Spanning approximately 2.75 million square kilometers, the Caribbean is a region characterized by over 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays, all lying in the Caribbean Sea. Forming part of the Americas, it is bordered by North America to the northwest, the United States to the north, Central America to the southwest, and South America to the south. The Caribbean islands have been known throughout history for their stunning beauty, geographic and cultural diversity, and bountiful natural resources. Home to a great diversity of ecosystems, life forms, and cultures with roots in many different parts of the world, there is always something new to discover in the Caribbean. While the Caribbean is a tropical paradise bursting with beautiful islands, exciting flora and fauna, and endlessly captivating cultures, there is far more to know about this intriguing region than just its wonderful beaches.
Consisting of more than 7,000 islands, cays, and islets, the Caribbean islands span an area of approximately 1,063,000 square miles. With a somewhat varied shape, the Caribbean stretches in an arc from Cuba in the west to Trinidad and Tobago in the south. Classified into Greater, Lesser, and Outer Islands, the Greater Antilles consists of the largest and most populated islands, including Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and the Cayman Islands, while the Lesser Antilles consists of smaller islands organized into two groups, the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. Easily mistaken as a single entity, the islands of the Caribbean exhibit a stunning array of geographic types, from the mountainous terrain of the Greater Antilles to the coral atolls of the Bahamas and the volcanic rocks of the Lesser Antilles. Eroded limestone is the most common geological type, accounting for around 69% of the region’s land area, while volcanic islands composed of igneous rocks account for approximately 20% of the Caribbean.
The Caribbean islands have experienced long periods of separation in geologic time, allowing isolation and unique ecosystems to develop. Many islands, such as the Cayman archipelago and the Bahamas, lie on submerged plateaus, although there are also other islands formed by volcanic eruptions and processes endemic at the mid-ocean ridges. As a result, the Caribbean islands are home to a variety of life forms unique to individual islands, regions, or groups of islands known as endemic species. The isolation of the islands made such populations vulnerable to extinction following the arrival of humans. Due to the region’s climate and geography, the Caribbean is prone to hurricanes. Since the worst hurricane disaster in recorded history struck Barbados in 1831, the central islands have been subjected to many more severe storms, with more than 1,000 altogether.
Geography and Climate
The Caribbean region is located in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America. The region contains numerous islands, reefs, and cays. The Greater Antilles archipelago includes the largest islands, which are inhabited by Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles consists of smaller islands and is divided into two arcs: the Windward Islands (Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent) and the Leeward Islands (Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, and Saba). The Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands are located north of the Greater Antilles. Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire are located near the northern coast of Venezuela. British Honduras (now Belize), Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama have coastlines on the Caribbean Sea.
Geographically, the Caribbean region consists primarily of a sea (the Caribbean Sea) with thousands of islands and coastlines on the mainland. Culturally, the Caribbean region is a melting pot of multiple ethnicities, languages, and religions, as a legacy of colonialism, the slave trade, and mass migration. The Caribbean islands are usually referred to as Caribbean nations, even if some islands are dependencies of other countries, such as Puerto Rico (United States), the Cayman Islands (United Kingdom), and Martinique (France). Some large islands, such as Cuba and Jamaica, are fully independent Caribbean countries.
The Caribbean has a mostly tropical climate. The wet (rainy) season is from May to October and is characterized by tropical downpours and disturbances of weather, most notably tropical cyclones. The dry season is from January to April and is marked by lesser disturbances of weather. Between November and December, the weather is mostly settled but generally cool. The climate varies with latitude, increasing elevation, and distance from the sea. Coastal regions and islands are generally warm with high humidity; mountainous areas tend to experience lower temperatures and greater precipitation.
The wettest area is in the northeast of Puerto Rico near El Yunque, where rainfall exceeds 4,000 mm per year. Mountain slopes near the interior of each island tend to contain tropical rainforests, while coastal areas are mostly dry with scrub. Tourist destinations like Negril, Jamaica, Aruba, and Grand Cayman located in the southern and western Caribbean region are less influenced by the hurricane season but may be affected by tropical weather over more extended periods. Generally, hurricanes rarely affect the Caribbean region more than twice a year.
Islands and Countries
The Caribbean is a renowned geographic and cultural region containing numerous islands and countries. It encompasses over seven thousand islands, isolated cays, and coastlines, with a total land mass of approximately 236,000 square kilometers. Four major geologic features define the Caribbean – magma-based volcanoes, limestone-based islands, non-limestone-based islands, and the Caribbean Sea’s deep trenches. The islands of the Caribbean fall into three primary groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas.
