Identifying the "sunniest" island in the Caribbean involves looking at both total sunshine hours and the lowest average rainfall. Aruba is consistently ranked at the top of this list, largely due to its location outside the hurricane belt and its semi-arid, desert-like climate. Aruba receives very little rainfall compared to its lush, mountainous neighbors, averaging only about 18 to 20 inches of rain per year. This results in nearly 3,200 hours of sunshine annually, with clear blue skies being the norm almost every day of the year. Other strong contenders include its neighbors Curaçao and Bonaire (the "ABC Islands"), which share a similar dry climate. On the northern side of the Caribbean, Anguilla and Turks and Caicos also boast exceptionally high sunshine rates because they are relatively flat, low-lying coral islands that don't "trap" rain clouds like the volcanic peaks of islands such as St. Lucia or Dominica. For travelers who want a "guarantee" of sun for their beach vacation, Aruba remains the most reliable statistical choice.