EDITOR’S CHOICE - Caribbean: The Lesser Antilles - Insight Guides

Caribbean: The Lesser Antilles - Insight Guides (2016)

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Unique attractions, festivals and carnivals, best beaches, diving and snorkeling, food and drink, shopping... here, at a glance, are our recommendations, plus some essential tips for travelers.

Best beaches

Englishman’s Bay, Tobago. Undeveloped, with an offshore reef, this half-moon beach is stunning and peaceful with the forest tumbling down to the sand. For more information, click here.

Palm Beach, Barbuda. Seemingly endless white sands, with stretches of shell pink, separate the ocean from the lobster-breeding area of Codrington lagoon. For more information, click here.

Grand Anse, Grenada. Over a mile (1.5km) of white sands are accompanied by fine views, shady palms, and plentiful water sports on offer. For more information, click here.

Colombier, St-Barthélemy. Empty of any trappings of human civilization - there’s not even a road - this beautiful beach is still a favorite with nesting turtles. For more information, click here.

Deadman’s Bay, British Virgin Islands. Turquoise waters, palm-fringed sands, and a glorious view of island-outcrops mark this romantic spot on Peter Island off Tortola. For more information, click here.

Maracas Bay, Trinidad. Surrounded by forest-covered mountains, this fine spot draws a local crowd keen to party, while Atlantic surf ensures an invigorating swim. For more information, click here.

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Grand Anse, Grenada.

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Events and festivals

Goat and crab races, Tobago. These Easter-time events are taken very seriously indeed, with large bets placed on favored animals - and “jockeys.” For more information, click here.

Shakespeare Mas, Carriacou, Grenada. Recitations of this most famous of bards’ works take on Carnivalesque proportions, with elaborate masks and costumes, and prizes. For more information, click here.

Mango Festival, Antigua. July-Aug. A celebration of the region’s favorite fruit, with competitions for biggest produce and best “magic mango menu.” For more information, click here.

Flower festivals, St Lucia. “La Rose” in August and “La Marguerite” in October reach their climax in Micoud. For more information, click here.

Easterval. Union Island, the Grenadines, holds a weekend of music, culture and boat races at Easter. For more information, click here.

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Goat-racing, Buccoo village, Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago Tourism

Best outdoor adventures

Hike to the Boiling Lake, Dominica. The six-hour round trip won’t disappoint you; deep rainforest, thick tree ferns and waterfalls are all to be found en route. For more information, click here.

Sailing tours in the Grenadines. Chains of tiny volcanic islands make this the most idyllic spot for sailing; the rugged and spectacular scenery was the backdrop for Pirates of the Caribbean. For more information, click here.

Wind- and kitesurfing. Many of the islands have great conditions, but Bonaire, Aruba, Barbados, Tortola and St Lucia are particularly good for both sports. For more information, click here.

Hiking Trinidad’s northern coastline. This is one of the few remaining undeveloped coastlines. A long trail traverses cliffs, rainforest, stunning beaches, and lagoons. For more information, click here.

Canyoning, Dominica and Martinique. Rushing mountain rivers, waterfalls, pools, gorges, and ravines overhung with rainforest create the perfect environment for climbing and abseiling in the canyons. For more information, click here.

Climbing. This is not a common activity on a small island, but Bonaire and Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes offer heart-stopping climbing and rappeling, with breathtaking views. For more information, click here.

Whale and dolphin watching. Deep underwater trenches around the islands attract the world’s largest creatures, and boat trips to get closer to them are offered on several islands including Dominica, St Lucia, and Grenada. For more information, click here.

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Set your sights on whale watching in Dominica.

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Best carnivals

The setting and the sunshine provide the perfect backdrop to the ultimate in parties. Traditionally Carnival precedes Lent, but some are held at other times of year.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. January-February/March. The best carnival in the world is a fully participatory affair with a rich history, 100,000 costumed revellers, unremitting soca, calypso, and steel pan music, and a season-long lead-up of events for every taste and age group. For more information, click here.

Willemstad, Curaçao. January-February/March. With a month-long festival culminating in the main event, this is a friendly and often wild party featuring the region’s best tumba and tambu music performers. For more information, click here.

Fort-de-France, Martinique. January-February/March. Puppets, red devils, drag queens, and stringed instruments characterize the largest celebration in the French Antilles, continuing through Ash Wednesday and accompanied by zouk, salsa, soca, and reggae. For more information, click here.

Crop Over, Barbados. August. Traditionally celebrating the final sugar harvest, this festival is one of the region’s most exuberant, with calypso, soca music, elaborate street parades, and dancing. For more information, click here.

St Kitts and Nevis. December-January. A smaller but still exciting carnival, engulfing both islands in calypso performances, partying, and a fantastic “j’ouvert” event on Boxing Day. For more information, click here.

