Caribbean Vacations
Antigua
When British Admiral Horatio Nelson searched the Caribbean high and low for the perfect place to hide his fleet, he found all the critical elements neatly combined in Antigua. The largest of the British Leeward Islands has warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef.
Little did the legendary Nelson know that over 300 years later those same special characteristics would transform Antigua into one of the Caribbean's premier tourist destinations. The trade winds that once blew British a man-of-war safely into English Harbour now fuel one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week. The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for marauders to navigate is where today's trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The coral reefs, once the bane of enemy ships, are now a boon to scuba divers and snorkelers.
Its little sister island of Barbuda - once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs - is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries. Most natives live in the capital of St John's, a bustling port city and cruise ship destination, while the rest of the island is sparsely populated and perfect for mind-clearing ambles. Locals boast that they have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. This claim may take some creative license but, whatever the actual number, the beauty of the beaches needs no exaggeration!
Aruba
Aruba is located deep in the Caribbean, just about 15 miles north of Venezuela. It is only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, making it the smallest of the Dutch Caribbean, or "ABC" Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao). Aruba became a separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1986, yet the island retains much of its early Dutch character. Despite its diminutive size, Aruba offers every Caribbean delight imaginable from water sports, to casinos, colonial heritage, forts, serene white-sand beaches, and so on. Blessed with pleasant trade winds and a nearly rain-free climate, Aruba is an island of enchanting contrasts. On the western shore, soft powder beaches fringed with palm trees slope gently to the warm, turquoise sea. Meanwhile, the island's interior is a desert-like landscape punctuated by divi-divi trees and the occasional pastel-colored cottage.
No large mammals populate Aruba but you can expect to see a great variety of small lizards and geckoes, as well as hundreds of species of local and migrating birds. The Bubali Bird Sanctuary near Palm Beach is home and refuge for many of these creatures. With the island's friendly people, beaches, well-organized tourist industry, and perpetually sunny climate, Aruba claims one of the highest rates of repeat visitors in the Caribbean!
Anguilla
If you're in search of total serenity, Anguilla is the Caribbean getaway of your dreams. The beautiful surroundings and languid tranquillity create the perfect place to master the fine art of taking it easy. Island life centers around the fabulous, pearl-white beaches - and the inviting turquoise waters that offer diving among wrecks, reefs and walls. Plus, the snorkeling, sport fishing and sailing can't be beat.
Back on land, island salt ponds offer excellent bird watching and The Valley sets the scene for fascinating sightseeing. At dusk, beachfront restaurants provide a front row seat for sunset before a star-studded show takes over the sky. You can also take a short ferry ride to nearby St. Maarten/St. Martin for casino gaming and nightclubs.
This laid-back island with a rich British heritage and some of the finest resorts in the Caribbean moves at your own pace, and rejuvenation is part of everyday life!
Barbados
Barbados was under British rule from its first settlement in 1627 to its independence in 1966, and these unbroken centuries of dominion left a legacy of proper British heritage. In many ways, the island seems like a tropical England with cottages sitting neatly in well-tended gardens, parish churches gracing every neighborhood, and a hilly area in the northeast called the Scotland District. The English are still present in a small but thriving community of settler's descendants, but England certainly isn't the only nation to have influenced Barbados. More than 70% of the islanders are of African descent, and the more flamboyant, rich African heritage also pervades local life. Even the language is affected, with the Queen's English as the official tongue, but the colorful local patois as the common language.
The people, known as Bajans, are a quick-witted and fun-loving with a gift for double entendre that's immortalized in their literature and calypso music. Historically, the primary industry was sugar from the 1600s until the 1980s. It remains a powerful influence today, though the fishing industry and tourism have become major players. In the 19th century, this island was "the sanatorium of the West Indies," hosting British sufferers of "the vapors." The 21st century doesn't often see "the vapors," but the need for Barbados' perfect climate and unhurried life is stronger than ever!
