Caribbean Guide 2017

YOUR 2017 GUIDE TO

THE

ANGUILLA • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA • THE BAHAMAS • BARBADOS • BELIZE • BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS • CUBA • CURAÇAO • DOMINICA • GRENADA • GUYANA • HAITI JAMAICA • MARTINIQUE • MONTSERRAT • NEVIS • PUERTO RICO • ST. EUSTATIUS • ST. KITTS SAINT LUCIA • SAINT MARTIN • ST. MAARTEN • ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES TRINIDAD & TOBAGO • TURKS & CAICOS • U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS • VENEZUELA

YOUR CARIBBEAN 2017

www.caribbean.co.uk

CONTENTS

Welcome!

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Proudly published by Selling Travel magazine, a division of BMI Publishing.

www.bmipublishing.co.uk

CREDITS FOR COVER: LERRY CATAÑO, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TOURIST BOARD, THE BELIZE TOURISM BOARD, PUERTO RICO TOURISM COMPANY

Publisher: Sally Parker Editor: Steve Hartridge Sub Editors: Laura Gelder Cameron Roberts Writers: Jo Cooke Kathryn Liston Creative Director: Matt Bonner Designers: Louisa Horton, Monica Notarnicola, Ross Clifford Junior Designer: Zoë Tarrant Production Manager: Clare Hunter Production Controller: Stephen Hunter Commerical Director: David Clare Managing Director: Martin Steady

© BMI Publishing Ltd 2016.

BMI Publishing Ltd, Suffolk House, CR9 1SR, UK. T: +44 (0)20 8649 7233 F: +44 (0)20 8649 7234 E: enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing Ltd & the Caribbean Tourism Organization cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Travel Trade Publication of the Year

his year I’m going to be straight with you - step away from the beach! That’s right, get up and get moving! There’s so much to see in the Caribbean and we really don’t want you to miss a thing.

If you’re stumped for ideas which don’t involve sand then let us help you! How about zip-lining through the rainforest in Belize, taking in the fresh air and interesting sounds? If you have the stamina, hike one of the region’s breath-taking trails, like the Waitukubuli Trail in Dominica or the volcanic peaks of Martinique, Saint Lucia or Montserrat. And don’t stop at the sea, there are lakes, springs and mineral baths to explore in Jamaica, Nevis and Trinidad, each one with its own unique tale of history and healing prowess!

There are so many natural sights to see, whether it’s gazing at newly-hatched turtles in Tobago or watching magnificent whales soar through the air in the Turks & Caicos. You can get involved too! Swim with stingrays in the Cayman Islands; meander through mangroves searching for the resplendent frigate bird in Antigua and Barbuda; or trek to spectacular waterfalls, like Guyana’s steamy Kaieteur Falls, or the dizzy heights of Angel Falls, Venezuela.

The Caribbean is a cultural potpourri of history, heritage and artistry! Visit plantations, great houses and forts in Barbados, Haiti, Curaçao and Cuba, or ride the scenic railway in St. Kitts. If you want the Caribbean vibe to move you physically as well as spiritually then make sure you visit when carnival is on! Festivities in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Eustatius are bursting with colour. Taste local flavours at a myriad of restaurants and local cook-shops in Anguilla, Saint Martin, The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, where seafood, indigenous dishes and rum punch are the order of the day.

You can take home a piece of the Caribbean too. St. Maarten, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are top shopping destinations!

Wherever you choose to go, the beach will always be there… so get active and get out and about. Walk, ride, sail or fly. Exploring the Caribbean has never been easier!

Carol I. Hay Director of Marketing UK & Europe, Caribbean Tourism Organization

caribbean.co.uk LovetheCaribbean @_LoveCaribbean

The Caribbean for...

Greatest Hits.....................4 History.......................6 Travel Info .........................8 Romance ..........................11 Family Time ...................15 Local Culture ...................18 Gardens ..........................20 Top Walks.........................22 On the Water..................24 Relaxation .......... ............26

Adventure....................28 All Budgets......................30 Get Involved....................32 Animal Magic..................34 Golf ..................................36 M a p. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 Destinations A-Z .........40 Anguilla ..........................41 Antigua & Barbuda .......41 The Bahamas ..................42

Barbados ........................42 Belize ...............................43 British Virgin Islands ......43 Cayman Islands .............44 Cuba ................................44 Curaçao ...........................45 Dominica ........................45 Grenada ..........................46 Guyana ...........................46 Haiti ................................47

Jamaica ..........................47 Martinique .....................48 Montserrat .....................48 Nevis ...............................49 Puerto Rico .....................49 St. Eustatius ...................50 St. Kitts ...........................50 Saint Lucia.......................51 St. Maarten .....................51 Saint Martin ...................52 @_LoveCaribbean

St. Vincent & The Grenadines .....................52 Trinidad & Tobago ..........53 Turks & Caicos .................53 US Virgin Islands ............54 Venezuela .......................54 Airline Chart ..... ...............56 Where to Book ...............58 Directory of Members.....61

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GREATEST HITS

the greatest hits The Caribbean is a region packed with treasures, but with so much choice it’s hard to know where to start. Check out our handy ‘Magnificent Seven’ guide – and get ready to explore!

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Carnival in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

If there was a prize for throwing the world’s best party, surely the Trinidadians would win it. Just before Lent each year the island practically shuts down so that every resident and visitor can go all out to let their hair down. Carnival here last for five solid days with what feels like half the nation taking to the streets in colourful costumes adorned with sequins and feathers. It’s a visual and musical spectacular with dancers, drummers, stilt walkers and marching steel pan and soca bands. Forget sleep, you won’t want to miss a moment.

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The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

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Trafalgar Falls, Dominica

The rainforests of the Caribbean are blessed with some of the most astonishing waterfalls on the planet.

But why settle for seeing one when you could see two as is the case at Trafalgar Falls on the ‘nature island’ of Dominica.

The twin cascades, one with a drop of around 80 metres and the other around 40, are known as the ‘Papa’ and ‘Mama’ respectively. They are framed by verdant flora and edged by hot water springs TOBAGO DIVISION OF TOURISM & TRANSPORTATION

There are some incredible places to take a dip in the Caribbean, but nowhere quite like The Baths on the southern

tip of Virgin Gorda. This national park is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Along a quintessential white-sand beach, lay giant, granite boulders formed centuries ago from piles of cooled volcanic magma. They look like oversized pebbles that have been sprinkled around the shoreline and into the ocean shallows. As they cluster together these boulders form rock pools that are a playground for schools of tropical fish.

Don’t forget your snorkel!

Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat

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Dancers at the Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago

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The enchanting Baths Beach, British Virgin Islands and natural pools. There’s a visitors centre, souvenir stalls and snack bars close by and you can either walk to a viewing platform or hike with a guide to the foot of the falls.

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Helicopter ride over Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat To witness the incredible power of Mother Nature sign up for a helicopter ride around the murmuring crater of Montserrat’s active volcano. You’ll fly over the steaming rim and across the country’s exclusion zone, which includes a look at the ash-covered remains of former capital Plymouth. Afterwards, check out the Montserrat Volcano Observatory which keeps a close check on Soufriere Hills Volcano, interpreting its every rumble to keep the islanders safe from harm.

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As military history sites go, this one is mind blowing, hence it’s UNESCO World Heritage listing. Brimstone Hill Fortress is spread over 40 acres, and largely intact despite being over 300 years old.

Set high on a hilltop promontory with sweeping views of the headland and the neighbouring island of St Eustatius, these barracks, munitions buildings and ramparts were built between 1690 and 1805 and were the hub of British operations during the colonial era.

Watch the documentary in the welcome centre then check out the exhibition that charts the life and times of those stationed here and the – the Amerindians who inhabited the J’ouvert rt a al 4am st island before them. tradition ’s carnival ad to Trinid llers smear e v re on – sees and mud paint, oil Join in, but r. e each oth clothes!

Harrisons Cave, wear old

The turquoise hue of the Caribbean Sea is a vision that can only perhaps be topped by a pool of water in Jamaica’s lesser-visited East-coast resort of Port Antonio. The Blue Lagoon is a natural phenomenon. Its deep, circular basin of water, shrouded by a thicket of tropical foliage, appears to change colour throughout the day in tune with the tone of the sky. The ultimate way to arrive is by boat trip from Winnifred’s Beach.

Revive yourself in the refreshingly cool water and know that you are following in the footsteps of Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise, who filmed part of the movie Cocktail here.

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Harrisons Cave, Barbados

Barbados

These vast, subterranean caverns are a hidden treasure and a stateof-the-art attraction. Visitors are transported to the valley floor in a glass lift where an interactive exhibit reveals how the caves were formed by the island’s unique geology. Unlike other cave tours where you simply walk past the limestone walls, at Harrison’s you board a tram featuring rollercoasterstyle cars, and that’s when the real excitement begins. You’ll journey through narrow tunnels into cathedrallike halls of stalactites and stalagmites, past a gently-flowing stream and then on to an underground lake and waterfall.

Guides recount stories of how the caves hid runaway slaves in the 19th century and not ‘rediscovered’ until the 1970s. •

Trafalgar Falls, Dominica JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD UK

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The Blue Lagoon, Port Antonio, Jamaica

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Brimstone Hill Fortress, St Kitts

The Blue Lagoon, Jamaica

EXHILARATING FUN • SOPHISTICATED STYLE • ULTIMATE LUXURY SONESTA.COM/STMAARTEN 1-800-SONESTA 08/08/2016 13:37

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here are few regions in the world where you can experience such a cornucopia of cultures and historical influences as in the Caribbean.

Amerindian, European, African, Mayan – the islands are a real melting pot.

Guyana The Amerindians originally came to Guyana from the Venezuelan mainland – the island’s name means ‘Land of Many Waters’. Using Trinidad as a stepping stone, they spread throughout the Caribbean, later being referred to as Taino or Arawaks. Visit or stay overnight in an Amerindian lodge and experience their weaving, canoe-building, cooking and dancing.

Dominica and Turks & Caicos

Anguilla

Belize’s Mayan history is displayed at the ancient cities of Caracol and Xunantunich and the Actun Tunichil Muknal sacred underworld caves

Significant places in Anguilla’s history are listed on a Heritage Trail map. They include the Heritage Collection Museum with its displays on the Arawaks, sugar industry and slavery and 17th century Wallblake House. The Amerindian Big Spring cavern, with its petroglyphs carved into the rock, is worth a visit.

Cuba In Havana the Fidel Castro museum provides a fascinating insight into the revolution. The UNESCO World Heritage Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca fort in Santiago de Cuba is a well-preserved example of SpanishAmerican military architecture.

Fish markets are a staple of Caribbean communities

The Bahamas

Dominica was originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians and, like so Haiti many of the islands, was later colonised La Citadelle fortress is testament to the

by Europeans. Taino and Lucayan revolution that freed Haiti from slavery Indians were the sole residents of Turks and French rule to become the world’s & Caicos for almost 700 years, before first independent black republic in the the islands were taken over by late 18th century. Located 900 the French and then the metres above sea level, it British. A Lucayan duho takes an hour to walk up to (lounger-seat) is on it. The ruins of Sans Souci Travel display in the National palace sit at the foot of d urin should er mon g the Museum on Grand Turk. the mountain. ths of M and ea ay rly Dec ember to avoid at mus queues eums a nd historic al sigh ts MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, REPUBLIC OF HAITI

HISTORY

A region of many islands and many cultures, the Caribbean has been shaped by its diversity. Variety really is the spice of life...

European-style architecture in Venezuela

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La Citadelle Fortress, Haiti, is a sight to behold

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The Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation is housed in the Vendue House in the original Nassau marketplace from which slaves were sold in the 18th century. The Balcony House Museum, Nassau’s oldest standing residence, is now a museum.

Montserrat Montserrat celebrates its Irish heritage by welcoming visitors with a green shamrock-shaped passport stamp and is the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday. It is also the closest you will get to an active volcano – don’t worry, Soufriere Hills last erupted in 1995.

Belize The ancient cities of Caracol and Xunantunich and the sacred underworld caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal are magnificent examples of Belize’s Mayan history. The island’s creole culture, which emerged in the 1700s, can also be found in the dialect and food, with staples such as Boil Up (fish and vegetable stew) often served.

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such as stewed conch. Saint Martin’s international restaurant scene makes it a particular draw for foodies.

Curaçao

THE BELIZE TOURISM BOARD

r a t e s it s “ M o n t s e r r a t c e le b e lc o m in g w I r is h h e r it a g e b y s h a m r o c k een v is it o r s w it h a g r t s t a m p ” shaped passpor

Traces of Dutch colonial heritage remain in the colourful buildings of capital Willemstad, and at the 17th century Fort Oranje on St Eustatius.

CURAÇAO TOURIST BOARD EUROPE

US Virgin Islands The painted colonial buildings of St Croix’s The Heritage Collection Museum, Wallblake main towns Frederiksted House and Amerindian and Christiansted are the Big Spring Cavern are clearest sign of the US highlights on the Anguilla Heritage Trail Virgin Islands’ past as a Danish territory, while Blackbeard’s Castle on St Thomas adds proper pirate menace!

Belize’s Mayan history is a big draw

The British legacy St Vincent & The Grenadines The St. Vincent Botanic Gardens has a breadfruit tree brought by Captain Bligh, of the Bounty, in 1793.

French West Indies Saint Martin and Martinique blend French bistros with local classics

Reminders of 18th century British colonial history are everywhere: in the plantation houses of Barbados (Sunbury Plantation House), Jamaica (Rose Hall), and Saint Lucia (Marquise Estate); the nine forts of St Kitts; at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua; and on Nevis, where Lord Nelson met and married Fanny Nisbet. •

Exotic flowers abound in the Caribbean

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Family Holidays • Island Hopping • All Inclusive • Weddings & Honeymoons

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the islands TRAVEL INFO

From seaplane transfers and luxury cruises to twin-centre holidays and island hopping, there are a myriad of ways to experience the diversity of the Caribbean countries and islands

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K holidaymakers visiting the Caribbean next year will find new flights, airports and cruise itineraries.

Thomas Cook has introduced flights direct from Manchester to Tobago from November 13, 2016 and Norwegian Airlines will fly non-stop direct from Gatwick to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Thomson Airways will begin flying to St Lucia on the B787 Dreamliner from May 2017 in addition to Cuba and Jamaica. British Airways has upgraded its direct four-times weekly flight from Heathrow to Grand Cayman and to Nassau in The Bahamas to a B777-200 aircraft, with more seats available in Club Class and World Traveller Plus. The airline flies non-stop to several other Caribbean islands including St Kitts, Saint Lucia and Grand Cayman. Virgin Atlantic flies to Barbados, Antigua, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Tobago, Grenada and Havana, Cuba.

with St Maarten and Antigua; Puerto Rico with Dominica and St Vincent in the Grenadines; Martinique with Saint Lucia; St Kitts with St Thomas (US Virgin Islands), St Maarten and Antigua; and Trinidad with seven islands including Curaçao and Grenada, plus Guyana. The Bahamas has more connections from the US to its 16 main islands and from Nassau to the Out Islands. Private charters and seaplane transfers to the Out Islands are also available. a Tropic Ocean Airways ing is Cruis l way of operates charters e erfu wond around th g e hoppins without th island of having to e hassle our suitcas y pack ch day ea

Flights you’ll fancy

Antigua, a major hub for flights to smaller islands, has recently opened a new $100million terminal at VC Bird International airport, while Argyle International airport on St Vincent will be able to accommodate Boeing 747400 aircraft and take direct UK flights in the future.

