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Mainland Countries Bordering the Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean Sea (2.75M km²) washes the coasts of 8 mainland nations (plus 13 island nations and several territories).

🌎 Mainland Countries (8)

🏝️ Island Nations (13 Sovereign)

Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica.

🌊 Territories

Puerto Rico, USVI (US); Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin, St. Barthélemy (France); Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius (Netherlands); Anguilla, BVI, Cayman, Montserrat, Turks & Caicos (UK); Navassa (US, disputed).

🔗 Strategic Chokepoints

  • Yucatán Channel (Mexico–Cuba) → Gulf of Mexico.
  • Florida Straits (Cuba–Florida) → Gulf Stream.
  • Windward / Mona / Anegada Passages — island chains.
  • Panama Canal (Panama) → Pacific.

The Caribbean is a mainland-fringed, island-studded Mediterranean of the Americas.

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    CountryCaribbean CoastlineKey Cities/Ports
    MexicoQuintana Roo (Cancún, Cozumel), Yucatán (Mérida inland)Cancún, Cozumel, Chetumal
    BelizeEntire east coastBelize City, Ambergris Caye
    GuatemalaShort (~150 km) at Amatique BayPuerto Barrios, Livingston
    HondurasNorth coast + Bay IslandsPuerto Cortés (major port), La Ceiba, Roatán
    NicaraguaEast coast (Mosquito Coast)Bluefields, Corn Islands
    Costa RicaCaribbean lowlands (Limón)Puerto Limón (main port)
    PanamaNorth coast (Colón, Bocas del Toro)Colón (Panama Canal Atlantic entrance), Bocas
    ColombiaNorth coast (Cartagena, Santa Marta)Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta
    VenezuelaNorth coast + islands (Margarita, Los Roques)Caracas (near coast), La Guaira, Maracaibo (lake)