Bonaire
Bon Bini na Bonaire! Welcome to Bonaire! This secret hideaway is a Caribbean gem with a tiny population covering just 5% of its land, so the rest is wild, secluded, and perfect for letting go of stress and the trappings of hustled modern life. Bonaire derives its name from the language of its indigenous people, the Caiquetio, descendants of the Arawak Indians who came from Venezuela around 1000AD. It comes from the word "Bonay", meaning "low country", and its untarnished land is, indeed, relatively flat. But don't equate "flat" with boring, as Bonaire is the most interesting island in the Dutch Antilles.
Its culture is a vivacious mix of Dutch, African, Spanish, and Portuguese people, all of whom have contributed to the music, food, and architecture of this small community. The Spanish were the first Europeans to notice the island, claiming it in 1499. Ownership changed hands many times until 1816 when it was cededto the Dutch in the Treaty of Paris. Though it remains a Dutch Protectorate, it gained self-rule in 1954. Its complex history entwines several diverse cultures, spanning more than a thousand years, that live on in the daily lives of its people, the delicious cuisine, and colorful festivals. The island is a leader of environmental conservation, setting aside more than 20% of its land and 100% of its waters as protected nature preserves.
Curacao
Upon entering Curacao, don't be surprised to hear people saying "Bonbini" to you! This means "Welcome" in the language called Papiamento, which is a mixture of the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, and Arawak Indian languages. The largest island of the Netherland Antilles is full of exciting activities and interesting sights like the many markets, coral reefs, underground and underwater caves, golden beaches, remarkable fishing, championship golf, and exuberant nightlife. The island's gentle, leisurely lifestyle and storybook towns lend a touch of its Dutch roots to this tropical retreat. Discovered in 1499 by a lieutenant of Columbus, it was declared useless because there was no gold. By 1634, the natives were conquered by the Dutch who used its excellent harbors for military exercises.
Today, leisure boats fill the waters and the idyllic climate and landscape are their own kind of gold. The 19th-century plantations now welcome visitors as inns, museums, and restaurants. The miles of golden beaches and palm trees, the Dutch ambiance of the capital Willemsted, soca, meringue, and tambu music, and cultural festivals give Curacao a dual personality of Caribbean zest mixed with European style.
Dominica
When Christopher Columbus arrived in Dominica in 1493, he found an island flourishing with nature's wild abandon. Today, Dominica remains largely untamed and immensely appealing for travelers seeking adventure. All across this abundant island, rivers rush through dense rainforests, mountains reflect in quiet lakes, and the songs of rare birds mingle with the roar of waterfalls. Morne Trois Pitons National Park offers one of the best looks into island ecology. Three peaks rise above one of the world's last oceanic rainforests.
Other highlights include Emerald Pool, Boiling Lake, and the volcanic landscape of the Valley of Desolation. Dominica is also known for excellent scuba diving, bird watching, deep-sea fishing, and whale watching. For a getaway that's untouched by time, discover the Caribbean's true nature in Dominica!
Tortola
Tortola is a peaceful refuge of tropical, mountainous landscapes filled with nautical charm and distinct West Indian flavor. As part of the island chain that forms the British Virgin Islands, it is a sailor's paradise and a sophisticated Caribbean playground. Nicknamed the "land of turtle doves," Tortola is serene, seductive, and free from crowds, where buildings can't be taller than the palm trees. The lack of direct flights from the US curbs the number of visitors, but rewards those who take the extra "leg" with an island they very nearly have to themselves. Created by volcanic explosions over 25 million years ago, the island boasts a diverse and mysteriously enchanting landscape, while crystal clear waters and a pleasant climate enhance its natural beauty.
Tortola, obviously, is ideal for nature lovers. White sand beaches and tropical rainforests sit side by side on this 10-square-mile island. Visitors can choose among many isolated beaches, and then walk through undisturbed forests and preserved wildlife areas. Snorkeling, fishing, and all things aquatic can be found nearly anywhere, for those who like a bit of exhilaration added to a relaxing getaway.
Grand Cayman
There was a time when the Cayman Islands were lost in Jamaica's shadow but, little by little, travelers discovered the pleasures of its scuba diving, which outclasses that of just about any other island, and the warm welcoming islanders that make you feel like part of their family. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman make up this British colony. George Town, in Grand Cayman, is the capital, serving mostly as a business center that borders a protected harbor popular with cruise ship passengers pouring in for top-notch duty-free shopping. The National Museum occupies one of the few remaining 19th-century buildings, and chronicles the natural and seafaring history of the Caymans.
