Caribbean

Things to see & do in the Caribbean: 

Attractions:  Each island on the Caribbean has its own distinct charm and something to offer everyone.  When in Jamaica, a must-see attraction is The Bob Marley Museum in Kingston which gives you the opportunity to visit the reggae superstar’s former home and studio.  For more active types, hike the El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico to see the beautiful flora and fauna and indigenous animals like the Puerto Rican parrot and coquis tree frog.  For adrenalin junkies, try zip lining in Costa Rica – this thrilling sport sees you coursing above the rain forest canopies and is one of the country’s most popular attractions.  Beach lovers will feel at home at Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman with its beautiful white coral sand and clear blue waters.  Snorkellers and divers will love the calm waters and underwater life around Cemetery Reef just a short distance from the shore.

Events/festivals: Junkanoo takes place every Boxing Day and New Year’s Day in Nassau, Bahamas.  It is typically a large parade where people take to the streets in the most garish outfits imaginable and dance to the sound of Goombay music.  Trinidad Carnival takes place two days before Ash Wednesday each year (either Feb or March) in the capital Port of Spain and is the biggest carnival in the region with steel bands, calypso music, fetes, parties and throngs of people all in the party mood.  Reggae Sumfest, which takes place in July, is Montego Bay, Jamaica’s answer to Glastonbury  – a huge celebration of Reggae music with top stars performing their reggae hits. Pirates Week in the Cayman Islands is an opportunity to get dressed up in your best pirates outfit and join in the fun with events, costume competitions, food festivals and a lot of ‘arrr me hearties! ‘

Sports:   The Caribbean is most known for its love of football and cricket, plus of course its success for track and field events – most recently for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s achievements.  The more unusual spectator sports you’ll find popular on the islands are cock fighting, goat racing and crab racing.  For holidaymakers, water sports are often high on the agenda – and pursuits just as diving, snorkelling, fishing and kite-surfing are particularly good in this part of the world. The islands also have some great golf courses. Some of the best and most scenic are Trump International in the Grenadines, and the Green Monkey which is one of the Sandy Lane golf courses in Barbados.

Nightlife:   The Caribbean is synonymous with a laid back, chilled vibe and nightlife on the islands varies from rum bars and beach shacks to upscale bars, Michelin starred restaurants and throbbing nightclubs.   If it’s the bustling nightlife you’re after, with bars and nightclubs galore, try St Lawrence Gap in Barbados, Cancun in Mexico, San Juan in Puerto Rico, Montego Bay in Jamaica or Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Eating/Drinking: Caribbean cuisine differs from island to island but most dishes are often spicy and made with rice and peas, jerk seasoning, fresh seafood, roti and plantains.  Favourite dishes include jerk chicken, coconut shrimp, rice and peas, ribs with guava bbq sauce and Key Lime Pie.

Shopping:  Shopping in the Caribbean is usually centred around locally crafted handmade goods, liquors or duty-free and tax-free luxury items.  The Dominican Republic is famous for producing cigars, Grenada its spices and Jamaica for its jerk seasoning and coffee.

When to go: 

The islands in the Caribbean enjoy year-round sunny climes with an average annual temperature of 26 degrees.  Some islands do run the risk of being affected by the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs between June and November (and peaks mid-September) but direct hits by hurricanes are rare. The South of the Caribbean, including the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) and Trinidad and Tobago are on the very edge of the hurricane zone as are the southern Windward Islands, like Grenada and Barbados and are therefore rarely affected by tropical storms. The more northern Caribbean islands such as Bahamas and Cuba do tend to see a sharper decline in temperature in the winter months than the rest of the Caribbean.