Population:
13,477
Local Language: English
Local Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (BMD)
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: Non specified
Culture: Anguilla became an overseas British territory
in 1980 and relies heavily on tourism as one of its major
industries, the other being fishing. The island has few natural
land based resources and so is unable to regulate its economy
in this way. The island is largely populated with blacks (about
90%) and there are large beliefs on the island in Rastafarianism
and this is spreading throughout.
|
Places
to see
|
The
Old Valley Tour
enables you to see some of the most preserved historical buildings
that there are on the island of Anguilla. This is the island's
only real town and so well worth a visit as a lot has been
put into the preservation of it. You can see the Anguilla
National Trust Museum and a most beautiful church that has
its roof carved like the hull of a ship.
Shoal Bay East (not to be confused with Shoal Bay West)
has the most stunning clear blue waters and white sand, the
perfect location for swimming and snorkelling, or simply relaxing
with no disruptions. The Fountain, a top archaeological
site is close by.
If you are a diver, be sure to experience Prickly Pear
Cays. You will find in the underwater cavern nurse sharks
and barracuda that swim through the sunken shipwrecks to be
found near here. A great place to snorkel as well if you are
not the diving type!
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in F |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
83
|
83
|
83
|
84
|
86
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
87
|
85
|
83
|
|
75
|
75
|
75
|
77
|
78
|
80
|
80
|
80
|
80
|
80
|
78
|
76
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
Snapper
and lobster can be frequently found on the menu here, but
local delicacies include goat soup, mauby and cassava bread.
It is worth noting that eating out on the island of Anguilla
is not cheap.
|
Transport
|
Local
transport is not common in Anguilla. Buses are not available,
and taxis are expensive. Most visitors get around the island
by renting cars at a relatively cheap prices. If you are visiting
The Valley, why not consider hiring a bike or scooter to get
around?
|
|
|
About
Antigua and Barbuda |
Capital
City: Saint John's
Religion: Christianity |
Population: 81,479
Local Language: English but many locals speak Antiguan
Creole
Local Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: For Yellow Fever if you are over one
year of age travelling from an infected country. Typhoid and
Hepatitis A are highly recommended but not mandatory.
Culture: Antigua and Barbuda generally have a Westernised
culture, more specifically Briritsh, although Americanised
also, demonstrated by the important role that family play
in their everyday lives. Tourism plays a major part in running
their economy effectively although they do export manufactured
goods also such as bedding and electrical components.
|
Places
to see
|
English Harbour
is the most popular tourist attraction in Antigua and Barbuda
as many people flock to see the historical sites on the island
of Antigua. Ensure you see the Sandy Heights which has the
scattered ruins of an 18th century fort, providing excellent
scenic views.
The capital St. John’s is home to over a third of the
whole country’s population. Ideal for shopping and dining,
this is the tourist capital also. Home to St. John’s cathedral
that has been reconstructed three times after earthquakes
in 1683 and 1745 that have destroyed the original structure.
The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is the oldest building
in the city that is still being used after being constructed
in 1747. The museum is home to the historical facts of the
country and also archaeological artefacts that have been discovered
there since its existence.
The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host matches during
the 2007 Cricket World Cup. His cricket bat can in fact be
found in the Antigua and Barbuda Museum.
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in F |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
81
|
82
|
82
|
83
|
85
|
86
|
87
|
87
|
87
|
86
|
84
|
82
|
|
73
|
73
|
74
|
75
|
77
|
79
|
79
|
79
|
78
|
77
|
77
|
74
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
There are a number of local delicacies in Antigua
and Barbuda; fungi (consisting mainly of cornmeal) and pepper
pot, ducana, saltfish and lobster and season rice. Chinese
restaurants seem to be making more of an appearance on Caribbean
islands and so these are well worth checking out also. You
will find that supermarkets will sell traditional American
and Italian food if you are wanting to eat in. On Sundays,
they will often eat the equivalent to a British roast dinner
with macaroni pie or salads on the side. Breakfast on a Sunday
will consist typically of saltfish, eggplant, eggs and lettuce.