This is not a party island, and the happiest visitors are those looking for peace and quiet, wishing to exert themselves with little more than water activities and shopping. Resorts and hotels line the cool, white sands of Seven Mile Beach, which is a popular spot where many visitors wind down after a morning of excursions. Originally named Las Tortugas (The Turtles) by Columbus when he sailed past and saw the sea alive with turtles, the Caymans are still rich with marine life, thanks to a mostly undisturbed environment and strict protection laws. Though suburban life and conveniences have settled comfortably into the Grand Caymans, you still find the simple life complete with a rooster that crows the town to life each morning!
Grenada
The Caribbean island of Grenada is packed so full with breathtaking vistas and lush plants that the original Spanish colonists called it "green hills," after their own city of Granada, Spain. Subsequent French and British settlers were drawn by the same allure, and modern visitors to the "Isle of Spice" can still enjoy all the thriving rainforests, cascading waterfalls, blue lagoons, coral reefs, and secluded powder-white beaches that enchanted European colonists centuries ago.
Many consider Grenada's harbor in the capital of St George to be the most picturesque port city in the Caribbean. Situated in the lower extremes of the Windward Islands, Grenada greets its guests with the aroma of exotic spices like cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. With its panoramic views, cultural and historical experiences, pristine natural environment, and a warm and friendly people, it's easy to understand why the British and the French competed so long for this little gem of an island.
Santo Domingo
Located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is a lively and festive nation blessed with great natural beauty and glorious white sand beaches. Its friendly and flamboyant people celebrate life and enjoy sharing their rich history and culture with visitors. Christopher Columbus reached the north coast of the island on his first voyage to the New World in 1492 and gave it its name, which means "Little Spain." The colony of Santo Domingo retains much of its colonial architecture, including some of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere.
This often overlooked country offers one of the best vacation values in the Caribbean, as well as one of the most entertaining. Everything is infused with an irrepressible island spirit that enhances your experience, from finally learning to wind-surf, to exploring a bygone world, or getting swept up into a merengue street dance!
Jamaica
Jamaica's rich history stretches back beyond the 15th century and includes the settlements of the gentle Arawak Indians (who named the island Xaymaca), Spanish mariners, English conquerors, and Asian migrants, all of whom added to the multi-ethnic heritage of this Caribbean island. Modern Jamaica is the land of reggae and rum, wearing a mantle of roughshod romance that attracts travelers the world over looking to escape the routine of daily life. The landscape is a mosaic of palmed golden beaches and a beautiful mountainous interior.
Once the crown jewel of the British sugar empire, its coastal plains and lofty jungles are still dotted with colonnaded mansions, thriving plantations, and ruins of others that did not survive the slave rebellions. Many of the remaining mansions are now opulent inns flanked not only by the sugar fields, but also by golf courses, while the beaches that once harbored ruthless, notorious pirates now harbor vacationers seeking the perfect tan. And you'll note that music is the heartbeat of Jamaica; nearly everywhere you go you feel its rhythm pulsing through the air, the marketplaces, through the locals and, soon enough, through you. For vacationers with a free and festive spirit, Jamaica is your place to shine!
Nevis
Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sparsely peopled beaches combine in the sister islands of St Kitts & Nevis to make them one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. The twin islands are separated by a 2-mile wide channel, with ferry services that help visitors easily enjoy them both in a single trip! Christopher Columbus first spotted the islands in 1493, when they were populated with native tribes, but the Europeans didn't colonize until the British arrived in 1623. Their strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was among the best in the Colonial Caribbean. Those high standards continue today and, in fact, St Kitts and Nevis only recently gained independence from Britain, in 1983.
While development has been of the highest quality, it has fortunately remained in low quantity, so they remain uncrowded and unspoiled, famous around the world for excellent preservation of the ecosystems. Nature lovers will want to take advantage of the various tours through lava formations, tropical forest areas, and seaside lagoons. Boating tours and scuba diving expeditions are also favorites activities. Plantation homes have been transformed into grand, yet intimate inns. Quaint shopping areas and beautiful Colonial architecture draw visitors to the tiny towns. If a quiet vacation in a luxurious and alluring corner of paradise is what you seek, you'll find it on these twin islands.
