Caribbean Islands Travel
Caribbean Islands Overview
The islands of the Caribbean Sea are located between North and South America and east of Central America. Broken into a variety of overlapping groupings, specific island chains are referred to as Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, West Indies and a variety of other names. Although not actually within the Caribbean region, Bermuda is nevertheless usually considered a Caribbean isle. The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos are also not usually included within the major island groupings but are very much Caribbean islands, lying between Florida and Cuba. Many Caribbean island groups are independent countries in their own right, and other island nations remain closely associated with their former or current colonial administrators. Additionally, many continental countries surrounding the Caribbean Sea have islands that can be considered Caribbean islands - for detailed travel information on these islands please visit our Latin America section! The Caribbean has an intriguing history, with the colonial powers sharing and swapping control over the islands over several centuries, while pirates also used the islands as safe havens and bases from which to attack colonial treasure ships carrying valuables from the New World back to the Old. Today, the Caribbean is one of the world's most popular island travel vacation destinations with its mix of idyllic beaches, charming colonial architecture and familiar spoken languages, and while it has a overwhelming trend for all inclusive vacation packages, recently many islands have become much friendlier to independent and self-organized Caribbean island travel and tours.
Greater Antilles
To the south and southeast of Florida, are several relatively large islands (hence the name):
Cuba
Cayman Islands
Jamaica
Navassa Island - uninhabited wildlife refuge
Haiti - western Hispaniola
Dominican Republic - eastern Hispaniola
Puerto Rico
Lesser Antilles
In an arc between the Greater Antilles and along the north coast of South America are dozens of small tropical islands:
Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Anguilla
Saint Martin
Netherlands Antilles (Leeward group)
St Barthelemy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Antigua and Barbuda
Montserrat
Guadeloupe
Dominica
Martinique - the "little France" of the Caribbean
Saint Lucia
Barbados - the "little England" of the Caribbean
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Grenada - "The spice isle"
Trinidad and Tobago
Margarita Island
Los Roques
Netherlands Antilles (Windward group)
Aruba
San Andres and Providencia
Other Islands
These countries are not in the Caribbean basin but are variously close to it, and are commonly associated with the Caribbean (e.g. members of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community).
The Bahamas - a cluster of islands north of the Greater Antilles and southeast of Florida.
Turks and Caicos Islands - a cluster of islands south of the Bahamas
Bermuda - some distance to the north of the Caribbean, but commonly associated with the region.
Several countries in South America, Central America, and Mexico have shorelines – and islands – in the Caribbean.
Getting To & Around Caribbean Islands
From the Americas or Europe, it is very easy to travel to the Caribbean as there are many regularly scheduled flights as well as charter flights during popular vacation periods. There are direct flights from London, Manchester, Belfast, Paris, Frankfurt, and Madrid in Europe, while Miami International has the most flights from the United States. Major airlines servicing the region include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air France and a host of US-based carriers. Another extremely popular way to reach and tour the Caribbean is by Caribbean cruise, and dozens of luxury liners sail a number of different routes of varying durations. Getting around the islands is usually done by regional airlines such as Air Jamaica and BWIA, who have great deals such as month-long unlimited flights. For those with plenty of time, numerous ferries and boats crisscross the seas between each island. Once on a Caribbean island, most tourists opt to hire a rental car or travel around by taxi, as buses are generally crowded and unreliable.
By Plane:
From Europe to:
Antigua and Barbuda (ANU) from London (LGW),Manchester (MAN) by BA, BMI, Virgin, XL and from Frankfurt (FRA) by Condor
Barbados, Bridgetown (BGI) from London, Manchaster by Virgin, BA, Caribbean Airlines, XL and from Frankfurt by Condor
Cuba from London (LGW)by Virgin, Air Jamaica, from Madrid (MAD) by Iberia, from Paris (CDG) by Air France and from all three by Cubana
Grenada, Point Saline (GND) from UK by Virgin, BA, Excel from Germany Condor
Saint Lucia, Hewanorra (UVF) from London (LGW) by Virgin, BA, Caribbean Airlines and from Manchester (MAN) by Virgin
Martinique Fort-de-France (FDF) from Paris by Air France, Air Caribes (cheapest from Germany ?)
Tobago (TAB), from London (LGW) by BA, Virgin, XL 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, Bahamas
Airlines:
Air Caraibes: from Paris to Guadeloupe, Martinique
Air France: from Paris to Guadeloupe, Martinique
Air Jamaica: London to Jamaica and Cuba
British Airways: from London (LGW) to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Tobago and from Manchaster to Saint Lucia
Caribbean Airlines: from London to Barbados, Saint Lucia, London - Antigua, Belfast - Tobago (see BWIA Route map)
Condor/Thomas Cook: from Frankfurt (FRA), see Condor Route map
Cubana: To Cuba from Madrid, Paris, London
Virgin Atlantic: from London to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Havana, Jamaica, St Lucia, Tobago and from Manchester to Barbados and St Lucia
XL: from London to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts, St Lucia, Tobago
By Cruise Ship | Yacht:
Caribbean Yacht Charter - great selection of boats for rent along with lots of useful tips and facts about this vibrant area.
Caribbean Cruises-great rates on all Caribbean cruises. Caribbean cruise specialists since 1999.
Regent Seven Seas Luxury Cruise Lines - Luxury cruise line offering six-star luxury cruise ships and all inclusive cruises to the Caribbean.
