CARIBBEAN
A Few Possibilities
Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Havana, San Juan, Willemstad, Santo Domingo, Kingston, Bridgetown, Port of Spain, Montego Bay, Charlotte Amalie, Ponce, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Fort-de-France Bay, Santiago de Cuba, Negril, George Town, Freeport
Sites Worth Seeing
Who doesn't want to go to an island and just chill? That's what most people want to do. However, many people also like to do something while on that chill vacation. Water sports are a big activity on the islands, from scuba diving and snorkeling to parasailing and jet skiing to sailing--there is no shortage of water-based activites. Many excursions also offer ATV adventures, ziplining, hiking and horseback riding to name a few. And of course, you have to take note of the beaches. Cane Garden Bay in Tortola is a top contender if not the number one beach to visit in the Caribbean. It is absolutely breathtaking! Other beaches to mention would be Trunk Bay and Caneel Bay in St. John, Magens Bay and Coki Beach in St. Thomas, Bathsheba Beach in Barbados, Reduit Beach in St. Lucia, and Grace Bay and Taylor Bay in Turks & Caicos.
Take a night cruise on the famous Luminous Lagoon where tiny microorganisms give the water its glimmering, blue-green glow. Another enchanting natural wonder is in Puerto Rico's Bahia Bioluminiscente, also known as Mosquito Bay where bioluminescent creatures emit bursts of bright blue light when shaken. Visit the one off the coast of Vieques for the brightest blue light. There are many coral reefs to see beautiful tropical fish and marine life, and national forest like El Yunque with waterfalls and greenery in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains also in Puerto Rico. Explore the Y.S. Falls in Jamaica and go bamboo rafting down the Marta Brae River. There are also many caves to explore and don't miss the Baths found in Virgin Gorda.
There are also some historic sites to visit as each island has its own history and culture. In Havana, sites and beaches have gone untouched due to the embargo held for years by the U.S. making it appear as though time has stood still since the 1950s. In Puerto Rico, wind through the streets of Old San Juan and visit the Castillo de San Cristobal. In Jamaica, check out the Bob Marley Museum and the Ras Natango Gallery and Garden. For a bit of intoxicating fun (literally), visit the Appleton Estate for a tour of the island's famous rum factory. Other famous rum factories are the Bacardi Distillery in Puerto Rico and Cruzan Rum Distillery in St. Croix.
Shopaholics & Foodies
Shopping can be found on most islands and many offer duty-free and tax-free shopping. In St. Thomas, visit Main Street and Paradise Point, and in St. John's port area, mosey around the many boutiques. Grand Cayman has the Bayshore Mall and Anguilla is great for art found in the sophisticated art galleries like the Devonish Art Gallery or the Savannah Gallery for an alternative kind of luxury opportunity. The first art gallery to open on the island is Pineapple Gallery and features stunning Haitian pieces.
Old San Juan has so many boutiques and shops to wander through. Popular artisanal products to buy are the masks islanders create and santos, hand-carved effigies of Catholic saints, cuatro guitars, mundillo lace, Panama hats, vintage jewelry and herbal soaps made from local ingredients.
Bermuda has plenty of shopping centers and designer malls sucha as the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, Sunset Mall and the Holetown Chattel Village. Bahamas has many shops in the town of Nassau, the Crystal Court Shops for designer brands and shops at Atlantis and Marina Village.
There's nothing like seafood while in the islands and some of their specialty dishes. In Jamaica, sample the sumptuous Jamaican staple of ackee and saltfish. Mixed together, the salty tang of the fish complements perfectly the buttery texture of the fruit. It’s certainly worth trying this dish for that real taste of Jamaica. Conch and grouper are staples in the Bahamas.
Nightlife
Take to the happening hub of San Juan’s La Placita, Santurce’s famous market, where wanderers are invited to meet up, eat up and dance the night away to smooth salsa sounds. With laughs and live music at every turn, there’s no place quite like this high-spirited square.
Near Condado, at Dos Hermanos, you can find the Pelican Bar standing on stilts in the ocean. Though the bar has on occasion been damaged during hurricane season, locals have quickly rebuilt the iconic drinking spot. The menu here is simple: cold beers, rum punch, and fish.
NOTE: This listing of nightclubs and lounges was created pre-pandemic and will be updated soon.