Turks And Caicos
Turks & Caicos - a group of secluded islands tucked peacefully off the southern end of the Bahamas - is the perfect retreat for those seeking tranquility enveloped in white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. More than 200 miles of spectacular, sandy coastline set the perfect scene for beach lovers. And turquoise waters teeming with vibrant butterfly fish, exotic black coral, and orange sponges beckon scuba divers.
Turks & Caicos remains significantly less developed than many of the other Caribbean islands. Grand Turk is the main tourist island, and Providenciales, in Caicos, is the resort center with the most action - golf, tennis, and casino gaming abound. For a relaxing vacation spend sauntering along secluded beaches and uninhabited cays, shelling, fishing, snorkeling, windsurfing, and scuba diving, Turks & Caicos is the place!
Puerto Plata
One of the Dominican Republic's premier resort areas, Puerto Plata, the "Silver Port," lies to the north of the capital of Santo Domingo along the Atlantic coast under the shadow of Cordillera Septentrional. Rising more than more than 2,500 feet above the sea, the summit of Monte Isabel de Torres, which you can reach by cable car, provides a stunning view of the city and surrounding coast.
A lively and festive resort, Puerto Plata is blessed with great natural beauty and glorious white sand beaches. From merengue dance festivals to casino gaming action and every water sport imaginable, there's always something fun and interesting to do in Puerto Plata. Plus, discover the Caribbean of yesterday in "Old" Puerto Plata with its gingerbread homes and white fences adorned in bougainvillea. Best of all, Puerto Plata and the entire country of the Dominican Republic offer some of the best vacation values in all of the Caribbean!
Guadeloupe
It's so très chic, with all its French trappings like lovelies modeling bathing suits on the beach and compact little Euro cars zipping around the narrow streets. Even most of the visitors are French, escaping their Paris ennui by descending en masse to their treasured little butterfly island deep in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Guadeloupe shines among the family of Caribbean islands as an affluent and self-assured country with cosmopolitan flair bordered by beaches and coral reefs on one wing and open lands with the verdant, volcanic peaks of the Parc National on the other. The eastern wing, Grand-Terre, is dry, flat, and sandy with the best beaches in the country, which of course led to the development of its many restaurants, casinos, resorts, and clubs. Basse-Terre, the western wing, is wild, wet, and mountainous, and though it once went largely unnoticed by visitors, it nowhosts streams of whale-watchers, hikers, divers, and deep-sea anglers.
Only about 10% of the island is supported by tourism, relying still on its great success with sugar. At harvest time, the fields stir with workers cutting cane the old-fashioned way with machetes. Bringing together the best of its combined European and Caribbean heritage, Guadeloupe is an interesting mix of urban buzz and pristine scenery, suffused with an irresistible Creole flair.
Punta Cana
Located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is a lively and festive nation blessed with great natural beauty and glorious white sand beaches. Its friendly and flamboyant people celebrate life and enjoy sharing their rich history and culture with visitors. Christopher Columbus reached the north coast of the island on his first voyage to the New World in 1492 and gave it its name, which means "Little Spain." The colony of Santo Domingo retains much of its colonial architecture, including some of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere.
This often overlooked country offers one of the best vacation values in the Caribbean, as well as one of the most entertaining. Everything is infused with an irrepressible island spirit that enhances your experience, from finally learning to wind-surf, to exploring a bygone world, or getting swept up into a merengue street dance!
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an Estado Libre Asociado, that is, a commonwealth territory of the United States and its vivacious capital, San Juan, was founded in 1521. Though it is now the oldest capital city flying the US flag, it was once the strategic center of the Spanish Empire in the Caribbean, and maintains the largest and best-preserved complex of Spanish colonial architecture in the region. Cathedrals, museums, and stately Spanish squares abound, creating an ambience of romance and colonial grandeur.
