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The top 15 islands of the Caribbean

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

White sands, a turquoise sea, colorful palm trees and delicious food. The Caribbean has tons of hidden islands and each one is a treasure in itself. But there may be places that are better or more worthwhile than others. Here is a list of the best islands in this amazing area of the world.

Despite having somewhat strange names -what were those pirates thinking?- these are extremely beautiful places, with excellent activities and attractions, the most beautiful beaches, and improved accessibility.

  1. Haiti

In its capital, Port-au-Prince, you’ll find the ideal place to get away from the world for a while and let yourself go. This island has more than 20 historical and tourist attractions, including the Musée du Panthéon National Haitien and a flea market.

  1. Guadeloupe

A haven of the weather. It features over 50 natural attractions such as its botanical gardens Deshaies or coral reefs at Pointe des Châteaux. It is definitely the ideal place for adventurers of flora and fauna. Its name used to be Karukera, which means “island of beautiful waters”. No wonder they named it that way!

  1. Dominica

Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, this island is nicknamed the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean” for its incredible volcanoes, sparkling waterfalls, dense forests and over 300 miles of trails. Its capital, Roseau, has dozens of attractions to visit. A must-visit!

  1. Turks and Caicos Islands

An ideal destination for those who enjoy diving and snorkeling, this place has over 60 attractions, and amazing beaches to lie in the sun. The first of its names is due to a cactus whose shape resembles the Turkish fez, and the second comes from caicos, great reefs that become islands. It’s a paradise for underwater explorers.

  1. Grenada

This beautiful island country has many attractions for tourists, and a mixture of American and European culture. Nicknamed the “island of spice”, due to the production of mace and nutmeg, this is an excellent destination for those seeking adventure or quiet beaches. And if you’re a daring diver, the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park is waiting for you with a series of impressive sculptures under the sea.

  1. Anguilla

You may think of an animal when you read that name, but we’re talking about a beautiful island with one of the highest percentages of earthly beach. Its cuisine is a mix of Africa, Spain, France and England, and it will surely delight you. If you’re into sports, their national sport is boat racing. Sounds exciting!

  1. Antigua and Barbuda

This island has some of the best trails for hikers, since it has a low beach density, making its shorelines a challenge to roam around. Of its many attractions, we recommend the beach Valley Church beach and the Stingray City, a natural pool where you can swim with friendly stingrays.

Image courtesy of Roberto Faccenda at Flickr.com

Image courtesy of Roberto Faccenda at Flickr.com

  1. Saint Lucia

Formerly called Iouanalao by the Arawaks, which means “Island of the iguanas”, this island has a lot of virgin jungles and white beaches. And, for the best view, do not miss the top of the Pitons mountains, perhaps the island’s most famous landmark.

  1. Trinidad and Tobago

It is home to the oldest protected jungle throughout the hemisphere. It has a low density of beach land, but both islands manage to gather over a hundred attractions, including reserves of tropical animals and horseback rides along the beach.

  1. Aruba

A place with some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. Arashi Beach, Eagle Beach and Baby Beach will win you over, a grain of sand at a time. Also, if you are into sports, the typical winds of this place will allow you to become a master of kitesurfing.

  1. Martinique

This small French island combines its cultural background with the current population, in addition to having more than 80 attractions to choose from. What makes it even more special is the fact that this island has black sand beaches… in the Caribbean! Beautiful and unique.

  1. Montserrat

Volcanoes to climb, ruins to explore, beaches for swimming, getting a tan, and having a piña colada under the Caribbean sun. This is one of the most beautiful islands and inexpensive islands on this list.

  1. Barbados

The birthplace of singer Rihanna, this amazing island will welcome you with open arms, a gentle breeze and a cocktail with Caribbean rum. Our recommendation is to go to Carlisle Bay, the tropical gardens and a shipwreck accessible through diving.

  1. US Virgin Islands

This archipelago’s main islands are Saint Croix, Saint John, St. Thomas and Water Island. Despite not having many beaches, it is home to two renowned ones: Magens Bay and Trunk Bay.

