The twin island nation of Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Antigua, is just 14 miles long and 11 miles wide and has a highest peak of 1319ft (Boggy Peak) located in the woods of the south-western corner of the island. Just 28 miles to the north is Barbuda which has 1,500 people living in the island’s only town, Codrington, which is really a village.
Together, the islands offer everything a holiday-maker could want. Antigua is said to have more than 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. So for you sun-lovers and swimmers, you have arrived in paradise you will never have a crowd to worry about and all of them are protected by reefs.
Barbuda, too, has huge, magnificent white sand beaches and thriving marine life. Divers can see forests of coral or visit some of the 200 wrecks in the waters around this idyllic isle, while nature lovers can take a boat out into the mangroves to see thousands of frigate birds.
Bonbini! Welcome to Aruba. It would be an exaggeration to say that Aruba is all things to all people. And yet, in a sense, it wouldn’t be far from the truth. The fact is, if you’re looking for it, and it has anything to do with a great Caribbean getaway, you can probably find it here. As you explore and you get to know Aruba, you’ll soon begin to notice the smiling faces everywhere. Aruba, as any traveller here will tell you, must surely be among the most welcoming places on earth and is as warm as the summer sun and as constant as the trade winds that bring cooling breezes. Arubans are gracious, energetic hosts, proud of their mixed cultural heritage – Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and South American Indian and are always anxious to help visitors enjoy their stay on a classic Caribbean island.
Aruba is famous for its long, powder-white beaches – Palm Beach and Eagle Beach are considered two of the finest in the Caribbean. Modern hotels, high-rise and low-rise, offer every facility. For nightlife, there’s no shortage of cabarets, cocktail bars and restaurants serving local and world dishes and for those who want to have some fun shooting dice or at the slots there are 11 casinos, some of which stay open 24 hours.
There are 42 major dive sites around Aruba, including Second World War wrecks at depths of 25-400ft (8-122m). There are stunningly beautiful coral formations, such as the Natural Bridge, which is a must visit and even more stunning views to be seen under the waves. If you’re less adventurous you can still see the underwater sights by submarine or glass-bottomed boat. Truly as the island says – ‘Where happiness lives’.
These 60 pristine Caribbean islands- most of which are totally uninhabited, boast unspoilt and idyllic beaches with the whitest sand and the most turquoise waters you are likely to ever see.
The British Virgin Islands have often been described as a dreamer’s vision of the Caribbean
Tortola, the main island is a sailors paradise- while secluded palm-shaded beaches at Apple Bay and Smuggler’s Cove make for excellent swimming and snorkelling. There are also many well-equipped facilities for fishing, scuba diving and horseback riding.
The island’s surrounding environments is without a doubt it’s most attractive feature with protected anchorages, palm-fringed coves and spiralling sheer rock faces making the surrounding area surreally breathtaking.
The islands boast lush areas that hold palms and tropical fruit trees like banana, mango, and key lime alongside many different exotic plants and flowers. Here you can be walking up a hill one minute and then find yourself amongst many varieties of cactus the next!
There are many different cultural influences to be found among the islands- most notably from the British and Dutch settlers that occupied the lands in the 1600s.
These islands are far away from booming nighclubs and hoards of heavy drinkers- instead you will find reggae and steel pan sounds filling up the streets where you sit savouring the local cuisine. The British Virgin Islands are where you go to escape from it all. Here you can pitch up a hammock, lay back, and while away the good weather.
Whether you seek soft beaches, powerful surf, refined sophistication or the up-tempo, festive feel, Barbados has something for everyone. It is the easternmost of the Lesser Antilles islands and, as such, enjoys the graces of two oceans – the Caribbean Sea on its west side and the Atlantic Ocean at its eastern end. The two bodies of water converge on the island’s southern shores, where smaller hotels – and legions of windsurfers – await.
Barbados offers luxurious hotels, inns and villas lining many beaches. Visit the famous Millionaires’ Playground (a.k.a. Platinum Coast). Barbados’ premier festival, Crop Over, which traditionally celebrated the end of the sugar season, lasts for five weeks and includes markets, carnival shows, calypso concerts and colourful parades.
