Caribbean
From breathtaking beaches with sparkling azure waters and soft white sands to colorful carnivals, vibrant music and areas of outstanding natural beauty, the tropical climes of the Caribbean islands are something every traveler should experience. Whether you are planning the perfect honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos or simply wish to unwind in Trinidad and Tobago, make the most of your time in this part of the world by taking in each island paradise.
No matter if you are backpacking or planning to stay in one of the over water bungalows in the Caribbean, you have the luxury of being able to explore the surrounding islands thanks to their close proximity. This also makes it relatively easy and inexpensive to island hop around the Caribbean and in this article, we’ve outlined one of the best ways to do this on your trip.
Guadeloupe Islands
This archipelago of five main French Caribbean islands is in the Lesser Antilles and are all within easy reach of one another by ferry or plane. The main islands of Basse-Terre and Grande Terre offer visitors a relatively undiscovered charm compared to many of the other more popular destinations within the Caribbean. Forming a butterfly shape on the sea, these two main islands can be reached via a short bridge that connects them.
The natural wonders of these islands is something to behold and is one of the reasons UNESCO has designated them as a Biosphere Reserve. From the The Écrevisses waterfall and the active volcano of La Soufrière to the the black sandy beach of Plage des Bananiers and the iguanas inhabiting the island of Petite-Terre, the Guadeloupe islands each have their distinct character and diversity.
The Guadeloupe islands also offer perfect access to many of the bigger and better-known islands in the Caribbean such as St Lucia, Dominica, Martinique Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda.
ABC Islands
Known as the ‘ABC Islands’, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are the three islands on the westernmost edge of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. Unlike the French-speaking Guadeloupe islands, here the native language is a Portuguese-based Creole called Papiamento.
Aruba is one of the most popular tourist destinations in this region and has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Along with exquisite, white sands and turquoise waters, it is home to many large beach resorts, restaurants, bars, and high-rise hotels. Bonaire is much less commercial compared to Aruba and is known as a sustainable island with many nature parks and reserves. This eco-island is also famed for having some of the most beautiful diving spots in the world. Curacao is the largest of the three islands and is heavily influenced with Dutch architecture coining the term ‘Little Amsterdam’. Along with beautiful reefs and bays to snorkel and dive in, Curacao has a rich and lively art scene and many unique bars and restaurants to choose from.
With each of the ABC islands offering something unique, they are certainly worth taking the time to visit. Remember to plan your visit to the Caribbean when the weather is at its most welcoming. Springtime or the beginning of summer is the most recommended time to avoid the hurricane season.
Use the tips in this article to help you plan the perfect island-hopping itinerary when visiting the Caribbean.
Remember, never travel without travel insurance! And never overpay for travel insurance!
I use HeyMondo. You get INSTANT quotes. Super cheap, they actually pay out, AND they cover almost everywhere, where most insurance companies don't (even places like Central African Republic etc!). You can sign-up here. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool.
Also, if you want to start a blog...I CAN HELP YOU!
Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! Email me on johnny@onestep4ward.com. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me.
Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $699 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started.
Do you work remotely? Are you a digital nomad/blogger etc? You need to be insured too.
I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. It covers me while I live overseas. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! No upfront fees, you just pay week by week, and you can sign up just for a week if you want, then switch it off and on whenever. You can read my review here, and you can sign-up here!
As you know, blogging changed my life. I left Ireland broke, with no plan, with just a one-way ticket to Thailand and no money. Since then, I started a blog, then a digital media company, I’ve made more than $1,500,000 USD, bought 4 properties and visited (almost) every country in the world. And I did it all from my laptop as I travel the world and live my dream.