The local drinks are mauby, seamoss and tamarind juice to
name a few and many beers and rums are made locally which
are popular, namely Wadadli beer.
|
Transport
|
The
roads in Antigua and Barbuda aren’t the best. Volcanic ash
spread across them can make them slippery and so there is,
a not very well enforced, speed limit of 40mph. Buses do operate
daily, but only between the hours of 5.30am and 6pm. There
is also the ability to rent cars whilst on the islands, but
taxi’s are probably the most common form of transportation.
|
|
|
About
Barbados |
Capital
City: Bridgetown
Religion: Primarily Protestant Christians
|
Population:
279,254
Local Language: English
Local Currency: Barbadian dollar ($) (BBD)
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: If you are coming from an infected country
and are over one year of age, ensure you are vaccinated against
yellow fever. Although not compulsory, it is recommended if
you are over two years of age, that are you are immunised
against Hepatitis A.
Culture: Barbados is one of the most favourable holiday
destinations in the world. The most eastern Caribbean island,
it is known as the ‘pearl of the Caribbean’. The island has
a National Flower called the Pride of Barbados which grows
on the island. The trident that you can see pictured on the
flag is representative of Neptune, mythological god of the
sea. The yellow back that the trident is on represents the
sand, and the blue on either side the sea and the sky that
surrounds Barbados. About 90% of Barbadians are of African
decent. The Southern and western coasts of Barbados are the
most picturesque, calm white sand beaches, whilst the east
coast of the island that hits the Atlantic is popular for
light surfing. Barbados generally avoids the hurricane season
of the Caribbean because of its easterly positioning, and
on average gets hit directly about every 26 years.
|
Places
to see
|
The
capital Bridgetown must be seen when visiting the island.
A surprising feature of the island is its 19th century synagogue,
built on the site of the first one in existence in the 1600’s
when the island had a population of about 300 Jewish people.
There is a large Anglican cathedral to be seen and gothic
parliamentary buildings
Gun Hill Signal Station is located in St. George and
provides the most fabulous views of the entire island. The
actual station has been restored by the islands National Trust
and houses a collection of military memorabilia. There is
a statue of a lion at the Station that was carved out of a
single piece of stone by an officer in 1868.
Codrington College, built in 1743, is the oldest Anglican
theological college in the western hemisphere. The grounds
of this college are beautiful and as it sits on a hill overlooking
the Atlantic Ocean, it offers the most spectacular views on
the East coast.
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in F |
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
82
|
82
|
83
|
84
|
85
|
85
|
85
|
86
|
86
|
85
|
84
|
83
|
|
74
|
74
|
75
|
76
|
78
|
79
|
78
|
78
|
78
|
78
|
77
|
75
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
Mainly
restaurants in Barbados will serve up a mixture of imported
continental foods, and will charge about the same prices as
in the UK. Whilst on the island, try pepperpot with cassava
or rice 'n' peas. Flying fish is also a popular food on the
island as well as snapper and grouper. Lobster is available
but can be expensive in Barbados. There is also often 'meatier'
fish to choose from like kingfish and tuna and dolphin.
|
Transport
|
Transport
in Barbados is good, with tourists often taking the ZR's as
they generally take the more scenic routes to get to places,
although note, they can sometimes get crowded. Taxi's are
available also throughout the island, but be aware they are
not cheap.
|
|
|
About
British Virgin Islands |
Capital
City: Road Town
Religion: Protestant Christian
|
Population:
22,016
Local Language: English
Local Currency: U.S. dollar (USD)
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: It is recommended that travellers to
the British Virgin Islands are vaccinated against Hepatitis
A, and Hepatitis B if you are visiting the island for over
6 months or if have you have had intimate contact with the
local residents. MMR is recommended if you are not protected
against it already.
Culture: About 83% of the population of the all the
British Virgin Islands are Afro-Caribbean. The largest island
is Tortola, which is where the capital of all the islands
is Road Town. The Islands have their traditional music which
is called fungi after the local cornmeal dish which it shares
its name with
|
Places
to see
|
Tortola
is where people come to see the glorious beaches, coral reefs,
restaurants and nightclubs of the Virgin Islands. In Tortola
visit the Main Street and the JR O’Neal Botanic
Gardens to gain an insight into the culture of the Virgin
Islands, main attractions being the historic churches and
small villages. Sage Mountain is home to a rain forest,
a great feature to see whilst in Tortola.
