FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:: Whenever you plan a holiday, make sure that you keep the Caribbean in mind. The Caribbean Islands are widely recognised as some of the most beautiful places in the world, with crystal clear waters and tropical beaches making these islands something that dreams are made of. There are hundreds of different destinations within the Caribbean that are worth visiting, such as the U.S Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. Puerto Rico and Cuba are also places worth visiting which offer a bit more than just sun, sea and sand, and with so many wonderful places to choose from it can be hard to decide which tropical island paradise to pick for your next trip. Here is a brief guide to some of the most beautiful beaches and interesting places that you can visit in the Caribbean.
The Bahamas
Beach lovers and culture seekers will be right at home on the stunning islands of the Bahamas. Across the island group there are hundreds of scatterings of land, from North Andros, the largest at 1.3K square miles, down to the smallest atoll and outcrop that is persistent enough to have secured itself island status. Some of the main islands for visitors include North and South Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands as well as the less well known Great Abaco and tiny Rum Cay. There are enough stories and legends of folklore associated with these islands to get your mystical curiosity piqued, from the story of the lost City of Atlantis which is supposedly somewhere near the 9 square mile island of Bimini, to the story of the fountain of youth and Ernest Hemmingway's visits to these isles. More recently the famous Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy was set in these waters, lending another example to the cultural and hereditary importance of these island groups.
Turks and Caicos Islands
Just to the south of the world famous Bahamas, these less well known islands offer an unspoilt retreat for the adventurous traveler. These little islands are only a grand total of 37 miles long, and all together are made up of 40 islands and cays in a group. There are loads of stunning white beaches around the islands and plenty of places to stay, from budget hotels to five star luxury and from all inclusive to self-catering villas. The population of the island is just under 40K, but during the peak season they welcome over half a million people from cruise ships from all over the world to their shores, so pick your hotel carefully if you don't want to mingle with the cruisers!
Cultural capitals
If it's a cultural experience you are looking for, the capital cities of the islands offer many chances to embrace the Caribbean heritage and lifestyle. The largest city is Havana, the world famous capital of Cuba, where you can enjoy museums, art galleries and some of the best cigars in the world. Aside of here, Kingston is the capital of Jamaica and houses the National Gallery as well as some of the Caribbean's most notorious pirate havens including Port Royal which was once the capital of the island until a major earthquake in 1692 when many of the islands inhabitants were killed. As to be expected, much of Kingston pays homage to the late, great Bob Marley, not least the Bob Marley museum which is housed in the singers former home and recording studio.
There are many other stunning places to visit in the Caribbean, from the popular Dominican Republic to the less well known ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday in the sun or an action packed experience with diving, sailing and paragliding, there is something in the Caribbean paradise for every taste and budget.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader