Going Local—and Luxe—on a Caribbean Vacation

I HAVE ALWAYS loved visiting the countries in the Caribbean Sea, but over the years what I look for has changed. I still want to loll and bob in psychedelic blue water and I still want to enjoy the odd rum party drink. But the days when I could get baked in the sun or in the bar are long gone, and now I get my Caribbean kicks another way. I want to meet interesting people, not just other visitors. And I’m not alone.

Community-driven travel, where you actively engage with local residents, has come a long way from the…