Liat offers flights to 21 islands, Cruise deals will often including 15 routes include cabin upgrades, onboard spending money from Antigua. It has and port parking reintroduced daily flights from Antigua to Anguilla which connect with the daily BA service from Gatwick. The airline also connects Tortola in the British Virgin Islands

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P&O’s Britannia in port

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r ans F er r ie s ex p r es s ca ta m a d e vi a n d h el ic o p te r s a ls o p ro it ie s tu n is la n d h o p p in g o p p o r Combine Grand Cayman and Little Cayman; Nevis and St Kitts; Antigua and Barbuda – 1hr 45min by catamaran, 15 minutes by air; or Tobago and Trinidad. Tour operators also offer a variety of twin-centre and multi-centre options.

New fl igh Thom ts include Tobag as Cook to Airwa o, Norwegia ys n and Th to Puerto R ico omson A ir w to Sain t Lucia ays

New waves All the major cruiselines offer the Caribbean, including Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Norwegian Cruise Line, Thomson, MSC, Fred Olsen, Carnival and Celebrity. Saint Lucia will be P&O’s home port next winter. Britannia will operate 28 sailings to islands including Dominica, Antigua, St. Maarten, You don’t have to travel Barbados, Curaçao, far to enjoy islands with Grenada and St. Vincent. different vibes – Barbuda is only 15 minutes by air Fred Olsen’s Braemar, from Antigua will operate a 14-night cruise out of Barbados on January 5, 2017 to 10 islands and sister ship, Balmoral, will visit 11 islands on its 32-night sailing from Southampton departing October 29, 2017. Celebrity Cruises returns to summer Caribbean The sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean sailings for the first time in five years in 2017 – Celebrity Equinox will offer eastern, western and southern from Fort Lauderdale in addition to Caribbean options out of Miami. Carnival scheduled flights to Marsh Harbour and operates Caribbean cruises from 11 ports Treasure Cay in the Abaco Islands and in the US, as well Barbados and Puerto Great Harbour Cay. Ferries, express Rico, while Star Clippers has itineraries catamarans and helicopters also make from Barbados, St. Maarten and Cuba. • island-hopping easy.

Virgin operates regular flights to the Caribbean

Helicopters are a way to get around in style

Enchanted at every turn Welcome to St. Kitts, an enchanted island of expansive rainforests, secluded beaches, stately great houses, and remnants of sugar plantations when sugar was king. Home to forgotten coves of turquoise waters, lush green mountains and a thousand natural treasures. Not a single traffic light, this is St. Kitts. Unspoiled‌ Sanctuary of inner beauty‌ All yours to discover.

Two weekly flights from London Gatwick.

Visit ba.com/StKitts

#BeHereNow - www.StKittsTourism.kn /StKittsTourism

@StKittsTourism

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matters From creative kids clubs and fun water parks to pirate adventures and dolphin-watching, the Caribbean is a playground for the young and the young at heart All-inc lu are a g sive resorts budge reat way to which t – but che ck acti and d vities, food rinks includ are ed

olidays and family time – is there a better combination? When it comes to spending quality hours with your loved ones the Caribbean cannot be beaten, thanks to its enviable combination of great food, fantastic weather and family-friendly fun.

Saint Lucia has activities for all ages.

Hop aboard an 18th-century rigged schooner for a pirate adventure, go whale and dolphin watching, enjoy a glass-bottomed boat trip, or Segway through a cocoa plantation. Cool off with the kids at the Splash Island Water Park, Saint Lucia’s first open-water sports park at Bay Gardens Resort and hang loose on the monkey bars.

Active families will love the BodyHoliday’s Wellfit Families programme, hosted by Olympic athletes. It includes fitness classes and competitions, bike rides, sailing, and a mum and daughter beauty session.

Conservation features strongly at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment programme has excursions led by naturalists, plus Atlantis submarine trips and swimming with ponies at West Bay. Young ones can help with turtle conservation at Jumby Bay, Antigua, swim with them at Coral World on St

Head to the beach for fun in the sun

FAMILY TIME

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The crystal clear waters of the Caribbean are sure to provide a backdrop for great memories the Tobago Cocoa Estate.

Thomas (US Virgin Islands) Volcanoes are always and in The Bahamas, and The annual goat and crab an exciting visit. Enjoy a watch fledglings hatch in racing festival in Buccoo, Tobago, is great family volcano hike in St Kitts or Saint Martin and Trinidad fun – try to pick a winner visit Soufrière Hills volcano and Tobago. There is on Montserrat – which last swimming with dolphins in erupted in 1995 – or Mount St Maarten and the British Pelee on Martinique.

Virgin Islands and birding in Guyana.

The St Kitts scenic railway is a fun day Try to pick a winner at the annual out. In Venezuela, marvel at Angel Falls, goat and crab racing festival in Buccoo, the world’s highest waterfall – it’s 16 Tobago. Or, try the chocolate and times higher than Niagara Falls. cassava bread baked in a dirt oven at

Kid s club s are a Car ibbe an spec iali t y Act ivit ies will of ten foc us on loca l cult ur e and con ser vati on @_LoveCaribbean

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the locals Reggae and rum, festivals and fish fries, carnivals and beaches – there’s always something to celebrate. It’s time to get on down and join in the party

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f you really want to get under the skin of a destination there’s only one way to do it – follow the locals.

The good news is that the Caribbean countries and islands are famed for their welcome.

everywhere. The annual Moonsplash festival, organised by reggae artist Bankie Banx at his bar in Anguilla every spring, is one of the best.

Cuba’s dance clubs in Havana and Santiago de Cuba are a great night out.

Watch locals dance to salsa and son while jugs of zesty mojito’s flow.

The Caribbean has hundreds more festivals, including the colourful carnivals of Antigua and Barbuda or St Vincent and The Grenadines; Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival or Belize’s vibrant International Costa Maya Festival.

Eat & be merry

LOCAL CULTURE

Fish Fries in Saint Lucia are legendary.

Tuck into crab cakes, conch and shrimp from a street stall in Anse La Raye, or head for the fishing village of Gros Islet to join locals at a communal table.

Over in Barbados, Oistins Fish Fry rocks with dancing and barbecued seafood fresh off the boats.

Local flavours Sunday School in Tobago is a chance Join Saint Lucian craft brewer Andrew to ‘lime’ (hang out) with the locals, Hashey for a tour of the Antillia Brewing eat curried crab and doubles (spicy Company – the only one in the region chickpeas in roti) and dance to steel pan, reggae and soca bands. It is held every Sunday night at Buccoo.

Market day is a lively affair in Kenscoff, Haiti’s main mountain Don’t be shy: Cubans love it when you dance salsa market town. Farmers come with them – even if you from all around to sell their don’t know the steps crops amid stunning views.

Dance fever Carnival time in the Caribbean is a treat.

Join masqueraders dancing through the streets at Trinidad’s famous carnival on 27-28 February 2017.

Party with revellers at the Cayman Islands’ Batabano (May) and Pirates Week (November) and St Kitts Carnival (Christmas and New Year). The Bahamas’ Junkanoo Carnival (April 14-15 2017) is now so popular it is also held every Saturday in July so tourists can join in. Villagers open their doors and kitchens at the Tobago Heritage Festival (July-August), which showcases the island’s culture with plenty of dance.

Music is the Caribbean’s heartbeat so you will hear soca, steel pan and reggae

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The Cuban Capital: Havana’s street are alive with life and colour

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‘Liming’ (hanging out) in Jamaica

parks and

Fertile volcanic soils and the perfect mix of sun and rain bring forth a mesmerising wealth of natural beauty across the Caribbean

n the Caribbean, bougainvillea, hibiscus and allamanda grow wild and hundreds of types of palms reach for the clouds. It’s a botanist’s dream, a delight for avid gardeners and even inspiration for those who have never picked up a trowel!

Visitors who love holidays with a spiky edge should head to Curaçao.

This Dutch island is home to hundreds of different species of cacti, with the towering kudashi and yatu often reaching 30 feet or more.

Horticultual excellence ranges from the well-established, such as Hope Botanical Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica; to the innovative Miriam C Schmidt Botanical Garden, St Eustatius; and on to the ground-breaking, like the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes, Haiti, The region is brimming with greenfingered enthusiasts – from the eccentrics who produce a labour of love at Hunte’s Garden, Barbados, to the cutting-edge hydroponic greenhouses of CusinArt Resort, Anguilla.

St George Village Botanical Garden, St Croix, US Virgin Islands

GARDENS

This 16-acre garden has the restored buildings and ruins of an 18th and 19th century Dutch sugar cane plantation as its backdrop. Once a conservation project,

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educational facility and tourist attraction, the grounds are home to a large botanical library and a series of themed gardens, including the Cactus and Succulents and the Native Arboretum which has 50 species of trees. Perhaps the most fascinating area is the Dry Growing Palmetum, which showcases the palms that thrive in the arid savannahs and coastal plains of the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Belize Botanic Gardens, Belize Learn about medicinal plants used by the ancient Mayans, taste-test exotic fruits and marvel at the Orchid House The entire coastline of St Eustatius is a national park which boasts over 100 native species.

Tucked away in the country’s interior, this expansive garden covers 45 acres and lies close to the beautiful Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in the Macal River Valley. Sign up for the Don’t hour-long guided tour famo miss out o us n so you don’t miss a the B floral ho the thing, or if you prefer St Vin otanic Ga ney at rde ce own b nt – made ns, to wander alone, don’t b ee po pulat y its miss Zingiber Alley with ion! its ginger lilies, heliconias and bird of paradise flowers.

You can also indulge in a spot of tubing, swimming, birdwatching or hiking in and around the grounds.

Dominica Botanical Gardens, Dominica This tropical oasis in Roseau is a popular recreational park for locals, as well as being a botanical gardens with a sterling history. Envisioned in 1890

by Charles Murray, then curator of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, it was created with the help of experts from Kew Garden, London. The

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COMITÉ MARTINIQUAIS DU TOURISME

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More than just plants live in the botanical gardens in Martinique

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The Botanical Gardens of Nevis Occupying five acres at the foothills of the highest peak, Mount Nevis, the combination of Asian art, preColumbian replica statues and West Indian blooms make the Botanical Gardens of Nevis as unique as they are glorious. Its hot house Rainforest Conservatory has a Mayan temple theme. The waterfall at its centre is a soothing antidote to the squawk of the parrots flying among the banana plants, bright crotons and striking red and yellow Scarlet Lobster Claws. Outside, spectacular flowering trees, orchid terraces and ponds of water lilies greet you. The Tropical Fruit Garden features its own bees, who help pollinate the garden’s flowers as well as producing its fragrant Nevisian honey which is available for sale.

Botanic Gardens St Vincent, St Vincent and the Grenadines

collection’s highlights are banyan, ylang ylang and cannonball trees. This is also a good place to see Dominica’s national bird, the Sisserou parrot, and national tree and flower the bois kwaib.

On a Saturday and you may even see a cricket match being played on the lawn.

Jardin de Balata Botanical Gardens, Martinique Jardin de Balata is one of the most photogenic gardens in the Caribbean.

Set in rolling hills, it was the brainchild of horticulturalist and artist JeanPhilippe Thoze, who transformed farmland into a whimsical world of contemporary-meets-formal planting.

You’ll find over 3,000 regional and international tropical species here, including 300 types of palm trees.

Anthuriums, cycads, bamboo and mahogany are included in the mix, and a suspension bridge-style walkway offers unique views. This wellmanicured attraction can be explored via a meandering circular trail.

Just north of Kingstown, St Vincent’s bustling capital, you’ll find this lush, 20-acre retreat. These formal gardens are one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere (established in 1765) and among the country’s most-visited attractions. Grassy lawns are edged by shady corridors of trees, and beneath them ferns and flowers with colourful petals catch the sunlight. You can see mahogany, rubber, teak and breadfruit trees here. The fruit of the latter forms part of the delicious national dish, roasted breadfruit with fried Jack fish. The garden has an aviary house conservation programme to protect the endangered St Vincent parrot. It’s also a popular spot for wedding photos – look out for locals posing in their finery!

There is abundant birdlife in the Caribbean’s national parks

The botanical gardens in Trinidad and Tobago

Royal Botanical Gardens, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago Established in 1818, this garden features an exciting collection of 700 species that are both native and from across the globe. Wonders include carnivorous plants and alpines alongside ferns and palms. It’s a feast for the senses with the perfume of magnolias, the sound of tropical bird song and the spectacle of bootlace and cigar trees. Linger for a while, then head on to Emperor Valley Zoo and the President’s House. •

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Brightly coloured plants match the vibrancy of the Caribbean

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footloose & Walking is a great way to shake off the stresses of everyday life. From sunset strolls to hardcore hikes, there’s plenty of ways to put your best foot forward in the Caribbean

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s tempting as it is to take root on that sun lounger, if you do make time to stretch your legs there are some amazing places to wander throughout the Caribbean region.

Whether you’re after an exhilarating hike, casual stroll or afternoon amble here are just a few options worthy of a standing ovation!

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name. At the other end of the scale is 414-metre Gorda Peak, on Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. Two short routes – one of 20 minutes, the other 50 minutes – reveals a 360-degree vista that takes in Anegada and Tortola.

A shorter but equally rewarding hike can be found on Bequia, St Vincent and the Grenadines. The route from Port Elizabeth to Mount Pleasant, the highest accessible point on the island High and mighty hikes at 250 metres above sea level, offers Those who enjoy a bird’s eye view of an amazing view of the southern their chosen island, should head for the Grenadines. Another must is mountains. Mount Liamuiga in St the Lighthouse Trail on the Kitts towers 1,155 metres above Cayman Islands’ Cayman sea level. It takes about two Brac, which runs along hours to reach the summit ing in lk a w ys ’re If you bean alwa r, and the trail takes you rib te the Ca pared – wa t through a thicket of ficus go pre reen, insec ht trees, bamboo and palms. sunsc and the rig ent ing It’s a steady endurance test p re ell s and cloth e o h tant but up on the peak you’ll s r o p are im have a view of a sunken crater, rolling hills and the Caribbean Sea. The longest walking trail in the Caribbean, Dominica’s Waitukubuli National Trail is 115 miles of exploration; it winds through villages, mountainous regions and national parks on a coast to coast trip with 14 sections.

Gros Piton in Saint Lucia is 798 metres high and another two-hour trek. Guides educate you on the tropical flora on the way up, and at the top you can look down at all the tourists taking in Saint Lucia’s iconic landmark.

Reaching Jamaica’s Blue Mountain peak is a tough four-hour march. Hikers leave in the wee hours and arrive in time for sunrise before the view across to Cuba is blocked by the hazy, blue mist that gives Jamaica’s highest Ornate buildings around Barbados are highlights of any casual stroll mountain range (at 2,256 metres) its

Top walks

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Beaches are the perfect place to run wild in the Caribbean

Check out the Dutch heritage of Curaçao whose capital Willemstad has a colourful display of ornate, pastel-hued buildings

bell tower, and a wooden boardwalk which runs along the waterfront.

The biggest concentration of Georgian architecture in the Caribbean can be found in Falmouth, Jamaica. Crafted from wood and stone, many of the original buildings have been faithfully restored.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, has a distinctly Spanish feel, where narrow cobbled streets open out on to Iberian-style squares. Be sure to visit Plaza Colon with its statue of Christopher Columbus and El Morro fortress set on a grassy headland. Or go Dutch in Curaçao’s capital, Willemstad. This Unesco World Heritage City has ornate gabled houses in an array of pastel colours.