The Greater Antilles includes Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. These islands are among the largest in the Caribbean Sea. The Lesser Antilles arc is further categorized into the Windward Islands, consisting of Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Grenada, and the Leeward Islands, which include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, and Saint Eustatius. With its main island of Aruba and six smaller offshore islands, the Netherlands Antilles constitutes the Caribbean’s region with the most countries per square mile. Comprised of the US territory of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island territories of the United States and Great Britain, the Virgin Islands/Caribbean zone is the region with the most foreign domination. The Bahamas is the Caribbean’s only archipelago/nation comprised solely of limestone-based islands. The islands and countries of the Caribbean constitute a diverse social, cultural, economic, and political region. Each island and country has been influenced by some combination of Amerindian, African, European, and Asian cultures.
Tropical Climate and Weather Patterns
The Caribbean islands enjoy a tropical marine climate, all of which have been affected during the change of seasons by the normal northeast trades. The Caribbean Sea itself is a vast body of tropical overflow water from the Atlantic, and it moderates the climate of the lands bounding it. The tropical and subtropical climates of the islands lead to many striking weather changes, including hurricanes.
Tropical climate is a type of climate typical and implies generally hot temperatures of an average of 25 °C (77 °F) or higher. The typical weather patterns of these climates include easily noticeable wet and dry seasons. Within these seasons are a variety of weather phenomena that usually occur in these tropical climates. The Caribbean islands enjoy a tropical marine climate, all of which have been affected during the change of seasons by the normal northeast trades. All the islands in the Caribbean experience an average annual temperature of about 25 °C (77 °F) or higher. The greatest influences on the climate are latitude and topography.
Tropical marine climates experience a weather phenomenon commonly referred to as the “Hurricane” or “Tropical Cyclone”. These are tropical storms originating over warm tropical oceans that move westward, under the influence of easterly trade winds, and later turn poleward. A hurricane consists of a warm center called the eye, surrounded by a region of violent wind and rain. Most hurricanes occur in the Caribbean from August to October. Sandy, Matthew, and Gilbert are a few that plagued Jamaica. Life was disrupted for the Arawaks and Tainos. These heavy rainy seasons caused the flooding of the greater portion of Cuba and the ending of the Taino.
Cultural Diversity and History
The Caribbean is a melting pot of cultures, shaped by its geography, history, and interactions between different peoples. With a total area of about 96,000 square miles (250,000 square kilometers), it is home to 25 territories, of which only 13 are independent sovereign nations. The majority of the islands are low-lying and fringed with coral reefs, and the network of channels between them has caused social and political separation that persists today. Only a few islands are large enough to sustain serious agriculture, while most of them are volcanic and high, with peaks rising up to 10,000 feet. However, the fiercest historical division lies in the fact that most of the Caribbean, with the notable exception of the Netherlands Antilles, was colonized by either Spain or France, resulting in huge cultural and political differences that remain to the present day. The island of St. Martin is one remarkable example, being divided into two administrative sections: the Dutch-friendly Sint Maarten on the south and the French-friendly Saint-Martin on the north.
The Caribbean’s bewildering cultural diversity began long before the arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century. The earliest known inhabitants of the islands were Arawak-speaking peoples, who migrated northward from the Orinoco River basin in South America between 3500 BCE and 500 CE. They were primarily farmers, growing cassava, maize, cotton, and tobacco, and were skilled potters and weavers. In 1492, the Taino, a branch of the Arawaks, were encountered by Christopher Columbus, and by the late fifteenth century, they had become the dominant ethnic and cultural group in the Greater Antilles. However, the Tainos’ long coexistence with the Lucayan, on the other side of the Bahamas, ended in disaster; the Lucayan were eradicated by the Spanish within a generation. The Tainos’ population was too decimated by Spanish plagues and the abuses of the encomienda to withstand the onslaughts of the Caribs, a ferocious enemy from the northeastern coast of South America. European diseases and guns decimated the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, with the Spaniards killing half a million Tainos within twenty-five years. By the end of the sixteenth century, the islands were devoid of natives.
