Leeward Islands
British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Remote. Tranquil. Pristine. Beautiful. The beaches of the British Virgin Islands come in all shapes and sizes, and each one is unique. They are not only beautiful, but are almost always uncrowded and very often deserted. Palm-fringed, white sandy beaches, combined with a translucent ocean that teems with marine life and coral reefs, attract the visitor.
Animals and plants are in abundance in the BVI. The British Virgin Islands are semi-tropical islands, neither lush nor overly dry. The mountainsides are covered for much of the year in a thick green carpet of tropical trees, bushes and scrub.
Although named by Columbus, many diverse groups of people have called the Virgin Islands home. The Arawaks emigrated from South America over a thousand years ago, and they were followed by the Caribs, Africans, and Europeans. Each community has contributed to the islands, creating the rich cultural tapestry that is the British Virgin Islands.
In addition to being "the sailing capital of the Caribbean" the British Virgin Islands appeal to active, athletic people who enjoy the warm, sunny climate and balmy trade winds which offer exceptional windsurfing locales.Anguilla
St. Martin / St. Marteen
The smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch in a spirit of neighborly cooperation and mutual friendship for almost 350 years.
Each side has managed to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. The French tend to emphasize comfort and elegance. On the other hand, St. Maarten is very Dutch in flavour.Saint-Barthélemy (St. Barths)
Saint Barthélémy is a mountainous island, whose only even area is occupied by the airport's runway. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, he named it after his brother.
The native inhabitants, called "St-Barths" are descendants of colonists from Normandy and Brittany who settled here. Thanks to stringent building regulations and price control, Saint-Barth never became a destination for mass tourism and today is the paradise for millionaires in the Caribbean.
Twenty white, sandy beaches, all public, most of them sheltered by a coral reef, are awaiting you all around the island, everybody will find his favorite place. The inland is dry and mountainous, nevertheless, the highest peak is at 300m only. Stonewalls separating the parcels of land remind of the Brittanic origins of the inhabitants.Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda in one of the Caribbean's premier tourist destinations.There are 365 beaches on Antigua, one for each day of the year. The great majority rest inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean side.
The fascinating little island of Barbuda - once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs - is home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries. The nation also includes the tiny uninhabited island of Redonda, now a nature preserve.Saba
Saba is ideal for the traveler looking for a secluded haven, in peaceful and friendly surroundings. Rising steeply from the azure sea, the tiny island in the Caribbean is a magical experience far away from the cares and worries of today's hurried world.
Four small villages are as quaint and charming as the gentle, friendly manner of the Saban people, descended from hardy 17th century pioneers. Visitors feel they have stepped back in history, yet many modern luxuries are here to be enjoyed. Saba is a monument to nature's best above and below the ocean's surface. The famous Saba Marine Park is second to none. Saba is a magical place for scuba diving, hiking, admiring the nature or honeymooning!Imagine an island in the Caribbean untrampled by time. Imagine unspoiled landscapes that make you feel like an early explorer, and friendly English speaking people who make you feel at home. All this is Saba.St. Eustatius
St. Christopher (St. Kitts)
Nevis
Montserrat
Guadeloupe
Basse-Terre is a volcanic island dominated by the Soufrière Volcano. The mountain range is covered in 17,000 ha of tropical forests, which has been declared a national park and has lots of marked paths and hiking trails. With its waterfalls, basins, parks, and lush vegetation, Basse-Terre is a place of outstanding natural beauty.Grande-Terre sits on a vast limestone plateau bordered with pristine beaches, and featuring turquoise lagoons, and unforgettable scenery. The soil being ideal for growing sugar cane, the island is practically covered in plantations. Many restaurants on the island pride themselves on serving traditional Créole cuisine.
La Désirade has a single road that runs its length and is fun to explore on foot, by bike or scooter. This peaceful and remote island is an 11-kilometer stretch of tabular rock. Swimmer, divers, and hikers alike flock to the island for its beautiful white sandy beaches protected by long coral reefs and the warm hospitality. La Désirade is now classed as a national natural reserve.
