ANGUILLA

Feeling is Believing

Travelers come to Anguilla for the natural beauty and quiet atmosphere, the 33 sparkling white sand beaches, art galleries, and other historical and cultural offerings. 

For seaside vacation experiences, the beach options are seemingly endless: Rendezvous Bay, Cove Bay and Mead's Bay beckon with long curved strands of sand. Smaller pocket beaches include Limestone Bay, known for its snorkeling, and Little Bay, reached only by boat. Captain's Bay and Junk's Hole Bay are more remote.  Shoal Bay East is undoubtedly the island's most popular beach while Scrub Island, Prickly Pear and Dog Island are excellent snorkeling destinations. 

Activities on land include horseback riding, bird watching (there are 136 species), biking and sampling spirits at the Pyrat Rum Distillery. Visit the Arawak "spirit eyes" petroglyphs in the caverns at Big Springs Heritage Site and the 1,000-year-old artifacts at the Heritage Collection Museum. Art aficionados will enjoy touring Anguilla's 16 galleries, which feature a mix of local and Caribbean crafts, woodcarving, hand-blown glass and fine art.

At the MoonSplash Music Festival in March, Bankie Banx serves up three days of music, food and fun. In May, a regatta features seven yacht races over three days. Carnival in August is beloved for parades, calypso competitions and traditional wooden-boat racing. November's Tranquility Jazz Festival brings performances by regional and international musicians.

AIRPORT/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:   Airport:  Wallblake Airport is located 5 minutes drive from the capital, The Valley.  Gateways/Flying Times:  Antigua: 35 minutes . Puerto Rico: 1 hour.  St. Kitts: 30 minutes. St. Maarten: 6 minutes.  St. Thomas: 30 minutes.

CLIMATE:  Average Winter/Summer temperature: 80 degrees.

DINING:  Known as ‘the cuisine capital of the Caribbean,' Anguilla's extraordinary dining scene offers discerning travelers a robust variety of gastronomic diversions with more than 70 dining experiences ranging from elegant, intimate gourmet seaside restaurants to casually chic beachfront bistros and festive, affordable roadside grills.  Tipping at restaurants is discretionary at 10 or 15% as a 15% service charge is added to each bill.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE:  Most resorts and hotels on Anguilla offer nightly entertainment in season and there are several excellent local bands who perform frequently at such venues as Johnno's, The Pumphouse, Road Well Café and Ripples in Sandy Ground; Rafe's and the Red Dragon Dance Club in South Hill and The Dune Preserve on Rendezvous Bay. 

SIGHTSEEING: Explore caves and grottos. The Wallblake House, a restored 17th century plantation house, is the oldest on the island.  Lobster village at Island Harbor.  Salt ponds at Sandy Ground.  An Island tour 1 or 2 persons is US$50.00.  Each additional person pays $10.00.  Dolphin Discovery - a pool where one can actually interact with the dolphins.  Big Spring - an ancient Amerindian cavern with petroglyphs carved into the face of the rock walls.   The Warden's place is Anguilla's 2nd oldest property, dating back to the 18th century.  Heritage Collection Museum.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

The beach is just the beginning

Antigua has an amazing 365 strands of sand, giving visitors a different choice for every day of the year. Begin your exploration at Nelson's Dockyard. Part of a national park, it's the only existing Georgian naval dockyard in the world, built in 1725 and once England's most important naval outpost in the Caribbean. Along the waterfront, buildings are signposted with their dates of origin and former uses, from the Sawpit Shed to the Copper and Lumber Store. In the erstwhile Naval Officer's House, a museum gives the history of the area. 

The dockyard comes alive in April with Antigua's annual Sailing Week. More than 1,500 sailors compete in this high-speed competition that makes a roundtrip from Dockyard to Dickenson Bay and back. April also features the Classic Yacht Regatta: traditional craft built of wood and steel make this a show that's more about beauty than speed. American Sailing Week is a June event filled with instructional clinics, races and day sails.

St. John's, the island's animated main town, rises from the harbor, backed by a twin-spired cathedral. Visit the Antigua and Barbuda Museum and view artifacts like ancient stone pendants and flint knives, displays on cassava, and for sports lovers the cricket bat of Sir Vivian Richards, a beloved island athlete. Stop in Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine for a moment's respite.  At Redcliffe Quay, a series of historic buildings have been transformed into a little retail village.  Originally a slave-trading yard, the buildings were used by merchants and innkeepers after emancipation. In the countryside, almost a hundred towers that are the remnants of Antigua's sugar mills dot the countryside where over 150 sugar-producing plantations once stood. At Betty's Hope, founded in the 1650s, twin mills have been restored to working condition.

If it's utter peace and quiet you're after, then head to Barbuda, the lesser-known of the two islands. It feels untouched by progress, with the principal inhabitants being the graceful frigate birds.  Take a boat ride through the Frigate Bird Sanctuary in Codrington Lagoon and see these unique birds, which spend most of their time in the air because they can't walk or swim. On Barbuda, you're unlikely to see more than a dozen other human beings during your repose. 

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport: V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) to English Harbour - approx. 14 miles.  St Johns downtown - approx. 5 miles.  St Johns shopping area - approx. 5 miles.  Gateways/Flying Times:  Baltimore: 4 hours.  Frankfurt: 9 1/4 hours. London: 8 hours. Miami: 3 hours. New York: 4 hours. Newark: 4 hours. Paris: 8 hours. Puerto Rico: 1 hour. Toronto: 4 hours.

CLIMATE:  Average temperatures High/Low: Summer 85/77 degrees.  Winter 82/75 degrees. Average annual rainfall - 45 inches.

DINING:  Usual practice for tipping is 10% if no service charge has been added.  Restaurants ranging in wide variety of prices, locations and dishes.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE:  Nightclubs and casinos. Ongoing island activities and events also offer nightly entertainment.

SIGHTSEEING:  Museum, art galleries, Harmony Hall (art gallery with restaurant and nearby beach), glass bottom boat trips, visit to the fruit, vegetable and newly opened craft market, a visit to the Antigua Black Pineapple fields, Parham village and visits to renovated forts and sites, such as Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley's Heights.  Tours: (Day) tours to nature island Barbuda, accessible via airplane and high-speed catamaran.  Barbuda attractions include: the Frigate Bird Colony, Martello Tower, Castle Hill, Highland Hill, Bryant Cave and many other caves. Snorkeling, scuba diving, turtle watching, bone fishing, horseback riding, hiking, cycling and herbal tours are some of the many other activities to do.  Tours to other neighboring islands, such as ‘volcano' island Montserrat and Dominica (the island of rivers and waterfalls). Eco-Kayak, swim with the dolphins.

ARUBA

90,000 Friends You haven't met yet

Aruba offers long gleaming beaches, many water sports activities, and is a favorite port for cruise ships, but visitors also lodge here to take advantage of upscale restaurants, lively nightclubs, and some of the best windsurfing in the world. Oranjestad is the island's capital, and the bustling city has a distinct Dutch feel with colorful buildings painted in historical Antillean style. Shopping is abundant, with duty-free stores offering jewelry, perfume, linen, liquor and designer clothing. Discos and nightclubs abound and gaming is on offer at 11 resort casinos.

Most of the beaches are found along Aruba's Northwest coast.  There are two main resort areas - one with lowrise buildings, the other with highrises - with a series of glorious beaches:  Druif, Eagle and Palm, with much of it fronted by a pedestrian walkway. The Palm Beach area offers parasailing, glass-bottom boat rides, excursions aboard the submarine Atlantis, and high-octane turbocharged jet boat rides. Just north of Palm Beach is a world-renowned windsurfing and kite-surfing mecca. 

Scuba diving is popular, offering good visibility, coral reefs and wrecks - most notably the Antilla, a German freighter sunk during World War II, which is the largest in the Caribbean. For golfers there is Tierra del Sol, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, and the nine-hole Divi Links near Oranjestad. Half-day horseback tours take visitors along beaches and into the cunuku. 

Aruba is noteworthy for its arid interior cunuku, or countryside. Casibari and Ayo boast curious rock formations.  At the Fontein cave, visitors find natural stone pillars and Amerindian paintings. Nearby, the Guadirikiri caves are home to hundreds of bats. Bus tours are popular but visitors can also tour the cunuku in a convoy of Range Rovers or ATV's. In addition to the geological scenery, there is the Chapel of Alto Vista, built in 1750 by Spanish missionaries, and the Bushiribana gold mine ruins.  Also explore the summit of 541-foot Mount Hooiberg; Arikok National Park, a 13 square-mile preserve filled with iguanas, rabbits, migratory birds, goats and donkeys; and Jabaribari, home to parakeets.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:  Queen Beatrix Int'l Airport, approximately 8 minutes from Oranjestad, the capital. Gateways/Flying Times:  Miami - 2.5 hours. New York - 4.5 hours.  Charlotte, NC - 3.5 hours. Philadelphia - 4 hours. Chicago - 5 hours. Atlanta - 3.5 hours. Boston - 6 hours. Canada - 5 hours.

CLIMATE:  Average annual temperature is 82 degrees F.  The average annual rainfall is less than 20 inches per year and occurs in showers of short duration during the months of November & December. Aruba is outside the hurricane belt.

DINING:  Restaurants available - Local.  Fast Food (International).  Seafood.  Brazilian.  Mexican. Belgian.  French.  Italian.  Spanish.  Cantonese.  Indonesian.  Chinese.  Japanese.  Dutch. Argentinean.   German.  Cuban.  Caribbean.  Service charge is usually included on your bill.  Otherwise tip at your own discretion. Dress code (varies depending on place) is jackets sometimes for men and the equivalent for ladies.

LANGUAGE:  Papiamento is the native language (a mixture of Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese with a sprinkling of Indian, English, French and African).  Papiamento and Dutch are the official languages.  English and Spanish are widely spoken and understood.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes - Discos. Nightclubs.  Casinos.  Cabarets. Dinner/dances.  Live music.  Local and international shows.  Theaters.  Cinemas. 

SIGHTSEEING:  The old California lighthouse and sand dunes of California and Boca Prins.  The gold mill ruins in Balashi and Bushiribana.  Bubali Plas Bird Sanctuary.  The Ostrich Farm.  The Butterfly Farm.  Guadirikiri. Fontein Caves.  Arikok National Park.  Alto Vista Chapel.  Ayo and Casibari Rock formations.  The historic Olde Molen.  Historical buildings in Oranjestad.  The Willem III tower and Fort Zoutman.

BAHAMAS

Approximately 700 islands, spread over nearly 100,000 square miles of ocean, constitute The Bahamas. The term Out Islands (or Family Islands) refer to all of the islands except New Providence, home to Nassau and Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama, home to Freeport/Lucaya. There are flights to all of the island centers from Nassau.  It's also possible to charter a plane, take a high-speed catamaran ferry, or hop aboard a chartered sailboat or motorboat.

Home to the Bahamas capital of Nassau and the resort development of Paradise Island, New Providence Island is the most visited Bahamian island, thanks to its international airport and busy cruise ship dock. Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island is a popular destination offering excellent golf courses including ones designed by Dick Wilson, Joe Lee and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Grand Bahama Island is the headquarters of UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society, providing numerous scuba opportunities. The Lucayan National Park offers such birds as flamingos, red legged thrushes and the rare Bahama parrot. The largest of the Bahamas' islands, Andros, boasts freshwater creeks, lakes, mangrove swamps, and miles of unspoilt beaches. The island boasts the second-largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and fishing for bonefish is the island's biggest tourist industry. The Berry Islands, home to Chub Cay and Billfish capital of The Bahamas. Bimini is a popular destination for first-rate big-game fishing. Inagua is home to more than 80,000 flamingos and other exotic birds. Long Island is known for broad beaches on its west coast and rocky cliffs on the east.

Cat Island's deserted beaches make for a total getaway. The Abacos and their string of cays are known for their sheltered waters and easy boating.  The Exumas have a lot to offer both above and below the surface of the water. At the north end lies the astounding Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Great Exuma, in the south, is home to lodgings and restaurants and Stocking Island, with its untouched beaches separated by towering, rocky cliffs. Eleuthera is 100 miles long but just a few yards wide at some points. At the Glass Window Bridge, you can see the Bahama Bank on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Harbour Island offers good snorkeling and fishing on the bayside and is famous for a 3 mile pink sand beach.