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Carnival time, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

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Best food and drink

Seafood. From St Lucia’s “fish fries” on Friday or Saturday night to fresh lobster from Anguilla to Tobago, or conch stews and curries, the region’s favorite food is its most delicious. For more information, click here.

Rotis, Trinidad. Where India meets the Caribbean, this staple is a variety of vegetable, meat, or seafood curries wrapped in a large layered “skin.” Try a shrimp roti with curried potato, channa dahl, and green mango. For more information, click here.

Bouillon, French Antilles/region-wide. A soupy stew served across the French-influenced islands, made with fresh fish such as dorado, with lime, tomato, and spices, or, in St Lucia, with chicken or other meats, lentils, red beans, dumplings, and plantain. For more information, click here.

Oil down, Grenada. A delicious stew of chicken, goat, or saltfish, cooked with breadfruit, and other vegetables, in coconut milk. For more information, click here.

Dutch-world specialties. The ABC Islands offer Dutch- and Indonesian-influenced dishes, such as thick pinda saus (peanut sauce) served with meats or fries; keshi yena, Edam or Gouda cheese stuffed with local meats and vegetables. For more information, click here.

Ti-punch. Drunk on half the islands but perhaps best enjoyed on Martinique, this is both sweet and sour, made with either white or dark rum, freshly-squeezed lime and sugar or cane syrup. For more information, click here.

Fresh fruit juices. From passionfruit or mango to delicious red sorrel; creamy soursop to sweet citrus, the selection of fruits on offer is second to none. For more information, click here

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Windsurfing on Bonaire.

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Best diving and snorkeling

Bonaire Marine Park. Protected walls of coral stretching the entire length of the island’s west coast, with 80-plus named sites, make this the king of Caribbean shore dives. Snorkelers close to shore will see magnificent elkhorn, staghorn, or brain coral and colorful fish. For more information, click here.

Saba Marine Park. The marine park circles the island. Pristine reefs in crystal-clear waters lie a short boat ride off-shore. Highlights are pinnacles, and a labyrinth created by lava flows. For more information, click here.

Tobago. Known for drift dives, brain corals, and numerous manta rays, the sites around Speyside are exquisite. For more information, click here.

Bequia and Tobago Cays, the Grenadines. Two marine parks, superb for diving and snorkeling with a range of sites including coral reefs and walls. For more information, click here.

Reserve Cousteau, Guadeloupe. Remarkable for their warm water from hot volcanic springs, these colorful reefs are popular with both divers and snorkelers. Well-equipped dive shops with licensed instructors will organize individual dives or courses. For more information, click here.

Dominica. Steep, deep drop-offs and walls, hot volcanic springs, pinnacles, and coral gardens are all close to shore, giving opportunities for unparalleled diving. For more information, click here.

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Musician at Barbados’ Crop Over.

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Best gardens

Den Paradera, Curaçao. A beautiful herbal garden stocked with 300 species, all with medicinal properties, many saved from the spread of urbanization. For more information, click here.

Andromeda Botanic Gardens, Barbados. More than half a century of horticulture has produced this stunning hillside garden with more than 600 species of plants from around the world. For more information, click here.

Papillote Wilderness Retreat, Dominica. This is an exquisite botanic garden in a natural setting in the rainforest, intersected by a stream and hot mineral water pools. For more information, click here.

Diamond Botanical Gardens, St Lucia. An historic plantation garden brimming with color, where the steamy hot springs were made into restorative baths in the 18th century. For more information, click here.

Jardins de Balata, Martinique. These gardens with a view over Fort-de-France bay have a stunning collection of 3,000 species, full of color and life, and with hummingbirds to match. For more information, click here.

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Ti punch.

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Best markets

Castries, St Lucia. The Central Market is a pleasant mix of T-shirts and souvenirs together with fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and flowers. For more information, click here.

Marigot, St-Martin. A delightful seafront market with vendors selling souvenirs, fruit, and vegetables in a picturesque setting. For more information, click here.

Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Caribbean charm with old wooden houses and lively spice and flower markets accompanies a modern European mall. For more information, click here.

Fort-de-France, Martinique. Several markets in town are a kaleidoscope of color, with fruit and vegetables and traditional clothes made of Madras cotton and worn by the vendors. For more information, click here.

Kingstown, St Vincent. A rough and ready, vibrant farmers’ market by the waterfront near the fish market and banana boats. For more information, click here.

St George’s, Grenada. Aromatic nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and other herbs, spices, and organic cocoa perfume the air of this wonderful market. For more information, click here.

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Explore the deep off Bonaire.

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In St Lucia’s Diamond Botanical Gardens.

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Coconut trees brush Turtle Beach in Barbados.

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Motorboating off Tobago Cays, St Vincent.

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A colorful beach store in Cruz Bay, St John.