The Lesser Antilles are an archipelago in the southeastern Caribbean, forming a barrier between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

These islands were the first part of the New World to be settled and colonized by Europeans. While some islands are independent nations (and among the world's smallest by land area and population), others are associated with European or American countries, usually through choice in referendum and some are completely integrated with their mainland as integral parts.

Islands

Leeward Islands

The Leeward Islands are a vestige of the colonial era. Only Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis are sovereign nations; the other islands being dependencies of other countries. Their collective name was given as they are less exposed to the trade winds.

Do not confuse with Leeward Antilles in the southern Caribbean.

• 1 Anguilla, a dependency of the United Kingdom
• 2 Antigua and Barbuda
• 3 British Virgin Islands, a dependency of the United Kingdom
• 4 Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France
• 5 Montserrat, a dependency of the United Kingdom
• 6 Saba, a municipality of the Netherlands
• 7 Saint-Barthélemy, an overseas department of France
• 8 Saint Martin, a French-Dutch dependency
• 9 Saint Kitts and Nevis
• 10 Sint Eustatius, a municipality of the Netherlands
• 11 U.S. Virgin Islands, a dependency of the United States

Windward Islands

The Windward Islands got their name as they are more exposed to the trade winds from the east. Except French department Martinique, the islands are sovereign nations.

• 12 Barbados, east of the archipelago, and not part of the Windward Islands proper
• 13 Dominica
• 14 Martinique
• 15 Saint Lucia
• 16 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• 17 Grenada
• 18 Trinidad and Tobago, south-east of the archipelago, and not part of the Windward Islands proper

Get in

Most islands are served by flights from the United States and their (former) suzerain country.

• Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA ^IATA)
• V.C. Bird International (ANU ^IATA)
• Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP ^IATA)
• John A. Osborne Airport (MNI ^IATA)
• Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB ^IATA)

They are also served by cruise ships.