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pleasant ambles

BaHamas minisTrY oF Tourism

Hiking in Nevis can be challenging but rewarding

The Bahamas is the perfect place to catch some waves cuBa TourisT Board

Pink Sand Beach on sleepy Harbour Island, The Bahamas makes for an idyllic morning. This three-mile strand of powder-pink sand is dotted with seashells and driftwood for great beachcombing. Another fabulous beach walk can be had at Nevis’ Lover’s Beach, a secluded mile-long stretch of white sand on the north coast that’s perfect for romantics.

For an early evening jaunt try the the limestone bluff at the island’s heart. three-mile Sunset Loop on Peter Island At Main Ridge Forest Reserve in in the British Virgin Islands. This trail mountainous north Tobago guides leads up to a hilltop viewpoint where will lead you off on a handful of trails, you can watch the sun slip into the one of which meanders to a hidden ocean. The Malecon in Havana, Cuba rainforest waterfall. Alternatively, the is another hypnotic spot 1.3-mile Oriole Walkway on at sunset. The five-mile Montserrat takes you up seafront promenade to Lawyer’s Hill vantage Anguilla offers visitors just beyond the historic point with sweeping views the option of easy hiking - the island’s highest old town doubles as an across to Silver Hills and the point is just 213 feet impromptu social club for island’s north side. Hiking locals.

St Eustatius’ The Quill – a Check out Guyana’s trail 601-metre volcano – serves from Georgetown to Kaieteur for gentle up great views and unique flora and river runs, forest hiking and a stunning fauna such as iguanas and fig trees. view of the huge Kaieteur waterfall.

St Maarten’s Seaside Nature Park has City saunters some relaxed trails which afford views For those who prefer exploring of the ocean and Saba in the distance. urban areas, the Caribbean has some With a high point of just 213 feet, fascinating historic hubs. One of the Anguilla offers the option of relatively most alluring is Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. Distinctly British in flavour, easy hiking. Trails tend to hug the white sand beaches and are great for spotting there are some stunning Victorian local wildlife – look out for lizards and buildings to admire, including the wild goats. • Parliament Building with its clock and

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Cuba is best explored on horseback

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ON THE WATER

on the From the thrill of white-water rafting to relaxing on a fully catered yacht, making a splash this year has never been easier

Setting sail Sailing in the British Virgin Islands is an exhilarating way to visit several of its 60 islands. Have lunch at Deadman’s Beach bar on Peter Island, moor at the Baths on Virgin Gorda, nature’s Stonehenge by the sea, and explore the caves at Norman Island, the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island. Snorkels and fins are supplied on most boats.

If you can’t sail, the British Virgin Islands and Antigua are a great place to learn thanks to calm waters, steady trade winds and great sailing schools.

In Antigua, Carlisle Bay Hotel operates a three-day Royal Yachting Association course, and the all-inclusive Nonsuch Bay Resort offers group sailing tuition and free use of dinghies, catamarans and keelboats. Or hire a skipper and chef to do the work for you. Splitting the cost between family and friends makes this an affordable option.

Antigua Sailing Week marks its 50th anniversary in 2017 with races taking place from April 29 to May 5. If you don’t want to get your feet wet, Accommodation provider, Beds on Board, offers unique stays on a variety of boats docked in Antigua.

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Taking the plunge There are lots of opportunities for holidaymakers who do want to get wet.

Choose from water-skiing, jet-skiing, kayaking, snorkelling, rafting, windsurfing and much more.

The water temperature Seabob underwater over Champagne Reef, scooters can reach speeds Dominica, can reach of 15mph on top of the water 90F – it’s like being in a giant hot tub and 10mph at 40 metres below. They are available in Grand Cayman, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, St Maarten and Saint Martin.

Kite-surfing is all the rage in The Grenadines – don’t miss the Full Moon Venezuela boasts some superb rapids beach parties held monthly on Union Island from December and March, to the uninhabited Redonda. which includes a neon-lit air display.

The US Virgin Islands offer lots of exciting activities including BOSS Under the sea underwater scooters, a Sea Trek guided Snorkelling and diving are the most underwater helmet walk and glasspopular ways to explore the marine-rich bottom boat trips. Or slow things corals in Belize, down on Montserrat and kayak St Eustatius, Antigua, to the isolated white-sand Jamaica, Bonaire, beach of Rendezvous Bay Dominica, Grenada, St t s co g the d for stunning views across Vincent & The Grenadines Splittin a skippere g ily in m ir fa h n f e o the betwe yacht nds makes ie o fr m re or ience exper rdable affo

The British Virgin Islands’ open waters

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hatever style of holiday you’re looking for, there’s one thing that’s guaranteed with any Caribbean break – an adventure on the water is never far away!

From simply swimming in the crystalclear waters to trying your hand at the latest in wet-and-wild extreme sports such as kite surfing, taking the plunge has never been easier, with professional operators and teachers on hand to help right across the region.

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Set sail to see the Caribbean in a different light

LERRY CATAÑO TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TOURIST BOARD

Make s insur ure your t a for ad nce cove ravel rs y ve such nture activ ou a ities s c a unde rwate nyoning, r scoo and d iving ters

Sit back and relax on the waves U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

(especially the uninhabited Tobago Go with the flow Cays), Los Roques (Venezuela) and Visitors looking for a more leisurely Anguilla. experience on the water will find Spot frogfish, seahorses and manta barbecue boat trips and Champagne rays in St Vincent – which claims to sunset cruises – and if you are lucky, be the critter capital of the Caribbean you may spot a dolphin or whale during – squid in Tobago and sea-urchins in the voyage.

South Friar’s Bay, St Kitts, where green Take a boat trip to one of Antigua’s vervet monkeys wander along off-shore islands; go rafting the beachfront. on the Martha Brae River, Champagne Reef, one Jamaica, or in Merida, Antigua Sailing Week celebrates its 50th of Dominica’s signature Venezuela; or take a anniversary in 2017 with dive sites, is shallow luminous lagoon night races taking place from April 29 to May 5 enough for snorkelling. cruise in Grand Cayman, Warm water bubbles The Bahamas or Puerto up through volcanic Rico and watch the tiny bluevents in the seafloor for an amazing green creatures light up the water’s ‘carbonated’ experience. surface. Take a dip – they are harmless!

Experienced divers can enjoy 350 top For something completely different, sites around Cayman’s three islands, cruise to the Exuma Islands in The wall dives in Turks & Caicos and wreck Bahamas with Exuma Escapes and diving in St Eustatius. swim with pigs. On the company’s Deep-sea fishing is available in Saint Northern Exuma’s tour, you can feed Martin, Tobago, the Cayman Islands, the iguanas at Allan’s Cay and snorkel Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Curaçao around a crash site of a DC3 aeroplane and the Turks & Caicos Islands. at Norman’s Landing. •

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There’s much to discover underwater in Turks and Caicos

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Kayaking in the U.S. Virgin Islands

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RELAXATION

...just do it From chocolate treats, paddle boarding and candlelight yoga to fragrant massages using frangipani and nutmeg, the Caribbean is the perfect place to relax and unwind

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njoy a massage outdoors to the soothing sound of waves, start the day with yoga or tai chi on the beach or invigorate your body with a zesty lime salt scrub.

Zone out to the vibrations Chocolate and yoga are a sweet of 14 Tibetan singing bowls during a healing match at the True Blue Bay Boutique treatment at GoldenEye, Resort’s retreat in Grenada. Sessions Jamaica of Hatha, Vinyasa, Bikram and Yin yoga are held at different locations each day including a cocoa plantation.

Or opt for a yoga retreat at the adultonly Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. There’s reiki, cooking classes as well as gem stone and couples massages at the resort’s Radiant Spa. Or connect to the elements with a paddleboard yoga class at Thrive Fit on Grand Cayman.

Also in Jamaica, practise your vinyasa Palm Island, Grenadines in the open air on the Driftwood Spa’s

deck at Jakes, Treasure Beach in Jamaica; or visit the beachfront fitness centre at Round Hill Hotel & Villas, which features an open-air yoga pavilion.

Enjoy the therapeutic waters of Dominica’s natural sulphur hot pools at Tia’s Hot Spa and Screw’s Sulphur Spain.

Farm to table dining is part of the wellness experience at Le Soleil d’Or on Cayman Brac. Elite Island Resorts has a new ‘Inside Out’ mindful activity at its Galley Bay Resort and Spa and St. James Club and Villas in Antigua which Spice up your holiday with an orange zest scrub at Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada – or go for nutmeg instead

Relaxation is synonymous with the Caribbean

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features a digital detox yoga and tranquil options like a ‘silent cinema’.

Complimentary

mend Recom resort d n a de hotel at inclu th s e g y r ta n packa lime comp spa es and g a s s ma ts n e treatm

Give your body an MOT at TheBodyHoliday in Saint Lucia. Guests receive a complimentary 50-minute spa treatment each day.

Guests enjoy up to four spa treatments at the all-inclusive Waves Hotel & Spa in Barbados, a new Elegant Hotels member.

A couples spa treatment and cocktail afterwards is included in Cap Maison’s Sunset Moments package in Saint Lucia.

Guests at the Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort, Tobago, on an all-inclusive basis receive three spa treatments – choose from hot stone massages, facials, reflexology and body wraps.

For free experiences there are plenty of thermal offerings in the Caribbean. Saint Lucia’s Sulphur Springs are famed for their soothing effects, while the Windsor Mineral Spring in Jamaica claims to heal a variety of skin ailments. Trinidad’s La Brea Pitch Lake is the world’s largest

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asphalt reservoir, and locals say bathing in its waters cures illness and even slows ageing.

Spices and scrubs Smell the buttery aroma of sugar, rum and coconut during a Blackwell Rum body scrub at GoldenEye’s Field Spa, Jamaica, or zone out to the vibrations of 14 Tibetan ‘singing bowls’ during a healing treatment.

Nutmeg, orange zest and local herbs are among local ingredients used in treatments at Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, Saint Lucia and Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada.

Palm Island in the Grenadines has a new beachfront spa featuring frangipani and hibiscus-inspired treatments.

New spa hotels include the Seafire Resort & Spa on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach; the adult-only Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa; and the 46-room Zoëtry Wellness Resort Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Laman Spa and Wellness Centre at Jan Thiel Beach Plaza is Curaçao’s newest. •

Connecting you and the Caribbean

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sense of Adventure

With shorelines and interiors ripe for exploration, the Caribbean’s islands offer active types all manner of adventures.

Ride the waves, head off road or fly through a rainforest... the adrenalin rush starts here!

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Caribbean. In St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, you can glide around the slopes of St Peter Mountain on a series of six lines, the grand finale of which is the Yo-Yo, which teases you with a back and forth motion before the end.

For incredible sea views that go into a hazy, blue blur as you reach speeds of 40mph on an 800-metre long wire, check out the zip line above Labadee, Haiti. You’ll soar over the beach, port Four wheel drives and ocean on this one. Or for jungle You can hike or bike off the beaten thrills, try the zip line at Loterie Farm, a track but why not sit back and watch 300-year-old estate in St the scenery go by instead? From Maarten. the popular beach resort of In Belize you can add Varadero, Cuba, safari-style another dimension to tours give you the chance to d an s Day trip drive your own jeep in a to s ur to helicopter oes magical convoy to the active volcan in le b la ai Yumuri Valley. Pass through are av and village backwaters, cane Saint Lucia rrat se on M fields and pause for a

he great outdoors doesn’t get any greater than in the Caribbean.

Such is the variety of destinations and experiences, visitors in search of fun are spoiled for choice. From soft adventure tours behind the wheel to hard-core thrills such as zipwiring through the treetops, there’s plenty to keep visitors coming back time and again.

snorkel. A visit to Saturno Cave bedecked with stalactites and stalagmites is also among the regular stops.

Alternatively, discover the hidden hilltop views of Saint-Martin astride a sporty quad bike. After getting dusty on dirt roads you can cool off at the stunning Orient Bay. All-terrain vehicles in Grenada take you off the beaten track through the nutmeg, cinnamon and clove plantations that give Grenada its ‘Spice Island’ nickname, before plunging deep into the rainforest of Grand Etang National Park Reserve. The itinerary also includes a pause to admire the tranquil Annadale Waterfall.

Free as a bird Ziplining is a quirky and exhilarating way to get a bird’s eye view of the

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Barbados is a hotspot for water sports

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‘The Monster’ zipline in Puerto Rico can reach speeds of 95mph

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your jungle ride, where one zip line propels you through the bat-filled Jaguar Cave! However, Toro Verde Adventure Park, Puerto Rico, is the one that’s in the Guinness World Records.

As well as eight ‘regular’ zip lines it’s where you will find The Monster. Living up to its name, riders travel for over 1.5 miles at speeds of up to 95mph, plus you are more than 380 metres above the ground. Meanwhile, its sister ride, The Beast, boasts a special harness for head-first travel. That’s just under a mile long – at a more stately speed of around 60mph!

Catch a wave While the warm, calm waters of the Caribbean Sea offer perfect conditions for swimming and snorkelling, it’s the Atlantic Ocean beaches that draw thrillseeking kite surfers and surfboarders.

Saint Lucia and Antigua are hot-spots for kite surfing. Both islands are blessed with crescent-shaped beaches that are buffeted by trade winds, a combination

that aid flights while providing the protection needed to build aerobatic skills. Jabberwock Beach on the north-eastern coast of Antigua, and Sandy Beach on the southern tip of Saint Lucia have kite schools, kit rental and welcoming bars for a cool Carib beer after your work out.

Anse Bonneville on Martinique’s north coast has been dubbed ‘Surfers’ Beach’. Its famous swell attracts a truely international crowd of boarders.

One of the most visually Holid a get an y highs do magnificent spots in the skydiv y higher n’t Caribbean for surfing can ta ing. Dare than ke th devil can be found on the a tand e plunge w s e ith east coast of Barbados. m ju on Sa int-M mp Barreling waves curl in to artin the shore beyond the giant boulders at the sleepy town of Bathsheba. This formation has been called the ‘Soup Bowl’ and is a favourite with surfers who love a challenge. For beginners, Boston Beach at Port Antonio, Jamaica, is perfect fare – as well as the birth place of jerk cuisine! Another sedate introduction can be found on Josiah’s Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Classic coastal thrills in the Caribbean

extreme sports Dominica is known as the green queen of the Caribbean, but underneath her cloak of rainforest flora and fuelled by her seven volcanoes, is a magical geothermal world of hot springs and chasms chiselled out over the centuries.

Those with nerves of steel can descend into this underground world of pools and rock caverns on a canyoning tour.

Prepare to dangle from ropes and wear wet suits, harnesses and helmets.

If you prefer high to low, how about some rock climbing in Cuba? The World Heritage Site of The Valle de Vinales, west of Havana, is strewn with overhanging limestone bluffs and has more than two dozen crags to scale.

Cayman Brac is another great destination for this sport. Angled walls, and vertical faces of pocked-limestone nudge the ocean’s edge and flowstone with stalactites make up the routes. It provides an exciting test for skilled climbers, but you have to bring your own equipment. •

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Victoria Falls in Dominica is a great hiking spot

Surfers should head to the Caribbean islands’ Atlantic coasts

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something for all Take a look at our top tips to bag a Caribbean bargain. That dream holiday is closer than you think ALL BUDGETS

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ou certainly don’t need to be a lottery winner to enjoy what the Caribbean has to offer. In fact, with a little planning, your holiday need cost no more than a traditional shorthaul trip.

Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, ao, Dominica, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St Eustatius, St Maarten, Saint Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

All-inclusive

Dining out

The Caribbean is the birthplace of the all-inclusive, and nowhere does this one-price-tag concept better. Over the years the region’s hotels have continued to add inclusions to their packages, offering everything from 24-hour dining to excursions. Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts, Saint Lucia, St Vincent, Tobago and Turks and Caicos are among the islands that excel at this holiday type, with properties to suit all budgets.

