Saint Lucia
By admin | February 13, 2008
One of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean, St. Lucia has two easily recognizable features: the twin volcanic peaks of Petit Piton and Gros Piton which are are visible from far out to sea. Most of the islands is covered with thick greenery - from wild forests to banana plantations.Castries is the main travel hub. The 100 year old marketplace on Jeremy street is well worth a visit.
Marigot Bay is 12 km south of Castries and has a great natural harbour, boat rentals, a beach and good board sailing are on offer there.
Saint Lucia National Rain Forest is a must see for nature lovers. Over 19,000 acres of towering hardwoods filled with bird life. Soufriere and Sulphur Springs are other ineresting areas of the island.
Just off the coast are the Maria islands and the Fregate islands. Both are nature reserves, so contact the National Trust for permissions and a guide to visit the islands.
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Saint Kitts and Nevis
By admin | February 13, 2008
This lush tropical paradise could easily be in the South Pacific rather than the Caribbean. With lush forests and a dormant volcano, St Kitts and it’s sister island Nevis are often called ‘the secret The Caribbean.’ St Kitts and Nevis were British colonies for hundreds of years, and the legacy lingers with afternoon tea and Cricket. They got their independence from Britain in September 1983. St. Kitts is the larger of the two islands, it is the more “developed” of the two. Its capital city is called Basseterre.
In comparison with other caribbean islands, St. Kitts and Nevis do not get the heavy tourist crowds other islands such as St Thomas and St Maarteen get. A few cruise ships maybe a couple days a week. While there are several resort hotels by the coastline, there are also small mountain inns in the countryside which are quite nice. (and not necessarily budget, though, it would be good to inquire, anyway)
St Kitts has its towering mountain (inactive) volcano called Mt Liamuiga , (mount Misery) which is a good easy 2-3 hr hike to the summit. The vegetation is very lush and tropical. There are large sugar cane fields in the area (in the lowlands), and a sugar mill in the east side of the island. St Kitts has a large fort called Brimstone Hill built by the British. Brimstone Hill is known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, and has seen much bloodshed. The hill is said to be unclimbable, yet control of the fortress changed hands several times between the French and English between 1627 and 1713. If memory serves correct. In the end the French were defeated after something like an 18 month battle. When over thrown, the French were allowed to leave the fortress flags flying and drums beating.
Brimstone Fortress was left to decay for many years until it’s historic significance was realized, and it was turned into a National Park. Recently restored, It is now pretty well maintained, and in a clear day you get a panoramic view of some of the surrounding islands, such as St Eustachious and Saba.
For the people from UK who visit, Basseterre downtown has a very small version of Picadilly Circus. Basseterre is filled with history. A short talk with a local will reveal an interesting story about the Independece Square and the adjacent buildings.
There are some great beaches in St Kitts. One of the better known ones is called Frigate Bay, where the the Atlantic and Caribbean sides are a mere 150 metres apart. Also, if you drive on the paved road on the east side peninsula of St. Kitts (St. Kitts sort of has the shape of a “chicken leg”, sort of round oval and then this long thin peninsula) you will be able to see Atlantic shore on the north side (rougher water) and Caribben shore on the south side (quieter water). The view is just amazing, and you can always stop for a swim.
St. Kitts is worth a visit, even for a day or two. The place is very relaxing, and visitors can go swimming, hiking, light shopping and even some sightseeing.
A daytrip by ferry to Nevis is always an option. (1 hr each way) Nevis has a large volcano, called Mt Nevis and also nice coastline and some resorts, both in the mountains and along the coastline. There is a small version of Bath, but a far cry from the one in the UK. (not really well kept) The Four Seasons Nevis is one of the top resorts in the caribbean. Be sure to drop by to check out the place… true paradise, and if staying there is off your budget, then maybe just sit down and enjoy an expensive drink or snack…
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Saint Barthelemy
By admin | February 13, 2008
St. Barth has long been considered a playground of the rich and famous and is known for its beautiful pristine beaches, gourmet dining in chic bistros and high-end designer shopping.