Even as this first Caribbean genocide occurred, the Spaniards had begun to import black slaves from Africa, beginning in 1518. The Spanish exploited both the islands and the plantations on them for slaves, and from the 1640s, tried to protect their agriculture, but they could not contain the blacks. Some escaped to the islands and formed cooperatives. Free black islands attracted entrepreneurs from both Spain and England, eager to grow sugar cane in large quantities. The French and Dutch also sought a profitable involvement, and by the eighteenth century, there was a rapidly growing trade that involved both consumer goods imported to the Caribbean and provisions exported from it. The slave trade flourished, and free blacks in the Caribbean had no more than 1 in 100 chances of obtaining a slave or even the freedom in the colonies on the continent. From 1791, the slaves in French Saint-Domingue rose against their masters and freed themselves in the first successful slave revolt in the world. They created an independent republic, Haiti. A decade later, slaves on Guadeloupe, another French colony, rebelled. After suppression, the French made the colony a state for free blacks only.
Indigenous Peoples
The Caribbean boasts a rich cultural diversity shaped by various peoples and histories. This section will explore the region’s indigenous populations, who endured significant loss since the arrival of European settlers. Highlighted is the Taíno and Carib culture and how it impacted subsequent customs within Latin America and the Caribbean. Lastly, the continuous struggle of remaining groups through intrigue and conquest is explored.
The Caribbean is steeped in ancient history, with settlements beginning well before 3000 B.C.E. Modern archaeological evidence suggests the island’s first inhabitants were Arawakan-speaking tribes, known as the Saladoid, who migrated from the Orinoco River of present-day Venezuela to develop agricultural villages in south Puerto Rico and the Greater Antilles. The Saladoid expanded across Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. By C.E. 675, the Siboney, a Taino-speaking Arawakan tribe, settled in Cuba’s northern coastal caves. It is believed the Carib tribes emerged in the Orinoco Basin around 1000.
By 1492 when Christopher Columbus arrived, Caribbean islands were populated by approximately 1,000,000 indigenous peoples (including Taíno, Carib, and other tribes). Ruins on several islands indicate a more advanced material civilization than other New World tribes, boasting multi-sites in Fresh Water lakes lined with open courts, plazas, stone idols, and pictographs. The indigenous peoples had no immunity to diseases brought by the Spaniards such as smallpox, measles, or influenza, resulting in an estimated 80% to 90% of the native population dying within fifty years of the Conquest. Deprived of labor and resulting socioeconomic loss through slavery, original cultures were also disassembled through separation, language eradication, and apprehension softening traditional customs. However, the Catholic Church sought to convert and “gather” the Indian populations. Forced conversions, however, often failed as priests misunderstood and misapplied their own religious beliefs, local actions, and traits of the indigenous peoples.
Recently, however, the cultures remained intact, albeit changed by external powers. Many Taíno cannot trace their lineage to the tribal membership but were distinctly challenged during the 1990s, similar to other indigenous groups across the Americas. Enduring the “great cross,” the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean faced intrigue, duress, and conquest against globalizing nations such as Spain and France. It is still debatable whether Cuban tribes, such as the Guanahatabey and Siboney, were defeated or absorbed and become the precursor of the island’s multicultural gene pool. Further inquiry is required onto present-day Cuba and Puerto Rico’s lost cities, the origins of which remain unknown.
In sum, the Caribbean is a region of immense cultural diversity developed through numerous peoples and histories. This exploration focused on the indigenous population, a group that saw much loss with the arrival of European settlers. The Taíno and Carib were highlighted paralleling the impact these groups had on the customs that would follow in Latin America and the Caribbean. Further, it spoke of the ongoing plight of these groups still today as they fight for recognition and other injustices suffered through intrigue and conquest.
Colonial Legacy and Independence Movements
The Caribbean islands have long been considered a prime location for exploitation, colonization, and enslavement. In 1492, Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World, granting Spain claims to vast territories across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Spanish colonization lasted from the early 16th century until the late 19th century (1898) and placed the Caribbean islands in a precarious situation. European powers quickly followed Spain’s conquest, and the islands were soon claimed by France, England, the Netherlands, and Sweden, resulting in centuries of European rule. Feudal-like systems known as Encomiendas and Plantations were quickly instituted, and with them, a heavy reliance on manual labor. Meat and sugar were in high demand in Europe, and these commodities became iconic symbols of the Caribbean during the plantation era.