The island offers much to see and do: Broad Street in Bridgetown, the island’s capital city, is home to several large department stores and duty-free shops offering prices that can be 20% to 40% lower than those back home. Sunbury Plantation House, which dates from 1660, houses a collection of antiques, including carriages and farm implements. Other homes worth touring include St. Nicholas Abbey and the Francia Plantation. Take a tram ride through Harrison’s Cave to view stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls and pools. Stroll through Andromeda Gardens, or tee off at one of three golf courses, including the Green Monkey, at the rebuilt Sandy Lane resort. The Garrison Savannah horse races are a hot ticket and other popular sports include cricket (the national sport), tennis, squash and polo.
There are few more fascinating destinations in the Caribbean than its largest and most populous island, Cuba – not least because it has been a socialist republic since the 1959 revolution, when Fidel Castro seized power. This last remaining vestige of state socialism, 90 miles (145 km) south of Key West, Florida, was once the last stronghold of Spanish power in the region.
Cuba’s rich heritage ranges from pre-Columbian cultures to the splendours of Spanish colonialism and the internationally-acclaimed art of today. It is also a place of great natural beauty, with three magnificent mountain ranges, fertile plains where sugar cane and tobacco grow and it also has some of the best beaches in the world.
Cuba has an easy-going, multi-racial population whose greatest enthusiasm is reserved for music. It is the home of the modern rumba, actually of African origin, the mamba, the cha-cha-cha and salsa. Cuban jazz is also excellent. Wherever you go on the island, music will go with you.
There is no better time to visit Cuba than now. It is a vibrant island with resorts and beaches, some extensive – and the fact that it does not always provide the fully-honed and polished version of modern-day tourism suits many of its visitors.
Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – are renowned for dazzling white beaches and a diversity of experiences from ultimate indulgence to breathtaking adventure both above ground and under the sea. With average year-round temperatures of 80F and a pace of life that promises total relaxation, the Cayman Islands are clean, safe, friendly and offer something to delight everyone.
Located 80 miles southwest of Miami, Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands, measuring seven miles across at its widest and 28 miles long. Cayman Brac is the second largest, with Little Cayman (population only 100) being as close to a ‘Robinson Crusoe’ island as it is possible to be. Whether one’s preference is to laze in the sun or to engage in more active pursuits, the Cayman Islands fits the bill perfectly.
If you ever dreamt of plunging in to a great adventure and discovering a place where everything is different where people are friendly and warm and contact with nature is guaranteed, well then welcome to the Dominican Republic.
Located in the northern Caribbean, Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his first voyage in1492. Santo Domingo, the capital ultimately became his home and here his remains are still to be found. Here lies a historical legacy waiting to be discovered in this ancient city, where the first hospital, church, Cathedral & university were founded in the Americas.
Head north of the city towards the Cordillera Central or Dominican Alps where they peak at over 10,000 feet (the highest peak in the Caribbean). Jarabacoa, the main town in the area is an outdoor adventure mecca, where hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting and abseiling down waterfalls are just some of the activities on offer.
Head further north of Jarabacoa towards Puerto Plata or head east from Santo Domingo towards Punta Cana and you will discover the land that you have expected to find, of crystal white beaches lapped by azure blue waves that just go on forever.
The Dominican Republic, a land waiting to amaze you.
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Jamaica is surely one of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations. The scenery offers everything from fish-filled coral reefs and white-sand beaches to breathtaking waterfalls and cloud-shrouded rainforests. The music is infectious, and the people represent one of the most diverse populations in the Caribbean, drawing from African, Chinese, Indian, British and German heritage.