  1. Saint Kitts and Nevis

These sister islands are a hidden gem within the Caribbean, being the smallest ones in the Americas, both in size and population. Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and the Clay Villa Plantation House & Gardens are both beautiful and historical. The islands have more than 70 other major attractions, and a large area of ​​beach. Why not go for a swim?

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Destination TipsRoyal at SeaRoyal Holiday

You are invited to the nature island of the Caribbean

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Sometimes you start planning your next holiday trip and suddenly you realize that the places you are thinking on going are the same as many others think about. You try very hard and the greatest idea appears: Why not going to the Caribbean? Then you decide to look up on the Internet, for instance, on Trip Advisor, and they will show you Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Cuba, and some other popular destinations. And then you feel those places will be crowded for sure, and then you research a bit more, and eventually read a post here, on Royal Holiday when we tell you that there are more than seven thousand islands in the Caribbean, each one of them very unique. We think anyone would love a place where multiple experiences are at one place: abundant outdoor spas, a pristine natural environment, a colorful Caribbean sea of volcanic waters. So let’s dig deeper on the advice of that previous post and think on that place, Dominica, when natural sights look like they ripped off of the most beautiful postcard you have ever imagined.  

The call of nature

“Isle of beauty, isle of splendor”, this is the first line of Dominica’s national anthem, and it describes the intensity of the beauty of an island known as “the nature island of the Caribbean”. This is the reason why travelers from all around choose Dominica, where the splendor of nature turns and twists, rises to the mountain tops and then tumbles to waterfalls and valleys.

Image courtesy of Liam Quinn at Flickr.com

Image courtesy of Liam Quinn at Flickr.com

Things to do

Dominica is an ideal place to hike, bike or trek, for instance, at the newly opened Waitukubuli National Trail which is composed by 14 sections in a trail that runs 115 miles south-north, bisecting the length of the island.

If your thing is diving, Dominica claims to be one of the best diving destinations in the world. Soufriere Scott’s Head Marine Reserve, in the southwest offers unique volcanic underwater features with reefs and corals, volcanic vents and immense sea walls, an amazing scenario to watch sea turtles, sperm whales, flying gurnards, frogfish, seahorses and other species rarely found in other diving areas of the Caribbean.

When it gets to slow down, one of the natural spas of Dominica will be there for you. Hidden in the forest near Wotten Waven are the fumaroles, bubbling waters and cascades of the outdoor spas, either perched on a hill or at the bottom of a river, they will give you the best of their therapeutic properties, a very relaxing experience.      

Of course, if you visit a Caribbean island, you expect to see stunning beaches. Since Dominica is a volcanic island, many powder-fine white-sand beaches found mostly in the north and the east. If you are looking for a crowded-on-holiday beach (in Dominican terms), then Woodford hill Beach is the one. But if you want a beach more for relaxation, Hodges Beach is a bit farther but will worth it. L’Anse Noir is the favorite for the most adventurous, sitting on a cove passing Woodford Hill, will be the place to find the right wave of the island.

And save some time to walk around Roseau, Dominica’s capital city, on of the best preserved collections of 18th century architecture in the Caribbean. The center of Roseau offers you civic, military and religious buildings, old sugar cane estates and mills, and the colorful ‘Ti Kaz, little houses almost all wood framed and brightly painted. The historic city has a good selection of places to eat, from beachfront Mexicans to old-style French bistros.

And a rum punch or an ice cold beer while you play with the sand and have the sea in your sight is another major reason to go around. “The Pirates Bar” certainly is a good choice. Just a few minutes on the road from Roseau to Scotts Head, is a beach bar specialized in fresh juices and local rums. You should try a Soca Rum and pineapple juice. And later on, the night falls on Dominica and the streets light up with people looking for a good time. Nightlife at Roseau is lively, full of bars and hangouts featuring folk music (cadence-zouk, jing ping), reggae, jazz, soca and calypso, where fun is guaranteed.   

General facts of Dominica

Dominica (pronounced dom-in-ee-ka), is the latest island of the Lesser Antilles since is still formed by volcanic activity; it lays in the center of the Caribbean archipelago, locked between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. This little island (just 29 miles long and 16 miles wide) is a former British colony which attained its independence in 1978 (they also drive on the left side of the road!). The official language is English, the capital is Roseau and the economy depends mainly on agriculture.