While foodies are well catered for with fine-dining restaurants on islands such as Anguilla, Barbados, the British and US Virgin Islands, Curaçao and Saint Martin, there is much to be said for Caribbean street food. If an eatery or road-side stall attracts a crowd of locals it’s a good place. For around £1.50 you can grab local delicacies such as a quarter of jerk chicken in Jamaica or fried fish and rice in Barbados.

Get more than you paid for Look out for bargains. Throughout the year, and particularly in low season, resorts and hotels boost their occupancy levels by offering valueadded extras such as free child places, room upgrades, and resort credits that can be spent on luxuries like spa treatments and private, candle-lit dinners on the beach. Another popular promotion is free room nights, such as pay for five nights and stay for a week!

Economy of scale For a fun way to reduce costs The more the merrier book a villa. These private applies to villa bookings. abodes often come with staff Pay a flat fee and bring a group to cut your cost that include a housekeeper, per head cook and driver. Some villas can sleep as many as 20 people, and the per-head price goes down the larger the size of your party. Islands with a good stock Jewel Resorts has a number of stunning properties in Jamaica of villas include Anguilla, Barbados,

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T and he sun, se sand free. are a a of th Make th lways pictu em, take e most re lo soci s, and le ts of knowal media t your pals wha t up to you are !

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THE BELIZE TOURISM BOARD

lling in Trave er and b m ay Septe the best w f is o r e e g b Octo e advanta ight to tak otel and fl h lower prices

An aerial view of the Hilton Rose Hall, Jamaica

Home from home

On islands such as Antigua, Barbados, Curaçao, Martinique, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, self-catering options are plentiful and make a great money-saving option. As well as the flexibility it offers, clients get to check out the local shops and markets. Puerto Rico offers guests the chance to experience traditional living with its paradores, a network of small bed-and-breakfast style lodgings.

Whatever your age or budget, there’s a Caribbean holiday to suit

Knot so expensive Tying the knot in the Caribbean can bring huge savings. Many hotels, such as Sandals, Riu and Couples, offer complimentary wedding packages including, for example, sparkling wine and wedding cake. Often all you have to pay for is the local legal paperwork.

Bling and tonic The duty-free jewellery stores across the Caribbean are legendary. For the best deals choose the item you want in the UK, then find its match and haggle while on holiday.

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Belize has great culinary credentials TOBAGO DIVISION OF TOURISM & TRANSPORTATION

Many of the region’s hotel chains and resorts offer complimentary wedding packages for guests

Love the nightlife Clients who opt for self-catering, boutique hotels or villas don’t need to miss out on free entertainment that allinclusive customers get. Instead, they can head for the all night parties that run in many beach bars, especially in Jamaica, St Kitts and Saint Lucia.

Beach weddings in Tobago are a lot of fun

Timing is everything High season in the Caribbean runs from mid-November to Easter. In July and August hotel prices fall but flight prices rise a little, making the Caribbean a competitive summer choice. Prices are lowest in September and October – the so-called rainy season – but most years pass without any extreme weather. •

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Local markets should be on all itineraries

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get The Caribbean sizzles with great ways to get involved, from cookery lessons and photography courses to turtle conservation and making your own chocolate

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run a culinary-focused Club can learn how to Tours’ new Authentic holiday make chocolate, truffles Bahamian cooking and even cocoa-based beauty class will show you how products and enjoy samples of to prepare a traditional chocolate beer, chocolate cocktails and three-course meal under the guidance chocolate tea. a local chef.

Festival goers can even become a farmer on a cocoa plantation for a day, learning how to harvest pods and extract beans. The next day you make a chocolate bar at a local factory.

In Ocho Rios, Jamaica Sandals Resorts offers a Rum, Rhythm and Levi Roots experience, a foodie holiday hosted by Levi Roots, inventor of Reggae Reggae sauce.

At Rosmac’s Herb Garden, Antigua, Antigua owner Rosalyn Simon will teach you about the culinary and medicinal uses of the herbs she grows.

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GET INVOLVED

Chefs at Paradise Beach Nevis, Nevis, will teach budding gourmets how to cook Caribbean dishes, and fishermen how to cook their catch. In Saint Lucia, the Spices Cooking Studio will provide a hands-on cooking experience.

Creole cooking demonstrations also form part of the Cayman Islands’ Cayman Cookout in January 2017, plus there will be wine and mixologist tastings and talks by authors.

In Grenada there are lots of opportunities to get involved in What’s cooking? the annual Grenada Chocolate Whether you are looking to take Festival, which takes place photographs of the Caribbean’s g across the island between fabulous food, or learn how to cook it, bookin Before tour, check May 12 and May 22, 2017. there will be a course to suit all. e r eco a natu ompany’s re For example, Creole cooking is a c su e n e th out ls and guests at the wonderful skill to take dentia erate in a e r c Dragons’ Den star p Mount Cinnamon home. In The Bahamas they o able way Levi Roots is teaming up sustain Resort and Beach Tru Bahamian Food with Sandals Resorts to he idea that Caribbean holidays are simply about relaxing in the sunshine has never been further from the truth. Of course, you will love the laid-back vibe – and certainly make the most of it – but nowadays there’s plenty more to do than lounging by the pool.

Whatever your interest, there’s sure to be a class to boost your skills or improve your knowledge.

Villas built into the Jamaican coastline

way le b a in a t s u s a “ E c o l od g e s a re t ri b u t e t o w a r d s n f o r t o u r is t s t o c o u n it ie s“ lo c a l c o m m GRENADA TOURISM AUTHORITY

progress through the nesting season.

Neighbouring Trinidad has a number of protected turtle nesting sites, including Grande Riviere, the second largest leatherback nesting site in the world. The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa in Puerto Rico also arranges for guests to witness sea turtles coming ashore to lay.

In Jamaica, the Half Moon resort offers a guided nighttime turtle walk. Guided The b turtle tours are also e s t time sea tu to r available in Dominica. to Sep tles is from spot te M On Bequia in The this w mber, thou ay ill g Grenadines, the Old Hegg island vary from h to isla turtle sanctuary operates nd a rescue and breeding programme to save endangered turtles and red-foot tortoises.

Eco-lodges are a sustainable way for tourists to contribute to local communities whilst Budding gourmets experiencing their way of life. can learn how to cook Caribbean spices pack a punch The Amerindian community Caribbean dishes in Guyana offers eco-lodges from talented chefs at Paradise Beach Nevis in a variety of locations.

Belize also has eco lodges for the environmentally Turtles can be seen throughout the Caribbean conscious, with properties ranging from rainforest huts like Orchid Garden EcoVillage, to wooden structures on private Conservation & eco-tourism islands like Thatch Caye Resort.

There are lots of opportunities to help Visitors can explore the colourful art protect and learn about endangered scene in Haiti. The town of Jacmel is green, loggerhead, leatherback and famed for its studios and tours offer the hawksbill turtles. chance to see artists at work.

Volunteers are invited to get involved with the St Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network’s turtle tagging programme.

Sharp shooters Its three-hour guided tour shows how Internationally-acclaimed National Underwater excursions can make for some great pictures the network implements its Geographic photographer tagging. The Barbados Sea Joe McNally will lead an Turtle Project runs between advanced photography Become a farmer for the day on a cocoa November and May and workshop on Saint Lucia plantation in Grenada teaches how to collect in October 2017, using the and learn how to harvest the pods scientific data, identify dramatic topography and tracks and relocate a nest. friendly locals as subjects.

Many hotels operate Learn the tricks of escorted or guided turtle watch trips. underwater photography and Staff at the Grafton Beach Resort videography at Stuart Cove’s Dive and Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort Bahamas in Nassau. The company in Tobago, will escort guests to the provides underwater production Stonehaven nesting beach if egg-laying services for film and television and has turtles or hatchlings are spotted. credits on films including Jaws and Guests at Jumby Bay, Antigua, Flipper. Aimed at serious amateurs, the can also adopt a turtle with a local course will reveal the secrets behind conservation organisation and track its some famous shark film sequences. •

@_LoveCaribbean

Bahamian conch salad is a must-try

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things Fancy swimming with dolphins in St. Kitts, horse-riding in Jamaica or following turtle hatchlings to the sea on Nevis? Animal magic abounds in the Caribbean

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hether it’s dog sleigh and camel rides in Jamaica, swimming with pigs in The Bahamas or visiting the Frigate bird colony in Codrington Lagoon National Park, Barbuda, animal lovers can get up close to all creatures great and small while soaking up the Caribbean sunshine. Here’s our guide to some of the region’s most memorable animal encounters.

ANIMAL MAGIC

March and June there is an excellent chance of meeting whale sharks. These beautiful, passive, creatures, with their white-spotted dark-grey backs, are still scary as they typically range from 25 to 45 feet long!

The best time of day to experience whale sharks is in the morning and you may only need to don a snorkel as they often swim close to the surface. Dive trips to seek out the more menacinglooking white-tipped reef shark are Flip out! available out of New Providence, Swimming with dolphins is top of many The Bahamas, where a wish list and the dream can find feeding sessions come true at destinations s will itcher birding Take an evening stroll on w T lure the creatures that include Tortola in tch g the beach with volunteers top-no ds includin , from their coral reef the British Virgin Islands, ia n from the Nevis Turtle c la u is L t n o in Group – and look out for da, Sa ago Anguilla, Cuba and St Kitts.

Grena d and Tob loggerhead, hawksbill and a In Curaçao visitors Trinid Martinique green turtle hatchlings and to the Dolphin Academy can snorkel alongside these intelligent mammals.

Alternatively, guests can book the trainer programme and get a taste of what it is like to work alongside these sociable creatures.

You don’t even have to leave your hotel to take a ride on a dorsal fin if you stay at Half Moon, Montego Bay, Jamaica or Atlantis, Paradise Island, The Bahamas as both have interactive dolphin facilities on site.

Alternatively, the Haiti Ocean Project offers dolphin and whale-spotting tours, with all funds raised going back to marine research.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on Belize is recognised internationally as the world’s first jaguar preserve

Jaws dropping

Perhaps the ultimate adrenalin rush is to come face to face with one of the most talked about creatures on the planet: sharks.

In Belize, dive operators will take you out to Gladden Spit where between

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Riding on the beach, Grand Cayman

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Barbados is home to many green monkeys

The beautiful scarlet ibis CAYMAN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

to catch the sunrise or sunset, with trails heading through almond forests.

On Barbados horse riding gives you the opportunity to see another side to the island. The hub of Bajan tourism is on the pristine west coast, but venture over to Newcastle on the east coast and you will find a contrasting landscape that’s wild and untamed. Here you can ride through woodland, where you may see green monkeys, and on to sea cliffs and beaches pummeled by Atlantic rollers.

Picnic and full moon rides are two further options.

On Nevis an equestrian adventure takes in historic Keep your eyes peeled for stingray wings sites and Nevisian villages breaking the surface before ending in the of the water and turtles highlands for a view of coming up for air in the Cayman Islands the headlands.

Choose from canters along the sandy beach, walks A Caribbean reef shark in The Bahamas through trails banked by spiky cacti or a Champagne sunset ride ending with toasted marshmallows over a camp fire hideouts. Silky sharks can also be seen in at Seaside Nature Park, St. Maarten. the open seas. Although inquisitive, both species are rarely dangerous.

Stay above the water and try a kayak Rays of sunshine tour of Martinique’s mangroves. Trips Stingrays can be elusive unless you usually last around two hours and are a know where to look, but there are three sedate way to spot all manner of wildlife, places that near guarantee you can including herons, crabs and iguanas. snorkel alongside these kite-shaped fish. Pleasure boats take you out to an area of shallow waters at Stingray City, a Mount pleasant giant sand bank just off shore in Grand Sitting tall in the saddle gives you Cayman. Here, literally scores of these a whole new perspective on the creatures are very used to swimmers landscape. You don’t need to be and almost seem to stop to pose for a seasoned rider either, with most photos with you. Gibb’s Cay a mile or so operations in the region catering for off Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos beginners and experienced horsemen. is another gathering spot for stingrays.

On Grand Cayman you’ll follow your Both locations are edged by reefs that guides along the beaches of West Bay, are home to a technicolored array of while in St Croix, US Virgin Islands, tropical fish. as well as riding along the sandy Antigua also has a stingray encounter shorelines and into the turquoise at Mercer’s Creek Bay. Guests are ferried waters, you get to trot up to a hilltop by boat to platforms in the ocean where to see a sugar mill. Those who step into they can slip into a pool alive with the stirrups while on holiday in Jamaica Southern rays and be shown how to will traverse farmland before entering hold and feed them by experts. • the sea. In Puerto Rico, rides are timed

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Swimming with stingrays in Antigua

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with a view If you are looking for world-class golf the Caribbean will suit you down to a tee.

From Barbados to Nevis there are beautiful courses and resorts guaranteed to drive you wild!

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he Caribbean has courses that suit beginners and more serious golfers.

Take Golf de la Martinique, a fun course with some tricky sections thrown in for experienced players, or try the Blue Bay Golf Club in Curaçao, which has an acclaimed academy to help players perfect their game.

Barbados: Green Monkey, Sandy Lane Designed by Tom Fazio, the Green Monkey is regularly featured in the Caribbean’s top 10 – but you have to be a guest at the luxury hotel to play here. Green fees are $390, but you can expect rolling fairways winding their way through limestone rock faces and golf carts with GPS!

The Grenadines: Grenadines Estate Golf Club On Canouan Island, the club is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. It rises from sea level to the 840ft-high rim of an extinct volcano. The picturesque 13th offers stunning views of neighbouring Mustique and Mayreau.

golf

Martinique: Golf de la Martinique Otherwise known as ‘Empress Josephine’ (after the wife of

Napoléon Bonaparte who came from the island) this pretty course exploits Martinique’s tropical topography, with holes rising and falling around the coast.

golfer-friendly Pineapple Course; and the scenic West Course with sloping greens and bunkers aplenty.

Curaçao: Old Quarry Gold Resort Completed in 2010 by the

This championship course, billed as the Caribbean’s answer to Pebble Beach, is designed by Greg Norman and offers breathtaking views of St Maarten. Great care has been taken to allow natural habitats to flourish in the revitalised Merrywing salt pond.

famous golf course designer Pete Dye, this is located at the Santa Barbara Plantation and is named after its 19th century limestone quarry. Challenging players of all skill levels, the course meanders between the Caribbean Sea, the slopes of Tafelberg Mountain and the sheltered bay, Spanish Water.

Jamaica: White Witch The island boasts more than 12 courses but White Witch is among the best. The course winds its way through the former Rose Hall sugar plantation, with sea views from 16 of its 18 holes. The ghost of Annie Palmer, the 19th-century “white witch” of Rose Hall is thought to haunt the estate. Guests of Hyatt Ziva & Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall receive one free round.

The Bahamas: Albany & Sandals Emerald Bay Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Ernie Els have homes on the prestigious Albany estate, New Providence. Windswept dunes, huge lakes and desert vegetation provide a test on this Els-designed course.

Meanwhile, the Sandals Emerald Bay course, designed by Greg Norman on a stunning peninsula, will provide challenges and scenic views aplenty.

Puerto Rico: Dorado Beach

Spectacular views from Nevis’ golf courses

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The Caribbean is a golfer’s paradise

There are four superb courses running through the lush jungle and oceanfront coconut groves of this large resort: the East Championship Course, recently restored by Robert Trent Jones Jr; the demanding Sugarcane Course with its deep bunkers, rivers and lakes; the

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Anguilla: CuisinArt Golf Resort

Nevis: Four Seasons Resort Oceanside holes with views across to St Kitts are a feature on this Robert Trent Jones II course. The acclaimed 15th hole rises 450 feet to Nevis Peak, where green vervet monkeys are eager spectators. Guests at the resort can enjoy two complimentary golf clinics.