St. Barth has about 25 hotels, most of them with 15 rooms or fewer, and the largest, the Guanahani has just 70 rooms. Hotels are classified in the traditional French manner 3 Star, 4 Star and 4 Star Luxe.
Villa vacations are extremely popular and there are hundreds of villas terraced into the hillsides throughout the island as well has many beachfront locations. Villas here by definition can range from one-bedroom bunglalows to large luxurious homes.
This island is also home to the rare genus of scorpion Centruroides barbudensis, characterized by an over larged tail.
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Puerto Rico
By admin | February 13, 2008
The travel hot spot of the island is the capital of San juan. It is a modern city with ancient roots and lots of sights that date back hunderds of years. Many people do not care to venture any further. This is too bad. The rest of the island offers many beautiful places, great hiking opportunities and old colonial plaza’s.
Other places of interest include Ponce and the Parque of El yunque.
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Netherlands Antilles
By admin | February 13, 2008
The islands of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba are spread out through the Caribbean. Aruba , Bonaire and Curacao , also known as the ABC islands, are located just off the Venezuelan coast in the south of the Caribbean Sea. Aruba lays the closest to the coast, just 25 km. The island is independent now, but it’s still considered as one of the ABC islands in the Dutch Leewards. Curacao is 35 miles from Venezuela, so on clear days you can see the continent. It is the political, cultural and population centre of the Dutch islands. Bonaire is a little bit further out the coast. Bonaire is known for two attractions. It’s a paradise for divers and its bird life. So Bonaire should be visitied by nature lovers.
Two of the “S” islands of the Dutch West Indies, St. Eustatius and Saba are thimble-size islands south of St. Martin (Sint Maarten). St. Martin is is half Dutch and half French. The Windward or SSS-islands lay about 550 miles more to the north. The lay in the north eastern part of the Caribbean ring, very close to the British island of Anguilla and the French St. Bartolomy . All these islands are located very close to each other.
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Montserrat
By admin | February 13, 2008
A small volcanic island, originally settled by Irish immigrants fleeing persecution, Montserrat is off the beaten Caribbean track. Its size is tiny (39 square miles). It has beautiful beaches, hills, forests, rivers and waterfalls. It’s known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean’ and is the only west indian island that has St.Patrick’s day as a national holiday. Hiking, nature watching and climbing are favourite ways to spend the day on the island. It is a British Overseas Territory.A big volcano eruption which started in 1998 has disrupted life on the island in a dramatic way. The capital Plymouth is covered by ash and pyroclastic flows and completely devastated. Access to more than half of the island is prohibited. The latest major explosion occurred in July 2004 when the island was again covered by ashes. The activity of the volcano is monitored by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.
Because of the eruption the population has dropped from about 11,000 to 4,500. However, life in the northern part of Montserrat is again flourishing. No casualties have occurred outside the closed zone. The old airport was destroyed by the eruptions but there is a new airport with regular flights from Antigua. Small numbers of tourists have again found their way to the Emerald Isle.
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Martinique
By admin | February 13, 2008
La Martinique is a bit of France in the Caribbean. Located over 4,000 miles from Paris, it is a full fledged French “région”. The French came in 1674 and with the exception of a short lived British occupation, the island has been in French hands ever since. Before Columbus discovered the island in 1502, the Caribs called it Isle of Flowers and floral it has remained up to this day. You will find frangipani, wild orchids, hibiscus and neon-bright bougainville all over the place.
The capital city of the island is Fort-de-France a very stylish and sophisticated city. South of the city you find many excellent beaches, be careful if you have young children. There are some beaches that allow nudists. Mont Pelee is in the north of the island. The volcanoe buried the old capital city, St. Pierre under lava and ashes back in 1902. With a height of over 4,000 feet it is the highest point of the island.