Jamaica is the Caribbean’s third largest island with six main tourist regions – Montego Bay, Negril, Mandeville and The South Coast, Kingston, Port Antonio and Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios is a prime port for cruise ships but also boasts a succession of bays and beaches. Most notable are Runaway Bay, and Discovery Bay. Just inland lies Dunn’s River Falls – a much photographed attraction. Montego Bay is a mecca for watersports lovers including sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, sport fishing and glass-bottom boat excursions. For shoppers, Gloucester Avenue (dubbed the Hip Strip) is lined with duty-free shops, souvenir arcades, restaurants and bars. Negril became known in the 1960’s and 1970’s as an idyllic escape for the backpack crowd, and still enjoys a low-key demeanour. Perched on limestone bluffs, Negril’s West End is home to numerous small resorts snuggled into the craggy cliffs.
Visit the many plantation great houses such as Rose Hall and Greenwood Great House. Tour the rum distillery at Hampden Great House. Like many Caribbean islands with a sugar plantation heritage, Jamaica showcases numerous fine rums, including Appleton, which offers a top-shelf label of aged rums. Another favourite treat is Tia Maria, a coffee-flavoured rum liqueur.
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On the historic Yucatan peninsula, Caribbean Mexico has some of the region’s most modern resorts. The main resort areas combine the magic and myths of Mexico, the convenience and luxury of modern, Western hotels and the calming waters and winds of the Caribbean.
The L-shaped island of Cancun – linked to the mainland by a causeway – is 14 miles long and only a quarter of a mile wide. Its beach is lined by more than 75 hotels, built during the past 25 years. The waters along the northern side of the hotel strip are perfect for children and adults who are learning to swim. Cancun offers a variety of restaurants, entertainment, world-class shopping and sports activities.
Cozumel, nine miles from the mainland and reached by ferry, is an 181 square mile limestone island with excellent beaches, palm groves, relics of Mayan settlements dating back to 1,000 AD and nature parks and reserves. On the mainland coast opposite Cozumel is the Riviera Maya, a long stretch of tiny fishing villages and hidden resorts and the modern resort area of Playa del Carmen.
Just south of Cancun is the smaller Isla Mujeres – the Island of Women, named after Mayan terracotta figures found there. Only 5.5 square miles, it is a popular resort for tourists attracted to a quieter atmosphere where excellent coral reefs and superb diving can be found. Other attractions here include a turtle farm and a marine biological station where visitors can see dolphins, sea lions and sea elephants.
Wherever you are on these resort islands, you are never far away from the many Mayan sites of the Yucatan peninsula – sites like Chichen Itza and Tulum, with temples, walled towns, castles and pyramids. Another major attraction is Xcaret, 35 miles south of Cancun and Mexico’s only eco-archaeological park, where you can swim with dolphins and explore Mayan caves.
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St. Lucia’s iconic Pitons – a pair of volcanic spires that vault upward from the Caribbean Sea – define one of the region’s most romantic destinations. Though the trademark vistas that surround the Pitons are perhaps the most memorable, St. Lucia delivers robust, varied scenery from head to toe. Simply put, the island looks the way the Caribbean is supposed to look.
Castries, the island’s capital, is a busy hub of island commerce and culture. An active cruise-ship port, visitors can invest a few hours at one of two duty-free shopping pavilions along the waterfront. Artists showcase paintings and sculptures in several galleries. Just a few steps from the harbour is the market, where vendors have gathered for more than 100 years to sell a bounty of fresh produce alongside fishermen hawking king mackerel, mahi-mahi and wahoo.
Most of St. Lucia’s resorts are found north of the capital along the west coast where there are several white sand beaches, notably Rodney Bay. With accommodations ranging from massive all-inclusive to luxury resorts to family-run inns, there’s something for almost any taste or budget. Nearby Rodney Bay Marina serves as home base for many of the charter yachts heading south to the Grenadines. While the white sand beaches are found in the north, few come to St. Lucia without touring the south, where the island’s natural attractions are concentrated. The drive down the west coast to the town of Soufrière at the base of Petit Piton, the shorter and steeper of the twin pinnacles, is one of the most scenic in all the Caribbean.
St. Lucia’s spectacle continues below sea level, where the underwater landscape often mirrors the mountain slopes above. Much of the coastline is under the protection of the Soufrière Marine Management Area, which prohibits fishing. The result is a submerged fantasy of colourful fish and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Caribbean.
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