Oh, the Caribbean! Stretching from the east coast of the USA all the way past Central America and down to South America, this has got to be one of the world’s most stunning yet diverse litter of islands.
There are over 700 islands, cayes and archipelagos in the Caribbean where blonde beaches combine with the beating heart of Caribbean culture. It’s no surprise the Caribbean is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Where to start with your exploration? That depends what you’re after. Jamaica serves a vibrant mix of culture and cuisine alongside its beaches. Travelling independently through Jamaica will help you see the authentic side of the country. Or you could just spend your time eating the amazing traditional Jamaican food. And a trip sailing around the British Virgin Islands still represents one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Cuba is an experience in time-travel.
I also experienced my first ever cruise in the Caribbean, exploring the ABCs – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao as well as St Kitts and Nevis. Meanwhile, St Lucia and Puerto Rico have merited trips all of their own.
And then there are the lesser known islands off the coast of Mexico and Latin America that I’ve explored independently (because I like an adventure) and while some of them may not technically form part of the Caribbean islands, they sit right there on the Caribbean coast: Puerto Viejo and Cahuita in Costa Rica, Caye Caulker (Belize), Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres (off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula), San Andres (Colombia) and San Blas Islands (Panama).
Whichever Caribbean island you choose, it won’t really matter; visit one and you’re likely to want to keep going back to explore them all.
I had my reservations about Jamaica. Despite being one of the most popular islands for visitors in the Caribbean, a quick search online told me that tourism in Jamaica has developed substantially since the glitterati jetted to the island in the 1950s. These days, all-inclusive resorts have become one of the major ways to visit. And, if … Read more
Eating the traditional food of a country is one of the best parts of travel for me. In fact, if I don’t enjoy the local food, I’ve been know to get food depression. Fortunately, Jamaica has some fantastic flavours to try. Whether you’re about to visit Jamaica or are looking to pull together a tropical … Read more
Visiting Topes de Collantes, a nature reserve in the southwest of the Escambray Mountains, was never in my original travel itinerary for Cuba. However, for each day that I lingered at the beach in La Boca, staring out at the ominous peaks and troughs of the distant range, I became increasingly drawn to the mountains, … Read more
Cuba is a unlike any other country I’ve visited and it’s safe to say that this out-of-kilter Caribbean island requires a bit more research and planning than your average trip. Having recently completed my second trip, here’s my list of what you need to know about Cuba before you visit covering everything from visas to … Read more
Being one of only two foreign faces in the tiny beach town of La Boca in Cuba is one of those travel experiences that will likely endure right down to my dying days. I hadn’t set out on a quest to find one of the best beaches in Cuba, but leaving La Boca I’m confident … Read more
As I engaged in my rapid departure from what had become an ugly experience at Varadero’s beach resorts, I was desperate to replace my memories with something novel and exciting. Fortunately, within 24 hours, my wish was to be granted when I found myself at a rave in a cave at Disco Ayala, an exceptionally … Read more
“Varadero beach is full of tourists” seems to be the automatic response I get from any independent traveller who I speak to about Cuba. It’s a curious response given most of these self-professed “non-tourist” travellers I meet (otherwise known as backpackers) have never actually visited Varadero Beach. They are simply citing a stereotype that has … Read more
Cuba’s Hershey Train is the epitome of how travel should be. Lazy, unpredictable, social and slow. As someone who crammed herself into London’s commuter trains for the best part of a decade, always watching the clock, multi-tasking the entire journey (sipping coffee, sleeping, standing, emailing and reading all in one shot), travel was a chore. … Read more
If you could trace the origins of the phrase “Mi Casa es Tu Casa” (translation: my house is your house), I’d put money on the phrase being invented in the casa particulares in Cuba. To many people, particularly those most familiar with staying in hotels when they travel, renting a room in a casa particular … Read more