Sunset on Montserrat

The islands of the Caribbean Sea or West Indies are an extensive archipelago in the far west of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly strung between North and South America. They've long been known as a resort vacation destination for honeymooners and retirees, but a small movement toward eco-tourism and backpacking has started to open up the Caribbean to more independent travel. With year-round good weather (with the minor exception of hurricane season in the late summer and early fall), promotional air fares from Europe and North America, and hundreds of islands to explore, the Caribbean offers something for almost everyone.

Understand

The Caribbean islands were first inhabited by the Arawak Indians, then were invaded by a more aggressive tribe, the Caribs. Unfortunately, the Caribs could not appreciate their victory for long, for the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British, colonised their lands. The islands have known many historic battles - and more than a few pirate stories. Recent archeaological research shows that the story of the aggressive and even cannibalistic Caribs (hence the name) is outdated.

Greater Antilles

The westernmost islands, to the east and southeast of Florida, are mostly relatively large (hence the name).

• Puerto Rico
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic - eastern Hispaniola
• Haiti - western Hispaniola
• Jamaica
• Navassa Island - uninhabited wildlife refuge

Lesser Antilles

Between the Greater Antilles and the north coast of South America are dozens of small tropical islands.

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba
• Barbados - the "little England" of the Caribbean
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Martinique - the "little France" of the Caribbean
• Montserrat
• Netherlands Antilles
• St Barthelemy
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• San Andres and Providencia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Virgin Islands

Other islands

• The Bahamas - a cluster of islands north of the Greater Antilles and southeast of Florida.
• Bermuda - some distance to the north of the Caribbean, but commonly associated with the region.
• Parts of South America, Central America, Mexico, and the United States have shorelines – and islands – in the Caribbean.

Get In

By Plane

• From Europe to:
  • Antigua and Barbuda (ANU) from London (LGW),Manchester (MAN), Frankfurt (FRA) by BA, Condor, BMI
  • Barbados, Bridgetown (BGT) from London, Manchaster by BA, BWIA, Frankfurt by Condor
  • Cuba from London, Madrid, Paris
  • Saint Lucia, Hewanorra (UVF) from London by BA, BWIA
  • Martinique Fort-de-France (FDF) from Paris by Air France, Air Caribes (cheapest from Germany ?)
  • Tobago (TAB), from Frankfurt, London by BA, Condor, Virgin
  • Trinidad, Port-of-Spain (POS)

• Airlines:
  • Air France from Paris
  • Air Jamaica: London - Jamaica and Cuba
  • BA: British Airways: London (LGW) - Antigua (ANU), London (LGW) - Bridgetown/Christ Church (BGI), London - Saint Lucia Hewanorra (UVF), Manchaster - Saint Lucia Hewanorra (UVF)
  • BWIA: BWIA West Indies: from Manchester, London - Barbados, London - Barbados, London - Saint Lucia, London - Antigua, Belfast - Tobago (see BWIA Route map)
  • Condor: Condor/Thomas Cook from Frankfurt (FRA), see Condor Route map
  • Cubana: To Cuba from Madrid, Paris, London
  • Virgin Atlantic from London to Havana, Tobago

Get Around

You can find information about the local airlines at Caribbean Airliners [1].

LIAT Airlines [2] offers an air pass to travel between most of the islands of the lesser Antilles, for about $500 for one month and is unlimited, but you have to pay each airport taxes. [3] Air Jamaica [4] also offers a similar program for about the same price. [5]