AIRPORT/ GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:  Lynden Pindling International Airport - to Cable Beach - 10 minutes. To Downtown Nassau - 20 minutes. To Paradise Island - 30 minutes.  Grand Bahama International Airport - to downtown - 5 minutes.  To International Bazaar - 10 minutes.  By Sea : Discovery Cruise Line - Operates a daily service between Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Grand Bahama Island.  Imperial Majesty Cruise Line's Regal Empress sails every two days between Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau.  Gateways/Flying Times: To Nassau from London - 8 hours. Miami - 35 minutes. New York - 2.5 hours.  San Francisco (via Miami) - 5 3/4 hours. Toronto - 3.5 hours.

CLIMATE:  Average temperature - Summer: High 90, Low 78.  Winter : High 75, Low 60. Average humidity 78.  Average rainfall - Rain showers occur any time of the year, but rainy months are from May to October.  Approximate sunrise - Summer: 0630 - 0700. Winter: 0630
- 0700. Approximate sunset - Summer: 2000. Winter: 1730.

DINING:  Restaurants available - Local.  American.  Fast Food.  Gourmet.  Continental.  French.  Italian. Chinese.  Japanese.  Polynesian.  Mexican.  Caribbean.  French.  Greek.  Mediterranean.  Seafood.  15% service charge is usually added. Dress code is casual.  Some restaurants may require slightly more formal attire.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes - Nightclubs.  Discos.  Casinos.  Cabarets. Theatre.  Cinema.  Live music.  Native shows.

SIGHTSEEING:  Abaco: Hope Town Light House.  Wyannie Malone Museum.  Albert Lowe Museum.  Memorial Sculpture Garden.  Exuma: Exuma Land and Sea Park.  Stocking Island. Plantation ruins.  Underwater caves.  Eleuthera:  Preacher's Cave. Glass Window Bridge Ocean Hole.  Harbour Island:  Pink sand beaches.  Grand Bahama:  International Bazaar. Glass-bottom Boat.  Port Lucaya.  UNEXSO Dive Center.  The Dolphin Experience.  Lucayan National Park. East End Adventures.  Kayak tours.  Nassau:  Straw Market.  Bay Street.  Pompey Museum. Pirates of Nassau.  Horse and carriage rides.  Government House.  Historical Forts.  Ardastra Gardens.  The Fish Fry At Arawak Cay.  Queen's Staircase.  Water Tower.  Walking Tours.  Discover Atlantis.

BARBADOS

Experience the authentic Caribbean

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. 

The local Bajans, as they are known, display a brawn inherited from both 3 1 �2 centuries of British rule and the faith and endurance of the former slaves who populated the island to cultivate sugarcane. A wealth of traditions have influenced every facet of life, from music and dance to cuisine and herbal "bush" medicine. 

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 colorful parades. Other special events also draw visitors: Holders Season, held in March, is internationally renowned for its series of opera, theater and music performances.  The Barbados Jazz Festival has live performances seven nights in a row, each held a different island venue. 

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 percent lower those than back home.  Sunbury Plantation House, which dates from 1660, houses a collection of antiques, including carriages and farm implements. Another home worth touring is St. Nicholas Abbey - part of new Slave Route Project, a heritage tourism initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, St. Nicholas Abbey is one of Barbados' plantation great houses.  Located in St. Peter, St. Nicholas was erected in 1650 and is one of the only three houses of Jacobean architecture still standing in the Western Hemisphere.  It was the home of a prominent farmer and has no connection with any religious order.  The Abbey has Dutch gables and finials of coral stone, syrup plant and an herb garden reflecting an ancient medieval design.  

Visit also the Arlington House Museum - formerly Barbados' first modern hospital, Arlington House is situated on Queen Street in the quaint and historic town of Speightstown.  This early eighteenth century, three storey "Single House" is now beautifully restored, features a completely interactive and captivating museum on all three floors: " Speightstown Memories", on the ground floor "Plantation Memories" on the second floor and "Wharf Memories" on the third floor present a combination of exhibits, celebrating Speightstown's former glory as a leading port and hub connecting three continents.  Stede Bonnett, the famous pirate, also talks about his escapades and ultimate demise in South Carolina There are tours available for both adults and kids.   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.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:  Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is 30 minutes drive from Bridgetown, the capital.  Gateways/Flying Times: Houston (via Miami) - 7 hours. London - 8 hours.  Miami - 3.5 hours. Montreal - 5 hours. New York - 4.5 hours. San Francisco - 9.5 hours. Toronto - 5 hours. San Juan - 1 hour.

CLIMATE:  Stable year-round climate 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Average relative humidity 57-74%, constant trade winds 7-8 miles per hour.

DINING:  Restaurants available - Local. Fast food.  Gourmet.  International. 10% service charge is often added to bill; if not, tipping is at your discretion (usually 10%).  Dress code is casual although some restaurants may require suits and ties.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes - Discos.  Theaters.  Dinner  Theaters. Nightclubs.  Cinemas.  Live music.  Pubs.  Boat Cruises.

SIGHTSEEING:  Gun Hill Signal Station. Andromeda Gardens. Farley Hill National Park. Barbados Wildlife Reserve.  Grenade Hall Signal Station.

 

BELIZE

Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret

Make time for the adventure of your life and visit the peaceful, friendly English-speaking people in Belize.  Experience the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere some 185 miles in length, majestic Maya Mountains threaded with cascading waterfalls hidden amongst jungles canopies where exotic wildlife and tropical flora blossom, the largest cave system in Central America - for the novice or the experienced spelunker, hundreds of Ancient Maya civilizations both excavated and jungle covered, and over 10 diverse cultures living in harmony.

With over 200 islands off the coast of Belize including 3 of the Caribbean's 4 atolls, the Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marine activities abound. Home to the famous Blue Hole near Lighthouse Reef Atoll and many marine reserves including Half Moon Caye Natural Monument for red-footed booby, Glover's Reef atoll, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley for swimming with rays and docile nurse sharks, Gladden Spit for diving with whale shark and South Water Caye Marine Reserve, the largest marine reserve. 

Belize was once a main center of Maya civilization with over 15 partially excavated Maya sites throughout the country and hundreds more awaiting discovery.  Visit the ancient city of Lamanai by boat; Caracol, Belize's largest Maya site; Xunantunich, the tallest man-made structure; Altun Ha, Cerros, Mayflower Bocawina or Nim Li Punit. 

With over 40% of its land protected, lush tropical rainforest offers hundred of species of birds, exotic tropical flora and fauna, cool, clear rivers, magnificent caves and waterfalls. Explore the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Rio Bravo, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Guanacaste National Park, Blue Hole National Park, Barton Creek Cave, Mountain Pine Ridge or any of the many private nature reserves.

Although a young nation, Belize is proud of its rich cultural heritage and history.  Over ten diverse ethnic groups including the Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Maya, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese and East Indian create a blend of culture, personalities, racial and religious harmony that gives Belize a widespread reputation for friendliness.  Belizeans are friendly, knowledgeable, hospitable and English-speaking willing to share art, music and tasty local dishes.

AIRPORTS/ GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airport: Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport is 9 miles from Belize City with local airlines being the most popular means of tourist travel inside Belize. Belmopan City, the capital, is located 50 miles west of Belize City. Gateways/Flying Times: Atlanta - 3 hours. Houston - 2 hours. Los Angeles (via Houston) - 5 hours. Miami - 2 hours. New York (via Miami) - 5 hours. Newark - 4 hours 45 minutes. Charlotte - 3 hours 29 minutes. San Salvador - 45 minutes.

CLIMATE: Temperatures vary from 70 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit during the year. Annual rainfall averages 50 inches in the north and 170 inches in the south during the rainy season - June to August. The driest months are February through to May.

DINING: Belizean cuisine is a mixture of diverse cultures with the signature dish being rice and beans, chicken and potato salad with fried ripe plantains. Tipping is at the discretion of the individual. Dress code is casual.

NIGHTLIFE: Local bars in the main towns have live entertainment most weekends; Las Vegas style casino at the Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City and San Ignacio.

ATTRACTOPNS/SIGHTSEEING:  Belize's tourism regions have distinctive flair:  Corozal: flavored with the Mestizo culture. Explore picturesque Corozal Bay with concealed inlets in hidden lagoons; centuries old Maya temples at Cerros, Santa Rita and Cayo Coco and see rare wood storks, parrots and monkeys in Shipstern Nature Reserve.  Orange Walk: home to the riverside Maya site of Lamanai, sugar cane plantations, the lush Rio Bravo tropical forest, an orchid farm, coffee plantation, the country's largest rum distillery, a traditional Mennonite community and quaint Orange Walk Town.  Ambergris Caye and San Pedro town is the most popular tourist destination in the country. The ample amenities and restful ambiance on this 20-mile-long, two-mile-wide tropical island is ideally located for daytime excursions to dozens of fishing, diving, and snorkeling sites including Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley.  Caye Caulker: only a 20 mile boat ride from Belize City, this fishing village turned laid back tourist haven offers the charm of local culture and all the marine activities of nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley and the manatees at Swallow Caye.  Belize District: home to Belize City the commercial capital, with the national museum, historical sites of the colonial era and restaurant choices including gourmet and local cuisine. Interior Belize District offers the Community Baboon Sanctuary, local wineries, forest zip-lining, cave-tubing and the Maya temples of Altun Ha.  Cayo: the heart of Belize offering the best of any Central American travel vacation: starting with the capital city, Belmopan, the ancient temples of Caracol, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech, scenic Macal and Mopan rivers, the caves of Barton Creek and Actun Tunichil Muknal , miles of trails in the Chiquibuil National Park and the pine forests of Mountain Pine Ridge.  Stann Creek: Dance to the rhythm of drums rooted in Africa in Dangriga, the largest community in Stann Creek. Explore palm-shaded islands and snorkel offshore in the South Water Caye and Glovers Reef Marine Reserves; a jungle covered temple and waterfalls at Mayflower, forest pathways in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.  Hopkins: a few miles south of Dangriga, offers a vacation combination of nearby rainforest and offshore cayes in a coastal location. Seaside resorts provide luxury alongside the sleepy traditional seaside Garifuna fishing village of Hopkins.  Placencia: a 2 mile peninsula with one of the best beaches in southern Belize. A one mile concrete sidewalk serves as "main street" in this Creole village, one of the oldest inhabited communities in Belize.  Attractions include lagoons, rivers, reefs, and flats for bonefishing; diving adventures at Laughingbird Caye and with the whalesharks near Gladden Spit; manatee watching in Placencia lagoon, and nearby jungle trails in Monkey River and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.  Toledo: This southernmost region of Belize has the greatest concentration of traditional Maya living in picturesque villages offering Maya homestays. The main town, Punta Gorda, offers colorful markets, with produce and handicraft from Garifuna and Maya farmers. There is dense rainforest and beckoning caves near villages like Blue Creek and spectacular cayes like the Sapodilla Cayes offshore.

BERMUDA

Feel the Love

Bermuda sits far north of the Caribbean Sea - about 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina - but this archipelago of 120 islands and islets has a Caribbean soul. Blessed by the Gulf Stream, Bermuda's translucent waters and pinksand beaches rival those of more tropical climes.

Bermuda had no indigenous residents when a British ship, the Sea Venture, wrecked on treacherous reefs in 1609, forcing its Virginia-bound passengers and crew to eke out an existence. That incident forged an enduring link between Great Britain and Bermuda, which remains a stalwart member of the Commonwealth.

Recreational opportunities abound in Bermuda.  It's a mecca for scuba divers who flock here to explore more than 300 shipwrecks that dot the nearby reefs.  Bermuda boasts eight golf courses; while many are private, visitors can often arrange to play them or take advantage of the public courses.  Visit Bermuda's wealth of historic sights, especially the atmospheric town of St. George's and the Royal Naval Dockyard, a 19th century fortress featuring the Maritime Museum, the Commissioner's House and the Bermuda Arts Centre. Other island highlights are the Botanical Gardens, the Underwater Exploration Institute and the Crystal Caves.

As one of the most densely populated destinations in the world, behind only such places as Hong Kong and Vatican City, Bermuda strictly regulates automobiles - one car per household -  and tourists cannot rent cars. The most popular method of getting around is via moped, while others are well served by taxis and buses.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:  Bermuda International Airport (BDA).  Gateways/Flying Times:  Atlanta - 2.5 hours. New York - 90 minutes. Toronto - 2.5 hours. London - 7 hours. Boston - 2 hours. Chicago - 3.5 hours. Philadelphia - 2 hours. Halifax - 2 hours. Orlando - 2.5 hours. Miami - 3 hours.  Baltimore/Washington - 2 hours. Charlotte - 2 hours

CLIMATE:  The hottest part of the year is May through mid-October, when temperatures hover between 75°F / 23°C and 85°F / 29°C.  During the winter months, temperatures average a balmy 70°F / 21°C while summer months are somewhat drier, but rainfall is spread relatively equally throughout the year.

