What We Love About the Caribbean...
We love:
- the colors of the sea — something everyone should witness at least once in a lifetime
- the incredible variety of beaches, from snow-white and pink (Barbados) to jet-black volcanic sand
- each island's unique character — volcanoes, deserts, rainforests, mangroves and more
- the endless things to do, no matter what you're into. For the adventurous: canopy tours and scuba diving. For sports enthusiasts: fantastic hiking trails. For partygoers: beach parties or snorkeling trips with free rum punch. For explorers: volcanoes and deep jungle. For nature lovers: botanical gardens, nature reserves and endemic wildlife. For shopaholics: charming towns, duty-free shops, markets and souvenir stalls. And for those seeking tranquility: countless pristine beaches.
- the many ways to discover the islands — sailing trips (see Bahamas — highly recommended), cruises, island-hopping by plane or ferry, or simply exploring each island by rental car
- the friendly people, nearly all of whom speak English and are incredibly helpful
- the fresh and — by our standards — mostly very affordable food and drinks (you'll find examples and recommendations in our trip reports)
- the wonderful hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels and adventure factor (see Guadeloupe & Dominica, the volcano hike)
- the lush plant life with its deep greens, endless palm groves and an astonishing variety of flowers and plants
- the fruit and vegetables that taste completely different from what you find at your local supermarket
- the underwater world, which around most islands is still remarkably intact
Now you know why a trip to the Caribbean is a must at least once in your life! Browse through our Caribbean online travel guides and photo trip reports — you'll fall in love with the Caribbean just as we did. Enjoy!
Climate and Best Travel Seasons for the Caribbean:
Generally speaking, the Caribbean enjoys pleasant temperatures year-round. The dry season — and therefore the best time to visit — runs from late November through early May. However, if you're looking to go rafting or canyoning, aim for the rainy season from May to November. Keep in mind that the risk of hurricanes is highest between July and September.
Overall, the Caribbean has a tropical climate that can become extremely humid during the rainy season as moisture levels rise sharply. Weather conditions vary considerably between islands. Some have towering mountains and rainforest, while others feature dry climates with steppe-like terrain. The trade winds also have a major influence on the climate.
This is why the Caribbean islands are divided into the "Windward Islands" and the "Leeward Islands."
Caribbean Islands: Dream Destinations to Match
Location of the Caribbean:
The Caribbean is a stunning region with seemingly countless islands in the western Atlantic Ocean, north of the equator, offering year-round travel enjoyment. This makes the Caribbean islands perfect for vacationing during the European winter months, as that is their dry season.
The dream beaches are familiar from countless films and commercials. And if you don't want to spend your entire holiday on the beach, simply pick an island with mountains, rainforests, or great diving and snorkeling spots.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas are counted among the Caribbean islands, although they technically lie in the Atlantic. Over 700 islands offer divers top spots at more than 2,400 coral reefs, and beach lovers will be in paradise.
The Greater Antilles
account for roughly 90% of the total land area of the Caribbean islands.
They include Cuba, Hispaniola (divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
The Lesser Antilles
The Virgin Islands: British Virgin Islands (including Tortola), US Virgin Islands (including St. Thomas)
The Leeward Islands (Anguilla, St. Maarten, St. Barthélemy, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat and Guadeloupe)
The Windward Islands (Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada and Barbados).
The Dutch Antilles
comprise five inhabited and several uninhabited Caribbean islands, with a total area of about 800 km²:
These include the Leeward Islands:
Curaçao & Bonaire
and parts of the Windward Islands:
Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten (southern part). The northern half belongs to France and is called Saint-Martin.
The Caribbean islands of Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Bahamas and Turks & Caicos
Mexico, Belize, Venezuela (including Isla Margarita and Los Roques), Guyana and Suriname.
Travel Tip
As a general rule, you need a valid passport to enter Caribbean countries, and it must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.
You will also need a return or onward flight ticket.
For the French and Dutch Caribbean islands, a standard national ID card is sufficient.
For Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, the general US entry requirements apply. Since January 12, 2009, new regulations have been in effect — you can find details on the Foreign Office website.
What Makes the Caribbean Special:
The Caribbean is renowned not only for its fantastic diving and surfing but also for the wonderful activities on land — on foot or on horseback.
All Caribbean islands except Haiti on Hispaniola can be recommended for a beach holiday, and interesting dive sites can be found almost everywhere. Particularly outstanding for diving are Belize with the world's second-largest barrier reef, Cozumel (Mexico) and Bonaire (off Venezuela).
Grenada is especially famous for wreck diving.
The Dominican Republic has a special reputation for jewelry crafted from coral and amber.
Particularly well known is Creole jewelry originating from the Caribbean, whose shapes are meant to evoke the era of slavery.
The History of the Caribbean:
- The first Caribbean islands were discovered around the 1st millennium BC.
- At the time of Christopher Columbus's voyages, the Arawak Indians inhabited Cuba, Hispaniola and the Bahamas, while the Caribs settled the Lesser Antilles.
- After their discovery, the islands were colonized by the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French and British.
- The 16th century in particular saw the Caribbean become a hotbed of piracy.
- Most Caribbean islands gained independence in the mid-20th century.