Several quiet country resort areas, small resort islands just off the coast, and protected ecosystems offer an alternative to the city experience, making a visit to Puerto Rico a potpourri of historic, natural, and ultra-modern luxury sensations. Visitors enjoy spending many days exploring the historic sights, as well as spectacular diving and fishing excursions, hiking, golfing, gambling and, of course, dancing to the infectious rhythm of the indigenous salsa beat!
St. Kitts
Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sparsely peopled beaches combine in the sister islands of St Kitts and Nevis to make them one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. The twin islands are separated by a 2-mile wide channel, with ferry services that help visitors easily enjoy them both in a single trip! Christopher Columbus first spotted St Kitts in 1493, when it was populated with native tribes, but the Europeans didn't colonize until the British arrived in 1623. Their strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was among the best in the Colonial Caribbean. Those high standards continue today and, in fact, St Kitts and Nevis only recently gained independence from Britain, in 1983.
While development has been of the highest quality, it has fortunately remained in low quantity, so they remain uncrowded and unspoiled, famous around the world forexcellent preservation of the ecosystems. Nature lovers will want to take advantage of the various tours through lava formations, tropical forest areas, and seaside lagoons. Boating tours and scuba diving expeditions are also favorites activities. Plantation homes have been transformed into grand, yet intimate inns. Quaint shopping areas and beautiful Colonial architecture draw visitors to the tiny towns. If a quiet vacation in a luxurious and alluring corner of paradise is what you seek, you'll find it on these twin islands.
St. Lucia
Rich in cultural history and natural beauty, the island nation of St Lucia offers a touch of everything you want in a Caribbean vacation. An unspoiled, tropical gem nestled in a chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, St Lucia traces its colorful history to long before colonial times, yet it has a legacy of over 400 years of European influence. While the country's economy is mainly agricultural, its natural attributes have made tourism the fastest growing industry. Dramatic coastlines are enhanced by coral reefs and isolated beaches of both white and black sand. The awe-inspiring twin Pitons soar 2,000 feet up from the southwest shore, sheltering a lush interior rainforest with a profusion of giant ferns, wild orchids, and the beautiful plumage of rare tropical birds.
At once exotic and intoxicating, the island's natural wonders are matched by the cultural magnetism of quaint fishing villages, flavorful Caribbean cuisine, and exciting traditional events. The capital of Castries on the island's northwestern tip is a hot spot of tourist activity, with Victorian buildings, open-air markets, and an entertaining nightlife. There are excellent facilities for most leisure and sporting interests, including yachting, tennis, and golf. Explorers find banana and cocoa plantations, St Lucia's famed La Soufrière volcano, aged fortresses, and warm, friendly natives proud of their rich heritage.
St. Thomas / St. John
The US Virgin Islands are the most popular tourist spot in the Caribbean. Their international reputation stems not only from their pristine beaches, warm weather, and crystal-clear waters, but also because visitors see them as the most culturally diverse, ethnically rich, and artistically vibrant society in the tropics - all wrapped up in the safety and familiarity of the American flag. The natives are one of the best assets - island-spiced, friendly, and quick to smile, Virgin Islanders are literally from everywhere - as diverse as the peaceful Arawak and fierce Carib Indians, and culturally rich as the descendants of Africa, England, Holland, Denmark, Spain, France, India, and the United States.
As the most developed of the USVI, St Thomas is proud of its bustling cruise port allure, with a combination of the familiar and the exotic. Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the USVI and is the most popular cruise port in the Caribbean, where ships dock and pastel houses pepper the emerald hills. Colorful sloops dock along the waterfront and old Danish buildings mix with a world-famous shopping center. Don't miss the view from Mountain Top, the engaging spiral of winding streets from the base of Savan, and the quiet countryside on the far side of the island. While being "everything to everyone," the Virgin Islands remain true to themselves, a mixture of metropolitan convenience and island serenity.
St. Croix U.S.V.I.