Haiti: Petionville Club Golfers can now tee off in Haiti, where an undulating nine-hole links course opened in May 2016.

Antigua: Jolly Harbour Beach This course, designed by Karl Litten, is set in lush, tropical parkland on the west coast of the island. The Caribbean Sea is often in view, as are the course’s seven lakes, which affect 10 holes.

Free golf: Jamaica, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados Play for free at Sandals golf resorts in Jamaica, Saint Lucia and The Bahamas.

Guests at Jewel Resorts’ Paradise Cove and Dunn’s River in Jamaica also get complimentary green fees at the Runaway Bay golf club, near Ocho Rios.

St Maarten: Mullet Bay Golf Course This course surrounds a lagoon, and is speckled with palms and tropical flowers. •

The Abacos

PRIMARY LANGUAGES SPOKEN

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English unless indicated

■ French

■ Spanish

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Martinique

St. Vincent & The Grenadines

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of caribbean destinations

The Caribbean is the perfect place for explorers diverse in culture, nature and amazing experiences

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destinations

ravellers could spend a lifetime exploring this region, which has more than 3,000 islands, cays and islets – not to mention the vibrant Caribbean-facing nations on the South American subcontinent – there’s something to suit every taste, interest and budget.

You’ll never have to look for a place to lay your towel in the Caribbean. There are so many beaches that some islands have a stretch of sand for every day of the year!

But it’s not just about the sun and sand.

Beyond the beach, visitors will find a huge array of activities – from hiking and biking to zip-lining and whale watching. And great diving and snorkelling goes without saying in this marine paradise.

Culture vultures will be spoilt for choice, with each island and country telling its own

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story. Learn about the culture, history, traditions and rich heritage of the region, developed over centuries by English, Spanish, Dutch and French-speaking inhabitants. Taste this fascinating fusion in the food and see it in the people and their everyday lives.

The Caribbean can satisfy every wish.

Couples can find romantic resorts offering beautiful wedding and honeymoon packages, those looking for pampering can head to top-class spas and sports fans will find championship golf courses.

You don’t have to pick one destination!

Excellent transport links and close proximity mean combining two or more destinations is a breeze! Read our A to Z country guide to make your choice and plan the perfect Caribbean holiday! •

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+44 (0) 207 736 6030

ANGUILLA

info@anguilla-tourism.com

AnguillaOfficial

@Anguilla_Trsm

ivisitanguilla.com

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nguilla is one of the Caribbean’s finest Anguilla’s accommodation is hard to surpass. treasures, small in size, contemporary in When it comes to cuisine you will be equally style and with a big reputation! spoilt for choice on Anguilla, with the island This wonderful island measures just boasting over 100 restaurants offering 35 square miles and is lined with 33 international and local cuisine.

T pristine white-sand beaches and For the energetic there is a wealth KEY EVEN August, clear, turquoise-coloured waters. of sporting activities on both land Held every mmer Su With some of the Caribbean’s and sea, while heritage, culture the Anguilla e island th finest international hotels and and music feature in the island’s Festival sees come and visitors music, luxury spa resorts, and an many lively festivals and events. y enjo enviable choice of villas, intimate Stop, breathe, admire the scenery together to d an pageantry hotels and guest houses, and relax! ng ci ra t oa b

Fast Facts Travelling to Anguilla from the UK is easiest via Antigua, St Maarten, Puerto Rico or the United States This small British Caribbean island is home to 14,500 proud Anguillians Crayfish and lobster is the national dish The island boasts over 120 restaurants Sailing and boat racing is the island’s national sport Kite Surfing, paddle boarding and scuba diving are all on offer to explore Anguilla’s beautiful waters and reefs

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA +44 (0) 20 3668 3800

tourisminfo@aandbtourism.com

AntiguaBarbuda

@antiguabarbuda

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

visitantiguabarbuda.com

Fast Facts ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Antigua has 365 beaches – one for every day of the year Antigua is the winter capital of the yachting world Nelson’s Dockyard is the world’s only working Georgian dockyard

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Antigua Car nival – the Carib ntigua and Barbuda provides several local companies. What’s bea greatest sum n’s the ultimate Caribbean more, all the attractions are m er festival – w escape, with 365 glorious never more than 45 minutes ill take plac e at the end of beaches, rich colonial history, away from each other.

July and beginning of August first-class hotels and resorts, Antigua’s sister island Barbuda, in 2017 sporting history, exhilarating with a population of under 2,000 excursions and captivating culture. people, is perhaps the Caribbean’s Yet the beach really is just the best-kept secret. Barbuda’s 17-mile beginning! These sister-islands offer a wide stretch of unspoilt pink sand beach is just variety of excursions, from swimming with the waiting to be explored and, uniquely, the stingrays at Stingray City to zip-lining through island is also home to the largest Frigate Bird the rainforest or hiking in the hills with one of Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.

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@_LoveCaribbean

There are over 24 different destination excursions, including swimming and snorkelling with stingrays Travel to Antigua with nonstop flights from London The islands are known as the sailing and romance capital of the Caribbean

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BAHAMAS

info@bahamas.co.uk

+44 (0) 207 355 0800

BTO1973

@Explore_Bahamas

BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM

bahamas.co.uk

British Airways flies direct to Nassau four times a week from the UK or fly via the U.S. to many of the islands Bahama Mama is a rum-based fruit cocktail with a kick Reach the Swimming Pigs of The Exumas by boat trip Conch salad, pronounced ‘konk’, is a seafood finely chopped with tomato, onion, peppers and squeeze of orange and lime

BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM

Fast Facts

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Junkanoo! W hether ixteen main islands stand out experience, take home and cherish. its a festival as jewels in this beautiful Blissful relaxation, exhilarating Year, carniv at New al island chain, as does the laidchallenges and real once-in-aor Junkanoo in spring Summer in July/Augus back rhythm of life, colourful lifetime adventures, you’ll find t, come and traditions and rich culture to be everything you’re looking for in join the fun! found on each and every one.

The Islands Of The Bahamas and Discover your island treasures, the waters that surround them. whether on the best known islands With beaches recognised as some of and resorts of Nassau/Paradise Island and the most beautiful – and water the clearest Grand Bahama Island or an unfamiliar island – in the world, time spent at the shore, on or in just waiting to be explored. Each and every the water is an absolute delight. Do everything island is waiting to share its stories for you to or nothing at all – ‘It’s Better In The Bahamas’.

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Long John Pilsner and Black Beer’d Stout are two of the new craft beers from the Pirate Republic Brewery

BARBADOS +44 (0) 20 7299 7175

BTMI-UK@visitbarbados.org

VisitBarbados

@barbados

visitbarbados.org

F Fast Facts Barbados is the easternmost Caribbean island and measures 21 miles long by 14 miles wide The capital of Barbados is Bridgetown

or those who aspire to more than just a Inland, the diverse terrain of the island offers a day spent upon white sandy beaches and number of activities to enjoy: explore unspoilt beneath perfect blue skies, Barbados terrain with a 4x4 safari adventure, discover offers many exciting diversions the water-carved caverns of Harrison’s Cave to satisfy even the most or hike among the flora and fauna of the T EN EV KEY adventurous soul.

Welchman Hall Gully and Flower Forest. n Ru al The annu Offshore, the ocean Voted the Best Destination for nd ke ee Barbados W ery beckons with the call of Activity and Adventure Holidays at the ev ce la p s take a catamaran cruise or Telegraph Caribbean Travel Awards, and includes December a diving expedition to visitors can enjoy zip-lining, hiking, /10k races, 5k a fun run, n and explore the shipwreck paddle boarding, diving, snorkelling and half maratho capital of the Caribbean. surfing in beautiful Barbados. marathon

Barbados has a year-round tropical climate, with average temperatures between 24°C and 29°C

Popular national dishes are cou-cou and flying fish

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BARBADOS TOURISM MARKETING INC.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Thomas Cook all fly to Barbados

BARBADOS TOURISM MARKETING INC.

The island’s population is around 285,000

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belize@brightergroup.com

+44 (0) 20 7326 9880

BELIZE @belizevacation

TravelBelize

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THE BELIZE TOURISM BOARD

traddling the Caribbean and Central can explore thousands of acres of forest for a America, Belize’s dual identity makes it closer look at the natural beauty of its flora and the most unique holiday destination. This hot fauna – and you might even encounter a jaguar spot for travellers provides visitors an or two at one of the only jaguar reserves authentic non-touristy experience of in the world. a mixture of cultures and traditions, Exploration is only half of the T EN EV Y KE ivals rich culinary offerings, history, fun. Visitors can also escape to Lobster fest dense and unchartered jungles, any of more than 400 tropical ne with the begin in Ju San Pedro, in and beautiful islands fringed islands, where diving the second ld he st fir Placencia, by white sandy beaches and largest barrier reef in the world followed by in Caye turquoise waters. and snorkelling with sharks are an and ending ster b Caulker. Lo For a taste of Belize, visitors absolute must-do. galore!

Fast Facts Belize is home to the first and only jaguar reserve in the world – Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 80% of the Meso-American Barrier Reef lies off the country’s coastline. It is the second largest reef system in the world Belize’s Black Howler monkeys are one of the world’s loudest animals

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The country’s main language is English but its population comprises Creole, Garifuna, Maya, East Indians, Hispanics, Mestizo, Mennonites and Caucasians

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS +44 (0) 207 355 9585

info@bvitourism.com

BritishVirginIs.UK

BVIslands_UK

bvitourism.co.uk

Fast Facts Situated between the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, just east of Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands is a family of 60 islands and cays

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The British Islands’ Spri Virgin ng Regatta & Sailing fe stiv of the larges al is one t in the Carib regattas bea bvispringreg n. See atta.org

he natural allure and mystique of the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) beckons many to discover the enriching personality and charm of the 60 islands and cays that comprise this archipelago.

For many, the exciting journey of Nature’s Little Secrets begins by exploring our tranquil shores or navigating through the deep to discover exotic marine life. In the British Virgin Islands every day is a tropical dream where you can relax in a

hammock suspended between swaying palm trees or retreat to your own private cove to leave your footprints in the sand.

For the uninhibited, island hopping around the British Virgin Islands is the best way to appreciate the contrasts between these unique islands where one can experience the ruins, national parks, cultural exhibits and dine on signature culinary dishes, as well as simply enjoying some peace and tranquility. @_LoveCaribbean

Connecting airports surround the BVIs, making arrivals and departures from Tortola (EIS) an easy part of your journey.

You can fly into Antigua (ANU), St. Maarten (SXM) or San Juan (SJU) The average temperature is between 26-30°C The official language of the islands is English while the currency is the US dollar The BVIs are often called the sailing capital of the world

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CAYMAN ISLANDS info-uk@caymanislands.ky

+44 (0) 207 491 7771

@cayman_islands

EuropeVisitCaymanIslands

caymanislands.co.uk

Fast Facts The Cayman Islands are made up of three islands: cosmopolitan Grand Cayman, adventurous Cayman Brac and idyllic Little Cayman British Airways flies to the Cayman Islands four times a week from London Heathrow The islands are home to more species of flora and fauna than the Galapagos Islands There are over 365 dive sites, ranging from shipwrecks to breathtaking coral reefs With over 200 restaurants on the islands, foodies will delight at the sheer choice

CUBA +44 (0) 207 240 6655

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The Pirates W Festival take eek s every Novem place b is filled with er and street dance music, s, fireworks an parade, d a pirate invasion!

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he Cayman Islands are three of life’s little luxuries, offering a unique destination to couples, families and adventure seekers alike. Incredible scenery, worldclass diving, luxury resorts and amazing cuisine create memories you will never forget.

In Grand Cayman visitors can while away days on the white sands of Seven Mile Beach and encounter native blue iguana and friendly stingrays. Evenings are spent in vibrant bars

tourism@travel2cuba.co.uk

and dining under the stars or exploring the natural wonder of bioluminescence by kayak.

Its sister islands are a world away from cosmopolitan Grand Cayman. There’s Cayman Brac, with its magnificent 42-metre bluff, bat caves, forest trails and rare birds.

And the smallest of the three islands, Little Cayman’s pleasures include diving the worldrenowned Bloody Bay Wall and its secluded palm-lined beaches.

MinturCuba.UK

travel2cuba.co.uk

W Fast Facts Cuba is 42,804 square miles and has a population of 11.25 million people Cuba is home to several UNESCO biosphere reserves, parks and ecological reserves

ith a coastline surrounded by tranquil relaxed but lively, with the exotic aroma of waters, Cuba continues to be that same fruits and the flavour of rum. seductive island which one day The incredible mixture of music, dance, appeared before a Genoese art and passion forms the heady creative sailor, eager to unearth its mosaic which is so characteristic of this unknown treasures. extraordinary and captivating island.

T EN KEY EV l Its charms are as many A highlight of the annual events na io at rn Havana Inte egan in as its different shades of calendar is Cuba’s International Jazz b al iv st Fe Ballet ome ec green, and it is a mixture Festival which takes place in Havana b s ha d 1960 an dest of its of cities and natural every December, while the island is one of the ol wide landscapes, of sensual home to more than 250 musuems, art kind world dances and songs. Cuba is galleries and public exhibitions.

CUBA TOURIST BOARD

The towns and cities of Cuba are surprising for their variety of architectural styles: baroque, neo-gothic, neoclassical, eclectic, art nouveau, art deco, modernist and post-modernist

CUBA TOURIST BOARD

Museum cities of extraordinary charm can be found all over the island

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+31 70 891 66 00

CURACAO info@ctbe.nl

curacaotb

@CuracaoTravel

curacao.com

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Fast Facts Curaçao is a melting pot of more than 50 nationalities and 150,000 inhabitants Afro-Caribbean traditions continue to shape Curaçao to the present day. Examples include the colourful language, Tambú music, cookery, religion and spirituality

CURAÇAO TOURIST BOARD EUROPE

CURAÇAO TOURIST BOARD EUROPE

ith its colourful population and its Mountain and admire the view of the Curaçao authentic architecture, Curaçao is one of countryside; stroll around Willemstad to see the most beautiful and interesting islands of the unique colourful houses at the Handelskade; the Caribbean. The island is about 40 visit the country mansions, or ‘landhuizen’ miles from Venezuela and if you are as the locals call them; dance a looking for sunshine, pearly white passionate salsa while drinking a T EN EV Y KE kes beaches and a turquoise sea you cocktail on a trendy beach; or eat Carnival ta ao aç have found the right place. a pastechi at a Snèk. place in Cur March y/ ar ru But it doesn’t stop there: rent a Curaçao is picturesque, honest, b Fe y ever of music, car and go on a road trip to unrestrained, colourful and and is a mix art and s, discover the island; take an early diverse, with a beauty that never street partie folklore morning hike up the Christoffel ends. Discover it yourself!

Curaçao has a wide choice of accommodation, whether you’re looking for quiet luxury or local colour. Choose anything from beach resorts to charming B&Bs with homecooked meals Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage City where St. Anna Bay divides the city

+44 (0) 207 326 9880

DOMINICA

Dominica@brightergroup.com

DiscoverDominica

@Nature_Island

dominica.dm

Fast Facts Dominica is home to Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern Caribbean Dominica is rated as one of the top ten dive locations in the world

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The 19th A nn World Creol ual eM Festival will usic be returning to Dominica in October 2017 See dominic . a festivals.co m

ying south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique, Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) is a haven for adventurous travellers, offering hiking, cultural events and festivals, diving and water sports, whale or dolphin-watching and exciting canyoning adventures.