Virgin Gorda has a slow pace of life on that island
and so laying on their fabulous beaches is often the most
preferable option. Although there is equally just as much
to see. Ensure you visit The Baths and The Coppermine.
Anegada is another of the British Virgin Islands, its
name translating as meaning literally a ‘drowned island’.
The island is surrounded on one side by the infamous Horseshoe
Reef that apparently is home to more than 300 ship wrecks.
Bone-fishing is a popular sport here, and the island is great
for ‘nature’ tourists as one can find many rare native iguanas
as the National Parks nurture them and then release them into
the wild. Setting Point is the main port on the island where
ferries dock, and many quaint little restaurants can be found
here.
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in F |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
84
|
84
|
84
|
85
|
87
|
88
|
89
|
89
|
89
|
89
|
87
|
85
|
|
70
|
69
|
70
|
72
|
74
|
76
|
76
|
76
|
75
|
74
|
73
|
71
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
Seafood
is the most common choice on the islands, lobster especially.
The islands are becoming more and more culturally diverse,
opening restaurants serving Asian, French and Italian cuisine.
Rum is the most popular drink on the islands, and concoctions
of it as well. Most of the bars have their own speciality
drinks, try them all. But be warned the alcohol proof of some
of them can be mind blowing!
|
Transport
|
Transport
on the islands is limited. The most common forms are hiring
a jeep, especially good if your stay is for a couple of nights,
otherwise you can get around via taxis relatively easy. The
main harbour for the islands is Road Town, the capital.
|
|
|
About
Cayman Islands |
Capital
City: George Town
Religion: Christian
|
Population:
45,017
Local Language: English
Local Currency: Cayman dollar (KYD)
Time: -5 hours GMT
Immunisation: Hepatitis A is recommended.
Culture: The Cayman Islands are made up of three separate
islands; Grand Cayman (the largest), Little Cayman, and Cayman
Brac. The Cayman Islands are home to the bright green Cayman
Parrot – make sure you look for it whilst visiting all the
islands. They are a world famous destination for divers as
they dive particularly regularly around two shipwrecks. As
a diving island, tourists are able to swim with stingrays
and make the most also from the beautiful crystal clear waters
that surround the islands. The Cayman Islands have no direct
taxation charges which makes them a popular investment site,
resulting in banking being a successful industry on the islands.
Other than that, tourism runs the islands and its aim is to
be a luxurious holiday destination. The highest point on the
Cayman Islands is on Cayman Brac and is The Bluff standing
at 43m.
|
Places
to see
|
Grand
Cayman is where most populated island. It is famous for
its Seven Mile Beach, arguably the most beautiful beach
in the whole of the Caribbean as it shows off its stretch
of pure white sand.
The Queen Elizabeth ll 65-acre Botanic Park is home
to lots of rare blue iguana’s that are raised here and then
released into the gardens and can be seen all the time.
The Cayman Island Turtle Farm allows interaction with
the different species that live here, a great trip for children
and adults alike.
If you visit Little Cayman, make sure you make a trip out
to Owen Island, a deserted island that is great fun
to enjoy and explore as it is totally uninhabited.
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in F |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
81
|
81
|
83
|
84
|
86
|
87
|
88
|
87
|
87
|
86
|
84
|
83
|
|
72
|
63
|
75
|
76
|
78
|
80
|
80
|
80
|
79
|
78
|
77
|
75
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
Local
cuisines on the island include turtle, conch, and of course
fish, which tend to be relatively inexpensive as they are
all caught fresh on the island and so do not need to be imported.
There is also a strong influence of Jamaican and English food
types on the islands, enabling you an extended choice in food
types. As for drink, this tends to be very expensive on the
islands and it is advised that you can expect to pay twice
as much for liquor, even from stores.
|
Transport
|
Most
people get around the island in cars. These can be hired easily
and just require you to show your valid driving licence from
your country of origin to gain a temporary one for a small
charge. A popular means of travel around the island also is
by moped and scooter which can also be hired at a reasonably
cheap price
|
|
|
About
Cuba |
Capital
City: Havana
Religion: Catholicism and Protestantism are both practised
in Cuba. About 25% of the population are Catholic. The religion
of Santería has a strong influence in Cuba, and Judaism is
growing. |
Population:
11,382,820
Local Language: Spanish
Local Currency: Peso
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: It is recommended to have jabs for Hepatitis
A, polio drops and typhoid.