DINING:  Local.  Gourmet.  Indian.  Italian.  French.  Japanese.  Chinese.  Mexican.  British.  North American.  Thai.  Mediterranean.  Tipping practice is 15%, which is usually added to the bill.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE:  Dance Clubs. Dinner/Dances. Nightclubs. Pubs. Theaters. Cinemas. Live music. Karaoke, plus early evening weekly street festivals.

SIGHTSEEING:  The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.  The Crystal Caves of Bermuda. Bermuda Maritime Museum and Dolphin Quest.  Fort St. Catherine.  Gibbs' Hill Lighthouse.  Fort Scaur.  Town of St. George.  Somerset Bridge.  Camden.  Royal Naval Dockyard.  Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.  City of Hamilton.  Bermuda National Trust Museums.  Carter House.

BONAIRE

Once a Visitor, Always a friend

Bonaire is known primarily as a spectacular dive site, ringed by a series of offshore reefs.  But Bonaire is also a landlubber's destination, with a developing art and dining scene, and a slew of land-based activities. In the main town, Kralendijk, visit Cinnamon Art Gallery, founded by a trio of artists or any number of fine restaurants featuring French, Italian, Argentine and creative cuisines.  Still, Bonaire is a long way from becoming an urban mecca. Here, the flamingo population rivals the human one, building size is strictly limited, and the circumference of the island is a protected marine park. 

Stones marked with the names of dive sites can be seen from the coastal roads and a two minutes' swim (literally) will reveal a reef teeming with marine life. Drive-through dive stations allow divers to refill their tanks before heading out to other alluring spots. 

Amazing as the diving is, there's much more to do on Bonaire. Sign up with the Mangrove Info and Kayak Center for a kayaking session through the pristine mangrove system - one of the few left in the world. Drive north up the west coast past a prime flamingo-viewing lake called Goto Mere. Spend a day in Washington-Slagbaai National Park amidst more than 13,000 acres of flora and fauna. See rock formations like Seru Bentana (Sky Window), and spot any number of birds and beasts at the Pos Mangel watering hole. The park has many beaches, some of which are very small.

Heading south down the east coast, visit the tiny village of Rincon. Catch the panorama from Seru Largu, a hilltop viewpoint. Drive south to the salt pans, signs of the salt industry that still thrives here. Just below the white mountains of salt rising from purple "lakes," you'll find the Flamingo Refuge.  You can stand roadside and (very quietly) observe these elegant and shy creatures.  Park yourself close by on Pink Beach, and at sunset you can see them lighting up the sky as they wing their way on their nightly trip to Venezuela.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:  Flamingo International Airport. Located a short drive from Kralendijk, the capital.  Gateways/Flying Times: Service is available from many cities in the U.S. on American Airlines/American Eagle (via San Juan), Delta Airlines from Atlanta and Continental from Houston and Newark.

CLIMATE:  Average temperature is 82 degrees F.  Average annual rainfall is 22 inches.

DINING:  Restaurants - Local. Seafood. Italian.  Gourmet. International.  Indonesian.  Chinese.  Fast Food. A service charge of 10-15% is added to bills in lieu of tips.  Dress code is casual.

LANGUAGE:  Dutch is the official language. Local Papiamentu, English and Spanish are widely spoken.

NIGHTLIFE:  Dance Clubs.  Dinner/Dances, Nightclubs.  Pubs.  Theaters.  Cinemas.  Live music.  Karaoke.

SIGHTSEEING:  The Flamingo Colonies near Goto-meer.  Historic Dutch buildings, the slave huts at Rode Pan and the Solar Salt Works nearby.  Arawak Indian cave paintings at Boca Omina. Museo di Boneiru  Beach, Washington - Slagbaai National Park. The Bonaire Marine Park. Willemstoren Lighthouse, Dos Pos, Rincon, Klein Bonaire, Lac Bay.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Nature's Little Secrets

 

Known internationally as a sailors' paradise, the 60-plus islands of the British Virgin Islands also offer landlubbers all the charms of the natural Caribbean and few of the hassles. A necklace of islands and cays strung along Sir Francis Drake Channel between Puerto Rico and St. Kitts, the BVIs have an unspoilt setting, a high standard of living and a low-key atmosphere. Many of the islands are rich with indigenous fauna, including red-legged tortoises and Anegada iguanas. 

Tortola is the largest island, and its capital, Road Town, hosts governmental offices, banks, shops, a ferry service and an international cruise-ship dock. It's also the main location for charter boats. The north shore of Tortola is peppered with coves and isolated beaches like Brewer's Bay and Smuggler's Cove. The more populous Cane Garden Bay offers many restaurants and bars. The hilly roadways make for a four-wheel-drive challenge but provide spectacular views. 

Mountainous Virgin Gorda, with secluded beaches and natural attractions, is the site of the Baths, where monumental granite boulders dominate the beach, creating numerous tide pools and great snorkeling. Jost Van Dyke thrives on its waterside reputation for festivity and provides excellent protected anchorages for yachters. Out to the northeast, day trippers visit Anegada and 18-mile-long Horseshoe Reef - one of the world's longest - to spend the day bird-watching and snorkeling. Norman Island, supposedly the Treasure Island of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous story, has no inhabitants other than a couple of restaurants. Here, the Caves is a famous snorkeling spot; the Indians and Marina Cay are also popular. Necker Island is privately owned by Sir Richard Branson, and largely undeveloped Peter Island hosts a resort that welcomes all for lunch and beaching. Guana Island is an officially designated wildlife sanctuary for species like the masked booby.

The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival is a seven-day event in April, attracting an average of 135 yachts. Divers explore the 200-odd shipwrecks, especially Rhone Marine Park near Salt Island, where the HMS Rhone sank in the 1860s. Game fishing is popular, and surfers gather each day off Tortola's Apple Bay looking for one of the Caribbean's best rides. Hikers enjoy walking the Ridge Road to Sage Mountain, a 92-acre park. 

AIRPORTS/ GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airports:  TB Lettsome International (Beef Island), 10 miles from the capital Road Town on Tortola, Virgin Gorda's Airport and Auguiste George Airport on Anegada.  Gateways/Flying Times:  Antigua - 60 minutes. Puerto Rico - 45 minutes. St. Martin - 30 minutes. St. Thomas, USVI - 20 minutes.

CLIMATE:  Average annual temperatures: Summer 90 degrees F. Winter 85 degrees.  Average annual rainfall is 52 inches.  Approximate sunrise:  Summer 0545.  Winter 0610.  Approximate sunset: Summer 1930 -2030.  Winter 1700 - 1730.

DINING:  Restaurants available - Local. Gourmet. International. Most hotels add 15% service charge.  Hotels and restaurants may require slacks and shirt for dinner.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes - Disco.  Dinner/dances. Nightclubs.  Live Music. Concerts. Plays.  Fashion Shows.

SIGHTSEEING:  The Baths on Virgin Gorda. Sage Mountain rainforest on Tortola.  Coppermine on Virgin Gorda. Rum distilleries.  Botanical Gardens. Wreck of the Rhone.  Gorda Peak.  Government House Museum on Tortola.  Dolphin Discovery - swim with the dolphins interactive programme.

CAYMAN ISLANDS

CURACAO

real. different.

 

Curacao is one of the Caribbean's most sophisticated capitals. Don't miss the Maritime Museum, the Sea Aquarium, and the Curaçao Postal Museum to see bright Antillean stamps. Visit the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the Caribbean's oldest continuously operating synagogue, with a fine display on the island's Jewish history. The winter-time Curaçao Carnival boasts parades with floats, Jump Ups (outdoors), Jump Ins (indoors) and outrageous costumes.  Serious divers come for the spring Curaçao Dive Festival to participate in a weeks' worth of workshops such as Underwater Digital Photography.

The western shores have a series of beautiful beaches, each one occupying a separate cove:  popular Daaibooi, tiny Playa Lagun, and Knip, which opens onto a large bay of luminous water. Curaçao also offers some of the best diving in the world. Spectacular dive locations provide some of the most colorful and awe inspiring scenes imaginable.

Also in the west is Christoffel Park. Drive, hike, or ride a horse through kadushi cactus, tamarind, divi-divi trees and lignum vitae trees, the road curving upward to amazing vistas of Mount Christoffel.  

Curaçao also hosts a jazz festival, a gospel festival, a food festival and a kite competition.  The locally famous Jazz Night at Blues Restaurant on a pier overlooking the sea is not to be missed.  Classy, joyful and mellow, it's the perfect summary of what's so appealing about Curaçao. 

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:   International Airport HATO (CUR), located 7.5 miles from the capital, Willemstad.  Gateways/Flying Times: Amsterdam - 9 hours. Atlanta - 3 hours 57 minutes.  Bogata 1 hour 50 minutes. Caracas - 45 minutes.  Dominican Republic - 1 hour 15 minutes. Miami - 2 hours 30 minutes. Newark - 4 hours 30 minutes. Trinidad - 2 hours 15 minutes.

CLIMATE:  Annual average temperature - 80 degrees F. Average humidity - 77%. Average rainfall - 21inches. Windspeed 16 mph.

DINING:  Cuisines from more than a dozen countries range from classic to exotic, local dishes also reflect an international influence.  American, French, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Latin American, Gourmet, Fast food.  Dress code varies. Service charge 10%.

LANGUAGE: Dutch is the official language. Multi-racial Curacaoans also speak English, Spanish and their own unique blend, Papiamento.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes - Discos. Dinner/Dance. Theater. Casinos. Nightclubs. Live Music.

SIGHTSEEING:  Museums.  Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue.  Landhouses. Forts.  16th and 17th Century Architecture.  Curaçao Sea Aquarium.  Curaçao Liqueur Distillery.  Floating Market.  Hato Caves.  City Tour. Willemstad Walking Tour.  Three Queens Bridges. Christoffel National Park.  Boca Tabla Grotto.  Shete Boka Natural Park. Curaçao Ostrich and Game Farm.  Willemstad Trolley Tour.  Herb Garden.

DOMINICA

The Nature Island

In 2005, rugged, jungle-filled Dominica became the first nation to be certified by Green Globe 21 for sustainable development. Nature-oriented visitors appreciate Dominica's rich culture and history, and this locale has a great deal to offer travelers with a quest for adventure. Located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica's mountains soar to nearly 5,000 feet, yielding a thriving rainforest, hundreds of rivers and waterfalls, rare orchids and colorful birds. Geothermal activity results in colorful hot springs, bubbling mud pools, small geysers and Boiling Lake, the second largest lake of its kind in the world.  Many of the sites are found in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the Eastern Caribbean's first a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hikers can trek to Victoria Falls, and Middleham Falls, a narrow plume of water falling 200 feet from a cliff notch. A strenuous excursion to Morne Diablotin (Devil's Mountain) reaps glimpses of two endemic Amazona parrots, the jaco and the sisserou. Non-hikers can ride the Rainforest Aerial Tram, which offers a 70-minute journey through the treetop canopy. Mountain biking, horseback riding, river tubing and jeep safaris are other ways of enjoying Dominica's natural gifts.

The offshore marine environment is equally fascinating, as healthy reefs and marine life, extraordinary formations and 100-foot visibility draw scuba divers. Dominica's waters host 22 species of whales and dolphins, making it a prime whale-watching destination throughout the winter. Beaches are mostly black sand, with a few golden strands in the northeast.  The Dominica Watersports Association has hosted a week-long watersports event called DIVE FEST in July every year sine 1983.  Dive Fest is very popular with locals and visitors and is a great time to secure good deals on dives!

For history lovers, the capital, Roseau and Fort Shirley are fun to explore. At the Kalinago Barana Aute, visitors can watch as Kalinago Indians carve the trunk of a Gommier tree into a canoe. Cultural performances, storytelling and "spiritual cleansings" are part of the outing. Tours of a rum distillery and the Rosalie slave plantation estate are also popular. Local restaurants serve predominantly native Creole cuisine; mountain chicken (frog legs) is the national dish. The World Creole Music Festival takes place in October, and Mas Dominik, the island's carnival, features calypso and steel pan competitions, a soca music festival, jump-ups and a costume parade.

