The Eastern Caribbean has some of the most stunning islands and beaches you'll find anywhere in the world. Each island has its own flavor, history, and beauty. Whether you're looking for a snorkeling adventure, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, a sunset cruise, or hiking through rain forests, you'll find it in the Eastern Caribbean. It's also where you'll find beautiful turquoise waters and pristine powdery sand beaches. It's no wonder people come to the islands to relax and sunbathe. Many families come for fun, while couples come for romance, honeymoons or weddings. The perfect beach location for weddings is found here anytime during the year. These islands are especially loved by tourists: Antigua, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands.
Antigua
The island of Antigua is located in the center of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies and is where you'll find the city of St. John's, Antigua capital. St. John's is the largest city and is home to the port, pastel-colored houses, the Museum of Antigua, and a historic 19th-century church. While visiting Antigua, a must see is one of its main attractions, Nelson's Dockyard National Park. There are local shops offering handmade jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs. Restaurants and cafes offer local cuisine and scenic views of the harbor along the waterfront. Shirley Heights and Dow's Hill are both tourist attractions you should have on your list of places to see. The Devil's Bridge is also a phenomenon near Indian Town. This bridge is made up of reef formations where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet.
Guadeloupe
These islands are a French-speaking hidden gem, with the two largest islands being connected by a bridge. Both Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre offer magnificent beaches, which is the main attraction of these islands. Basse-Terre is where the Plage des Bananiers beach is located with its gorgeous black sand. It's a popular place for boogie boarders and beginner surfers. It also has Plage Grande Anse beach with its beautiful soft, golden sand. If you enjoy scuba diving, this is also where you'll find Pigeon Islets, with reefs that are both beautiful and diverse. With only a 20 minute ferry ride, you should visit the island of Les Saintes. Rent a scooter or walk to Fort Napoleon where you'll see a magnificent view of the island and Les Saintes Bay.
Dominica
This beautiful island, known as the Nature Island, is about halfway between the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique and is often considered the Caribbean's best kept secret. Explore the underworld by diving into coral gardens, sea beds, caves, and reefs. Take the long hike to Boiling Lake, located in Morne Trois Pitons National Park. It's not a hike for beginners, but it's well worth the trek! Stand in awe of a fabulous 40 ft. waterfall at Emerald Pool, just minutes from Roseau-Castle Bruce Road, and be sure to take your swimsuit. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the quaint village of Calibishie, where you'll find both pristine beaches and an amazing rainforest within minutes from town. Then marvel at the colorful parrots at the Syndicate Nature Trail and Parrot Preserve.
St. Lucia
The enchanting island of St. Lucia is where Marigot Bay is located. It's been called the most beautiful place in the Caribbean and is only about four miles south of Castries, the island's capital city. The harbor is both small and deep with a marina, and is a yachter's paradise with excellent restaurants and plush resorts. The island's other major attraction is the Pitons. They are both volcanic mountains and are a World Heritage UNESCO site. There are several tours where you can ride a catamaran or tour boat out to view this phenomenon, along with snorkeling. These spires are linked together with the Piton Mitan ridge. St. Lucia's beaches are known for their romantic wedding and honeymoons. Anse Chastanet is the favorite beach for snorkeling and diving and is easily reached by water taxi.
St. Maarten
This Dutch island is all about the water sports. The attractive blue-green clear waters aspires visitors to snorkel, dive, surf, windsurf, jet ski, kayak, sail, and go deep-sea fishing. The trade winds provide the perfect weather conditions for enjoying the outdoors! Its capital city, Philipsburg, has some sensational bars and restaurants along the beach and boardwalk on Great Bay Voorstraat. For those who love to shop, there are duty-free shops within walking distance. It's the best place to buy jewelry, clothing, and appliances. Try your luck at one of several casinos. If you'd like to explore the island, rental cars are available, as well as taxis and buses, along with scooters. The zoo and botanical park is also well-worth seeing. The zoo is home to over 80 species of different animals with a remarkable exotic parrot display.
British Virgin Islands
There are 60 islands and four main islands that make up the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The main islands are Anegada, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke. These are the best islands to visit if you'd like more peace and quiet with fewer tourists. Tortola is the largest island and has the largest city, Road Town. It's the most popular destination and is connected to the airport from Beef Island. Taxis are the easiest way to get around on the larger islands, but you can take a ferry to go island hopping. The most popular beach is Cane Garden Bay on Tortola where sunbathing or swimming is quite enjoyable. Kayaking is also a great way to explore the crystal clear waters. Fishing, windsurfing, and sailing are other activities you'll find readily available, or you may want to rent or charter a boat at the marina at Frenchman's Cay.
