When it’s cold in northern North America, it’s high season in the warm reaches of the south — especially in the Caribbean — as snowbirds flock to sunnier shores.

High season ushers in high prices, but bargain seekers can claim a stretch of sand by considering the value of all-inclusive resorts that bundle meals and activities into the rates. For example, Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada in the Dominican Republic offers a beach, pools and five restaurants (doubles from $170 a night for two). Liberty Travel, an agency based in Montvale, N.J., and known for its expertise in the Caribbean, steers clients to the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa for its four beaches and multiple dining options (from $285 for a double).

But for those seeking a D.I.Y. getaway, the following destinations allow travelers to stretch their budgets this winter.

Bonaire

A small Dutch island about 50 miles north of the coast of Venezuela, Bonaire is not the place for classic sandy beaches; most are scattered with coral and shells. Instead, the eco-centric island, surrounded by a marine reserve, is for snorkelers, swimmers and divers looking for easy-to-reach reefs. (Visitors pay a $75 entry tax as well as a $40 nature fee, which allows access to the island’s marine park and national park.)

More than 50 of the destination’s roughly 85 dive sites are accessible from shore, meaning certified divers won’t need a guided boat excursion — a big savings — to swim among staghorn corals and schools of tropical fish. At beaches like 1,000 Steps — an exaggeration of the 67 limestone steps required to reach it — both divers and snorkelers can view marine wonders and stick around for sunset over the cactus-studded horizon.