Travel Articles: Caribbean

After getting married in Montana in the summer, we treated ourselves to a honeymoon in January. We spent a week sailing on the Liberty Clipper around North Eleuthera and a few extra days relaxing on Governor's Harbour's pink sand beaches. It was the perfect getaway in the middle of Montana's winter.

The Caribbean is so much more than sun, sand & surf. Various islands allow travelers to sample regional flavor & local adventures. The close proximity to the U.S. makes the Caribbean a perfect destination for a getaway. Get acquainted with some highlights of specific islands to plan a trip that is perfectly suited for you!

Highlights from our amazing week, sailing the beautiful Bahamas aboard the schooner Liberty Clipper.

The eco-lodge in Belize offers incredible dive and snorkel experiences, nature and cave hikes, and learning about the Mayan culture.

The Windward Islands have warm, comfortable temperatures throughout the year - except during hurricane season, depending on what island you're staying on.

Get information about the dry versus wet season weather averages in Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados.

The varied cuisines that travelers enjoy while cruising the Leeward Islands reflect the diverse cultures from which they come, featuring a broad palate of seafood dishes drawing from local Caribbean and African, French, Dutch, British and Asian influences.

Caribbean food is fairly similar throughout the multiple Windward Islands. Fish is a staple food while goat, beef, spicy chicken, and lamb are often served. Additionally, Caribbean cocktails are also extremely popular throughout the islands.

The Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados cuisine is both unique and fantastic. The people of these countries love to eat okra, many types of fish, black-eyed peas, rice, and sweet potatoes.

The British Islands cuisine is extremely unique, it has influences from all over the world. Learn about the origins of British Virgin Island cuisine and its influences.

The Caribbean islands were part of the colonial efforts of the European countries, namely Britain and France. In the 17th Century the British and the French made efforts to colonize the islands and the tug of war over territories was part of the Anglo-French conflict. It was common for islands to pass back and forth between powers and to undergo …

Small ships provide a fun and unique way to explore the islands of the Caribbean. Water activities can be conveniently planned from the vessel, and time spent on board always provides beautiful scenery as well as good company.

The Leeward Islands, a geographical grouping with an essentially shared history, have developed over time into six separate nations. They have a common interest in tourism, and in economic and cultural advancement for their ethnically diverse but essentially harmonious populations.

The different islands in the Windward Island chain all have unique and diverse politics. For example Martinique citizens are French and represent themselves in the French senate while Dominica uses a parliamentary democracy with a head of state and prime minister.

The politics of Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados are very interesting. After 1966 Barbados got independence from the British. As a result Barbados has a British Parliament type democracy.

The politics of the British Virgin Islands is a lot like England, they have a Parliament and multi-party democratic system. When traveling it's good to be familiar with the politics of your destination.

A trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands has very tricky and confusing politics surrounding it. For example, The U.S. Virgin Islands are an unincorporated U.S. territory which means they have a say in Congress, but only in committees. It's both important and enlightening to understand the politics around the U.S. Islands, especially if you're from the U.S.

As long as you avoid the hurricane season during the latter half of the year, you'll enjoy pleasant tropical temperatures between 81°F and 95°F (27°C and 35°C) and bright sunny days that never seem to end.

Learn about the average temperatures of the British Virgin Islands and when hurricane season is.

The Virgin Islands have an unusual cuisine, that's been influenced by Europeans, Indians, Americans, and traditional African recipes.

The Windward Islands wildlife consists of over 160 avian species and a ton of diverse and rare plant species and animal species. Also, the Windward Islands have a ton of unique fish species that you'll be able to see on an Adventure Life cruise or while snorkeling in the pristine waters.

The Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados wildlife is all similar, but unique from many other places on Earth. This includes the mongoose, multiple species of tortoises and turtles, and many kinds of bats, frogs, toads, and of course, many species of fish.

Wildlife in this locale consists primarily of reptiles, birds, and other small animals. The population includes various lizards, such as iguanas and geckos, as well as tortoise and a variety of tree frogs. Birds of the BVI include hummingbirds, doves, and falcons, along with numerous sea birds such as brown pelicans, flamingos, sea gulls, and …

A trip to the Caribbean has so much more to offer travelers than beaches and sunbathing. It might come as a surprise that this destination could excite wildlife enthusiasts! The Caribbean islands have an unexpected variety of wildlife to observe. Besides marine life, there are exotic plants, frogs, iguana lizards, bats, and an array of bird species.