Culture: Cuba is a very musical nation, and so as a
result, the locals love to dance a lot. The salsa dance ‘casino’
originated from Cuba. Cuba is home to many theatres that display
some of the finest musicals, plays and ballets. Art plays
a significant part in Cuban culture, as they work hard to
produce modern and post-modern pieces.
|
Places
to see
|
Havana
is a great popular tourist attraction, a beautiful dilapidated
old city that is full of stunning buildings. In the old city
there is the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales which is the
residence of the former Spanish Crown’s representatives. Places
in Havana that must be seen also are the El Templete (Little
Temple), a beautiful building built in 1827 and Cathedral
Square, Plaza de la Catedral, and the Old Plaza, Plaza Vieja.
Trinidad is really popular in Cuba. It has a lovely
traditional feel to the place, with cobbled streets and tiny
pastel houses. Trinidad is home to lots of live music which
the locals and tourists equally love. The Wars of Independence
devastated Trinidad’s sugar plantations after it had boomed
for a short but significant amount of time before them. The
traces of this short lived legacy can be seen by the now dilapidated
mansions and ornate church towers and marble floors. You can
see the ruins of lots of sugar mills and slave quarters. A
prime sight to see is an estate called the Manaca Iznaga,
property bought by Pedro Iznaga in 1795 who became so rich
by slave trafficking.
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba
and has a great Caribbean flavour to it resulting from the
influence of French planters and Haitians who settled in the
country in the 19th century.
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in F |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
77
|
79
|
81
|
85
|
86
|
87
|
88
|
88
|
86
|
84
|
82
|
79
|
|
61
|
61
|
63
|
67
|
70
|
72
|
73
|
73
|
73
|
70
|
66
|
63
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
Traditional
food eaten in Cuba is consists mainly of Spanish ingredients,
although African and Caribbean foods are equally as popular
on the island. The most common foods eaten on the island are
black beans, meats and stews. With Chinese food more up and
coming, a more varied taste is on offer for the Cubans and
visitors alike. Coffee is grown readily on the island, mainly
to be exported, although the 'local' coffee is imported from
Africa
|
Transport
|
Primarily
buses are the way to travel around Cuba. They are comfortable
and air conditioned, and the company used is called Viázul.
Train tracks have been on the down in Cuba and although you
can take some pleasant routes from major city to major city,
buses are commonly the way forwards.
Domestic flights are relatively cheap in Cuba, although they
are rising
|
|
|
About
the Dominican Republic |
Capital
City: Santo Domingo
Religion: Over 95% of the population adheres to Christianity.
. |
Population:
9,183,984
Local Language: Spanish
Local Currency: Peso
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Polio
are all recommended although no evidence is required upon
entry into the country. Malaria is a risk all year round on
the island.
Culture: The culture of the Dominican Republic is based
a lot on the culture of that of the Spanish, but it also incorporates
indigenous American and African cultures also. The African
culture is most visible to see through the use of music and
they have the carnival vibe of life that emphasises this.
Baseball is the most popular sport here; it even has its own
league featuring six teams.
|
Places
to see
|
The
Dominican Republic is world famous for its breeding of humpback
whales. About 85% of the North West Atlantic’s humpbacks
are born in the waters surrounding the Dominican Republic
every year and this is where they return to breed, obviously
attracting much tourism.
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic,
is home to the New World’s first university, hospital and
cathedral.
A beautiful cave complex definitely worth a visit is The
Three Eyes of Water (Los Tres Ojos de Agua). The cave
is so called because it contains three lagoons all situated
on three different levels which are fed by an underground
river. Surrounding this breath taking scenery is tropical
vegetation, stalagmites and stalactites.