To resolve the islands’ labor shortages, Spanish colonists enslaved the indigenous populations, significantly decimating their numbers due to disease and oppression. African bond laborers were forcibly transported to the Caribbean, constituting the beginning of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The sugar cane plantation systems became intensely reliant on African slave labor, becoming the catalyst for the region’s social, economic, and cultural structures. Colonies were left in the hands of a privileged white elite while the overwhelming majority of the population remained enslaved Africans or free blacks. The oppression of the enslaved populations, in addition to cultural unity and an influence from the Haitian Revolution, inspired various slave revolts across the whole Caribbean region.
The Napoleonic Wars caused a shift in focus for the European powers, resulting in difficulty controlling colonial possessions in the Caribbean from afar, leading to a series of successful independence movements and colonial modifications. The abolition of slavery across colonial possessions in the British Empire triggered waves of migration in the Caribbean, resulting in the further cultural diversification of the islands. Post-slavery, the islands maintained a significant British, French, or Dutch influence, and years of economic dependency on the colonial powers led to a continued struggle towards political independence. The politically unstable and relatively new independent Caribbean nations struggled to overcome social challenges, marked by violent revolutions, US interventions, the establishment of dictatorships, the rise of tourism, a globalized economy, and the marginalization of an ongoing environment of extreme poverty.
Top Destinations and Attractions
The Caribbean, with its stunning azure waters, white sandy beaches, and vibrant culture, is home to various breathtaking destinations and attractions. This section sheds light on a few popular hotspots within the Caribbean Islands.
No Caribbean island is complete without its share of sun-kissed beaches. Beyond the breathtaking coastline, the islands boast a wide array of water activities for every traveler. At Seven Mile Beach, one can sip cocktails by the beach, bask in the sun, swim in the turquoise waters or enjoy water sports, including parasailing and paddleboarding. For those seeking a social environment, visiting the popular bars and hotels to enjoy rum cocktails is a must. For a more serene experience, head to Long Beach with its secluded golden sand beyond palm trees. Kayak tours of the island are another popular activity, providing intimate views of hidden coves and local wildlife.
Playa Paraiso offers beautiful scenery at the end of a dirt road surrounded by palm trees and rustic huts. It is a well-known haven for sunbathe lovers, offering white sand beach and shallow blue waters. For those keen on snorkeling, head to the second-largest barrier reef in the world at Cozumel. Here, snorkel among its beautiful coral gardens and colorful fish just a few feet from the shore. In Jamaica, Dunn’s River Falls boasts a dramatic descent from a height of 600 feet, tumbling into the sea while falling over many terraces. Visitors are invited to ascend the waterfalls, hike through trails, or go horseback ride in the forested area.
Cuba is one of the Caribbean islands with amazing historic sites. Scanning through its colonial towns is a divine experience as one walks cobblestone streets overlooked by colorful buildings. The historic capital, Havana, was established in 1519 and still preserves the charm of bygone centuries. Visit the beautiful Cathedral de la Habana, a masterpiece of French baroque in each step; and Plaza de la Catedral, the main city square bursting with cafes and restaurants. Walk through Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, a massive fortress designed to protect the bay from pirates.
Beaches and Water Activities
The Caribbean is widely known for its stunning beaches and vast array of water activities. With its warm climate, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking scenery, it’s no surprise tourists flock to the region for rest and relaxation. However, beyond sun-worshipping and lounging on the beach, there is much to do out on the water. A visit to the Caribbean would not be complete without indulging in its wide variety of beach and water activities.
Beaches in the Caribbean vary, and each island has something different to offer. Some beaches boast powdery white sand, while others feature volcanic black sand. Some beaches are well known for their party scene, while others come equipped with the utmost privacy. Relying on the close geographic proximity between the islands, visitors can discover an array of beaches in a short span of time. Wander along the pristine sands of Grace Bay on Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, consistently touted as one of the best beaches in the world, or splash in the crystal turquoise waters lapping the shore. Looking for more adventure? The islands of Anguilla, with its famous Shoal Bay East, and Jamaica, home to Seven Mile Beach, are greater discoveries.
Water activities are as numerous as the beaches of the Caribbean, and surfing is one of the most popular island sports. Many islands attract surfers in mid-fall through winter, when the swells swell, creating consistent surf. In places such as Puerto Rico, where surfing originated, visitors can take surf lessons on some of the best surf breaks in the world, including the famous Tres Palmas. In Barbados, the experience would not be complete without catching a wave at the legendary Soup Bowl in Bathsheba. For spectators, the beaches around these surf breaks are the ideal spots to watch surfers taking on the towering waves.