AIRPORTS/FERRIES/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airports:  - Melville Hall Airport (DOM), 36 miles from Roseau.  Canefield Airport (DCF), 3 miles from Roseau (small intra-regional flights only).  Ferry Services: L'Express Des Iles. Caribbean Ferries into Roseau. Gateways/Flying Times:  Antigua, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Trinidad are all within 2 hours flying distance. London: 8 hours.  Miami: 3.5 hours. New York: 4.5 hours. Toronto: 5 hours. (Plus short connecting flights for all).

CLIMATE:  Daytime temperatures vary between 75 & 90 degrees F. Temperataures may drop in the evenings and at higher altitudes. Coolest months are December to March.

DINING:  Restaurants available-Local.  Gourmet.  International.  Fast food.  Tipping is at the discretion of clients.  Dress code is casual.

LANGUAGE:  English is the official language.  Creole or French based patois is spoken by many.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment includes - Discos.  Occasional Dinner/Dances.  Occasional Theater.  Occassional village feasts and cultural fesitvals. Live Music.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Endless

The Dominican Republic occupies more than half of Hispaniola, the second-largest Caribbean island.  Travelers can indulge in a variety of  activities; adventurers might seek out canyoning and windsurfing opportunities.  Hikers can scale Pico Duarte, the Caribbean's highest mountain at 10,000 feet, while 1,000 miles of sublime coastline offer relaxation.  For cultural immersion, visit the centuries-old capital Santo Domingo, the New World's oldest city.  

The tropical wildlife is astounding.  Within 19 national parks, 6 scientific reserves, 32 natural monuments, 15 natural reserves, 2 marine sanctuaries and 9 protected parcels of islands, there exist 5,600 plant species, 303 bird species and a rich underwater world.  Many resorts are all-inclusive including those along the picturesque coastline in the Punta Cana/Bávaro area, where a sizeable coral reef draws scuba divers.  

La Romana has the quaint Altos de Chavon artist enclave and a walled resort compound known for its three challenging golf courses, a polo field, horseback riding, sport shooting, tennis and a marina. Isla Saona, off the southern shore near Bayahibe, is a 45 square mile island with pristine beaches and mangrove-lined lagoons. The tiny 6 square mile Isla Catalina is a popular diving spot. The Samaná Peninsula has untouched beaches leading to brilliant coral reefs, gushing inland waterfalls and thick rainforests. The north coast is known as the Amber Coast because the gem of the same name is mined there. The beach at Cabarete is perfect for kiteboarding and windsurfing.  At nearby El Encuentro, waves can get up to 14 feet high.  In this jungle-rich region, adventure seekers spend time whitewater rafting, rock climbing and mountain biking.  Two golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones are among the country's 21 exceptional golf courses.  

To the west of Cabarete lies Puerto Plata with its lively beaches. San Filepe Fort, used by the Spanish to fight off pirates in the 16th century, is a tribute to colonial days. Ocean World Adventure Park in Cofresi boasts a dolphin lagoon plus a swimmable aquarium and an interactive shark pool. Baní and Las Salinas offer some of the best windsurfing options outside Cabarete, and don't have the crowds, while the towns of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio are popular for their busy beaches. The fertile lands of Santiago, La Vega and the Cordillera Central Mountain Range are found in the central region. Known as the Dominican Alps, it is prime for hiking, cycling and river rafting.  The island's highest mountain, Pico Duarte, calls to expert hikers; it takes three days to reach the summit.  

AIRPORTS:  Las Americas International Airport Dr. Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, located 25 minutes east of Santo Domingo.  Puerto Plata International Gregorio Luperon Airport, located 15 minutes from Puerto Plata.  Punta Cana International Airport serves the east.  Barahona Maria Montez International Airport, in the southwest coast, which opened in 2006.  The smaller International Airports in La Romana and Santiago (Cibao Airport), La Isabela Airport and Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Arroyo Barril International Airport, Portillo Airport (domestic airport), Catey International Airport, in Samana, Catey is the newest.

CLIMATE:  The average temperature is 77 degrees F, with August being the warmest month and January the coolest.  Summer temperatures range from 89 to 95 degrees F and in the winter, from 75 to 90 degrees F.

DINING:  Restaurants available-Local.  Fast Food.  International.  Gourmet.  Dress code is casual, however formal restaurants require jackets and shoes for men and appropriate attire for women.  Usual practice for tipping is 10%.

LANGUAGE: Spanish is the official language.  English is widely spoken.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes-Casinos.  Bingo.  Discos.  Clubs.  Theaters.  Cinemas.  Bars.  Cafes.  Live Bands.  Shows.

JAMAICA

  Jamaica is surely one of the Caribbean's most iconic vacationdestinations. 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 Jamacianpeople 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.  There are numerous tranquil places to visit during your vacation in Jamaica: The 7,402 foot Blue Mountain Peak is a challenge to all serious island trekkers, and bird watching is increasingly popular with more than 200 native species, including at least 25 species that are endemic. Jamaica is also reputedly home to more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, some 720 of which can only be seen while traveling in Jamaica.  Jamaica is rich with formal gardens, too, such as Hope Botanical Gardens, Shaw Park Gardens, Coyaba River Garden and the Cranbrook Flower Forest.

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 vacation mecca in Jamaica for water sports 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 demeanor. Perched on limestone bluffs, Negril's West End is home to numerous small resorts snuggled into the craggy cliffs.  Each of these unique areas offers a variety of hotels and resorts to stay at during your vacation in Jamaica.

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 favorite treat is Tia Maria, a coffee-flavored rum liqueur.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), 13 miles from Kingston. Sangster International Airport (MBJ), 2 miles from downtown Montego Bay.  Sangster to: Ocho Rios 1.5 hours, Negril 1.5 hours.  Manley to: Port Antonio 2 hours,  South Coast 2.0 hrs.  Gateways/Flying Times: From Baltimore-3 hours.  Boston-3 hours 40 minutes.  Chicago-3 hours 45 minutes.  Dallas-3 hours 20 minutes.  Los Angeles-5 hours 30 minutes.  Miami-1hour 25 minutes.  Montego Bay from Atlanta-2 hours 40 minutes.  New Orleans-3 hours.  New York-3 hours 20 minutes.  Toronto-4 hours.

CLIMATE:  Temperatures high/low-Summer 80/70-80 degrees F. Winter 80/70 degrees F. Annual average temperature in Jamaica is 82 degrees F.  In the hills it's cooler with an average temperature around 70 degrees F.  In Kingston, humidity ranges from 63% in February to 75% in October.  In Montego Bay, humidity ranges from 71 to 77%.  Average rainfall is 77" annually. Approximate sunrise/sunset 0600/1900.  For every 1000 feet in altitude the temperature drops 3.5 degrees F, so that the Blue Mountain Peak has an average annual temperature of 56 degrees F.

DINING:  Local. Fast food. Gourmet. International.  Tipping: 10-15%

LANGUAGE:  The official language spoken is English.  Patois, a mix of English and African, is also spoken.

NIGHTLIFE:  Discos.  Nightclubs.  Dinner/Dances.  Theaters.  Live music.  Cinemas.

ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTSEEING:  Kingston: Bob Marley Museum.  Bank of Jamaica Money Museum. Caymanas Park.  Devon House.  Emancipation Park.  Fort Charles & The Maritime Museum, Port Royal.  Hollywell.  Hope Botanical Gardens.  Institute of Jamaica.  Liberty Hall.  National Gallery of Art.   National Heroes Park.  Putt n' Play.  Rockfort Mineral Bat.  Serenity Wildlife Park.  Spanish Town's Historic District.  Mandeville/South Coast: Appleton Rum Tour. Black River Safari Boat Tour.  Cashoo Ostrich Park.  Irie Safari.  Lover's Leap.  Milk River Mineral Spa.  YS Falls.  Montego Bay: Animal Farm.  Aquasol Theme Park.  Bob Marley Experience.  Braco Stables. 
Chukka Blue Adventure Tours.  Craydon In the Mountains.  Doctor's Cave Bathing Club.  John's Hall Adventure Tour.  Half Moon Equestrian Centre.  Hilton High Day Tour. Luminous Lagoon/Glistening Waters.  MoBay Undersea Tours. Outameni Experience. Rafting on the Martha Brae. Jamaica White Water Expedition.  Rose Hall Great House.  Negril: Royal Palm Reserve.  Mayfield Falls.  Rick's Café.  Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay: Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour.  Chukka Cove Adventure Tours.  Coyaba River Gardens.  Cranbrook Flower Forest.  Dolphin Cove.  Dunn's River Falls.  Firefly.  Five Star Watersports.  Green Grotto Caves.  Harmony Hall.  Heave-Ho Charters/Fun Cruises.  Hooves Limited.  Island Village.  James Bond Beach.  Ocho Rios Marine Park.  Prospect Plantation.  Reggae eXplosion.  Shaw Park Gardens. Sting Ray City. Trails Plantation Rides. Walderswood Jerk Country Tour.  White River Valley.  Port Antonio:  Blue Lagoon.  Frenchman's Cove.  Castleton Gardens. Nonsuch Caves.  Rio Grande Tours.  Sommerset Falls.  Reich Falls.

MARTINIQUE

Fleur des Caraibes

Intr Martinique is the definition of a refined French-Caribbean island - fashionable and elegant, with an abundance of flora. Filled with ruins and monuments, Martinique has been French, with few interruptions, since 1635, and offers gorgeous beaches, great food and a live volcano. Banana farming, cane raising, the rum business and tourism are all important to the island.

Napoleon's empress Josephine hailed from Martinique, as did Aimée Dubuc de Rivery, who was kidnapped at sea and made Sultana Validé, mother of Turkey's Sultan Mahmoud II. Its many small museums focus on curiosities such as dolls, banana farming and ancient island civilizations. Hikers and horseback riders will find plenty of guided adventures among the steep, lush hillsides. Windsurfers and board surfers will welcome the challenges of the choppy Atlantic side of the island.

The capital, Fort-de-France, offers chic shops, the flowered Park Savanne, the Bibliothèque Schoelcher, and the Saint-Louis Cathedral, built in 1895. Restaurants are among the best in the islands. Pointe du Bout is the island's main resort area, offering hotels, golf, shopping and casino nightlife. North along the coast is St. Pierre, which was destroyed, along with its 30,000 residents, in 1902 when Mont Pelée erupted. The Museum of Vulcanology there displays chilling lava-coated mementoes. Carbet, a quaint fishing village, was briefly home for French painter Paul Gauguin, and inland is Morne Rouge, site of MacIntosh Plantation, cultivator of Martinique's well-known flower, the anthurium.  Be sure to tour one of Martinique's 12 fine rum distilleries. The island boasts France's official appellation for producing agricultural Rhum (a label like Cognac or Champagne).

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:    Airport:  Lamentin International Airport (FDF) - a large modern terminal building. From Airport to: Fort-de-France-10 km, Pointe du Bout-20 km, Sainte Anne-35 km, Sainte Pierre-42 km.  Gateways/Flying Times: New York-4.5 hours. Montreal-5 hours. Paris-7 hours. Miami-3.5 hours.

CLIMATE:  The mean temperature averages about 79 degrees F. Average humidity 75%. The rainy season is from the end of August to October. Approximate sunrise-0530. Approximate sunset-1815.

DINING:  Restaurants available-Local.  Fast food.  French.  Gourmet.  International.  Chinese. Creole cuisine.  Vietnamese.  Oriental.  Service charge is usually added to the bill, otherwise tipping is at your discretion.  Dress code is casual.

LANGUAGE:  French is the official language. Creole is spoken locally. English is spoken in the tourist areas.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes-Discos. Nightclubs.  Cabarets.  Dinner/dances.  Theaters.  Casino at Meridien Hotel and at Bateliere Plazza.  Cinemas.  Live Music.

SIGHTSEEING:  Fort-de-France, the capital city.  La Pagerie, birthplace of Martinique's most famous daughter: Josephine, Napoleon's Empress.  Diamond Rock.  Botanical Gardens where you can admire over a thousand varieties of tropical and local plants.  Cockfights.  St Pierre and the ruins from eruption of Mt. Pelee, the Pompeii of the New World.  Volcanological museum.  Castle DuBuc. Mont Pelee.

DINING: Restaurants available-Local.  Fast food. French.  Gourmet. International.  Chinese.  Creole cuisine.   Vietnamese.  Oriental.  Service charge is usually added to the bill, otherwise tipping is at your discretion.   Dress code is casual.