Les Saintes is composed of two inhabited islands, Terre-de-Haut (5 km2) and Terre-de-Bas (8 km2), and seven islets. Les Saintes were originally inhabited by Bretons and Normans. Fort Napoléon offers a magnificent panoramic view and beautiful exotic gardens in what were once the fort’s ramparts. Baie des Saintes in Terre-de-Haut is one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Marie-Galante’s culture and environment have remained untouched by tourism. Also known as the Island of a Hundred Windmills, this haven of peace is known for its unspoiled beaches. Nicknamed La Grande Gallette (the big pancake) because of its round shape, the sugar cane and rum industries have shaped the lives of its inhabitants—the island’s rum is the best and most potent in Guadeloupe!
Dominica
Windward Islands
Barbados
This is the Caribbean’s most revisited destination. A charismatic island with friendly people, a UNESCO World Heritage capital city, miles of beaches, exotic botanical gardens, an ideal climate, and a rich fascinating history. There are many things visitors love about Barbados but on top of the list, of course, is the people, considered to be some of the friendliest in the world. Barbados has become the dining capitol of the Caribbean, but also boasts some of the best nightlife in the Caribbean. Barbados has some of the best surfing, sailing and diving conditions in the world. Barbados is fun!Martinique
St. Lucia
St Lucia, one of the Windward Islands, is located in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. The island boasts with a combination of high mountains, forests, low lying lands and beaches. A central mountain range runs the length of the island, with peaks ranging between 304 and 958 m. Forests dominate the mountains, while jasmine, scarlet chenille and wild orchids provide splashes of colour to the lush green slopes. The two towering volcanic cones on the southwest coast, Gros Piton (797m) and Petit Piton (750m) are one of the Caribbean’s most famous landmarks.St. Vincent & the Grenadines
St. Vincent is a lush volcanic island of steep mountain ridges, valleys and waterfalls. The rugged eastern coast is lined with cliffs and rocky shores while the western coastline dips sharply down into black and gold sand beaches. To the north, La Soufriere volcano rises over 1,200 m. Its rich volcanic soil produces an abundance of fruit, vegetables and spices, such as coconuts, bananas, breadfruit, nutmeg and arrowroot.Bequia: This most northern island of the grenadines is nine miles from St. Vincent. It has been oriented to the sea for generations and continues the traditions of boat building, fishing and whaling.
Mustique: Mustique, with its grand villas and exclusive hotel, has long been associated with luxury. To enjoy its beauty though, visitors must receive permission from the Mustique Company.
Canouan: Nestled in the midst of the Grenadines, Canuoan claims some of the best beaches in the Caribbean for swimming and snorkeling.
Mayreau: This is the smallest inhabited isle in the Grenadines with no more than 250 residents. It boasts of the famous Salt Whistle Bay where yachtsmen from around the globe seek anchorage.
Tobago Cays: A collection of uninhabited isles just south-east of Canouan. They are surrounded by the great Horseshoe Reef and are a popular snorkeling, swimming and diving locale.
Union Island: This is the hub of the Grenadines’ yachting and airport traffic. The island is fringed with gorgeous bays, lagoons and reefs with perfect sailing waters.
Palm Island: A 135 acre island resort, this is a pampering sanctuary away from the pressures of life. Visitors can come to Palm Island and experience the island’s yacht club and restaurant.
Petit St. Vincent: A small island resort and one of the world’s most enchanting hideaways.
Grenada
St Lucia, one of the Windward Islands, is Known as the Spice Island of the Caribbean, the scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger waft on balmy air, over the idyllic island
of Grenada.
The Islands lie at the southernmost tip of the Windward Islands. Grenada has over 40 picturesque white sand beaches with turquoise waters, exciting aquatic sports, beautiful natural preserves, cultural and historical sites. Local markets are filled with the taste of the tropics and local handicrafts. From the historical treasures of the architecture, to the magnificent and numerous waterfalls, rainforests
and natural preserves, Grenada is a country of unspoilt natural beauty in the tranquil region of the West Indies. The architecture is sympathetic and no building may be taller than a palm tree! Grenada has some of the most beautiful beaches and the prettiest harbour in the Caribbean.Leeward Antilles
Venezuelanean Islands
Due to its privileged location, where the top of South America meets the Caribbean Sea, Venezuela is blessed with incredible coastal beauty. Extending close to 3,000 km, these shores encompass expansive and diverse environments, offering visitors numerous ways to enjoy the sun and the sea. Venezuela has been a pioneer in nature preservation, and today many of the coastal regions and islands sprinkled throughout the Caribbean are protected under an expansive nature park system. Thanks to these efforts, marine areas such as the Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques offer visitors pristine and unspoiled sanctuaries full of natural splendors to be enjoyed both above and below the sea.