Diving is another pursuit that should not be missed in the Caribbean, as it is home to some of the most remarkable underwater experiences on earth. Exploring under-the-sea jungles of coral atolls and colorful reefs is the highlight of every diver’s Caribbean experience. Swims with dolphins and dives with sharks also happen in some locations. With a variety of dive sites for every skill level, it is no wonder that islands such as Bonaire, Grand Cayman, and the Turks & Caicos Islands are consistently voted the best diving destinations in the world.
After an exciting day in the sun and sea, few things beat sipping a cool drink while enjoying a colorful sunset by the water. Go barefoot on the sand or dress up for something a bit more sophisticated, there is a scene for everyone. Dance the night away at a lively beach bar, or listen to live music while sipping a tropical concoction at a more laid-back watering hole.
Historical Sites and Landmarks
The Caribbean region boasts a rich history that has left its mark on its towns and cities. Discover the historical sites and landmarks that tell the story of the Caribbean, from colonial architecture to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore the remnants of the past in vibrant destinations that celebrate their heritage while adapting to modernity.
Amidst the sun-soaked beaches, dive sites brimming with life, and outdoor attractions of the Caribbean, towns and cities rich in history await. From San Juan to Nassau, explore the remnants of the past amid vibrant streets adorned with colorful, colonial Spanish architecture, or regal European buildings that evoke romantic grandeur. Visit dramatic forts overlooking picturesque bays, take in the passion of carnivals, and admire the artistry of local craftspeople. Discover small islands steeped in the legacy of traders, pirates, and maroons.
Colonial architecture played a central role in the Caribbean’s expansion and development. Intrigued by the region’s bounty of resources, European nations vied for supremacy in the pursuit of wealth. In turn, the resulting settlements manifested grandeur and power in imposing public buildings, whilst other establishments catered to everyday life. With time and change, many structures fell into disrepair or were rebuilt in experiments with contemporary design, but ample remnants survive, oftentimes restored. The legacy of this architectural heritage is among the best-preserved in the world today, and many are protected by UNESCO, testifying to their outstanding universal value.
Some of the original forts and old towns within UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Colonial Walled City of San Juan (Puerto Rico) with impressive San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal fortifications, and El Morro (Cuba) of La Habana (Havana) with its symbolic lighthouse. Beginning in the Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands, and stretching as far as Montserrat, Antigua, and Cuba, traces of European colonial architecture can be found—from sugar plantations to elegant buildings, and simple buildings adapted to style and climate. In this sense, the Caribbean is a tangible archive of naval warfare, reflected in the imposing forts built to protect free enterprise on the seas. Well-preserved forts include Fort Nassau (Bahamas), Fort Saint-Jean (Cuba), Fort James (Antigua), and Fort Charles (Jamaica).
Cuisine and Local Delicacies
The Caribbean is a feast for the senses, with an enticing blend of flavors, colors, and textures. The region’s cuisine is a delightful fusion of native ingredients and culinary practices brought over by colonizers and enslaved people from Europe, Africa, and Asia. Although many islands refined and adapted the ingredients and styles in unique ways, there are prevalent cooking methods, spices, and dishes that can be found in various permutations across the region.
The most typical cooking styles include “boil-down” and “stew” methods that require basic ingredients. Fish and meat are seasoned with exotic spices, cooked with coconut, and served with rice. Other influences come from Indian curries prepared with coconut and seasoning; and Spanish “sofritos” based on fresh herbs and noble spices. Fresh fruit is common here – pineapples, mangoes, guavas, papaya, and bananas grow everywhere, and are harvested to make fruit salads and juices. The most extended influence comes from the peculiar hot-pepper sauce, generally prepared in a green or yellow variant. These sauces are made from the region’s signature scotch bonnet peppers, which are famously intense and flavorful, giving a distinct heat combined with sweetness to all dishes.
The local specialties include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables particularly appealing to a tropical climate; fish, crustaceans, and salmons; pork; chicken; rice; soups; pastries; and desserts. The Caribbean Basin and the nearby isles are the home of the exotic fruit and vegetables such as cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, malanga (similar to taro), plantains, pigeon peas, okras, coconuts, and conch, all of which are staples and common ingredients in the island’s native meals. Such ingredients are generally served boiled with hot pepper sauce or cooked with oil, herbs, and spices. The islands also host a great variety of fishes in their coral reefs, lagoons, and deep waters. Snapper is one of the most popular catches found here in various varieties, served fried, grilled, and simmered. Other fish common in the Caribbean waters are grouper, parrotfish, amberjack, mackerel, and dolphin fish. Shellfish is popular too, particularly shrimp, lobster, crab, conch, and abalone. Many of these delicacies are eaten raw, seasoned with lime and spices.