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Jamaica
By admin | February 13, 2008
Jamaica is one of the bigger islands in the Caribbean. When you say Jamaica you immediately think of Bob Marley, Rum and Bobsleighing. Kingston the capital city is the first place many business travelers arrive. It is located on the South coast of the island. The city offers world class business hotels, upscale shopping and top entertainment and dining.
The main tourist areas are on the northwest of the island because of the better beaches. Montego Bay is probably the best known beach resort, further to the west Negril is also a good option with low rise rural hotels and high rise palm trees.
Ocho Rios and Port Antonio offer great opportunities to go hiking in the hills. If you want to go even higher you should head for Mandeville, located at 2000 feet above sea level.
Jamaica has a wealth of fascinating historical sites, including an astounding collection of 19th century churches built for local residents and free slaves. In addition, there are many old 17th century forts and great houses, some restored to museum quality and others in still accessible ruinous condition. For more information, see the “Jamaica National Heritage Trust” website (not accessible directly from this page).
Rental cars are widely available, and small airlines offer commuter services to most parts of the island.
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Haiti
By admin | February 13, 2008
Haiti is a fascinating country to visit for those with a feel for history. Although preservation has not been a priority for very many of the numerous Haitien governments, benign neglect has left the countryside covered with remnants of the wars for freedom, the defeat of the Slaver Empire.
The adventure tourist can find much of interest to see and do. One of the best places to start exploring the country is the capital city of Port-au-Prince. It offers many good sights and there are some excellent beaches nearby. Another nice place to go is Cap Haitien, which offers very good beaches nearby as well as some nice things to do and see. It also offers a variety of good foods and can also be great for a vacation home. But be warned because they are still going through some trouble with their government and shall not be permitted to dealings of stolen goods and or stolen and or foriegn objects within or out of haitis boundaries.
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Guadeloupe
By admin | February 13, 2008
Originally this “Island of beautiful waters” was called Karukera but Christopher Columbus renamed it in 1493 for Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Estremadura, just before he was driven from the island.Guadalupe comprises of two large islands, Basse Terre and Grande Terre, and several smaller ones, of which St Martin is shared with the Dutch kingdom. In 1763 the isles came under French rule and they still occupy the island, now mainly as tourists. Pack a French dictionary if you plan a trip here for it’s a part of France (like Hawai for the Usa). The people and culture is a harmonious blend of European, African and East Indian origin.
Guadeloupe is well known for its spectacular beaches, most of which are well sheltered and wonderful for swimming and seaside fun. The natural beaches range from the surf-brushed dark sands of western Basse-Terre to the long shiny white stretches encircling Grande-Terre. The two islands, separated by the narrow bridged strait of the Rivière Salée, are often seen as the wings of a butterfly, resting on the Caribbean. They’re actually a poor lesson in French for Grand Terre to the east is the smaller of the two, while Basse Terre has the great La Soufrière volcano.
Basse-terre on Basse-Terre is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe and the department. There are some very pretty and authentic old buildings of the colonial period in the city. There is an 17th-century cathedral and the ruins of Fort Louis Delgrès. Here you’ll also find Saint-Claude, a wealthy suburb and summer resort, surrounded by coffee trees and the most beautiful tropical gardens. Matouba, north of Saint-Claude, is an East Indian village known for its waterfalls and springs. There are hot springs and a bottling plant for the local mineral water, a bottle of which makes an excellent souvenir.
Pointe-a-pitre on Grande-Terre is the commercial centre of Guadeloupe near both the airport and shipping port. It is a quite compact and functional city. Its early colonial buildings were largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1843 and have been replaced with all kinds of new buildings. Also, the Hurricane Hugo did a lot of damage, especially to the trees in the city. This makes the city less coherent ensemble as Basse-Terre is, but it’s all the livelier. The central Place de la Victoire was once the site of the guillotine. It’s the oldest part of town, which is reasonably intact, and it contains the oldest buildings.
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