NIGHTLIFE: Entertainment available includes-Discos.  Nightclubs.  Cabarets.  Dinner/dances.  Theaters.  Casino at Meridien Hotel and at Bateliere Plazza.  Cinemas. Live Music.

MEXICAN CARIBBEAN

Cancun, Cozumel, Riviera Maya

On the historic Yucatan peninsula, Caribbean Mexico has some of the region's most modern resorts.  Whatever your dream vacation, Caribbean Mexico's Yucatan peninsula can bring it to life.  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.

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. A little more than 12 miles north of Mujeres is Isla Contoy, a protected sanctuary for 75 bird species.

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 visitors can swim with dolphins and explore Mayan caves.


AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport - Cancún/Riviera Maya: Cancun International Airport (CUN) . Distances from downtown/main tourist areas: Coba - 173 km. Playa Del Carmen - 65 km. Tulum - 131 km. Kohunlich - 432 km. Chichen Itza - 228 km. Akumal - 110 km. Airport - Cozumel/Isla Mujeres: Aeropuerto Internacional De Cozumel (CZM): Distances from downtown/main tourist areas: Downtown - 2 miles. Chankanaab Lagoon - 6 miles. Marina Club Nautico - 2 miles. San Gervasio Mayan Ruins - 3 miles. Gateway/Flying Times: Miami - 1 hour. Houston - 2.5 hours. New York - 3.5 hours. San Francisco - 6.5 hrs. Toronto - 4.5 hours. Los Angeles - 4 hrs. Chicago - 4 hours. Mexico City - 2 hours.

CLIMATE:  Summer: High - 32 degrees C. Low - 25 degrees C. Winter: High - 25 degrees C. Low - 18 degrees C. Average rainfall 1033 mm annually.  Approx. Sunrise: Summer - 0530-0600 hours. Winter - 0630-0700 hours. Approx. Sunset: Summer - 1830-1900 hours. Winter - 1730-1800 hours.

DINING:  Restaurants include: Mexican. Native. Gourmet. International. Chinese. Japanese. Italian. Argentine. Vegetarian. American and Fast Food. Usual practice for tipping is 10 to 15% directly to the waiter. Dress code is casual.

LANGUAGE:  Spanish is the official language but English, French, German, Italian & Mayan are widely spoken.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes: Discos. Dinner/dances. Nightclubs. Cinemas. Live Music. Salsa & Merengue Clubs. Folkloric Ballet performances and much more.

SIGHTSEEING:  Cancún/Riviera Maya: Near the world famous Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba. "Caribbean Night" cultural program. Folkloric Ballet. Pirate Night show on a boat from Cancún to Isla de Mujeres & return. Bullfights. Beaches. Archaeological areas El Rey & San Miguelito. Ecoparks: Xcaret, Xel-ha, Garrafon and Tres Rios. RIVIERA MAYA Visitors can enjoy many activities along the Riviera Maya, such as windsurfing, deep see fishing, trips in kayaks and horseback riding, as well as simply becoming one with nature while resting on a solitary beach. Famous among lovers of scuba diving and snorkeling. There are also two parks along the coast, perfect for a day of adventure. Xcaret is an eco-archaeological amusement park. Xel-Ha is an incredible natural aquarium famous for snorkeling and swimming. Eco-Park Tres Rios: Set amidst three cenotes forming rivers flowing into the sea, Tres Rios is home of many wild life species and offers kayaking, biking, diving, and horseback riding. Cosumel/Isla Mujeres: Tours to Tulum, Coba, San Gervacio, Chichen Itza. Xel Ha Lagoon. Tours to Cancún and Isla Mujeres. Glass bottom boat trips. Chankanaab Park. Cozumel Museum. Punta Sur Park. 

MONTSERRAT

A Caribbean Treasure -- Spectacular by Nature

Long known as the Caribbean's Emerald Isle for its Irish heritage and lush rainforests, Montserrat welcomes visitors with a green shamrock-shaped stamp in their passport. In fact Montserrat is the only Caribbean island that observes St. Patrick's Day as an official holiday, with musical concerts, masquerades and other traditional activities.

The volcano is the star attraction, most easily viewed from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.  Tours are conducted by scientists several days a week. The ruins of Plymouth are today a ghost town under a blanket of ash. Daytime access to the former capital is possible with a police escort, arranged through hotels or the tourist office.

Volcanic activity continues on and off, but Montserrat's northern third remains a safe landing, with the volcano monitored round-the-clock by a team of scientists that keep the island's current 4,700 residents aware of Mother Nature's inner rumblings. In summary, Montserrat makes for an unusual holiday.

Montserrat also offers many of the Caribbean's traditional activities. Most of the beaches are of the blacksand variety, but tawny Rendezvous Bay can be reached by a trail over a bluff or by hiring a boat. Lime Kiln Bay is a prime snorkeling location, and there's also good diving. An expanding network of hiking trails accesses rainforests, old banana plantations and views from sea cliffs. Local forest rangers help visitors track the threatened Montserrat oriole, the national bird, and other rare species.

AIRPORTS/FERRIES/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airport:  Geralds Airport.  Gateways/Flying Times:  WinAir flies via Antigua and St. Maarten.  WinAir Code Share and Interline Partners (which allows checking of baggage directly through) are:  Delta, US Airways, Continental, Northwest, and United Airlines.  Antigua: 25 minutes.  St. Maarten: 1 hour 30 minutes.  

CLIMATE:  Winter and summer temperatures average between 24 and 32 Celsius (76 to 88° F). with constant breezes from the sea and mountains.  The annual rainfall is about 1,250-2,000 mm or 50-80 inches, well distributed throughout the year, with a wetter season from July to November.

DINING:  There are a handful of full service restaurants and a number of small welcoming eateries that serve hot tasty meals using locally grown produce and herbs - anything from lobster burgers, freshly grilled fish and saltfish (salted cod) with ground provision to pastas and fresh salads.  If you really want to ‘go local', ask for a sample of ‘Mountain Chicken' better known as Frogs Legs, or Goat Water, the traditional national dish, a thick tasty stew with chunks of goat meat, eaten hot with a crusty bread roll.

LANGUAGE:  English is the official language, which is often spoken with an Irish brogue, a heritage left by the early Irish settlers.

NIGHTLIFE:  There are some small nightclubs and a host of roadside bars, better known as "rum shops", where people gather informally to hang out or "lime", have a drink and perhaps relax over a game of dominoes, especially on Friday nights. With limited evening culture.  There is no closing time and most bars stay open "until..."
Salem, St. John's, Cudjoe Head, Davy Hill and Festival Village in Little Bay are home to many of these bars.

SIGHTSEEING:
Volcano Watching:  The magnificent (and still active) Soufriere Hills Volcano is the island's stellar attraction, and the only live volcano in the Caribbean that you can observe at close quarters in safety. After centuries of lying dormant the volcano rumbled to life in 1995 and buried the capital of Plymouth lying in its foothills, reducing the once-vibrant city to a deserted shell - the Caribbean's own version of a modern day Pompeii.  Diving/Snorkeling:  For snorkelers and divers, the coral reefs on Montserrat's North West Coast offers a variety of tropical fish and other exotic undersea life.  Among the more spectacular dive sites are Little Redonda, a rock that reaches the surface from a depth of about 80 feet; the Pinnacles on the northeast corner of the island; and Yellow Hole, south of the Pinnacles, where there is the wreck of the 19th century steel schooner which sank in 1886. Nature and Adventure: The lush, forest Centre Hills is renowned for its biological diversity. The moist rainforest is home to many species of wildlife and most of the 34 species of resident land birds and migrant songbirds that inhabit the area. Birdwatchers will delight in a chance to spot Montserrat's rare national bird, the Montserrat oriole, as well as the forest thrush; the shy bridled quail dove, the mangrove cuckoo, the trembler and purple throated carib. Other regional endemic species that may be found are the mountain chicken, which is actually a type of frog, and the galliwasp, which is half-snake, half-lizard. Hiking: There are numerous hiking trails through the lush vegetation that offers stunning views of land, sea and coastline. Biking: is another great way to discover the island's hidden charms. Cycle along at your own pace, admiring the breathtaking views of the ocean, and the dramatic sweep of green hills, which many visitors say are very much like the Irish countryside.

PUERTO RICO

Explore Beyond the Shore

Puerto Rico is an island getaway with something for everyone - stunning beaches, uncompromising luxury, adventurous outdoor activities and flavor full nightlife. Puerto Rico also boasts 23 golf courses, many championship-level, countless tennis courts, horseback-riding outfitters, deep-sea fishing opportunities, watersports of all types, and 17 spas.

The beach at Isla Verde, which fronts the Atlantic Ocean, is just a five-minute cab ride from San Juan airport, and boasts a line of major hotels, a beautiful powder-white beach, crystal waters and easy access to Old San Juan and other cultural, dining, shopping and dancing attractions. Another popular destination is Condado Beach, with a natural rock barrier protecting Condado Lagoon. The 21 x 4 mile island of Vieques is no longer a proving ground for the US military, and the underdeveloped islet now offers postcard-perfect strands of sand, winding roads through forests chock full of tropical birds - and wild horses, quaint inns, a major resort and a laidback pace.

San Juan, founded by the Spanish in 1521, is the oldest city in the United States, but Old San Juan is even more ancient. The remains of Juan Ponce de León, who founded the original settlement, rest in the San Juan Cathedral, a 1540 structure of Gothic architecture. Old San Juan comprises seven square blocks of cobbled streets and colonial architecture - ideal for walking. Highlights are El Morro and San Cristóbal, huge stone fortresses that guarded the city from attack by enemy nations and pirates. Some of the best museum can be found here; the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture; La Casa del Libro; and the Las Américas Museum.

San Juan offers a stylish shopping, dining and nightlife scene, while on the southwest coast is the city of Ponce and the seaside town of La Parguera, famous for its bioluminescent bay. Porta Del Sol, on the west coast, is known for its low-key ambience and Rincón is a charming city popular with windsurfers. A zoo enchants visitors of all ages in Mayagüez. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and combines three types of forests (rain, montane and dwarf). The area boasts two waterfalls and 50 varieties of ferns, 20 types of orchids, and dozens of species of birds and frogs.

AIRPORTS/FERRIES/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airports:  US: Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan (SJU).  Rafael Hernandez, Aguadilla (BQN). Mercedita, Ponce (PSE). Others: Antonio Neri Juarbe, Arecibo (ARE). Antonio Rivera Rodriquez, Vieques (VQS). Benjamín Rivera Noriega, Culebra (CPX). Diego Jimenez Torres, Fajardo (FAJ). Eugenio Maria de Hostos, Mayagüez (MAZ). Isla Grande Airport, San Juan (SIG).  Ferry Services: Public ferry: San Juan - Cataño; Fajardo - Culebra; Fajardo - Vieques. Hi-Speed Island Ferry: San Juan - Culebra - Vieques (In High Season). Ferries Del Caribe: Mayagüez - Santo Domingo.   Gateways/Flying Times:  New York - 3.5 hours. Atlanta - 3.5 hours. Dallas - 4.5 hours. Caracas - 2 hours.  Newark - 3 hours.  Miami - 2.5 hours.  Madrid - 7.5 hours.  Boston - 4 hours. Philadelphia - 3 hours.  Mexico City - 3 hours.  Los Angeles -7.5 hours.  Chicago - 4.5 hours.

CLIMATE:  The average temperature in the winter is 73 F (22.7 degrees Celsius) and 85 F (29.4 Celsius) in the summer with year-round pleasant sea breezes. In the mountains, it is about 10 degrees cooler in both summer and winter. Average humidity is 55% during the day and 80% at night. Average rainfall is 52 inches and the rainy season is at its peak in August.

DINING:  Restaurants available-Spanish.  American.  Nuevo Criollo/Creative Latin Food.  Continental.  South American.  Italian Oriental.  Puerto Rican dishes.  French.  Japanese.  Chinese.  German.  International.  Delicatessen.  Greek.  Health and Light.  Mexican and Sea Food.  Recommended tipping is 15%.  Informal evening wear is often required at particular establishments; this usually means jackets for men and equivalent for women.

LANGUAGE:   Spanish and English are the official languages.

NIGHTLIFE:   Entertainment available includes-Casinos. Nightclubs.  Discos.  Cabarets.  Dinner/Dance.  Cinemas.  Theaters.  Live Music.  Folkloric Shows.  A variety of bars in Old San Juan.

