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Caribbean VacationsFollowing are the best Caribbean vacation destinations: THE BAHAMAS - NEW PROVIDENCE & PARADISE ISLAND More Caribbean IslandsBahamas Beginning 64 kilometers (40 miles) off the tip of Florida and sprawling across 259,000 square kilometers (100,000 square miles) of water, the Bahamas actually lie in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea. The chain ends just north of Hispaniola, the island of Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. However, since it shares much of its heritage and beauty with its southern neighbors, it is often referred to as part of the Caribbean. Independent from Britain since 1973, this archipelago comprises more than 700 large islands, smaller low-lying landmasses called cays ("keys"), and landfalls hardly larger than boulders. The nation's population of nearly 255,000 lives on only about two dozen of these mainly flat, coral islands. The vistas, beautiful coastlines, and lifestyle make the Bahamas special. From the international city of Freeport on Grand Bahama and its neighboring Lucaya resort to the pink sand beaches of tiny Harbour Island, the Bahamas offers a wide choice of vacation opportunities. With its many islands and cays, this country could take months of exploration. In the old days, mail boats often spent weeks completing the circuit of inhabited islands. Before the arrival of airplanes, these boats served as the local inter-island transportation for people as well as correspondence. Even today, some Bahamians and adventurous visitors still choose this leisurely, rough-and-tumble mode of travel. Visitors looking for the excitement and conviviality of casinos, a vibrant nightlife, and varied dining have Nassau and the adjoining Paradise Island, as well as Freeport. Some of the larger resorts here are self-contained and cater to guests not interested in exploring much beyond their hotels. Vacationers who do wish to get to know Nassau and Freeport during their stay can begin with bus or taxi tours available through hotels and the tourist bureau. Those with a more adventurous spirit can take tours on their own by using the local jitneys, or minivans. Doing so can be fun and gives the flavor of what life is like for residents. Vacationers seeking a slower pace and more serene surroundings should definitely consider visiting one of the Out Islands. Formerly called the Family Islands, these more reclusive spots are often striking in their beauty. They bring visitors closer to the natural wonders of the islands' land and sea and introduce them to people not jaded by the tourist trade that booms in Nassau, Paradise Island, and Freeport Jamaica Jamaica is located 1,125 kilometers (700 miles) southeast of Miami, 175 kilometers (110 miles) west of Haiti, and 145 kilometers (90 miles) south of Cuba. The island is 235 kilometers (146 miles) long, 82 kilometers (51 miles) across at its widest point, and sprawls over 11,400 square kilometers (4,400 square miles), making it the third largest island in the Caribbean. Like other Caribbean islands, it was formed from the outcropping of a submerged mountain range. Reaching 2,256 meters (7,402 feet) at the Blue Mountain Peak, a mountain range crosses the island in the east and descends westward; a series of gullies and spurs cross north to south. The north and west coasts harbor most of the beaches, though a few good ones can be found in the south. The capital Kingston, the cultural and social pulse of the island, is located on the southeast coast—one of the largest and best natural harbors in the world. Montego Bay, another landmark name in Jamaican tourism, lies in the northwest part of the island. U.S. Virgin Islands The U.S. Virgin Islands comprise a group of three main islands—Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix—and about 50 islets, most of which are uninhabited, east of Puerto Rico and lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas. Other principal communities in the group are Christiansted and Frederiksted, both on St. Croix. The islands lie about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) south of Miami. A mere 18 degrees above the equator, they're bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and on the south by the Caribbean Sea, except for St. Croix, which is surrounded by the Caribbean. Just over 3 kilometers (2 miles) east of St. Thomas is the laid-back little island (49 square kilometers/19 square miles) of St. John. A 5-kilometer (3-mile) expanse called Pillsbury Sound separates St. John from St. Thomas, and between the two islands lie a few smaller, mostly uninhabited ones, or so Christopher Columbus fantasized when he named the group St. Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins. The highest peak is 389-meter (1,277-foot) Bordeaux Mountain. Most of St. John's 2,500 residents live in the area surrounding Cruz Bay, a tiny ramshackle town, where ferries and cruise-ship tenders dock, tourists shop, and islanders go about their business. Scenic overlooks provide a glimpse of broad expanses of white sand lapped by a turquoise sea. Closer inspection reveals a sugary white sand and interesting snorkeling offshore. St. Thomas lies about 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of St. Croix. Only 23 by 5 kilometers (14 by 3 miles) long, it is built on a mountain—the reason it's called "Rock City"—with its one main town, Charlotte Amalie, situated on the central south shore. Beach resorts dot most of the coastline; private homes with bright red roofs of corrugated iron nestle into the hillside in the wooded interior. The island is easy to navigate by automobile, but there are the inevitable daily traffic jams that clog downtown Charlotte Amalie at rush hour. Lying 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Puerto Rico and 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of St. Thomas, St. Croix (rhymes with "boy") is the largest of the islands, but only 50,000 people live there. With a land mass 47 kilometers long by 11 kilometers wide (29 by 7 miles), and 212 square kilometers (82 square miles), St. Croix is separated from St. Thomas and St. John by 52 kilometers (32 miles) and a 3,600-meter (12,000-foot) oceanic trench. Rocky terrain fills the eastern sector, while the west end has higher elevation and more forests. Salt River on the north coast has been approved as a national park, including not only the site where Columbus first landed, but also the underwater Salt River drop-off and canyon. Among the many natural attractions are wildlife refuges for birds and leatherback turtles, a rain forest, botanic gardens, three nature preserves, and three parks—one under the sea. Caribbean Vacation Links / Caribbean Vacation ResourcesVacation to the Caribbean On Sale Caribbean Vacation Tips and Caribbean Vacation IdeasTips On Booking Caribbean Cruises Caribbean Tips On Carnival Schedules Planning A Caribbean Fishing Vacation |
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