Known as ‘The Nature Island’, Dominica’s tropical rainforests cover two-thirds of the island and are home to over 1,200 plant species and a plethora of wildlife.

The volcanic topography means there is extensive geothermal activity, even underwater, which makes Dominica a haven for adventure divers and hikers alike.

Dominica is also home to the Eastern Caribbean’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, and the Caribbean’s first long-distance walking trail, the Waitukubuli National Trail, which extends across the length of the island. @_LoveCaribbean

It is the only Caribbean island with a walking trail that extends the length of it – the Waitukubuli National Trail Dominica is the only country in the world where sperm whales reside year-round It is the only Caribbean island with a population of preColumbian Carib Indians

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GRENADA

gta@eyes2market.co.uk

+44 (0) 208 328 0644

discovergrenada

@puregrenada

puregrenada.com

Fast Facts Grenada is a similar size to the Isle of Wight English is the official language East Caribbean and US dollars are used. ATMs are available Three-prong UK plugs can be used in Grenada Regattas provide a lively celebration for guests to join Rain showers are known as ‘liquid sunshine’ Cars drive on the same side of the road as in the UK Couples can legally marry after one day on the island

KEY EVEN

K

TS

Pure Grena nown as ‘The Spice Isle’, Spices, citrus fruits and vivacious da Festival (5-7 Music Grenada is made up of three blooms thrive on this tropical M ay ), Grenada C distinct islands: Grenada – with paradise isle, also known for its ho (from 12 M colate Fest ay) 2017 an the capital St George’s – plus high calibre accommodation. d Carnival (A ug 14/15) Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Iconic Grand Anse Beach is Guests are guaranteed a warm Grenada’s show-stopper, wowing welcome wherever they go in beach lovers with a two-mile stretch Grenada, whether hiking through the of pristine sherbet-white sand that rainforest, snorkelling through the world’s gently shelves into the glistening waters of first Underwater Sculpture Park, collecting the Caribbean Sea. Grenada offers a lifestyle so cocoa with farmers or simply ‘liming’ on the pure and authentic that visitors will feel totally white sand beaches. renewed after visiting the island.

GUYANA 00 592 219 0094/96

info@guyana-tourism.com

GuyanaUndiscovered

@TourismGuyana

guyana-tourism.com

S Fast Facts Guyana is 83,000 square miles with 10 administrative regions that spread across the three counties of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice St. George’s Cathedral in Georgetown is reputed to be one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings

et between the Caribbean and the Amazon unspoilt beaches and sugar plantations. rainforest, Guyana presents an intriguing Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, presents an mix of cultures and a staggeringly unusual cultural cocktail: it’s a place where varied topography. Inland British colonial architecture and Hindu you’ll find rugged mountains, temples co-exist. tumbling waterfalls and vast Guyana’s biggest attraction is its focus T EN KEY EV swathes of wild jungle that on nature and adventure tourism. an is i Mashraman are home to giant otters, Visitors can travel into the jungle by tion of ra b le ce al annu black caiman and the boat via its network of rivers, to spot oming a Guyana bec s place ke elusive jaguar. wildlife and visit the Kaieteur Falls, ta It republic. ary Head to the country’s a single-drop waterfall five times the every Febru pristine coastline to find height of Niagara Falls.

The climate is warm and tropical, averaging 24-32˚C

46 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

GUYANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Accommodation ranges from basic rainforest retreats and ranches to colonial-style guest houses on the coast

GUYANA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Guyana is the only South American country where English is the official language

@_LoveCaribbean

+509 2816.3208

info@haititourisme.gouv.ht

HAITI

Haititourisme

@tourismhaiti

tourisme.gouv.ht

H

SIMON RUSSELL PHOTOGRAPHY

aiti is a unique destination, alive with fortresses. Organised tours can also be arranged beautiful white sand beaches, art, music, for visitors and include whale watching. history, great cuisine and culture dating back Haiti’s culture, art, music and cuisine over 2000 years. accompany visitors throughout their Divided into 10 geographical journey, whether it’s for leisure or T departments, with Port-au-Prince its business. The mountainous country KEY EVEN re capital and Cap-Haitian its second creates the most stunning views Haiti’s cultu town, Haiti receives multiple daily and sunsets in the Caribbean is filled with its ur and flights from major airports and and a combination of beautiful music, colo enowned lly-r airlines around the world. settings and international-standard internationa e yearly voodoo. Th Its tourist attractions include accommodation means it’s perfect e ac kes pl Carnival ta amazing waterfalls, caves and for weddings and groups as well. ce in Pr u-a in Port

Fast Facts Haiti is the third largest Caribbean country Haiti is sold as a beach destination and as a touring destination for its unique historic, cultural and natural patrimony Haiti has 525 hotels that can accommodate around 10,000 visitors simultaneously and include Haitian-owned hotels and major international chains like Marriott, Best Western, Occidental Hotels, NH Hotels and Royal Decameron Haiti received more than 400,000 overnight visitors in 2015

+44 (0) 20 7225 9090

JAMAICA

mail@visitjamaica.com

visitjamaicauk

@visitjamaicauk

visitjamaica.com

JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD UK

JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD UK

Fast Facts

KEY EVEN TS

Reggae Mar amaica offers a multitude of your shoes. Or if you are seeking (December athon ), Jazz and Blue Jamaica activities for visitors of all ages adventure, choose from over 175 s festival (January), Re and interests. From clear blue attractions: play with friendly gg Sumfest (Jul ae waters to mouthwatering dishes bottle nose dolphins or take an y) , Independen and misty mountains, Jamaica exhilarating bobsled ride through ce Day (August 6) promises to be a memorable the rainforest at Mystic Mountain. experience for all visitors.

You can visit the home of the Whether you take a stroll along legendary Bob Marley or dine at Usain Montego Bay’s Hip Strip for entertainment Bolt’s Tracks and Records. Jamaica is known and shopping, or bask in the sunshine on soft for its friendly people and reggae vibes. Visit white sands at Negril’s Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica, ‘The Home of All Right’, for your Jamaica is the perfect destination to kick-off perfect holiday experience.

J

@_LoveCaribbean

The main airports in Jamaica are Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay), Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston) and Ian Fleming Airport (Ocho Rios) EU citizens do not require a visa to travel to Jamaica The official language of Jamaica is English The island’s time zone is GMT -5hrs or BST -6hrs British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Thomson and Thomas Cook offer direct flights to Jamaica

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 47

MARTINIQUE infos@martiniquetourisme.com

+33 1 44 77 86 00

@cmtmartinique

MartiniqueMagnifique

COMITÉ MARTINIQUAIS DU TOURISME

martinique.org

Fast Facts COMITÉ MARTINIQUAIS DU TOURISME

Dolphins love Martinique.

The island is a sanctuary where many species are protected. You can see them all year long The island measures 1,100 square miles The currency is the euro The population of Martinique is 403,000

KEY EVEN T

Martinique com alive with th es rhythm of p e ar and a whirl ades colour durin wind of g - February Carnival 26- March 10, 2017

I

f Martinique is an island of celebrations, it is equally one of great food. Creole cuisine abounds, with influences from several continents (Africa, India and Europe) that blend wonderfully. Culinary workshops are now available in Martinique for guests who would like to discover the most typical and authentic dishes. Find out more at macuisinecreole.fr Experiencing the other side of Martinique

Martinique’s official language is French The island’s main city is Fort de France The local tipple? Try a Biere Lorraine

means going back to the source and daily contact with nature in the north: refreshing rivers, waterfalls, hiking, bird watching, horse riding; plus turquoise water all over the island for snorkelling, dolphin watching, stand-up paddling, kitesurfing, diving... there are many activities, landscapes and experiences to help you enjoy Martinique and feel just like you’re in paradise. Martinique is a magical island.

MONTSERRAT +1 664 491 2230/4703

info@montserrattourism.ms

islandofMontserrat

visitmontserrat.com

F Fast Facts Montserrat, a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles, lies 27 miles southwest of Antigua It is one of 14 UK Overseas Territories, governed by an elected premier and parliament

ondly known as the ‘Emerald Isle’ of the modern-day Pompeii, while in contrast, the rest Caribbean, this pear-shaped island is of the island flourishes with green mountains, a traveller’s paradise for nature world-class nature, hiking trails, deserted dark lovers, divers, adventurers, sand beaches, untouched reefs and friendly families, villa vacationers charm reminiscent of the way the CaribbeT and honeymooners. an used to be.

KEY EVEN with its t, ra The former capital city Montserrat offers a unique niche of er ts on M ritage, (the star attraction) ‘residential tourism’, boasting some rich Irish he trick’s St Pa Plymouth, is buried in exclusive accommodation, all of which celebrates national Day with a volcanic ash, a transformaprovides a serene lifestyle with all the d an ay holid tion that likens this British amenities for a laid-back, Caribbean festival week-long Overseas Territory to a getaway in this well-kept secret.

The island has a population of approximately 4,900 DAVID MAC GILLIVARY -MONTSERRAT TOURIST

The official language is English with a strong local accent The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, although the US dollar is accepted locally The national dish is called Goat Water – a delicious stew

48 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

NEVIS

info@nevisisland.com

+44 (0) 207 644 9988

@NevisNaturally

NevisNaturally

nevisisland.com

N

evis is one of the most unspoilt and genuineness of its locals - never is a smiling relaxing islands in the Caribbean. face far away.

Vividly green with blue skies, clean air and Nevis is the island for all people. Romantic, long, empty beaches, Nevis has a pace charming, historic and idyllic, this little of life that encourages you to stop gem shines even brighter than its and appreciate all the natural brilliant seas.

T KEY EVEN beauty around you. Sea turtles It is the ideal setting for the d an go an M The Nevis and stingrays fill its tranquil ultimate getaway, a romantic ld he is al Food Festiv See waters, while green vervet wedding or your perfect every July. / monkeys play on land. honeymoon. om .c d an sl si nevi tival It’s a very special place, famed Come and discover this es -f d oo -f mango for its charm and the easy-going remarkable jewel for yourself.

Fast Facts Nevis boasts the perfect temperate climate - average temperature is between 25°C and 28°C all year round Nevis Peak is a dormant volcano with interior rainforest There are no fast food chains on the island and more than 25 restaurants There are no stop lights on the island, and no building is taller than the palm trees

Natural habitat for endangered sea turtles – while there are more monkeys than people on the island

NEVIS TOURISM AUTHORITY

NEVIS TOURISM AUTHORITY

All beaches are public

+44 (0) 207 593 1782

PUERTO RICO puertorico@hillsbalfour.com

SeePuertoRico

@PRTourismCo

seepuertorico.com

Fast Facts From November 2, 2016 you’ll be able to fly direct to Puerto Rico from the UK with Norwegian There are seven bioluminescent bays in the world and three are in Puerto Rico

KEY EVEN

T

Visit the n enticing blend of sunhaciendas on top of the central Sebastian St San reet Festival drenched beaches, mountain range. in Old San Ju picturesque cities steeped in To make the most of their January 19-2 an from 2, 2017. The history, and El Yunque Rainforest stay, guests can opt for a mix of Puerto Rica n’s know – the only tropical rainforest in the town and country, or set out on how to party !

US National Forest System – Puerto a spectacular fly-drive adventure.

Rico’s culture, natural beauty and A break in San Juan is perfectly activities make it a winning Caribbean coupled with Vieques, one of the leastholiday destination every time. touched isles in the Caribbean. Alternatively, Accommodation options range from five-star explore Puerto Rico’s beguiling culture and luxury resorts located right on the beach to natural beauty on a fascinating road-trip like restored convents in the town plaza and coffee no other.

A

@_LoveCaribbean

There are 23 golf courses in Puerto Rico; the majority are championship level The piña colada was invented here in 1954 at the Caribe Hilton, San Juan Casa Bacardi, San Juan, is the world’s largest rum distillery Old San Juan is the oldest city on US territory

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 49

SAINT EUSTATIUS +599 318 2433

teena.lopes@statiatourism.com

St-Eustatius-Tourism

@StatiaTourism

Fast Facts Statia Day, a national holiday each November 16, sees activities take place on the streets of Oranjestad nightly for a week

CEES TIMMERS PHOTOGRAPHY

CEES TIMMERS PHOTOGRAPHY

statiatourism.com

It’s a day to reflect on Statia’s role in America’s history, but for most it is a day to celebrate the culture and heritage of Statia The public stage is lit every evening from 6pm and booths are lined up along the street with local dishes such as conch and dumpling Artists such as Destra, Alison Hinds, Demarco, Onion and Morgan Heritage have all performed on Statia Day

KEY EVEN

The Statia C T arnival is held ever y year in the last two weeks of July. The wee filled with m k is us dance, food ic, and pageantry

T

he town of Oranjestad is a winding, cobblestonecovered collection of mostly 18th century Dutch colonial buildings and scattered small homes. On a sunny Saturday its stony streets have a certain opaque gleam.

These streets are mostly empty. If you squint you can see something else – outdoor cafes; a street trumpeter; some tourists taking snapshots of the old walls; the hum of an art gallery. Many don’t see these

SAINT KITTS +44 (0) 20 7376 0881

uk@stkittstourism.kn

StKittsTourism

things because St Eustatius is yet to be ‘discovered’. Whilst it’s just a 20-minute flight from St Maarten, with five regular Winair flights each day, this island of around 4,000 people is not yet a major tourism destination.

But it has the elements of one: crystalclear waters perfect for diving; a group of green small mountains ready to be hiked; a beautiful stretch called Oranje Bay at Lower Town; and the town of Oranjestad.

@StKittsTourism

stkittstourism.kn

U Fast Facts Dormant volcano Mt Liamuiga, standing at 3,792ft, can be seen from anywhere on the island Green vervet monkeys, brought in as pets by the French, now outnumber the St Kitts population

niquely located where the Caribbean and which, with the historic UNESCO Brimstone Atlantic oceans meet, visitors to St Kitts Hill Fortress and Scenic Railway, top the list of are spoilt for choice, whether in must-do’s on the island. pursuit of adventures on land Unspoilt beaches offer a variety of sporting and sea, romance, family fun options from scuba diving to skydiving; as T or relaxation. well as a choice of beach bars for a lively KEY EVEN Kitts Spectacular landscapes atmosphere, local specialities and rum The new St k in Wee and the ecological wonder cocktails. Annual events give visitors the Restaurant a rs to si July offers vi le local of the island’s lush opportunity to experience the island’s mp chance to sa ishes at rainforest and dormant culture, while genuine hospitable people d y lit specia Mount Liamuiga, present round up the attractions of this authentic unts great disco endless hiking opportunities destination.

St. Kitts is served twice-weekly from London Gatwick by British Airways scheduled flights Brimstone Hill Fortress was once known as the ‘Gibraltar of the West Indies’ The St Kitts scenic railway tour is the only tour of its kind in the Caribbean

50 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

+44 (0) 20 7341 7000

SAINT LUCIA sltbinfo@stluciauk.org

SaintLuciaUK

@SaintLuciaUK

saintluciauk.org

T

he uplifting island of Saint Lucia is a adventure, there is an abundance of activities sensory delight. Naturally beautiful, the from cocoa plantation tours and creole cookery island is one of the most picturesque in the classes to zip-lining through the rainforest, Caribbean, with its stunning Piton snorkelling, boat cruises and much more.