SIGHTSEEING:  Historic Old San Juan including El Morro Fortress; Casa Blanca, the ancestral home of the Ponce de Leon family; La Fortaleza, the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere; Plaza San Jose; Pablo Casals Museum; Quincentennial Plaza; San Juan Cathedral; Plaza de Armas; Paseo de la Princesa.  In Ponce, Puerto Rico's second city, Plaza Las Delicias, Parque de Bombas Firehouse, Casa Armstrong-Proventud, the Ponce Museum of Art, the Museum of Music, Serralles Castle (rum museum) and El Vigia. Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. Arecibo Observatory. Phosphorescent Bay in Parguera and the Guanica and Guajataca Forest Reserves. El Yunque Rain Forest. Rum distilleries. Rio Camuy Cave Park. Hacienda Buena Vista (restored coffee plantation) near Ponce. Tibes and Caguana Indian sites in Ponce and Utuado.

ST. BARTS

L'Ile par EXCELLENCE

The tiny island of St. Barthelemy (known as St. Barts) offers plenty to do - such as snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, sailing and fishing - but most savvy vacationers visit to get away from it all by holing up in villas hidden in the hills. You can find a beachfront room, but seasoned travelers know the best buys are high above the water where the views are spectacular.

Most of the residents are French-speaking descendants of the first Norman and Breton settlers, so French is the official language, though just about everyone can converse in English.  Gustavia is the main town, with a harbor full of impressive yachts and fabulous duty-free shopping for French and Italian goods.  Most of the island's 100 restaurants are here, and French cuisine is on par with some of the world's best dining. Seafood is tops, from tuna and spiny lobster to fish soup and salt cod fritters, prepared with imported ingredients that arrive twice a week from the United States and France.

Every year, St. Barts hosts the Festival de Musique, attracting top international performers in January and February, and an April film festival specializing in Caribbean cinema.  It's a place with plenty to do, but many visitors do little more than eat, sleep and play. The small island has more than a dozen beaches. You can choose from the secluded Anse a Colombier, reached via hike on a steep trail unless you go by boat, or the easy-access Baie de St. Jean.  All the beaches are public and free.

AIRPORT:  The Aéroport de St. Jean is the only airport to serve the island of St. Barts.  The airport has a short landing strip that can handle nothing larger than 20-seat STOL aircraft and is not equipped for night landing. 

CLIMATE:  A dry climate with an average temperature of 72 to 86 degrees F.

DINING:   Restaurants available-French and Creole. Asian and Italian also available.

LANGUAGE:  French is the official language, however English is spoken.

NIGHTLIFE:   Entertainment available includes: Wine Bars. Live jazz (high season). Nightclubs.

SIGHTSEEING:  The Musee Municipal de St. Barthelemy in Gustavia showcases the island's history through photographs, documents, costumes, and antiques. Inter-oceans Museum in Corossol has a collection of 7,000 seashells.  Mountainous vicinity of Vitet, with stone-fenced farms and tile-roofed houses. 

 

ST. EUSTATIUS

The Caribbean's hidden treasure

The locals refer to this 11.8 square-mile island in the Netherlands Antilles chain as Statia. Though small, the island reveals a surprisingly rich past to travelers. During the 1700s, Statia's capital, Oranjestad, was a trading hub for slaves, sugar, cotton and commodities from Europe and the Far East. At its peak, the island's population reached 18,000, and Oranjestad was perhaps the richest port in all the region. However, in 1776 the government brought the wrath of England upon the tiny nation after recognizing the newly independent United States by firing an 11-gun salute to a passing warship. The decline began, and today the sleepy island has under 3,000 inhabitants.

More than 100 sunken trading ships off the shores of Statia make this a diving mecca; submerged anchors, cannons and pottery shards create a silent testimony to the island's story. However there are things to do above the water too: visitors can take a half-day hike to the 2,000 foot Quill, a classically shaped volcano with a forest-filled crater. Orchids, fruit trees and ferns thrive in this unique environment.

In Oranjestad, there are quaint and noteworthy buildings to visit: Fort Oranje, which was built by the French in 1629, will appeal to history buffs; the Dutch Reformed Church, has a tall tower that offers a bird's-eye view of town, and the St. Eustatius Historical Foundation Museum is filled with relics from both the pre-Columbian period, and the colonial period. These items are especially interesting since Statia changed hands between the French, Dutch and English a whopping 22 times. You'll find, among countless other items, colonial furniture, nautical instruments and blue glass trading beads made by the Dutch West Indian Company.

Accommodations are in the form of small inns and guesthouses. Dining is also a low-key affair, with seafood, Creole and Dutch dishes available at several informal restaurants. 

AIRPORT/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIME:  Airport:  Franklin Delano Roosevelt Airport (EUX).  Gateways/Flying Time:  17 minutes from St. Maarten.

CLIMATE:  Average temperature. Summer high/low 82/60 degrees F.  Winter high/low 78/60 degrees F.  Annual rainfall 40 inches. 

SIGHTSEEING:  Botanical gardens: The Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical gardens (Compare area).  Fort de Windt.  The Government's Guesthouse.  Lynch Plantation Museum.  Statia Historical Foundation Museum.  17th Century Fort Oranje.  Site of the 1st salute to the US Flag.  Ruins of the Old Dutch Reform Church.  Ruins of the Honen Dalim (2nd oldest in the Western Hemisphere).  Remains of warehouses once stored with arms for American colonists during their War of Independence.  Oranje Beach. Zeelandia Beach.  Lynch Beach.  The Quill - hikes:  St. Eustatius Marine Park. 

 

 

 

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

Explore. Feel. Love. Remember.

St. Kitts and Nevis are mountainous siblings representing two sides of one handsome coin, and sharing a St. Kitts-based government.

Nevis, the smaller of the two, boasts important historic sights: Nevis is the birthplace of American statesman Alexander Hamilton, and his former home is now a museum; Great Britain's famed naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson met and married Nevisian Fanny Brice here in 1787, and their marriage license is recorded at Fig Tree Church. Visitors partake in watersports on Pinney's Beach (home of the Four Seasons) and Oualie Beach, plus there's mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, diving and snorkeling trips.  The local botanical garden contains one of the largest collections of palms in the region, and the Four Seasons golf course and tennis facilities are among the Caribbean's finest. "Liming" - relaxing - at the various beach bars is worth a few lazy afternoons, while evenings are best spent on gourmet dining.

The history is no less rich on St. Kitts, which Christopher Columbus named St. Christopher after the patron saint of travelers, and the appellation was eventually shortened to St. Kitts. Nine forts guarded the island's coastline, none more impressive than the massive Brimstone Hill Fortress; it is a wonderfully preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site today and well worth exploration.  For beaches and watersports, head south to Frigate Bay, where most of the hotel rooms are located, or just beyond, to the Southeast Peninsula, where the island's best white-sand coves ring the peninsula's rolling hills and salt ponds. Watch for green vervet monkeys scampering across the road, dodging into bushes or looking for a handout at Turtle Beach.

Bird-watchers will delight in St. Kitts' treetops, where one might spot brown boobies, magnificent frigate birds, cattle egrets, black-faced grass quits and black-whiskered vireos.  Golfers enjoy the 18-hole course at the St. Kitts Royal Golf Club, where some holes overlook the Atlantic Ocean, others the Caribbean Sea. Scuba enthusiasts, from beginners to experienced divers, will enjoy St. Kitts' wrecks, reefs, walls and caves.

In 2005 the island ceased production of sugarcane, although much of St. Kitts is still robed in waving stalks of majestic cane. The narrow-gauge railway tracks that ran through the fields to haul the cut harvest to the factory have been converted into a 17.5 mile scenic train ride offered from October to May, allowing visitors to experience a memorable and historic excursion - it's the only train operating in the Caribbean outside Cuba. 

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airports: The Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts is less than 2 miles from downtown Basseterre and Newcastle Airport in Nevis is approximately 6 miles outside Charlestown.    Gateways/Flying Times:  Transfers through Antigua, Miami, Philadelphia, London Gatwick, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  Flight times from Miami-3 hours, Charlotte-4 hours, London-8 hours, Antigua-20 minutes, San Juan, Puerto Rico- 1hour, St. Maarten-20 minutes.

CLIMATE:  Temperature High/Low Summer 90/76 degrees F. Winter 84/72 degrees F. Average humidity is 71.5%.  Annual rainfall averages 55 inches.  Approximate sunrise 0530, sunset 1830.

DINING:  Food aficionados will find a wonderful range of cuisines to select from available at various restaurants, both individually operated and found within the island's hotels or inns.   Local delicacies with a distinctly Caribbean flair dominate most menus, yet Continental, vegetarian, Italian and other styles can also be found on St. Kitts.  Tipping is discretionary at 10-15%. Dress code varies depending on the establishment.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes-Live local and international entertainment. Conventional Clubs. Beach Bars/Club. Casino. Sports bars. Dinner/dances. Cinema.

LANGUAGE:  English.

SIGHTSEEING:  The historic capital city of Basseterre offers sites including Independence Square, Berkley Memorial, St. George's Anglican Church, St. Barnabus Anglican Church, the Georgian House, the National Museum, the Cenotaph (war memorial), Government House and the Port Zante cruise terminal. Other top tourist draws on island are Brimstone Hill (the only manmade UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean), Black Rocks, Bloody Point, Old Road Town, Carib Indian Petroglyphs, Romney Manor and the Caribelle Batik Factory, Belmont Estate, the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, tropical rainforest and extinct volcano Mt. Liamuiga.

ST. LUCIA

Simply Beautiful

  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 harbor 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 colorful fish and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Caribbean. 

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLIGHT TIMES:   Airports:  Hewanorra International airport (UVF), 37 miles drive from the capital, Castries; George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU), 3 miles from Castries.  Gateways/Flying Times:  Houston-5.5 hours.  London-8 hours.  Miami-4 hours.  New York-4 hours.  San Francisco-8 hours.  San Juan-2.5 hours.  Toronto-6.5 hours.

CLIMATE:  Average temperature High/Low. Summer 95/75 degrees F. Winter 85/65 degrees F. Humidity ranges from 66-94%. Average rainfall 3 to 5.7mm. Approximate sunrise 0535. Approximate sunset 1829.

DINING:  Restaurants available-Local, Fast food. Gourmet. International. Dress code-casual is accepted almost everywhere except for the odd restaurant where a jacket and tie may be required.

LANGUAGE:  English is the official language but most locals speak a French Creole commonly called patois.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes - Nightclubs. Cabarets, Dances. Most Hotels offer Dining, Live Music or Steelband and folk music.  Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party. Anse La Raye Seafood Friday evening. Dennery Fish Fry Saturday.

SIGHTSEEING:  Pigeon Island National Park. Derek Walcott Square, Ruins and Barracks at Morne Fortune, Marigot Bay.  Mamiku Gardens.  Diamond Waterfall and Botanical Gardens. Fregate Island.  Maria Island Nature Reserve.  The Pitons.  The Sulphur Springs. Plantation Tours-Marquis and Errard Estate.  La Sikwe Sugar Mill and Plantation, Tropical Gardens. Nature Heritage Tours. 

ST. MAARTEN

Twice the vacation, twice the fun

St. Maarten is an island with a split personality, thanks to an international border between its two sides: Dutch St. Maarten to the south, French St. Martin to the north. Its capital, Philipsburg - a popular stop for cruise ships - began as a Dutch trading center, and forts around the city are reminders of its strategic importance in St. Maarten's history. Fort Amsterdam, built in 1631, was the first Dutch military outpost in the Caribbean; the Spanish captured the fort soon after it was completed and kept it until 1648, when they abandoned it. Fort Willem, today topped by a television transmission tower, is great for a hike.

Today tourism is king; bustling Front Street in Philipsburg beckons bargain hunters with 500 duty-free shops. There are 36 sugary sand beaches to visit; one favorite strip is Cupecoy Bay Beach near the Dutch-French border, and windsurfers head to busy Maho Bay Beach, located near the airport. One of St. Maarten's more private strands is Simpson Bay Beach. Simpson Bay Lagoon is enclosed, making the water a natural for water skiing. Dawn Beach, Oyster Pond and Guana Bay are favorites for snorkeling and windsurfing.

Divers can explore an 1801 British frigate, the coral-covered HMS Proselyte, which sits a mile off the coast. Visitors can lounge on the beach or spend time mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, playing tennis, or participating in watersports. Adventurers may want to try kiteboarding and operators on the island can also arrange for parasailing, windsurfing and Wave Runner excursions with instruction. Sailing is very popular; experience the thrill of the daily 12-Metre Challenge, a three-hour staged version of the America's Cup race. Sailors of every skill level can serve as a member of the crew aboard the boats.

