Island (do)hopping in the Caribbean
Posted by Tihomir Rangelov - 08/10/09 at 10:10:43 pm
The Caribbean (source: Google Maps)
Most people associate the Caribbean with pristine beaches and luxurious resorts. The resorts are of course there but if you want to dig deeper and go a little off the beaten track, on the Caribbean islands you will find an inspiring mixture of cultures and landscapes, which are worth exploring in between the dozes on the fantastic beaches.
The Caribbean islands generally consist of the Greater Antilles (the bigger islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and Jamaica) to the north and the Lesser Antilles – numerous smaller islands from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad off the coast of South America. And while you get the hammock under a palm tree (beware the coconuts!) and the turquoise sea by default, each of these islands has something unique to offer. All the islands are culturally diverse, their population being a mixture of Africans, Europeans, East Indians, Chinese, Latin Americans and their common offspring. Each island has been colonised by one or more European countries so you can witness a unique and charming mishmash of African music and Spanish architecture, Indian curry-dishes and French cuisine.
Most of the islands in the Lesser Antilles are volcanic so do not miss your chance to visit the volcanoes, especially in Montserrat and St. Kitts. You can also wander through tropical unexplored rainforest in Dominica and Tobago, take a boat trip among crocodiles and funny birds in Trinidad or watch giant sea turtles lay their eggs at night on the beaches of Grenada. Some say there is even more life underwater so don´t miss the diving and snorkelling among colourful fish, amazing coral reefs and underwater active volcanoes in Carriacou.
So visiting only one island in the Caribbean is like eating only the cherry off your cake – it will be rich and tasty but not complete. And once you are there, why not do some island hopping?
The sunsets are guaranteed. (Photo: Andrey Valkov)
Island hopping in the Caribbean is easier than you probably imagine. The different islands, despite most of them being each a seperate country have very good and relatively inexpensive connections. You will also see planes imitating you – that is: hopping between one or more islands on their way to their final destination. The competition among airlines in the region has been on the rise recently and that has brought a further drop in prices. To or from the Caribbean you can also easily connect with South, Central or North America and continue your journey. So no matter where you decide to start your journey or whether you are going north or south, make sure you always consult dohop.com for the best price available, as dohop.com finds flights on small and large airlines around the globe.
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