A Caribbean island vacation offers a variety of options to please all types of travelers. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway with the one you love, a fun-filled family vacation, or a party paradise with your friends, the Caribbean has an island for you.

Demography

The Caribbean Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Gulf of Mexico. The area is known as the West Indies, discovered by Christopher Columbus. There are more than 7,000 islands, reefs, islets, and cays that make up the Antilles. The population of around 38 million is spread out over the 2500 mile length with larger pockets forming near the major cities of Havana, Cuba; Santo Domingo Dominican Republic; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Kingston, Jamaica; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Caribbean Islands were originally colonies of European nations and some overseas territories. These include Portuguese, British, Danish, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Swedish ancestry. You will experience the variations traveling from island to island. For example, places like Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico all have Spanish descent reflected in their culture. Areas like Jamaica and Barbados have quite a different culture than their British descendants. Languages ​​also vary from territory to territory, but fortunately for travelers, English prevails in most areas.

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Due to its large size, the climate of the Caribbean varies from one island to another. The elevation of the mountain, the trade winds, the marine currents and the position of the island (north or south) determine the climate. Apart from the Bahamas in the far north, the rest of the islands mainly experience a hot and humid tropical climate. Rainfall ranges from 10 inches per year on flatter islands like Barbados, to more than 350 inches per year in the mountainous areas of Dominica.

Peak season months for most Caribbean islands are from November to April. Some believe this is because the weather is warm, but not too hot or humid. But, in reality, the climate of the Caribbean does not vary much from month to month. The high season is more related to cooler temperatures elsewhere, which promotes trips to the warm, sandy beaches. It also has to do with the hurricane season that threatens many of the islands. Watch out for the June through November vacation when traveling to islands that are in the hurricane-prone region.

Trip

To help determine which Caribbean island is best for you, consider what features you’re looking for in your vacation. If you and your loved one are looking for a romantic getaway that includes plenty of beach time, great food and restaurants, and a relaxing atmosphere, you might like Bermuda, Jamaica, or St. Lucia. These islands offer brand name all-inclusive resorts in a friendly and safe environment. If you and a group of friends are looking for a trendy place to party, you probably prefer islands like Barbados, the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico. These places do not close at 22:00, they have clubs and discos open all hours of the night, as well as resorts and beaches to relax and recover during the day. The best family vacation spots in the Caribbean are Bahamas, Aruba, or St. Kitts. The Bahamas is home to the renowned Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. And, Aruba and St. Kitts have plenty of family activities for everyone to enjoy.

When planning a trip to the Caribbean, talk to friends who have traveled there, contact an experienced travel agency, or search for resources online. There is a lot of valuable information to help you determine which island is best for you!