Visit the St. Maarten Park, a part of the St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden, filled with Caribbean and South American animals, plants and birds. Spot sleek ocelots and bush dogs, parrots, toucans and owls, boa constrictors and marine toads, even land crabs and giant land snails. After dark, dinner is an international affair, with more than 300 restaurants offering French, Dutch, Caribbean, Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, creole and West Indian menus. Later in the evening, consider visiting one of 12 casinos. Gaming on St. Maarten is "European mode," quiet and sophisticated. 

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airport: Princess Juliana International Airport. Gateways/Flying Times: San Juan-.5hours or 1hour on Eagle. Dallas-4.5hours. Miami-2.5 hours. Montreal-5 hours. New York-3.5 hours. Atlanta-4.5hours. Charlotte, North Carolina-3.5hours. Philadelphia-4.5hours.

CLIMATE: Mean temperature is 80 degrees F year-round; 45inches of rainfall annually.

DINING: Local. Fast food. Caribbean. International. Gourmet. Seafood. Steakhouses. Chinese. Italian. French. Mexican. Cuban. Indonesian, Japanese, Indian & Thai. 

LANGUAGE: Dutch is the official language. English and Spanish are also spoken.

NIGHTLIFE: Dinner/Dance. Musical revues. Discos. Casinos. Concerts.

SIGHTSEEING: Historic Courthouse-built in 1793 on Front Street. St. Maarten Museum. Baker's Island Liquors. Guavaberry Shop. Historic Fort Amsterdam in Philipsburg.

 

ST. MARTIN

The friendly island

The pleasures of St. Martin are legendary, from its haute cuisine to its golden beaches. When you enter St. Martin, you've entered France, and not just figuratively speaking. St. Martin is as much a part of France as Marseilles or Nice, and a flight here from Paris is a domestic flight.

Visit the capital Marigot on market day, when, in front of the harborside bistros and boutiques, vendors fill the parking lots with goods from home-brewed liquors to burlap sacks overflowing with cinnamon, nutmeg and chili peppers. St. Martin is action-packed but also laid back. Orient Beach, perhaps the Caribbean's best-known clothing optional strand, is also its premier location for watersports from windsurfing and jet skiing to "parascending" on a boat-towed parachute.

For a different kind of adventure, visit Loterie Farm, where a former slave trail leads you upward to breadfruit trees descended from the original plants brought to the Caribbean aboard the H.M.S. Bounty. A trail leads to Pic Paradise, the island's highest point. 

You can feast at one of the Caribbean's largest collection of restaurants, but you can also eat well even on a small budget.  In the village of Grand Case, fine eateries line a beachside road, yet amid these culinary palaces lie the "lolos," a series of wooden shacks overlooking the sea where you can feast on a mountain of stewed conch, fried fish, rice, beans and plantains - all for about $10. From the lowland area called Sandy Ground to Marigot and the less visited Nettle Bay, savvy cooks are waiting to tempt you.  It's a good idea to eat heartily, because your days will be spent in a variety of activities, from a visit to the Butterfly Farm - where such beauties as the Cambodian wood nymph and the Brazilian blue morpho turn your day into a fluttering parade of color - to the Mont Vernon Plantation, where you'll journey back through the history of rum production to view the life of days gone by.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airports:  Princess Juliana International Airport Simpson Bay, St. Maarten, N.A., L'Esperance Regional Airport Grand Case, St. Martin, F.W.I.   Gateways/Flying Times: Caracas - 1.5 hours. Miami - 3 hours. Montreal - 5 hours. New York - 4 hours. Paris - 8 hours.  San Juan - 40 minutes.

CLIMATE:  Average daytime temperature in winter is about 80-83 degrees F. Summer is a few degrees warmer. Evenings are cool in the winter.

DINING:  The island boasts over 300 restaurants with a large variety of cuisines. It is considered the "Dining Capital of the Caribbean".

LANGUAGE:  French is the official language of St. Martin but English is widely spoken.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes-Dinner/Dancing. Cocktail lounge music. Disco. Cinemas. Casinos (Dutch side).

SIGHTSEEING:  Marina Port la Royale. Shopping complex, including top French and Italian designers fashions. The newly restored Fort Louis, the main historical building, built in 1789 in the reign of Louis XVI, with a wonderful view overlooking the entire French capital. Paradise Pic, the highest peak of the Island, 1,400 ft. The Museum, "On the trails of the Arawaks", is a historical and cultural patrimony of the Island. It displays artifacts from the Arawak Indians, telling the history of colonization of St. Martin, and an Art Gallery. The Loterie Farms Ecocenter, located in the lush interior region of French St. Martin, is the island's only private nature reserve.  This former sugar plantation, set in 150 acres of pastures, tropical forest, and soaring mountain peaks, offers interested tourists the opportunity to rediscover the fascinating natural heritage of St. Martin. A growing population of wildlife including the green monkeys, raccoons, and an abundance of birds is testament to our preservation efforts. The future plans for Loterie Farms, botanical gardens, activities and conference center, a natural fitness course, and a Creole grill outdoor restaurant. The Butterfly Farm, where you can walk amongst the rare and exotic butterflies from around the world flying freely in a tropical paradise, with music, flowers and fresh waterfalls. Colombier, this area will take you back to the "Old St. Martin". "The Old House" Museum, located between French Quarter and Orient Bay, on an ancient eighteenth century sugar plantation, known as the "Spring". A discovery of the lifestyle of sugar plantation back in time as well as the history of the Caribbean through the great adventure of Rhum.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

The Caribbean you're looking for

A necklace of 32 islands and cays, only nine of them inhabited, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the most popular destinations in the world for leisure sailors. Snorkelers and divers are also drawn by the region's many underwater attractions, especially the coral-luscious Tobago Cays.

St. Vincent, "the mainland," is almost 18 miles long and made imposing by its seething giant, La Soufrière volcano, which last erupted in 1979. Guides lead hikes that wind through the surrounding forest for a close-up view. St. Vincent's other natural attractions include the Falls of Baleine, spectacular cascades that are accessible only by boat, and the Mesopotamia region, with rows upon rows of banana trees.  Fort Charlotte, a 19th century British battlement atop a bluff in the capital of Kingstown, features an impressive interpretive display about the Carib culture. Downtown Kingstown is a bustling area, and visitors should see the Botanical Gardens, the oldest such gardens in the Caribbean (founded in 1763) featuring a breadfruit tree that was brought to the island by Capt. William Bligh after surviving the infamous mutiny aboard the Bounty. 

Lying just a few miles south of St. Vincent, Bequia is a charming, sleepy port of call. Shops feature the works of model shipbuilders.  Among the attractions are the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary and a number of galleries and artisans' shops. The whaling heritage runs strong on Bequia. Islanders still bring in one or two whales a year using the traditional methods involving a sailboat and a hand-thrown harpoon, taking the whales to the nearby uninhabited island of Petit Nevis for butchering and rendering. Mustique, just a few miles away, is a hideaway for the rich and famous.  Canuoan is a hub for charter sailors, and Union Island is a good place to book a day trip to the nearby Tobago Cays, justly famous for their well protected shallow waters.

For those seeking total seclusion, Palm Island and Petit St. Vincent await. Both have one resort and welcome day-trippers for cocktails or meals.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:  Airports:  Canouan Airport (Canouan). E.T. Joshua Airport (St. Vincent). J.F. Mitchell Airport (Bequia). Mustique Airport (Mustique). Union Island Airport (Union Island).  Bequia, Mustique and Union Island can only accommodate small aircrafts.  Gateways/Flying Times:  Barbados/St. Vincent: 35 minutes. Grenada/St. Vincent: 30 minutes. London/Barbados: 8 hours, 20 minutes. Martinique/St. Vincent: 40 minutes. Miami/Barbados: 3.5 hours, New York/Barbados: 5 hours, New York/St. Lucia: 5 hours. Puerto Rico/Canouan: 2 Hours. St. Lucia/St. Vincent: 30 minutes. Toronto/Barbados: 6.5 hours. Trinidad/St. Vincent: 1 hour.

CLIMATE:  Average temperatures range from 75-87 degrees F. Driest season is January to April.  Rainy season is June to October. 

DINING:  Restaurants available - Local.  West Indian/Caribbean.  Fast food.  Gourmet.  Chinese.  Italian and French.  Dress code is generally casual.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available. Some hotels offer dining, dancing, steel band and Calypso music.  A few clubs and discos offer West Indian entertainment. Casino.

SIGHTSEEING:  Botanic Gardens. Fort Charlotte. La Sourfriere Volcano. Carib Petroglyphs. Falls of Baleine. Dark View Falls.  Trinity Falls. Wallilabou Falls. Montreal Gardens. Vermont Nature Trail. Owia Salt Pond. Black Point Tunnel.  Pirates of the Caribbean Film set.  Tobago Cays. Grenadine Islands. Sales Aid available: Brochures. Maps. Posters. Website and DVD.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The True Caribbean

  Siblings Trinidad and Tobago are vastly different. Larger, boisterous Trinidad parlayed its oil-boom riches into one of the region's most industrialized economies. And while its famous and lively Carnival is one of the world's great street parties, the destination's bountiful countryside, with vast forest preserves and marshland, remains off the chart for many travelers. 

Sleepy Tobago, on the other hand, just 21 miles away, is a haven for those seeking the quintessential Caribbean vacation with cozy resorts, picture-postcard beaches and a stunning marine environment. Since both islands were once part of the South American mainland, they offer a far more diverse variety of plant and animal species than those found elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The famous Trinidad Carnival typically falls in February, but those who arrive at other times can still enjoy the lively beat of calypso and soca music, and the city's many nightclubs offer a lively mix of the throbbing island beat. Despite its proximity to Venezuela, life on Trinidad is defined more by its colonial roots - African, Indian, Chinese, British and French - than by Latin American culture. The island's ethnic diversity is particularly evident in Trini food.

Escape the capital to the beaches along the north coast, or the vast forest in the interior. The Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge draws birdwatchers with its oilbirds, the only nocturnal fruit-eating birds extant. At the CaroniBird Sanctuary, boat tours bring visitors within viewing distance of the rare scarlet ibis, and the Nariva Swamp features howler monkeys. Divers will find the world's largest known brain coral, as well as rocky canyons and deep caves populated with barracudas, dolphins, whale sharks, orange ball anemones, porpoises and manta rays.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES:   Airports:  Piarco International Airport, Trinidad (POS), 17 miles from the capital, Port of Spain. Crown Point Airport,Tobago (TAB), 7 miles from the capital, Scarborough.  Gateways/Flying Times:  Barbados: 35 minutes. Caracas: 55 minutes. Frankfurt: 9 3/4 hours. London: 8 1/4 hours. Miami: 3.5 hours. New York: 4 3/4 hours. Puerto Rico: 90 minutes.  Toronto: 5 3/4 hours. Zurich: 9 1/4 hours.

CLIMATE:  Average temperature High/Low: Summer 31.2/22.9 degrees C.  Winter 30.2/20.8 degrees C. Average Humidity: Summer 84%. Winter 80%.  Average Rainfall: Summer 1,553.7mm. Winter 316.2mm. Approx. Sunrise/Sunset: Summer 0556/1825. Winter 0625/1815.

DINING:  Choose from Chinese, Lebanese, French, Italian, Indian, Thai and Local cuisine. Choices range from fine dining establishments to small family restaurants and roadside vendors. 

LANGUAGE:  English.  

NIGHTLIFE:  Entertainment available includes-Nightclubs. Discos. Local entertainment in hotels featuring steel bands, limbo and calypso. Theaters. Dinner/Dances. Live music. Cinemas.

SIGHTSEEING:  In Trinidad: Gasparee Caves. Maracas Bay. Las Cuevas. Paria Waterfalls. Maracas Waterfalls. Mt. St. Benedict.  Lopinot Complex. El Dorado Shiv Mandir. Asa Wright Nature Centre. Cleaver Woods. Aripo Caves. Caroni Bird Sanctuary. Manzanilla Beach. Point Lisa Industrial Estate. Water Wheel. Pointe-a-Pierre Wid Fowl Trust.  Devils Woodyard. Pitch Lake. La Vega Garden Center. Chaguaramas Military History and Aviation Museum.  Jinnah Mosque. Caroni Arena Reservoir. River Estate. Caroni Sugar Estate and Factory. In Tobago: Fort King George. Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool. Fort Benett. Courland Monument. Mystery Tomb. Franklyn Waterfall.  Witches Grave. Tobago Forest Reserve. Fort Cambleton. Pirates Bay. Flag Staff Hill. Water well. Little Tobago.  Louis Dor Nurseries. Argyle Waterfall. Richmond Great House. Fort Granby. Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve. Botanical Gardens. Fairyhaus. Grafton Estate. 