Mountains, lush rainforest, palmParty at Gros Islet ‘Jump Up’ or head T fringed beaches and idyllic bays. If to Rodney Bay Village for a great KEY EVEN Jazz & you are looking for a great place choice of restaurants and bars. But Saint Lucia held in to stay, choose from a boutique the real beauty of Saint Lucia lies Arts Festival ational rn hotel, spacious villa or luxurious in its people, renowned for their May has inte reggae d resort – there is something for warmth and hospitality. jazz, RnB an rming artists perfo everyone.

Come and experience Simply on ge at historic Pi For those seeking culture and Beautiful Saint Lucia for yourself. nd la Is

Fast Facts The island is just 14 miles wide and 27 miles long The beautiful Piton Mountains are one of the most recognised landmarks in the Caribbean Did you know Saint Lucia has working cocoa plantations where visitors can make their own chocolate?

Nature lovers will be in for a treat as the island offers bird, whale, dolphin, and turtlewatching tours Saint Lucia has been voted World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination eight times

+1 721 549 0200

SAINT MAARTEN info@vacationsstmaarten.com

vacationstmaarten

@StMaartenTravel

vacationstmaarten.com

St. Maarten is the smallest landmass (37 square miles) in the world shared by two nations (Holland & France)

ST MAARTEN TOURIST BUREAU

ST MAARTEN TOURIST BUREAU

Fast Facts

It is little wonder St. Maarten is known as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean: it offers over 350 restaurants

KEY EVEN T

St. Maart Carnival ta en t. Maarten is the smallest island beaches for holidaymakers to kes place from April in the world to be shared by relax and play on. St. Maarten is 17 to May 3, 2017 and two nations: the Netherlands and home to many historical, unique includes a line-up of p ageants an France. So expect a Europeanfamily-oriented attractions. d dance and musical influenced vibe twinned with Watersport enthusiasts can enjoy performan ces Caribbean flair. exploring the island through scuba Known as the gastronomical diving and snorkelling. capital of the Caribbean islands, St St Maarten’s capital, Philipsburg, Maarten offers eclectic dining with over 300 offers a range of duty-free shopping with a restaurants on this 37-square-mile island. bustling city atmosphere, while no fewer than The island is located at the northern end of 14 casinos and numerous nightclubs provide the Lesser Antilles, with 37 square miles of endless entertainment for visitors to the island.

S

@_LoveCaribbean

Multiple currencies are accepted, including euro/US dollar/guilder/florin The island has a population of around 70,000 Official languages are English, French and Dutch Looking for some local flavour – try conch and dumplings

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 51

SAINT-MARTIN paris@iledesaintmartin.org

00 33 1 53 29 99 99

ot.sxm

@ilesaintmartin

Fast Facts

LAURENT BENOIT

LAURENT BENOIT

stmartinisland.org

Saint-Martin is just 37 square miles in size The local currency is the euro but visitors can also use the US dollar and the guilder/ florin Languages spoken include English, French and Dutch Marigot is its main city

KEY EVEN

T

The Sea Fe takes place stival on the last weekend of May, with two days of ente on land and rtainment ac on sea, such tivities as sailing and diving

D

Saint-Martin’s most famous dish is conch and dumpling

ubbed the ‘Friendly Island’ Saint-Martin is just 37 square miles but packs in a diverse selection of attractions against a backdrop of flaming bright red, orange and yellow flamboyant trees and white sands.

Take a walk on the wild side and explore the hills on a zip-line or by horseback. Or discover a watersports paradise, where you can sail to hidden coves or dive into an undersea world of vibrant tropical fish.

For a taste of Saint-Martin’s gastronomy, music, arts and crafts, head to Grand Case every Tuesday night from January to April, where the island’s culture is showcased for all to see

If that sounds like too much, then just relax in the balmy sunshine of one of Saint-Martin’s beaches, where turquoise waters lap at powder-white sands.

Saint-Martin is a destination to nourish the mind and the body. It’s a land of poets and artists and offers a gastronomy scene to rival the best of Europe. Savour the culture of fine dining or the adventure of exquisite local cuisine in Marigot – where succulent lobster meets local spices.

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES +44 (0) 20 7937 6570

svgtourismeurope@gmail.co.uk

DiscoverSVG

@DiscoverSVG

discoversvg.com

T Fast Facts Bequia Easter Regatta is a major event in the Grenadines Electricity voltage is 220 volts-50 cycles Visas are not required for European or UK passport holders

he multi-island destination of St Vincent one of the best sailing grounds in the entire and the Grenadines is famous worldwide Caribbean, attracting divers and snorkellers for offering the truest sense of hoping to get up close to its many green and Caribbean luxury. hawksbill turtles. Mountainous St Vincent Its nine inhabited islands – offers verdant rainforests, tumbling T EN EV Y KE St Vincent, Young Island, waterfalls and the oldest Botanic Gardens , ce an d al Tradition e Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, in the western hemisphere, while Bequia ar ic us food and m ing the Mayreau, Union Island, Palm boasts charming villages and bays. ur d d te ra b cele festival, Island and Petit St Vincent Regular ferries make island-hopping a ng ni or M Nine nine – are diverse and rich in joy, with visitors keen to discover their held on the ore ef character. Tobago Cays is own slice of paradise. mornings b Christmas

It is illegal to wear camouflage clothing on the islands Water is safe to drink, but bottled water is available The Eastern Caribbean dollar is the local currency. Pounds can be changed at local banks Credit cards are accepted by hotels, shops, restaurants and car rental outlets

52 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO +44 (0) 844 846 0812

trinbago@amgltd.biz

@TNT_Steelypan

adventuresofsteelypan

gotrinidadandtobago.com

T

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

rinidad & Tobago’s many personalities reefs; visiting the islands’ bird sanctuaries; and range from laidback and tranquil to vibrant night time bioluminescence tours by stand-up and energetic. Tobago is the peaceful partner. paddleboards to experience nature’s lightshow.

An eco-destination, it’s perfect for Golfers are blessed too, with some nature lovers with lush rainforests, stunning courses. clear waters and coral reefs.

Trinidad is the ‘cultural capital T EN EV Y KE Activities include biking of the Caribbean’, famed for its Tobago Trinidad & February or hiking into the canopied carnival. Other island must do’s Carnival – . This mountains to seek out waterfalls; include exploring hidden coves 27-28, 2017 ltural g cu the annual turtle hatchling and deserted beaches, visiting the eye-openin es with lod programme; diving and Asa Wright Nature Centre and The festival exp ic and colour, mus snorkelling among the shallow Caroni Sanctuary. creativity

Fast Facts The currency of the islands is the TT dollar Their population is 1.5 million Trinidad & Tobago are located below the hurricane belt and are the most southerly of the Caribbean islands Port-of-Spain is Trinidad’s capital and Scarborough is the capital of Tobago The local beer is Carib Hot roti – a tasty curry-filled pasty – is a popular dish Pigeon Point beach was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe

TURKS AND CAICOS +44 (0) 20 7034 7845

info@tcilondon.org.uk

TCITourism

@TCITourism

turksandcaicostourism.com

Fast Facts British Airways flies direct from London Gatwick to Providenciales on Thursdays and Sundays The islands are an archipelago of 40 islands but only eight are actually inhabited The capital of the islands is Cockburn Town, Grand Turk KEY EVEN

T Island Fish ome to the best beach in the based activities it is not surprising Fr place every y takes world – Grace Bay Beach that 60% of our visitors return Th ur sd ay evening, with – the ‘Beautiful by Nature’ Turks again and again. Whether you an exciting line-up of en tertai and Caicos islands are one of the choose an ultra-luxurious resort, and food st ners alls world’s best-kept secrets. all-inclusive hotel, boutique Safe, quiet and boasting worldguesthouse or private villa, your class accommodation, spas, and welcome is guaranteed. restaurants, the islands are an ideal Visit the Turks and Caicos to bask in location for relaxation, romance, family the tropical sun, wet your feet in the azure holidays and more. blue waters, savour delectable dishes, dance to With a warm, dry climate, friendly people, some ripsaw music and forget all about your natural beauty and an array of water and land life back home.

H

@_LoveCaribbean

The official language is English and the currency is the US dollar The islands are home to the third largest barrier reef system in the world - perfect for divers The world’s only Conch Farm is on Provo

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 53

US VIRGIN ISLANDS +1 340 774 8784

info@usvitourism.vi

VisitUSVI

@USVITourism

visitusvi.com

Fast Facts The USVI is the only location in the US where you drive on the left-hand side of the road The USVI’s $1,600 duty-free shopping allowance is the highest in the Caribbean Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers, spent part of his youth in St Croix, working as a clerk at an import-export firm Two-thirds of St John is protected by the Virgin Islands National Park The Synagogue of St Thomas is the second-oldest synagogue in the Western hemisphere in continuous use under the American Flag

KEY EVEN

The USVI C T n 2017, the US Virgin Islands seaplane ride. Exploring culinary en celebrations tennial (USVI) will celebrate its delights, discovering rich history w ill b e observed w ith festivals, centennial transfer from Danish and culture, attending festivals, concerts an d to American authority. Sold shopping, or taking in the throughout parades the islands for $25 million in gold, the beaches and natural attractions islands are a treasure trove of are just the beginning. European wonder for any traveller. Each architecture, picturesque windmills, unique in its own right, St Croix, St historic sugar mill ruins, bioluminescent John and St Thomas offer experiences bays, spectacular mountaintop views, and ranging from sublime relaxation to extreme tantalizing rum cocktails make it easy to see adventure and everything in between, and why the US Virgin Islands is an perfect choice island-hopping is as easy as a quick ferry or for a Caribbean getaway.

I

VENEZUELA +44 (0) 20 7584 4206

economia.londres@mppre.gob.ve

Minturven

@minturvenezuela

mintur.gob.ve

L

One of Margarita Island’s most beautiful beaches is El Yaque, known for its excellent wind and kite surfing Venezuela is home to the second-longest river in South America, the Orinoco. It also has the longest coastline on the Caribbean sea

LERRY CATAÑO

The Los Roques archipelago is a collection of over 300 small islands, coral reefs and pristine waters that are ideal for beach lovers, divers and snorkellers

LERRY CATAÑO

Fast Facts

aying claim to the world’s highest waterfall, soft-adventure options or to the biodiverse Los the region’s largest lake, a Caribbean Llanos area, while in the east of the country lies coastline and the Andes, Venezuela the vast Canaima National Park. is an explorer’s dream.

However, Venezuela’s headline attraction Its capital, Caracas, can is the Angel Falls, usually visited via light T EN EV Y KE be daunting for first-time aircraft or a combination of motorised o tw st la e Held in th e th visitors, although few fail canoe and trekking through the Gran , er ob ct weeks of O to be impressed by the Sabana in the country’s south-east. ic Festival us M o ill at El H of jazz, ix dramatic mountain vistas.

On the Caribbean coast, 38km off the m a es featur o ck. El Hatill From the western city of mainland, Margarita Island – the ‘Pearl folk and ro south of Merida visitors can venture of the Caribbean’ – is the star beach is 10 miles Caracas into the Andes for several destination.

In the west of the country is Pico Bolivar: at 500 metres visitors can ride the world’s longest and highest cable car for amazing views

54 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

BVITOURISM.CO.UK 44-207-355-9585 Don’t we all share our best secrets with our closest friends and family?

The secrets hidden among the British Virgin Islands are the kind that make lifelong memories. Upon her 60 islands, otherworldly cave explorations, sparkling waves and wondrous resorts set the stage for these unforgetable moments. The kind you keep to yourselves.

LET’S KEEP THIS TO OURSELVES

Tortola | Virgin Gorda | Jost Van Dyke | Anegada | Cooper Island | Guana Island | Little Thatch | Necker Island | Norman Island | Peter Island | Saba Rock | Scrub Island

airlines

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

BELIZE

BARBADOS

BAHAMAS

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Airlines

Use this chart to see which airlines fly direct from UK airports and those that fly via another Caribbean island/country.

ANGUILLA

who flies where CHARTERED SERVICES Thomas Cook Airlines

08444 125 959

flythomascook.com

D

D

Thomson

0871 2314 787

thomson.co.uk

Air Berlin

0049 30 3434 3333

airberlin.com

I

Air Canada

0871 220 1111

aircanada.com

I

I

Air Europa

0871 423 0717

aireuropa.com

Air France

0871 663 3777

airfrance.co.uk

American Airlines

0844 369 9899

americanairlines.co.uk

I

I

I

Blue Panorama Airlines

0039 06 9895 6666

blu-express.com

British Airways

0844 493 0787

ba.com/caribbean

D

D

D

Condor

0870 774 7633

condor.com

I

Cubana De Aviacion

00 537 834 4446

www.cubana.cu

Corsair International

00 33 1 70 39 22 10

corsair.fr

Delta Air Lines

0871 221 1222

delta.com

Excel Airways

00 33 360 04 01 03

xl.com

Iberia Airlines

0203 684 3774

iberia.com

JetBlue

001 801 365 2525

jetblue.com

KLM

020 7660 0293

klm.com

Norwegian Airlines

0330 828 0854

norwegian.com

TUI Fly

020 7048 0143

tuifly.com

I

United Airlines

08458 444 777

united.com

I

Virgin Atlantic

0844 874 7747

virginatlantic.com

D

West Jet

00 800 5381 56 96

westjet.com

I

Air Antilles Express

00 590 590 211 447

flyairantilles.com

Air Caraibes

00 33 1 4783 8975

aircaraibes.com

Anguilla Air Services

001 264 498 5922

anguillaairservices.com

BahamasAir

001 242 377 8451

bahamasair.com

I

Cape Air

001 264 498 2279

capeair.com

I

Caribbean Airlines

0870 774 7336

caribbean-airlines.com

I

Cayman Airways

001 345 949 2311

caymanairways.com

Copa Airlines

0203 598 8036

copaair.com

Insel Air

001 599 9737 044

fly-inselair.com

InterCaribbean Airways

001 649 946 4999

intercaribbean.com

LIAT

001 268 480 5601

liat.com

I

I

I

Montserrat Airways

001 664 491 3434

flymontserrat.com

I

I

I

Mustique Airways

001 784 458 4380

mustique.com

I

I

Rainbow International Airlines

001 340 690 4202

rainbowinternationalairlines.com

I

I

Seaborne Airlines

001 787 946 7800

seaborneairlines.com

I

I

SVG Air

001 784 457 5124

svgair.com

I

I

I

Trans Anguilla

001 264 497 8690

transanguilla.com

I

I

I

VI Airlink

001 284 495 2271

viairlink.com

Winair

001 721 545 4237

fly-winair.sx

D

SCHEDULED SERVICES

I I

I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

D I

I

REGIONAL SERVICES

56 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

I

I

I I

I

I

D

I

I

I I

I I

I

I I

I I

I I I

The information below has been compiled as a reference, based on the available information at time of print.

VENEZUELA

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

TURKS & CAICOS

I Indirect or direct via intermediate point en-route TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

SAINT MARTIN/ST. MAARTEN

SAINT LUCIA

ST. KITTS

ST. EUSTATIUS

PUERTO RICO

NEVIS

MONTSERRAT

MARTINIQUE

JAMAICA

haiti

GUYANA

GRENADA

DOMINICA

CURAร AO

CUBA

CAYMAN ISLANDS

D Direct/non-stop from UK

However, these schedules are subject to change; for further details, please contact the airline directly.

