The Rough Guide to the Caribbean (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

Deciding which of the islands to visit, however, is the fifty-million-dollar question. Obviously, you’ll need to consider what you want from your holiday. If you’re after two weeks of sunbathing and swimming and don’t plan on doing any exploring, then you’ve the freedom to allow a travel agent to pick the cheapest deal available – or just flip through this book and pick which sounds the most appealing. If variety is on your agenda, bigger islands which boast a diversity of landscapes – Cuba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic – offer more scope for adventurous travel, with possibilities for hiking, rafting, eco-pursuits and cultural tours as well as beachlife, and probably demand a single-island trip. However, as island-hopping can be relatively easy, either by short plane trips or the occasional ferry, it’s well worth seeing more than one island, especially if you’ve picked a destination in the Lesser Antilles.

Of the Caribbean islands, two are not covered in this guide; at the time of writing Montserrat was still recovering from recent volcanic activity, while unrest in Haiti has made travel to that country inadvisable.

WHEN TO GO
As visitors mainly flock to the Caribbean to swap snow, rain and wind back home for the sun and warm waters of the tropics, it’ll come as no surprise to find that the region’s busiest time is the northern hemisphere’s winter (roughly Nov–Feb). During this high season, the daytime heat doesn’t reach blistering proportions, and is tempered by cool breezes and balmy evenings, while rain is generally restricted to brief early-afternoon showers. The downside to this, however, is that the beaches and attractions are busy, hotels are often full, and flights can get oversubscribed, with fares at a premium. Prices for almost everything may decrease in the slow summer season, but it’s not an ideal time to visit the Caribbean: days are oppressively hot and humid and nights are muggy. Late summer also sees the start of the hurricane season, which runs roughly from July to November, and even if there’s no big blow, this usually means a lot of rain. While there’s never really a bad time to holiday in the region, the Caribbean is best enjoyed in the shoulder seasons (early Nov and Feb through June), when flights and hotels are plentiful (and less expensive), and the weather dependable. Spring is also the season for catching one of the Caribbean’s many pre-Lenten carnivals.

CARNIVAL MENTALITY
Balmy temperatures, stunning outdoor venues and a bacchanalian worldview – the Caribbean is a fabulous place to party, and there’s an extensive programme of annual events that cater to the hedonistic urge. The festival calendar may kick off with Christmas Junkanoo parades throughout the region, but the real deal is pre-Lenten Carnival, of which Trinidad’s is the main event, bursting with pure, unbridled energy and with the emphasis on participation. Buy a costume and "play mas" in a costume band with five thousand revellers, or get coated in mud, paint or oil at the rawer, early-hours Jouvert parade. Carnival culture runs pretty much year-round, too, with substantial events in March (Jamaica, St Thomas), July (St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda) and August (Grenada). Other major happenings with a uniquely Caribbean flavour include Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest (Aug), held next to the sea and under the stars – the ultimate way to enjoy the cream of reggae performers in their home ground. Caribbean scenery provides the perfect backdrop for other music, too, and there are major jazz festivals featuring international performers in Barbados (Jan), St Lucia (May), Jamaica and Aruba (June), while Dominica stages the World Creole Music Festival each October. Although you may not be here for the big events listed above, rest assured that as every island has its own sizeable roster, there’ll be something going on whenever you visit; see individual chapters for lists of major festivals and events.

• Books > Reference > Consumer Guides > Publisher > Rough Guide
• Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Caribbean
• Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Central & South America
• Books > Travel & Holiday > Guidebook Series > Rough Guide

• Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
• I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
• I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.