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Beautiful by Nature

The Turks and Caicos Islands, archipelagos comprised of 40 low-lying and mostly undeveloped islands boast miles of white powdery beaches, superb diving, accommodations, and gourmet restaurants. Much of the underwater excitement is found off the Turks, where wall dives are outstanding, and along West Caicos and Provo. Sport fishing is a big international draw, and the mangrove salt flats offer a prime habitat for bonefish.

Providenciales (known as Provo) is the hub for tourism. The island's crowning glory is Grace Bay, a 12 mile stretch of velvety sand. Also on Provo, bird watchers enjoy acres of inland lakes frequented by white herons and pink flamingos. Just a dozen miles from Provo is North Caicos, which receives the most rainfall, making it notably greener with tall trees and lush vegetation. The southern part of North Caicos is swampy, with broad estuaries that are home to a vast colony of West Indian flamingoes. North Caicos is popular with vacation-home buyers, especially around Whitby, with its stunning seven-mile beach.

On Middle Caicos, you can sign up with a local guide and head for a settlement called Conch Bar where a labyrinth of caves are home to limestone formations and resident bat populations. Elsewhere, recent archaeological excavations have uncovered ancient Lucayan artifacts dating back more than 1,200 years. Uninhabited West Caicos and East Caicos are lined with fine beaches accessible by boat, and South Caicos was once a salt-producing island. Today it has a fishing port and a yachting center, along with miles of deserted beaches.

The capital and center of government lies east of the Columbus Passage on Grand Turk, where visitors can tour several restored churches and the Turks and Caicos National Museum. From January to March, visitors flock to nearby Salt Cay to spot humpback whales on their annual migration to the Silver Banks off Hispaniola.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports:  GDT: Grand Turk. PLS: Providenciales (XSC).  Gateway/Flying Times: Atlanta 2.5 hours. Boston: 3 hours. Charlotte: 3 hours. Miami: 1 hour. 20 minutes. Nassau: 2 hours. New York: 4 hours. Grand Turk to Provo: 25 minutes.

CLIMATE: Summer: high/low 90/83 degrees F. Winter: high/low 75/70 degrees F. Avg. humidity - 35%. Avg rainfall 21 inches. Approx sunrise: Summer 0600. Winter 0630. Approx sunset: Summer 1900. Winter 1700.

DINING: Restaurants available: International. Local, Chinese, Caribbean, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, French. Tip where no gratuities are stated.

LANGUAGE:  English.

NIGHTLIFE: Discos. Nightclubs. Dinner/Dances. Live Music. Casino. Festivals throughout the year. 

SIGHTSEEING: Grand Turk: Governor's Beach. Victoria Public Library. Lighthouse. Whale watching between January and April. Turks and Caicos National Museum on Front Street.  The cultural history of the Islands, their discovery and the impact of early European settlement, natural and political history, and the role played in twentieth century space exploration are all recorded at the museum. Turks Inn. Waterloo Governor's House. Governor's Beach. Middle Caicos: Mudjin Harbour Beach. Bambarra Beach, craft demonstrations, sail boats races and the Caves. Salt Cay: The remains of the Salt Industry Sites - like the White House, North Shore Beach, underwater shipwreck and whale watching between January and April. Provo: The Hole. Conch Farm. Rock Carvings - made by shipwrecked sailors on Sapodilla Hill. Island Tour is recommended. North Caicos: Cottage Pond. Wades Green. Plantation ruins. Flamingo Pond. Island Tour recommended. South Caicos: Boiling Hole. Cockburn Harbour. Lobster Plants. Long Cay.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

America's Caribbean

The USVI - St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John - known as America's Caribbean, is one of the Caribbean's most popular destinations. This trio of islands is an easy flight from the U.S. mainland, prices are in American dollars. Oceanfront resorts, small inns, condos, campgrounds or luxury villas - the choice of accommodations will suit any style. Nearly 2.5 million vacationers flock here annually for the powdery beaches, plentiful watersports and fine dining. Like siblings, each of the three major islands has its own personality.

The largest of these islands at 84 square miles, St. Croix (pronounced CROY) features a varied terrain from dry cactus-studded hills out east to lush tropical forests in the west. Hiking, kayaking and kite boarding are popular pastimes, and the island boasts two 18-hole golf courses. Some scuba buffs claim this is the only place in the Caribbean where you can dive a wall, a reef, a wreck and a pier all in the same day. Chartered powerboats or catamarans will take you to the pristine beach and a marked snorkel trail at uninhabited Buck Island Reef National Monument.

St. Thomas, the best known of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is the most bustling due to passengers arriving almost daily on cruise ships and mega-yachts that steam into Charlotte Amalie harbor. Trade is a St. Thomas specialty dating back to 18th-century pirate days. Imported perfumes, cameras, watches, fine porcelain and crystal abound. U.S. Customs laws allow individuals to bring up to $1,600 worth of merchandise from the U.S. Virgin Islands back to the United States without having to pay duty, and there's no sales tax. There are plenty of postcard-perfect beaches like popular Magens Bay. Snorkel, scuba dive, fish offshore, or take a boat excursion. St. Thomas' only golf course, Mahogany Run, is known for its challenging trio of cliffside holes called the Devil's Triangle.

St. John, the smallest of the trio at 20 square miles, is a favorite of nature-lovers. Two-thirds of St. John falls within the boundaries of the 9,485 acre Virgin Islands National Park. More than 800 plant species grow in hilly tropical forests that drop down to beaches bordered by coral reefs. The National Park Service added even more federally owned submerged acres in 2001 to create the underwater Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. St. John is also known for lovely beaches along the north coast and quieter ones to the south.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: St. Croix: Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport. St. Thomas: Cyril E. King International Airport. Gateways/Flying Times:  Atlanta: 3.5 hours. Boston: 4 hours. Charlotte: 4 hours. Chicago: 5 hours. Detroit: 5 hours. Miami/Ft. Lauderdale: 2 hours. New York: 4 hours. Philadelphia: 4 hours. Washington, DC: 4 hours. San Juan: 0.5 hour is the principal gateway in area.


CLIMATE: Average daytime temperature 78 degrees F in winter and 82 degrees F in summer, low humidity. Approximate sunrise 0530-0630. Approximate sunset 1830-1900. 


DINING: Restaurants available: Continental. Chinese. French. Scandinavian. Steak houses. Mexican/Tex Mex. Mediterranean. Thai. Vegetarian. Italian. Gratuity is 15% in most restaurants.

LANGUAGE: English. Some Spanish.

NIGHTLIFE:  St. Croix: Jazz, disco, calypso/reggae, Latin and rock ‘n roll nightclubs and karaoke. Cultural entertainment: Steel pan music, limbo dancing, and mini street carnivals "Jump Up". St. John: Local bars offer live entertainment and satellite TV. St. Thomas: Jazz, disco, calypso/reggae, Latin, rock ‘n'roll nightclubs and karaoke. Cultural entertainment: Steel pan music, theatrical/musical arts. 

SIGHTSEEING: St. Croix: Old Danish towns of Christiansted and Frederiksted. Tropical secondary forest; Heritage Trail, aerial sightseeing charter, safari tours, hiking tours, Whim Plantation Great House Museum. Carl & Marie Lawaetz Family Museum at Little La Grange. St. Croix Leap, Oceanique semi submersible underwater excursion, Cruzan Rum Factory tour. St John: Cruz Bay National Park Visitor Center, Elaine Ione Sprauve Library and Museum, Annaberg Plantation Ruins, Bordeaux Mountain. St. Thomas: Fort Christian, Emancipation Park, Legislature Building and Government House, Frederick Lutheran Church, Blackbeard's Castle, Market Square, Tillet Gardens, Magens Bay & Drake's Seat, "World Famous" Mountain Top, Estate St. Peter Great House & Botanical Gardens, Atlantis Submarine, Coral World, Paradise Point Tramway, V.I. Kayak ECO Tours.

Antigua

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BLUE WATERS 4 Star Superior
	One of the best luxury properties in Antigua offering suberb service and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. This intimate, family-owned hotel is in a stunning beachfront location and features the famous Rock Cottage 5 bedroom villa frequented by the rich and famous. Close to the airport, St. Johns, and a championship 18-hole golf course. **Please note child rates only apply when sharing with two adults**	ÂÂ

CARLISLE BAY 5 Star
	Carlisle Bay is situated on the magnificent undeveloped south coast of Antigua. Set in a sweeping bay on a ravishing beach, with a backdrop of rolling hills and lush tropical rainforest. Thirty minutes drive from the airport and the tiny bustling capital of St Johns. Twenty minutes from Nelson's Dockyard and English Harbour. >>Full Board/FAP & Free Drinks Offer Click Special Packages or Call Us for details<<
	Rates from £276 / €317 / $442 Per Room/Per Night Basis Full Breakfast Child rates 1 Child free (sharing with minimum 2 Adults)

CURTAIN BLUFF 5 Star
ÂÂ	This exclusive hotel is situated on a dramatic seaside bluff on Antigua's southern shore, and its private grounds encompass thirteen acres of lush tropical vegetation in addition to two soft white sand beaches. This outstanding hotel is renowned for it's warm hospitality and impeccable service. ***Hotel Close from 31 July 2010 to 31 October 2010***	ÂÂ

HERMITAGE BAY HOTEL 5 Star
ÂÂ	Hermitage Bay brings a new style of luxury resort to Antigua. Nestled in a secluded cove on the west coast of Antigua; with over 1000ft of white powder sand beach, uninterrupted views across the Caribbean Sea and the most amazing sunsets. The resort consists of 25 single storey Cottage Suites set in 10 acres of tropical gardens.
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THE COVE SUITES AT BLUE WATERS 5 Star
	The Cove at Blue Waters comprises of 24 lavish 850 sq ft suites, each with spacious living areas and ocean views. The tropical landscaped gardens spread over five acres and contain four swimming pools, for the exclusive use of Cove guests. The Cove at Blue Waters offers the ultimate in private luxury accommodations, as well as easy access to the outstanding facilities of Blue Waters Hotel which include three pools, two fine restaurants, water sports and a spa.	ÂÂ

ANTIGUA VILLAGE CONDO BEACH RESORT 3 Star
ÂÂ	If you're looking for a quiet getaway and a stunning stretch of beach, this is the resort for you. Snorkle in the crystal waters of famous Dickenson Bay, or swim in the freshwater pool just steps from your balcony. Near to the airport and the capital city of St. John's.	ÂÂ

COCO BAY 3 Star Superior
ÂÂ	A colorful collection of West Indian-style cottages, CocoBay crowns a headland on the sunset side of the island, sloping down to white sand beaches and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. The 41 pastel-painted cottages offer panoramic views from private patios. With two sandy beaches, numerous water sports, restaurants, horizon swimming pool, and lovely landscaped surroundings.

COCONUT BEACH CLUB 3 Star
ÂÂ	Coconut Beach is a small, intimate all-inclusive hotel, located on a half-mile of white sandy beach, 15 minutes from the airport on the West coast of the island. All the rooms are beachfront, with doors opening onto private balconies, each with its own hammock and within feet of the gentle Caribbean Sea. With swimming pool, tennis, and lots of non-motorized watersports.
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COCOS 3 Star Superior
ÂÂ	COCOS is a small intimate Caribbean resort owned by a Caribbean hotelier who conceived this resort after hearing many times from guests what they were looking for and not finding, a truly Caribbean flavoured resort in the Caribbean. Cocos is situated on a small hill overlooking turquoise sea on the sunset side of the island between 2 beautiful white sandy beaches which stretch for half a mile each. The 26 individual cottages are located on the hillside overlooking the sea, restaurant and pool.

DICKENSON BAY COTTAGES 3 Star
ÂÂ	Overlooking spectacular Dickensons Bay, this self-catering resort offers spacious cottages, all elegantly furnished and fully equipped. On-site amenities include a freshwater swimming pool and bar-b-que area. Just 2 minutes walk to the beach, these cottages provide a peaceful and private getaway on one of the island's most beautiful beaches.	ÂÂ