If you’re looking for the best beaches around the world, craving for an exotic getaway, wanting to visit amazing landscapes and go on adventures, and getting to explore new and different cultures, with fantastic food, the Caribbean should be at the top of your list.
The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. The region is southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America. The region has more than 700 islands, islets, reefs and cays.
The climate of the area is tropical, varying from tropical rainforest in some areas to tropical monsoon and tropical savanna in others. While the region generally is sunny much of the year, the wet season is from May through November, while the dry season from December through April. These months are more often clear to mostly sunny. Seasonal rainfall is divided into ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ seasons, with the latter six months of the year being wetter than the first half.
You also need to be watchful and check the news for the hurricane season, which can happen from June to November. They occur more frequently in August and September and more common in the northern islands of the Caribbean. Hurricanes that sometimes batter the region usually strike northwards of Grenada and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean.
Languages of the Caribbean
The most used language is Spanish, comprising of 64% of the population, closely followed by French at 25%, English 14%, then Dutch, Haitian Creole, and Papiamento are the predominant official languages of various countries in the region.
Top Places to see in the Caribbean
Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands is full of big encounters and little escapes, both below the surface and beyond the waves. Stingray City is in the shallow waters of the northwest corner of Grand Cayman’s North Sound. It is just inside a natural channel that passes through the barrier reef and consists of a string of sandbars crossing the North Sound from Morgan Harbour to Rum Point. It is a tourist attraction, where southern stingrays are found in abundance and visitors can pet and interact with the animals.
Puerto Rico
Looking out over Old San Juan from Castillo San Felipe del Morro. (iStock)
Puerto Rico is a place where the Old World is mashed up with the new on an island that is small in size but offers an immense bounty of one-of-a-kind experiences.
Rich history and culture, exceptional food, pristine beaches, majestic mountains, relaxation, adventure — all packed into one sun-kissed Caribbean paradise. La Isla del Encanto is full of people who are buena gente (which is boricua slang for kind and friendly) and welcoming. Here, you’ll feel like you are family instead of just a visitor. Around every corner, you’ll find a celebration of life, a vibrant cultural experience, food for the soul, and a captivating rhythm.
Exploring Puerto Rico’s Bioluminescent Bays
If you’re seeking an eco-friendly, surreal experience, you should include a bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico when planning your trip. But, what is a bioluminescent bay or bio bay?
These rare ecosystems happen when microscopic, single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates grow in quantities big enough to produce a “glow-in-the-dark” effect when they are stimulated by movement. So, when you paddle or splash the water, these organisms light up in a neon blue-green color, and so does everything they come in contact with, giving a star-like reflection to the water.
Dinoflagellates can be found throughout the ocean; however, it is very rare for them to be live in concentrations high enough to be noticeable. To put this in perspective, there must be thousands and thousands of these single-celled organisms to make a gallon of water light up.
There are only five ecosystems in the world where the concentration of these planktons is high enough to be considered bioluminescent bays, and Puerto Rico is home to three of them.
Mosquito Bay, Vieques
Recognized in 2006 by the Guinness World Records as the brightest bio bay in the world, Mosquito Bay in Vieques captivates with its beauty and pristine setting. The mesmerizing brightness of the bay is due to the abundant concentration of dinoflagellates – quantity that was inexplicably doubled after hurricane María – ranging from an average of 1,000,000 to 2,100,000 per gallon of water. The lack of light pollution surrounding the Natural Reserve of Mosquito Bay and the mangrove swamps that feed the plankton make this natural spectacle one of Puerto Rico’s true wonders.
Laguna Grande, Fajardo
Out of the three bio bays in Puerto Rico, Laguna Grande in Fajardo is the only one that’s not technically a bay. The narrow and long canal that leads to the dazzling “glow-in-the-dark” water make this unique waterbody a lagoon. It is the most visited bio bay in Puerto Rico due to its proximity to San Juan.
La Parguera, Lajas
The bioluminescent bay at La Parguera, located in the southwestern corner of Puerto Rico, is the only one where motor boats can come in and out. Some guided tours provide you with equipment so that you can dive in and swim after dark. You can also take a glass-bottom boat ride and spend the night contemplating the organisms that make the bay glow.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Jamaica is the beat and the pulse of life in the Caribbean.
From each morning’s glorious sunrise until the sea swallows the sun at night, Jamaica presents a magnificent palette of experiences, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds that make our island the most precious jewel in the Caribbean. They are a land of unique culture, engaging activities, breathtaking landscapes, and a warm, welcoming people.
It has the beat of reggae. The searing smell of jerk over the fire. The swizzle of rum in your glass. No place on earth provides the range of attractions and the cultural diversity that can be found here. No place on earth feels like it. No place on earth shines like it. Jamaica is said to be the home of rhythm and sway.
Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a small tropical archipelago nation found south of the Bahamas. We’re home to spectacular beaches, a pristine marine environment, luxury resorts, friendly people, and fine dining.
There’s so much to do and discover here in paradise. Incredible beaches, crystal clear and warm ocean water, abundant marine life and beautiful tropical wetlands are yours to explore. Quite simply, we’re the best vacation destination of the Caribbean.
The Turks and Caicos is a tropical Atlantic archipelago that’s located 575 miles (925 kilometres) southeast of Miami, Florida, and 75 miles (120 km) north of the Dominican Republic. The country is a British Overseas Territory with a population of about 30,000 spread over nine inhabited islands. There are about 100 named islands and cays in the Turks and Caicos.
The majority of the population of Turks and Caicos resides on the island of Providenciales. Grand Turk supports the second greatest population, as well as the nation’s capital city of Cockburn Town.
Unlike many Caribbean countries, the Turks and Caicos has one of the lowest annual rainfall averages in the region, and consequently a high percentage of sunny days and great weather.
For information about working with our travel concierge to plan your dream vacation to any of the beautiful destinations featured or any other travel related questions, please click the button below.
Contact us to enquire about our fantastic travel opportunities.