The United States Virgin Islands are the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. The islands' long-standing international reputation stems not just from their pristine beaches, warm weather, and crystal-clear waters, but from their cultural diversity, as well. Additionally, visitors appreciate the chance to visit exotic islands under the safety of the American flag. Another favorite asset is the sun-kissed people. Island-spiced, friendly, and quick to smile, Virgin Islanders are literally from everywhere - from native Arawak and Carib Indians, to the descendants of Africa, England, Holland, Denmark, Spain, France, India, and the United States. St Croix is the largest of these islands, with two distinct towns to visit: the twin cities of Christiansted and Frederiksted.
Along with underwater adventures, year-round warm weather, and duty-free shopping, St Croix is rich with historic and architectural treasures. History lovers can travel in time to days when pirates looted and sugar plantations thrived in the rum trade. Feeling like you've traveled to the past is easy, since the island has escaped significant modern development, and retains hillsides and foliage as lush as the day Christopher Columbus arrived more than 500 years ago. Historic churches, colorful shops, and fine restaurants housed in Old Danish structures line the island's wide streets. While being "everything to everyone," the US Virgin Islands remain true to themselves, creating their own mix of metropolitan convenience and island serenity!
St. Maarten
One of the smallest territories in the world to be partitioned between two sovereign nations, St Martin/St Maarten is a 37-square mile island that has been shared by the French and the Dutch with neighborly cooperation and friendship for almost 350 years. The border is almost imperceptible, and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they have entered a new country! The only marker is a monument testifying to centuries of peaceful cohabitation and the treaty that made this special arrangement possible.
While happily sharing close quarters on this Windward Caribbean island, each side has yet been able to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. Some experiences, however, can equally be found on both sides, like traditional European elegance combined with modern outdoor fun like scuba diving, an energetic nightlife, and just about the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean. Travelers to this tropical island playground are treated to the unique experience of criss-crossing a border and playing in two island nations for the price of one!
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago - two islands, one country. Two vacations in one - could you ask for a better deal? Lying just off the South American coast, this is the most culturally diverse of its peers, with a landscape and natural history as rich and varied as the rainbow faces of its many distinct heritages. A melting pot of cultures with an irrepressible zest for life, this is a land of music and festivals, where Carnival, calypso, steel pan music, and the limbo dance were born. The islands were first settled many centuries ago by Amerindians, and were then stumbled upon by Columbus, settled by the Spanish and French, then conquered by the British. Both islands' populations are mostly descended from the Africans who were imported to work the plantations, and the Hindu Indians who replaced them after emancipation. Portuguese, Chinese, Lebanese, and Syrian traders followed.
Today, Trinidad & Tobago is rich in the architecture, art, fashion, food, festivals, and music derived from this fusion of cultures. There is a story behind everything, from the exuberant Carnival to the serene Divali, from roti to callaloo, from horse racing to crab racing, and to the Christian churches neighboring Hindu temples and Islamic mosques. And, always, there is the sea and the forest. Blessed with miles of empty palm-fringed beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, and mountainous rain forest teeming with wildlife, these islands offer eco-adventures in a compact and accessible form. There are plenty of leisure activities to entertain you like great diving and golf, cricket and football, horse racing, hiking, fishing, and sailing. Trinidad & Tobago is intensely proud of its culture and its people are famously hospitable, eager to welcome you to their land!
Virgin Gorda
This island is the perfect getaway for those who dream of lounging on a nearly deserted tropical island. Over 20 secluded beaches and mountainous, preserved areas are the main attractions on this tiny island, providing a relaxing break from the hustle of everyday life. Virgin Gorda is only t10 miles long and 2 miles wide, but it's packed with scores of beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes. A generally dry climate allows a great amount of sun perfect for beach bumming. It also creates an interesting landscape dotted with cacti throughout the many National Parks.
The magic of the island extends far beyond its coastlines into the surrounding waters. Soft sandy beaches and natural swimming pools make the transition from land to sea an appealing treat for the eye. There is no coastline better suited for snorkeling and the area known as "The Baths," or "God's Marbles," makes exploration of the shallow waters even more interesting. Certain beaches are spotted with giant, pink granite, spherical boulders creating caves and climbing opportunities. Inland is as much of a treat as the coast, with pastures complemented with cacti and many goats to keep it all trim. The sunsets from anywhere on the island melt hearts and thrill the eyes, making the perfect finale to a day in paradise.
