slated to open in 2026.