Indirect Connections D

D

D

D

D

From London Heathrow and Manchester From London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol

via I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

Berlin

I

I

I

I

I

Toronto, Montreal

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

Paris, Amsterdam I

I

I

D

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

D

I

I

I I I

I

I

Antigua, Barbados, Nassau or Saint Lucia Frankfurt I

I I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

I D I

I

I

I

I I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

l

I

I

I

I

I

I

Madrid New York, Boston Amsterdam, Paris London Gatwick, Copenhagen, New York, Boston, Washington DC

I

I

I I

I

D

I

I

l

D

D

I

Atlanta, New York Paris

I

I

Madrid, Havana Paris

I

I I I

Miami, New York and various Caribbean islands Rome

I

I

I

Madrid

Frankfurt, Munich Chicago, New York, Newark, Washington, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles

I

D I

Saint Lucia

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

Guadeloupe/Martinique

I

I

Paris

Toronto, Montreal

from I

I

I

I

I

I

I

Anguilla

I

I I I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

Various Caribbean islands

D

I

I

I

I

I

Panama

I

Curaรงao

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Antigua Montserrat Various Caribbean Islands

I

I

I

Miami

I

Puerto Rico

I I I

I

Turks & Caicos

I

I

I

I I

I I

I I

I I

Various Caribbean islands The Cayman islands

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

Nassau

I

Various Caribbean Islands I

Anguilla I

I

I

British Virgin Islands St. Maarten

@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 57

where to book

TOUR OPERATORS

Audley Travel

01993 838 275

audleytravel.com

Barrhead Travel

0800 484 0310

barrheadtravel.co.uk

British Airways Holidays

0344 493 0120

ba.com/caribbean

Destinology

01204 824 919

destinology.co.uk

Elegant Resorts

01244 897 999

elegantresorts.co.uk

Golden Holidays

01403 755 123

golden-holidays.co.uk

Havanatour

01707 646 463

havanatour.co.uk

Hayes and Jarvis

01293 735 185

hayesandjarvis.co.uk

Kenwood Travel

020 7749 9245

kenwoodtravel.co.uk

Kuoni Travel

0800 092 4444

kuoni.co.uk

Letsgo2

020 8329 2600

letsgo2.com

Luxury Holidays To

020 3519 2630

luxuryholidays.co.uk

Newmont Travel

020 8920 1144

hotelsofthecaribbean.co.uk

Sackville Travel/Q Holidays

020 7326 7699

Qholidays.co.uk

Secret Escapes

0843 22 77 777

secretescapes.com

Sunsail

033 0332 1172

sunsail.co.uk

The Holiday Place

020 7644 1749

holidayplace.co.uk

Thomas Cook Signature

0844 871 6640

thomascook.com/signature

Travel Club Elite

0800 707 6229

traveclubelite.com

Tropic Breeze

01752 880 880

tropicbreeze.co.uk

Tropical Sky

01342 889 201

tropicalsky.co.uk

Virgin Holidays

0344 557 4008

virginholidays.co.uk

58 caribbean.co.uk

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

BELIZE

BARBADOS

BAHAMAS

ANGUILLA

WHERE TO BOOK

Use the chart to see which UK tour operators offer packaged holidays to the Caribbean islands and countries

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

tour operators

@_LoveCaribbean

Lovethecaribbean

venezuela

us virgin islands

turks & caicos

trinidad & tobago

st. vincent & the grenadines

saint martin/st. maArten

saint lucia

st. kitts

st. eustatius

puerto rico

nevis

montserrat

martinique

jamaica

haiti

GUYANA

GRENADA

DOMINICA

CURAÇAO

CUBA

CAYMAN ISLANDS

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

This information has been compiled as a reference based on the available information at time of print from the CTO UK Member Tour Operators; however there are other tour operators not listed here that sell the Caribbean.

caribbean.co.uk 59

Enjoy being a Star in the Caribbean with IBEROSTAR

Discover the Caribbean with IBEROSTAR, where the spirit of the people is mirrored in the colorful landscape, the air is filled with tropical energy and the beaches beckon with the alluring combination of turquoise water and stunning stretches of unspoilt sands.

The quality of the IBEROSTAR service will amaze you from the moment you arrive, and you will encounter the same high-quality customer service throughout your stay with us. Enjoy the best of international cuisine, and, since travelling is about discovery, taste the emblematic dishes of the gastronomy of each destination. To complete rest and relaxation , you will also find time for fun, leisure and adventure during your holiday with varied entertainment programme throughout the day and great shows to entertain you during the evening. Pamper your body, relax your mind and achieve the perfect spiritual balance during your stay in the Caribbean. Because at IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts, you are the Star.

JAMAICA · CUBA · DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · MEXICO · BRAZIL · USA

Enjoy being a star

 Telephone  Email  Website Facebook page Twitter Handle

 Trade/Sales  Consumer/Reservation  Editorial

DIRECTORY OF MEMBERS

The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s members are standing by to book your flights, accommodation, cruises, holiday packages, destination experiences and much more.

Air Europa  0871 423 0717   0871 222 9122   uksales@air-europa.com  aireuropa.com   aireuropaexperts.com  aireuropa @aireuropa British Airways  0844 493 0787   ba.com/caribbean  batraveltrade.com british airways @british_airways LIAT  +1 268 480 5601   reservations@liatairline.com  liat.com liatairline @liatairline Virgin Atlantic Airways  0344 209 7705   0344 874 7747   sales.support@fly.virgin.com   customer.relations.uk@ fly.virgin.com   virginatlantic.com Virgin Atlantic @virginatlantic

ALLIED WTM - Reed Travel Exhibitions  020 8910 7961  lisa.hopgood@reedexpo.co.uk  wtmlondon.com World Travel Market @WTM_London

CRUISE LINES Carnival Cruise Lines  0845 351 0556  carnivalsalesuk@carnival.com  carnival.co.uk carnivalcruiseuk @funteamuk  @carnivalfamily  Celebrity Cruises  0844 481 7694   0844 493 6199   celebritycruises.co.uk celebritycruises @CelebrityUK

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland  020 3582 4378  ukinfo@cruising.org  cruiseexperts.org cliaukireland @CLIAUK Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines  0800 0355 242  res.services@fredolsen.co.uk  fredolsencruises.com fred olsen lines official fan page @fredolsencruise Royal Caribbean Cruise Line  0844 493 3082  royalcaribbean.co.uk royalcaribbeanuk royal caribbean international  royal caribbean travel agents  @myroyaluk

HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION Advantage Management Group Ltd

 020 8487 9881  info@amgltd.biz  amgrepresentation.com @amgltd Bespoke Travel Marketing  0843 289 0246  info@bespoketravelmarketing.com  bespoketravelmarketing.com Blue Waters Resorts & Spa  0870 360 1245  res@bluewaters.net  bluewaters.net bluewatershotel @bluewatershotel Boucan by Hotel Chocolat  01763 257 734  gemma.hussey@hotelchocolat.com  hotelchocolat.com/uk/boucan boucan by hotel chocolat @hotelchocolat Canouan Island  +1 784 458 8000  reservations@canouan.com  canouan.com canouanisland @officialcanouan Capella Marigot Bay Resort & Marina  +1 758 458 5300  res.marigotbay@capellahotels.com  capellahotels.com/saintlucia capellamarigotbay.stlucia @capellastlucia

Cara Hotel Marketing Ltd  020 8545 2680  info@carahotelmarketing.com  carahotelmarketing.com cara hotel marketing ltd @carahotelmkt

Harlequin Hotels & Resorts  01268 242 463  support@ harlequinhotelsandresorts.com  harlequinhotelsandresorts.com buccament bay resort blu st lucia @buccbayresort

Elegant Hotels Group (Barbados)  0800 917 3534 (Freephone)   01904 607 435   gjeffery@eleganthotels.com   reservations@eleganthotels.com   eleganthotels.com ElegantHotels @ElegantHotels

JWP Collection/Cotton House  + 33 6 52 93 07 85  john@jwpcollection.com  cottonhouse.net Kerzner International Resorts  01753 899 800  kerzner.com  oneandonlyresorts.com

Escape Marketing Services Ltd  020 7183 5058  info@escapemarketing.net  escapemarketing.net EscapeMarketing @escapemarketing

La Pagerie - Hotel & Restaurant  +596 (0) 596 66 05 30  resa@hotel-lapagerie.com  hotel-lapagerie.com HotelLaPagerie @HotelLaPagerie

Essential Detail  020 8977 6099  office@essentialdetail.co.uk  essentialdetail.co.uk essential detail @edhotels Exclusively Villas Ltd  07774 437071  juliet@exclusivelyvillasltd.co.uk  exclusivelyvillasltd.co.uk exclusivelyvillasltd @exclu_villas

Le Petit Monde  01829 730 805  07776 134 004  info@lepetit-monde.com  lepetit-monde.com Le Petit Monde @LPMonde Lynn Girling Hotel Marketing  020 8943 5495  lynn@lynngirlinghotelmarketing.co.uk

Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Barbados  +1 246 422 5555   01344 887 003   annabelle.marshall@fairmont.com  fairmont.com/barbados fairmonthotels @FairmontHotels

MRI Ltd/Rex Resorts  020 8741 5333  res.mriuk@rexresorts.com  rexresorts.com rex resorts @rexresorts

Group Promotions  01582 792 260  sales@group-promotions.com  info@group-promotions.com  group-promotions.com

Marriot Hotels International Ltd  020 7012 7312  0800 221-222   marriott.com Marriott @Marriott

Half Moon, A RockResort  +1 876 953 2211   020 3478 8370   slogan@halfmoon.com   max@clubcenturia.com   halfmoon.rockresorts.com half moon jamaica @halfmoonjamaica

@_LoveCaribbean

Palace Resorts  01372 813 556  palaceresorts.com palaceresorts @PalaceResorts Radisson Grenada Beach Resort  + 1 473 444 4371   +44 20 3598 8033   hpatel@rgbresort.com  radisson.com/Grenada-beach radissongrenadabeachresort @RadissonGrenada

Lovethecaribbean

caribbean.co.uk 61

directory

AIRLINES

 Telephone  Email  Website Facebook page Twitter Handle

 Trade/Sales  Consumer/Reservation  Editorial

Resorts Marketing International  01245 459 900  info@resort-marketing.co.uk  resort-marketing.co.uk resort marketing international ltd @rmilimited

My Booking Rewards  07818 434 410 (mobile)  enquiries@mybookingrewards.com  mybookingrewards.com My Booking Rewards @MyBookingReward

Sandcastle on the Beach  +1 800 524 2018   +1 340 772 1205   info@sandcastleonthebeach.com  sandcastleonthebeach.com sandcastleonthebeach @sandcastlestx

Responsible Travel  01273 823700  rosy@responsibletravel.com  responsibletravel.com Responsible Travel @r_travel

Sandals & Beaches Resorts  08000 223 030  sales@sandals.co.uk  sandals.co.uk sandalsresorts @sandalsresorts

Selling Travel  020 8649 7233  sales@bmipublications.co.uk   editorial@bmipublications.co.uk   sellingtravel.co.uk sellingtravelmag @Sellingtravmag

Sunrise Marketing  01189 145 674  Info@sunrisemarketing.co.uk  sunrisemarketing.co.uk sunrise marketing @sunrise_uk

TTG Media  020 3714 4103  asohawon@ttgmedia.com  ttgmedia.com TravelTradeGazette @TTGMedia

SuperClubs  01934 740 467  martin.grass@superclubs.com  breezes.com BreezesResorts @breezes_resorts

Travel Bulletin  020 7834 6661  jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk  travelbulletin.co.uk TravelBulletin @TravelBulletin

MEDIA/ONLINE ABTA Magazine  020 7253 9909  07785 716 661 (mobile)  rebecca@abtamagazine.co.uk  aplmedia.co.uk ABTAMag @ABTA_Magazine Caribbean & Co  07985 972 968  ursula@caribbeanandco.com  caribbeanandco.com Caribbean & Co @caribbeanandco Experience Engine  01245 207 888  ajay@experienceengine.com  experienceengine.com Experience Engine experiencengine Fotoseeker  07813 019 132  peter@fotoseeker.com  fotoseeker.com

62 caribbean.co.uk

Travel Weekly  020 7881 4877  mary.rega@travelweekly.co.uk   robin.searle@travelweekly.co.uk   travelweekly.co.uk travelweeklyuk @travelweekly

TOUR OPERATORS Audley Travel  01993 838 275  audleytravel.com Audley Travel @audleytravel Barrhead Travel  0800 484 0310  longhaul@barrheadtravel.com  barrheadtravel.co.uk barrhead travel @BarrheadTravel British Airways Holidays  0344 493 0120   ba.com/caribbean british airways @british_airways

Lovethecaribbean

@_LoveCaribbean

Destinology  01204 824 919  destinology.co.uk destinology @destinology Elegant Resorts  01244 897 999   enquiries@elegantresorts.co.uk  elegantresorts.co.uk elegant resorts @elegantresorts Golden Holidays  01403 755 123  golden-holidays.co.uk golden holidays @golden_holidays Havanatour UK Ltd  01707 646 463  sales@havanatour.co.uk  havanatour.co.uk havanatour uk ltd @havanatouruk Hayes and Jarvis  01293 735 185  hayesandjarvis.co.uk hayes and jarvis @hayesandjarvis Kenwood Travel  020 7749 9245  info@kenwoodtravel.com  kenwoodtravel.co.uk kenwoodtravel @kenwoodtravel Kuoni Travel Ltd  0800 092 4444  kuoni.co.uk  holidays@kuoni.co.uk kuonitraveluk @kuonitraveluk Letsgo2  0208 329 2600  sales@letsgo2.com  letsgo2.com letsgo2 @letsgo2holidays Luxury Holidays To Ltd  0800 820 2000  connect@luxuryholidays.co.uk  luxuryholidays.co.uk LuxuryHlds @LuxuryHlds Newmont Travel Ltd  020 8920 1144  sales@hotelsofthecaribbean.co.uk  hotelsofthecaribbean.co.uk  newmont.co.uk NewmontTravel

Sackville Travel/Q Holidays  020 7326 7699   020 7326 3100   sales@sackvilletravel.com  Sackvilletravel.com  Qholidays.co.uk Sackvilletravel @sackvilletravel Secret Escapes  media@secretescapes.com  Secretescapes.com

secretescapes @secret_escapes

Sunsail  033 0332 1172  sales@sunsail.com  sunsail.co.uk SunsailUK sunsailuk The Holiday Place  020 7644 1749  reservations@theholidayplace.co.uk  holidayplace.co.uk holidayplace @theholidayplace Thomas Cook Signature  0844 871 6640  thomascook.com/Signature tcsignature @tc_signature

Travel Club Elite  0800 707 6229  info@travelclubelite.com  traveclubelite.com travelclubelite @travelclubelite Tropic Breeze  01752 880 880   info@tropicbreeze.co.uk  tropicbreeze.co.uk tropicb @tropicb Tropical Sky  01342 889 201  info@tropicalsky.co.uk  tropicalsky.co.uk tropicalsky @tropicalsky Virgin Holidays  0344 557 4008  virginholidays.co.uk virginholidays @virginholidays

CAYMAN BRAC LITTLE CAYMAN GRAND CAYMAN

3 of life’s little luxuries

ca ymanislands.co.uk

In the Cayman Islands, drinks really do grow on trees.

YOU’LL FIND THE IDEAL LUXURY HOLIDAY ON A BEACH IN ANTIGUA IN ANTIGUA, WE WANT YOU TO ENJOY A PERFECT HOLIDAY. AND WHAT COULD BE MORE LUXURIOUS THAN RELAXING ON A WARM, SUNNY BEACH SIPPING A CHILLED DRINK WHILE LOOKING OUT ACROSS CRYSTAL CLEAR CARIBBEAN WATERS? AFTER ALL, THERE ARE FEW MORE LUXURIOUS PLACES TO BE THAN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA.

FIND OUR SPECIAL OFFERS AT

VisitAntiguaBarbuda.com

WELCOME TO OUR ISLAND LIFE