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Destination Tips

Best Islands to Find Adventure

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

When you go on vacation, it’s nice to take some time to relax, but you might not want to lie on a beach for a full week. Some people think that when you visit an island, relaxation is all the spot has to offer, but in reality, many islands offer fun natural adventures that take you out of your normal life and give you a taste of something unique or exotic. If you’re the sort who’s looking for an adventure, whether for your whole trip or part of it, head to these island destinations.

Dominica

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This Caribbean island exposes you to mountains, geothermal hot springs and volcanic activity. You can explore the rainforest, see waterfalls and, best of all, have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of swimming within a volcano at Champagne Beach. At the top of the water, you enjoy refreshing coolness, but when you swim downward, you experience hot bubbles coming out of the seafloor from the active volcano.

St. Kitts

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Instead of swimming in a volcano, hike up one on this Caribbean island – this time, it’s dormant. It takes two to three hours, depending on your speed, to reach the top of Mount Liamuiga, from which you’ll see the crater at the summit and views of the island’s rainforests, mountains and beaches through cloud covering around it.

The Cook Islands

These islands of the South Pacific offer stunning views and amazing expeditions. Many people visit this area for scuba diving to see the area’s reefs. You can also explore the spectacular blue lagoons by kayaking within them and sticking to snorkeling, which still offers views of sealife if you’re not up for scuba diving. When on shore, you’re able to bike and hike – don’t skip hiking to the top of the highest point of the Aitutaki island, Maunga Pu.

Eil Malk

This island, one of the 500 islands of Palau in the Pacific Ocean, offers plenty of natural bounty to explore within its rich blue waters. One of the best adventures of this area is scuba diving or snorkeling to experience the water’s life up close. You can’t beat snorkeling on the island within Jellyfish Lake. Expect to be surrounded by endless hordes of jellyfish, which give off a gold hue that shimmers against the green lake. But don’t be too distracted by the jellyfish to realize you’re swimming in an ancient natural wonder that has remained largely undisturbed by people.

Molokai

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One of the Hawaiian Islands, Molokai offers an experience off-the-beaten-path and away from the main tourist spots. You also get something more than the typical Hawaiian trip by going deeper into Hawaii’s natural glory. Adventurers will love the opportunities to bike and hike through the rainforests, jungles, eucalyptus forests and other natural areas. During your trip, check out a coffee plantation, the island’s leper colony and Moa’ula Falls.

Spanish Wells or Eleuthera

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These Bahamas islands offer the chance to try or master kiteboarding, an extreme sport where you glide along the water or beach, with a power kite above you that catches the wind. You’re able to skim the waves and soar in the air, getting as wild as you choose. These islands have become the place to go for this sport with its perfect conditions for it. Both of these islands offer this adventure, while Eleuthera provides higher class lodgings and a little more to do in the evenings, such as bands playing, wheras Spanish Wells offers a native experience.

Isla Holbox

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If fishing is your idea of an adventure, head to this Mexican island that is perfect for fly-fishing. You’ll have a vacation without a lot of human interaction, but with a lot of time spent with the fish and the water. Part of the fun of fishing here is the boating into the turtle grass flats. While you’re on the island, you can also partake in other water activities, including kayaking, swimming and snorkeling with whale sharks (they migrate here in the summer).

The Seychelles

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Explore this bunch of Indian Ocean islands off Africa’s eastern coast. You can see and visit a bunch of these islands by going from one to the next by boat. There are cruises that will take you around and bring you to various islands where you can see rainforests, bike, sail, bird watch and engage in more adventures. And of course, you also have the chance to go scuba diving to see coral reefs and underwater animals.

As you can see, islands throughout the world offer impressive natural wonders and adventures to experience. The Royal Holiday vacation club offers stays in top-notch resorts across over 50 countries, including ones that put you in touch with amazing island activities. So even if you plan to enjoy some time soaking in the sun on the beach or in an infinity pool, be sure to spend some time checking out the natural splendors of the world’s islands on a fun adventure.

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