A Colorful Caribbean Time-Out

In the heart of San Juan, impressive fortifications like La Fortaleza, Fort San Felipe del Morro, Fort San Juan de la Cruz, and Fort San Cristobal stand as a testament to the city's centuries-long reputation for impregnability. These forts protected the old town and helped secure its UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983. Step into "Old San Juan," a vibrant Spanish colonial enclave that resembles scenes from a picturesque storybook. The restored facades adorned with balcony flowers and the sparkling cobblestone streets create a captivating atmosphere. As you explore the city, the rhythmic beats of salsa music fill the air in nearly every cafe, tempting you to join in spontaneous dancing. San Juan's rich culture and strong history make it a memorable experience.

Explorers once battled in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Today, the waters around the British Virgin Islands rank among the world's top sailing destinations. With stunning bays, beautiful beaches, perfect anchoring spots, upscale yacht clubs, and charming beach bars, the islands attract many sailors. On Virgin Gorda, named "The Fat Virgin" by Columbus because of its shape, you can visit "The Baths" in the National Park. Large granite formations, smoothed and polished over time, form a maze of giant boulders on the beach and in the water.

It almost seems as if no other career choice than pirate was possible in the 17th and 18th centuries in the British Virgin Islands. Jost van Dyke, Blackbeard, and Francis Drake—they all went on the prowl in the Dream Territory during the golden age of privateering. Norman Island was named after the pirate captain Norman, who allegedly hid his treasures there and inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to write his adventure novel “Treasure Island." If you dig a little in the fine sand on the uninhabited private island today, you probably won’t discover any gold coins, but you will discover an equally valuable treasure: deep Caribbean relaxation.

St. Barthelemy, affectionately known as St. Barths by most, already had many "owners" before the Lesser Antilles were acquired by France in 1877. When the first estate was acquired by banker David Rockefeller in 1957, the island's future was finally sealed. It became a refuge for the international jet set and an elegant holiday paradise for many Hollywood stars. For over 40 years, St. Barths has cultivated a luxurious lifestyle with a Caribbean laissez-faire approach. You can stroll through the charming main town of Gustavia, whose beautifully restored houses and colonial facades look out over the sea with its elegant superyachts, browse in the shops for precious items, or enjoy a sundowner in the picturesque harbor surrounded by clusters of high-class bars and restaurants.

St. John’s is the capital of this small island in the Antilles, a former British colony. From Shirley Heights in the south, you have a fantastic view over the English harbor and Nelson's Dockyard, an old restored shipyard named after the Admiral. Visit Betty's Hope, a restored sugar mill where "white gold" would have been processed during the island's bitter past. Now, sweet black pineapples grow in the gently rolling landscape around Boggy Peak. The coast is lined with bays and lagoons, dazzling white palm-filled beaches—one for every day of the year—and an almost unbroken coral reef.

If you ask about St. John, the answers are stacked with superlatives. The island is the smallest, the most original, the most relaxed, and simply the most beautiful of the American Virgin Islands, they say. Indeed, the breathtaking Virgin Islands National Park stretches over two-thirds of St. John, from the velvety soft palm beaches to the lush green tropical forests of the hilly countryside. Cruz Bay is the colorful port city of the Antilles: its colonial houses today remind us of the sweet life of the Danish sugar barons – and the hard fate of their slaves.

The fact that San Juan was considered impregnable for centuries was due, not least, to its imposing fortifications. La Fortaleza, Fort San Felipe del Morro, Fort San Juan de la Cruz, and Fort San Cristóbal protected San Juan from attacks and ensured that its old town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. "Old San Juan" is a Spanish colonial town like out of a picture book: the brightly colored facades have been lovingly restored and shine with balcony flowers and blue shimmering cobblestones. Salsa music can be heard in almost every cafe, encouraging spontaneous dancing.