The Caribbean islands are a popular vacation destination, but how many of them do you really know about? There are almost 30 nations and over 7,000 islands in the Caribbean, yet there are a small handful, like St. Martin, Aruba, the Bahamas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, that are popularly known as the places to visit when you’re looking to get away from it all. That means that even if you’ve been to the Caribbean before, there’s probably a whole world of less-crowded island paradise spots that you’re missing out on. For your next Caribbean vacation, try one of these little known tropical retreats.
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Saba. Saba’s nickname is “The Unspoiled Queen”, which gives you an idea of what to expect from the beaches and landscape when you arrive. Saba is located to the south of St Maarten and north of St Kitts. It is mountainous and has a tropical rainforest. If you enjoy hiking, Saba’s mountains are a great place for both novice and experienced hikers. On Saba, you can also find hiking trails that go through caves, rainforests and old ruins. The island also offers excellent scuba diving opportunities due to its unique underwater cliffs and pinnacles, and it’s easy to become scuba certified there. Saba also has a fascinating history of having been frequented by 18th and 19th century pirates, so there’s plenty of interesting local sites to see as well.
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Virgin Gorda. One of the British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda (picture to the right,) boasts rock climbing in addition to its many fabulous beaches. Head to the southern end of the island for trails that are appropriate for climbers of all skill levels. For a unique beach experience, visit The Baths, a Virgin Gorda beach characterized by its caves and secluded pools. While you’re on the island, take an eco-tour offered by the Dive BVI and when you get hungry, try the barbecue at the Island Pot.
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Barbuda. If you want to spend part of your vacation sailing, visit Barbuda, as the local trade winds make the area very conducive to good sailing. Barbuda is part of the small nation Antigua and Barbuda, though Barbuda is significantly different from Antigua. You can stay in one of the few charming local accommodations or just make this stop a day trip. Barbuda can be reached by taking a ferry from Antigua. The island is a must-see for birdwatchers because of its colony for frigate birds, a species of sea birds that is notoriously hard to get a close look at, except on the island of Barbuda. Activities on Barbuda include beachcombing, fishing and hunting and, at the island’s resorts, golf, tennis, snorkeling, diving, or simply soaking up the sun and the calm. Points of interest include the Frigate Bird Sanctuary, the noteworthy pink and white sand beaches, and an abundance of shipwrecks and beautiful reef
With so many islands to choose from, there’s no reason to ever feel that you’ve seen all of the Caribbean that there is to see. Taking the time to explore these and other lesser known Caribbean islands can be very rewarding. You’ll feel as if you’ve discovered your own private oasis.
If you prefer cruising, the most unique itineraries are on smaller cruise, upscale ships that can dock in ports where the larger ships cannot. Take a look at Southern Caribbean cruises with Silversea, Seabourn or Windstar for unique ports including Sopers Hole, Tortola, Pigeon Island, St. Lucia, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Anegada, BVI, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, Barbuda and Nevis.