Several dishes are an integral part of Trinidadian culinary tradition—staples like curry, stew, rice, and roti, as well as a local dish called pelau, which consists of rice and bloody meat seasoned with tomato and cooked with coconut milk. Porridge is commonly served at breakfast, being made of cornmeal flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, or salt. Fish is another popular filling in buns or stew dishes.
Practical Travel Tips
This chapter offers valuable travel tips for enthusiast travelers who long to visit exotic destinations in the Caribbean. There are many interesting islands to see, beaches to visit, underwater activities to experience, and cultures to explore. It’s essential to travel wisely and plan.
Visa Requirements and Entry Regulations
Before embarking on your Caribbean journey, an understanding of the visa requirements and entry regulations for each member nation is vital. A relatively uncomplicated process, it is essential to know the specific conditions for the mounting list of popular island nations. Fortunately, due to the continued growth of tourism in the Caribbean, many governments have simplified visa procedures. Additionally, most governments work to ensure and provide the proper means to obtain the appropriate travel documentation.
Citizens of several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, many European nations, and several Caribbean members, do not require a visa for stays up to 30 days. However, in some circumstances, such as travel for work or other specific means, a visa may be required. Visa information and requirements for each nation are readily available online or can be learned with a short phone call to the respective consulate. If a visa is required, it is highly recommended to apply well in advance of travel, not only to see if the country requires a visa but also for delays, which are not unusual.
It is essential to have a valid passport before beginning the process of travel arrangements. Each visitor must present a travel document (e.g., a passport) to enter the nation. It is advised to have proof of onward travel, especially if entering from another Caribbean nation, as it is a requirement in some areas. Additionally, many island nations charge a fee upon entering and may be either cash only or credit card only. Therefore, obtaining local currency could be advised before entering the country and passing through customs. After presenting documents and passing through customs, remember to check any further fees such as airport departure taxes.
Transportation Options
Traveling to the stunning Caribbean islands demands a plan for transportation to fully experience the sun-kissed beaches, vibrant cultures, and breathtaking scenery. With a variety of transportation options available, visitors can easily navigate the islands, ensuring a well-organized and enjoyable trip. The guide below provides an overview of the various transportation options in the Caribbean islands, including ferries, boats and yachts, and charter flights.
Ferries can adequately connect several popular islands in the Caribbean. For example, there are ferries which travel between St. Thomas and St. John, as well as the British Virgin Islands, departing from the Charlotte Amalie harbor. Travelers could also take advantage of two inter-island ferries in the Bahamas (the Great Exuma ferry and Eleuthera ferry), as well as one in Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, there are four ferries connecting Jamaica to the neighboring islands of the Caymans, Cuba, and the Bahamas. Nevertheless, some ferry/boat options should generally be avoided due to excessive network disruptions and dangers of rough Atlantic waters. These include the ferry to and from the oft-stormy-ish island of Hispaniola, and other less-traveled islands in the Eastern Caribbean (Union Island, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Grenada).
Boats and Yachts are another option to explore the islands of the Caribbean, especially as most of them are located on the coast. Outings can last a whole day or just two hours. Solitary and intimate groups can choose from paddle-board or kayak boats. Luxury cruises can also be rented, which provide breathtaking views while sipping cocktails admiring the settings of several islands at once. These ships often come equipped with full meals and barbecue pits and provide fun excursions to snorkel through coral reefs. Beyond mega-yachts, several Catamarans are also docked with bountiful provisions for overnight-week excursions – an exemplary way to discover a set of islands in a couple of days.
Charter flights are commonly operated to popular islands in the Caribbean region, especially the bigger ones. Planes would also land in additional areas like in Negril, Jamaica, or Palm Island, Grenada. There are charter flights flying to Saint Lucia, Saint Thomas, Dominica, Vieques, Grand Turk, Providenciales. Generally, flights could be booked online to or from certain cities directly or rely on travel agents and hotel crews. Here, it could be good to highlight at least two cons. First, a reservation by the day or hour has to be set far in advance or risk double the price or insufficient supply. Two, flights could set off just before sunrise or only in the mid-afternoons, requiring a long waiting period on arrival or early starts on some days. Otherwise, flights should be chosen for their astonishing views when crossing islands and turquoise reefs.