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Discover the Caribbean

If there was a checklist for a paradise island then any island in the Caribbean would tick the boxes. But there’s more to the Caribbean than sand, sun and sea…

Think of the Caribbean and images of endless beaches, sparkling sapphire water and hot sunshine are evoked. The merry sound of calypso and reggae, and laid-back friendly locals add to the irresistible allure of this famed archipelago. For centuries these paradise islands have infatuated and enchanted all those who have come across them. Today the Caribbean’s appeal still holds a hypnotic sway for travellers – undiminished by the excesses of overfamiliarity and tourism. Yet there is so much more to the Caribbean than the clichés. Scratch beneath the surface and this archipelago yields a fascinating diversity of cultures and natural wonders.

Each Caribbean island has its own distinctive character and experiences. Their fortunes, histories and cultures are often shaped by former colonial powers that have included the British, Spanish, French and Dutch, as well as enforced migration from the African continent and their close proximity to the US. And the Caribbean’s natural wonders are not just its famed sandy beaches. The islands harbour lush rainforests, smouldering volcanoes, coral reefs, towering waterfalls and exotic wildlife while the pristine waters hold an underwater dreamland of marine life. At the heart of the Caribbean are the Antilles Islands. The larger islands in the west are the Greater Antilles and include Jamaica, while the Lesser Islands in the east are divided into the Leeward and Windward Islands. Other islands that also make up the Caribbean archipelago include the British Virgin Islands. Jamaica is where the Caribbean tourist industry began and it’s easy to see why. This English-speaking island has everything – beaches, rivers and mountains. But despite its popularity there are still corners that are less explored. Port Antonio is set in one of Jamaica’s most beautiful bays and enveloped by forested mountains, a magnificent double harbour and sandy beaches.

Nearby attractions include the Blue Lagoon, a gorgeous blue sea pool fringed by palm trees, and the Rio Grande where river–rafting trips allow travellers to take in the magnificent lush scenery. Another favoured Caribbean island is St Lucia, one of the Windward Islands. Famed for its awesome natural beauty, it boasts white sand beaches, pristine central highlands and the soaring twin peaks of Les Pitons. Its tropical waters thrive with more than 150 species of fish – a diver’s paradise. St Lucia’s capital, Castries, was founded by the French around 1768 and Pointe Seraphine is a great place to browse for tax–free shopping and experience authentic Castries life in the market. In contrast, the other Windward Islands of St Vincent, Dominica and Tobago are far quieter and do not attract the tourism of St Lucia. Fertile and beautiful St Vincent is dominated by the smoking cone of La Soufriere Volcano, and its western beaches and cliff–flanked bays were the setting for the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

The underdevelopment of St Vincent has proved a bonus for the island’s capital Kingstown – its wonderful colonial architecture has been left largely intact and preserved. Meanwhile Dominica exudes a simple, small–island rural charm.

As a lush, green volcanic island, two of Dominica’s highlights are its Botanical Gardens that boast more than 150 species of plant and the beautiful cascading Emerald and Trafalgar waterfalls. Neighbouring Tobago offers a more ‘Caribbean’ experience, and the island has delightful beaches, rolling countryside, volcanic mountains, rainforests and bays. The colonial legacies of the Caribbean notably rear their head in the northern Leeward Islands of Antigua and Nevis. Both are packed with colonial artefacts and reminders from their past. Peaceful Nevis is famed for its connection with Britain’s most famous sailor, Lord Nelson.

It was here that he married Fanny Nisbet and mementos from his life, including letters and pictures, can be found in the Nelson Museum. He was also posted on Antigua, as was King William IV.

The island’s colonial past has been admirably brought back to life at the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, the Dow’s Hill Interpretation Centre, a multi-media show of Antiguan history and at Shirley Heights – a series of Georgian Barrack buildings and gun emplacements built in the 1780s. The real life tales of piracy that surround the tiny British Virgin Islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’. And as a consequence of its maritime heritage and idyllic seafaring conditions the islands have reputedly become the yacht-charter capital of the world. Aside from its yachting legacy, tiny Tortola is renowned for its charming isolated spots and the best bays and beaches can be found on the island’s north side.

The island itself is only twelve miles by three. Even smaller, covering eight square miles, is Virgin Gorda. It was named ‘The Fat Virgin’ by Christopher Columbus because he thought the island’s silhouette resembled a rotund woman lying on her back. One of the island’s most distinctive features is the Baths – a maze of water–filled caves and massive granite boulders.