The Fort San Felipe plays an important part in the
history of the Dominica Republic. It was built by the Spanish
way back in the 1600’s as a means of protecting the island
from pirates. The site is now a museum after being declared
a World Heritage Site in 1983 by the United Nations and is
visited by over two million people a year
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in c |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
26
|
28
|
27
|
28
|
28
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
28
|
28
|
26
|
|
18
|
18
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
22
|
22
|
20
|
18
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
As
much as the culture of the Dominican Republic can be traced
back to Spanish and African routes, so can the cuisine. Typical
family meals in the country are meat with rice and beans,
and side salads. The people living here also tend to eat a
lot of the tropical fruits found on the island such as coconuts,
bananas, pineapple and passion fruits
|
Transport
|
In
The Dominican there are five main highways that interlink
all the major cities on the island. These are all in good
condition, but as you may expect, smaller roads are not. Buses
on the island tend to be quite unreliable and uncomfortable,
although they are cheap to use. The answer to the Dominican
Republic's taxi service is the Public Car, or Carros Públicos.
Passengers pay a set fee and the car takes them, allowing
them to stop where they want to.
|
|
|
About
Jamaica |
Capital
City: Kingston
Religion: Over 65% of the population follow Christianity
. |
Capital
City: Kingston
Religion: Over 65% of the population follow Christianity.
Population: 2,651,000
Local Language: English
Local Currency: Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
Time: -4 hours GMT
Immunisation: A certificate of vaccination is required
for Yellow Fever if you are travelling to Jamaica from an
endemic country. Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Polio are
all recommended although no evidence is required upon entry
into the country.
Culture: Although Jamaica is small, it has a rich culture
and a strong presence in the world. Music is hugely significant
to the country, them being recognised for many famous musical
artists, most notably Bob Marley. Most people living in Jamaica
are religious and follow their faiths openly. Christianity
influences the culture immensely, especially through the use
of music, and Rastafari, the religion founded in Jamaica,
is openly practised.
.
|
Places
to see
|
Ocho
Rios is a popular site for cruise ships visiting the island.
Also, Ocho Rios is the birthplace and resting place of Bob
Marley, where his family and friends still reside. There is
a bus tour here that is designed specifically for adult reggae
fans with a complimentary drink included as well as beautiful
scenery to be experienced along the way.
Montego Bay is a must if visiting Jamaica. Known as
the tourist’s capital, it is a great market town in western
Jamaica. In Montego Bay you can experience great views onto
the Caribbean and see the reef that protects the bay. The
Bob Marley Experience and Theatre is located here,
a very popular tourist attraction paying tribute to the legendary
artist.
Although Kingston is known as the commercial centre
of the island, it is also home to many beautiful sights. The
National Gallery of Art is found in Kingston which
displays great art pieces created by Jamaica’s famous artists.
The Rockfort Mineral Bath is a natural spring created
from a 1907 earthquake that serves a spa enabling visitors
to indulge themselves.
|
Weather
|
| Average
highs and lows in f |
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
82
|
82
|
84
|
85
|
86
|
88
|
88
|
89
|
88
|
87
|
85
|
83
|
|
74
|
74
|
75
|
76
|
78
|
79
|
78
|
78
|
78
|
78
|
77
|
75
|
|
Food
and Drink
|
The
most popular alcoholic drink in Jamaica is rum and it tends
to be pretty strong so be careful. With it being a tropical
country, the Jamaicans make the most of their fresh fruits
and like to serve cocktails derived from these. The Blue Mountains
in Jamaica are where the country manufactures the most expensive
coffee in the world, Blue Mountain.
Food isn’t really a strong point for Jamaica, although they
do like to produce spicy, hot food taking great advantage
of peppers and spices. Ackee is hugely popular in Jamaica,
a cooked fruit from the Ackee tree. Also popular is curried
goat and rice and roast suckling pig.
|
Transport
|
It
is popular for travellers to rent bikes and see many of the
sights that way, of course a relatively cheap way of getting
around. Taxi's and buses are available for excursions further
a field. JUTA (Jamaican Union of Travellers Association) regulates
the transport on the island so make sure any public transport
you use is licensed by them. If you are to hire a car, the
roads aren't the smoothest so be careful.
|
|
|
|
|