There are over 300 islands in Venezuelan territorial waters. Of these, the most well known and populated is La Isla Margarita. Margarita is a bustling free port, with many beautiful beaches, five-stars hotels, cultural and historical centers, and an exciting nightlife. El Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques is a coralline atoll, known for its crystal clear waters, powdery-sand beaches, and for its reputation as one of the best places in the world for bonefishing, scuba diving, and windsurfing. Other well known islands are those that form part of the archipelago Parque Nacional Morrocoy, in the state of Falcón. La Tortuga, Los Testigos and Las Aves-- old pirate refuges-- are also protected preserves. These pristine islands offer a natural sanctuary to diverse wildlife, and a vision of unspoiled beauty to be savored by the visitor just passing by.
Bonaire
The "B" of the ABC Islands ("A" = Aruba, "C" = Curacao), Bonaire is one of the Caribbean's least tourist-developed and least visited larger islands, yet it is, both on land and under the sea, one of the Caribbean's most striking.
It was the sea that first earned the island it's reputation as a prime diving and snorkeling destination ,consistently one of the world's top 10. One reason for this is that Bonaire, surrounded by fringing reefs, hosts abundant excellent reef-diving spots that are accessible a few feet from the shore.
Bonaire offers a number of activities, from hiking and sightseeing, to shopping, swimming, birdwatching, and just hanging out. It's an island with great potential to get busy having fun, or to relax and luxuriate in the lack of choices.
Curacao
Curacao is a long, arid, and generally flat island, stretching some 60 km making it the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles group.
The coastline along the south is irregular, peppered with small bays and inlets, including the spectacular bays and
beaches at the west end of the island. The largest bays are located along the central-east and east end of the island, where you'll find the capital and major port of Willemstad.
The long north coast of the island, buffeted by constant northeast trade winds, is characterized by a rough coasthne, limestone cliff formations set on top of eons-old volcanic rock, and weather-beaten terrain.
The west end of the island is also characterized by expansive, hilly terrain, most of it encompassed by Christoffel Park. The park contains Mt. Christoffel, at 377 meters the highest elevation on Curacao.
The east end of the island comprises flat and mostly barren plain, with few settlements and some secondary roads weaving to and from its coastal inlets.
Aruba
Aruba is among the most southern of the Lesser Antilles islands (ABC islands = Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao) and is the farthest west of that group. The oblong island is fronted by heavy surf and a jagged coast on the northern, windward side and by 11 km of honey-colored sand beaches on the southern leeward coast.
Aruba attracts some one million visitors and cruise passengers per year and it ranks as one of the Caribbean's most popular vacation spots. Miles of beaches, to start with, some quiet and smooth and others with stiff winds and a choppy surf, as well as first-class resorts, gambling casinos, shopping, and dozens of opportunities for fine dining.
Colombia
Barranquilla is the main river and sea port of the country, and its historic center was declared a national monument in 1959. Several waves of immigrants have enriched its traditions and given the city its metropolitan and deeply joyful character. The Carnival of Barranquilla is a celebration Colombia offers to the world: a mestizo festival, enlivened by rhythms. Some call it a party of sones and danzones. This is a feast that gathers traditions based on the creativity of our people as expressed through dance, music, handcrafts, costumes, and party styles.
Cartagena, declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage in 1984, encapsulates all the charm of Spanish colonial architecture, the republic period and today, the attractions of intense night-life, cultural festivals, exotic scenery, superb beaches, wonderful food and a wide offer of tourist infrastructure.
Panama
The Land of the Kunas. An archipelago of more than 350 islands surrounded by the aqua-blue Caribbean Sea. Here, nature reigns. Traditions thrive. And time stands still.
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal measures 80 kilometres in length, from Colon on the Caribbean to Panama on the Pacific. The transit of the Canal takes approximately 10 hours. This leg offers the opportunity to observe the operation of one of the marvels of modern world.