Caribbean

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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 occasional but sometimes serious 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.

Contents

Countries and territories [edit]

Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, often grouped as Greater Antilles, are by far the largest islands in the area and the most visited by travellers. The Caribbean also includes the Lucayan Archipelago to the north, which includes the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Lesser Antilles, a group of much smaller islands to the east.


Caribbean

Further to the west and south, there are various less frequently visited islands that belong to countries in South America, Central America and Mexico.

Cities [edit]

Other destinations [edit]

Understand [edit]

The Caribbean islands were first inhabited by the Arawak Indians, then were invaded by a more aggressive tribe, the Caribs. Unfortunately, neither could appreciate their victory forever, although the Arawaks may have had a quiet reign of nearly two millennia. Then the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish, and British arrived, after which the Carib population steeply declined due to various factors. The islands have known many historic battles and more than a few pirate stories.

Get in [edit]

By plane [edit]

  • From Europe to:
    • Antigua and Barbuda (ANU) from London (LGW),Manchester (MAN) by British Airways, BMI, Virgin Atlantic and from Frankfurt (FRA) by Condor
    • Barbados, Bridgetown (BGI) from London, Manchester by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines and from Frankfurt by Condor
    • Cuba from London (LGW) by Virgin Atlantic, Air Jamaica, from Madrid (MAD) by Iberia, from Paris (CDG) by Air France and from all three by Cubana
    • Grenada, Maurice Bishop International (GND) from UK by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Excel from Germany Condor
    • Saint Lucia, Hewanorra (UVF) from London (LGW) by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines and from Manchester (MAN) by Virgin Atlantic
    • Martinique Fort-de-France (FDF) from Paris by Air France, Air Caribes
    • Tobago (TAB), from London (LGW) by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and from Frankfurt (FRA) by Condor
    • Trinidad, Port-of-Spain (POS) from London by Caribbean Airlines
    • Turks & Caicos Islands (PLS), from London (LHR) through Nassau, The Bahamas
    • Curaçao (CUR) From the Netherlands (AMS) by KLM, Arke fly. From Germany (DUS) by Air berlin
  • From United States to:
    • Curaçao (CUR), Bonaire (BON) from Miami (MIA) - by Insel Air [1]
    • Curaçao, (CUR) - by American Airlines [2]
    • Aruba, (AUA) - by Delta Airlines, AirTran, American Airlines, Jetblue Airways, US Airways, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and SLM
  • Airlines:
    • Air Caraibes [5]: from Paris to Guadeloupe, Martinique
    • Air France [6]: from Paris to Guadeloupe, Martinique
    • Air Jamaica [7]: London to Jamaica and Cuba
    • American Airlines [8]: from Miami to; Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Curaçao Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Jamaica, Kingston, Montego Bay, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Trinidad
    • British Airways [9]: from London (LGW) to Antigua, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Tobago and from Manchaster to Saint Lucia.
    • Caribbean Airlines [10]: from London to Barbados, Saint Lucia, London - Antigua, Belfast - Tobago (see BWIA Route map [11])
    • Cayman Airways [12]: from the Cayman Islands to multiple gateways in the US
    • Condor/Thomas Cook [13]: from Frankfurt (FRA), see Condor Route map [14]
    • Cubana [15]: To Cuba from Madrid, Paris, London
    • Iberia [16]: from Madrid to Havana, San Juan de Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo.
    • Insel Air [17] Direct flights from Miami and Inter-Island travel. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Haiti, Las Piedras, Miami, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, St. Maarten, Suriname, and Valencia.
    • JetBlue [18] to Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Saint Maarten, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Saint Lucia and Barbados mostly to New York and Boston and some also to Washington DC, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
    • Virgin Atlantic [19]: from London to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Havana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Tobago and from Manchester to Barbados and St Lucia
    • WestJet [20]: from Lester B. Pearson Toronto International Airport to Princess Juliana Airport.

Get around [edit]

Numerous companies offer cruises, charters, and boat tours in the Caribbean.

By plane [edit]

By boat [edit]

Express des Iles [24] offers transport between Dominica, Guadaloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia and others for about €67 one-way and €100 round-trip.

See [edit]

Do [edit]

Eat [edit]

Drink [edit]

Sleep [edit]

Stay safe [edit]

Go next [edit]

Geographical Coordinates: 14.525556, -75.818333
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