Island hopping
Main picture: The vibrant colours of the Caribbean enhance the holiday experience with, below, the Dominican Republic, Montserrat and Belize
while other options include taking the ferry from Antigua to Montserrat for a close-up view of its active Soufriere Hills volcano; snapping up bargains on a shopping trip from Anguilla to St Maarten; or taking catamaran trips from Grenada to its away- from-it-all smaller sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Some of the island groups within the Caribbean naturally lend themselves to island-hopping. Travellers to the Bahamas can take their pick from 700 islands (though only around 30 are inhabited) and revel in the contrast between lively Nassau, with its casino resorts and restaurants, and the barefoot chic of the Out Islands which are big on rustic charm and natural attractions.
They are easy to get to thanks to an extensive network of flights or fast and traditional ferries between the Bahamian
Why not add a theme to your island meanderings? Combine the upmarket ambience of Anguilla with its high-class hotels and restaurants with the similarly upscale, but Gallic style of nearby St. Barths, a magnet for film stars and celebrities.
islands. And more intrepid explorers can even hitch a ride on the battered old mail boats that sail between the islands, though they are not for the fainthearted! The British Virgin Islands boast a good network of ferries, flights and water taxis which are ideal for lazily exploring at your own pace or hiring a yacht (with or without crew) to explore independently. Combine a stay on the main islands of
Tortola or Virgin Gorda with one of the smaller outposts such as Anegada or Jost Van Dyke, or take the ferry to the US Virgin Islands of St. John, St. Thomas or St. Croix. Alternatively, you could combine a land stay with a few days on a yacht to float around the British Virgin Islands at leisure. The Grenadines offers a similar experience. Spend a few days on the main island of St Vincent and work your way along the island chain, taking in spots such as the pretty isle of Bequia, sophisticated Mustique and the uninhabited Tobago Cays.
Of course the ultimate way to see the highest number of islands in one trip is to take a cruise and there are plenty to choose from as the Caribbean is the world’s most popular cruising ground with numerous ships plying Caribbean waters.
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And with a number of them starting or finishing sailings at islands such as Puerto Rico, Barbados and St. Thomas, there is plenty of scope for visitors to add a few days on to their trip.
Why not add a theme to your island meanderings? Combine the upmarket ambience of Anguilla with its high-class hotels and restaurants with the similarly upscale, but Gallic style of nearby St Barths, a magnet for film stars and celebrities. Alternatively, mix the distinctive reggae beat of Jamaica which underpins everyday life on the island with the strong salsa influences of Cuba.
Gourmands can follow their tastebuds
www.caribbean.co.uk
around the islands starting with the excellent restaurants on Barbados before moving on to French islands of St. Martin and St. Barths which are similarly renowned for their high quality dining.
Alternatively the exclusive sophistication of somewhere like Barbados makes for a wonderful contrast with the rustic simplicity of the Grenadines islands as do the sandy beaches of Antigua with the volcanic natural wonders of Dominica.
St. Maarten is another destination where visitors can get their kicks from its lively casino scene and big hotels before travelling to the island of St Eustatius which is virtually unexplored by tourists.
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