The Best Eastern Caribbean Restaurant ideas & 18 Islands Travel Guides
The Best Eastern Caribbean Restaurant ideas & 18 Islands Travel Guides
We will present you the best Eastern Caribbean Restaurant ideas and a Complete Travel Guide for all the 18 Eastern Caribbean Islands with tours, traditional food ,how to get there, transport and hotels. This guide will be very useful for your next vacation in the Caribbean islands.
With its beautiful crystal-clear waters and simply idyllic island hideaways, the Caribbean has proved irresistible to seafarers since it was discovered in the 15th century. English, Spanish and French explorers followed in his footsteps in search of New World treasures. The Caribbean islands are some of the most visited islands every year, where tourists prefer cruises to be able to travel easily from one island to another, but some tourists just want to relax for a few days on one of these 19 beautiful islands.
Table of Contents
General Informations
Stretching in an arc, southwards from Puerto Rico to Grenada, the Eastern Caribbean includes the main islands of Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia, while further south, and closest to the South American coast (just a few miles from Venezuela) are the sister islands of Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch islands of Aruba.
Quick Tips
When to travel: Warm, dry weather, abundant sunshine, calm seas, and delightful ports of call make peak season, December through April, the best time to book an Eastern Caribbean cruise
Language: There are six official languages spoken in the Caribbean: Spanish, English, French, Dutch, and two native creoles (Haitian Creole and Papiamento). The official language of each Caribbean destination is mainly connected with the European nation that had colonial power first or longest.
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant= 9.30 USD, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=100 USD
You can find more information about the visa here.
Best things to do
Anguilla
The territory consists of the main island of Anguilla, approximately 26 km long by 5 km wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. The territory’s capital is The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 91 km2. with a population of approximately 16,000.
Antigua & Barbuda
The country consists of two major islands, Antigua and Barbuda, which are separated by around 40 km and smaller islands. The capital and largest port and city is St. John’s on Antigua, with Codrington being the largest town on Barbuda.
The economy of Antigua and Barbuda is particularly dependent on tourism, which accounts for 80% of GDP. Like other island nations, Antigua and Barbuda is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise, and increased intensity of extreme weather like hurricanes, which have direct impacts on the island through coastal erosion, water scarcity, and other challenges.
Barbados
Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands and its capital and largest city is Bridgetown. Barbados’s population is predominantly of African descent. While it is technically an Atlantic island, Barbados is closely associated with the Caribbean and is ranked as one of its leading tourist destinations.
The country generally experiences two seasons, one of which includes noticeably higher rainfall. Known as the “wet season”, this period runs from June to December. By contrast, the “dry season” runs from December to May. From December to May the average temperatures range from 21 to 31 °C , while between June and November, they range from 23 to 31 °C .
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with more than 50 other smaller islands and cays.
About 16 of the islands are inhabited. The capital, Road Town, is on Tortola, the largest island, which is about 20 km (12 mi) long and 5 km (3 mi) wide.
The British Virgin Islands have a tropical rainforest climate, moderated by trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital, Road Town, typical daily maxima are around 32 °C in the summer and 29 °C in the winter. Rainfall can be quite variable, but the wettest months on average are September to November and the driest months on average are February and March.
Dominica
Dominica has been nicknamed the “Nature Island of the Caribbean” for its natural environment. It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, and in fact it is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world’s second-largest hot spring, called Boiling Lake.
The island has lush mountainous rainforests, and it is the home of many rare plants, animals, and bird species. There are xeric areas in some of the western coastal regions, but heavy rainfall occurs inland. The Sisserou parrot, also known as the Imperial amazon and found only on Dominica, is the island’s national bird and featured on the national flag, making it one of the only two sovereign nations whose official flag features the color purple.
Grenada
Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and several small islands which lie to the north of the main island and are a part of the Grenadines. Its capital is St. George’s.
Grenada is also known as the “Island of Spice” due to its production of nutmeg and mace crops. The climate is tropical: hot and humid in the dry season and cooled by the moderate rainfall in the rainy season. Temperatures range from 22–32 °C (72–90 °F) and are rarely below 18 °C (64 °F). Grenada, being on the southern edge of the hurricane belt, has suffered only three hurricanes in fifty years.
Guadeloupe Islands
Guadeloupe Islands consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the two inhabited Îles des Saintes—as well as many uninhabited islands and outcroppings.
The region’s capital city is Basse-Terre, located on the southern west coast of Basse-Terre Island; however, the most populous city is Les Abymes and the main center of business is neighbouring Pointe-à-Pitre, both located on Grande-Terre Island. Like the other overseas departments, it is an integral part of France. As a constituent territory of the European Union and the Eurozone, the euro is its official currency and any European Union citizen is free to settle and work there indefinitely. However, as an overseas department, it is not part of the Schengen Area.
Martinique
Martinique is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic,[8] Martinique is located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It has a land area of 1,128 km2 (436 sq mi) and a population of 364,508 inhabitants as of January 2019.
Martinique is also an Outermost Region (OMR) of the European Union and a special territory of the European Union; the currency in use is the euro. Virtually the entire population speaks both French (the sole official language) and Martinican Creole. It has many beaches- those in the south of the island are of white sand, unlike those in the north which are of volcanic origin and therefore of black or gray sand. Most of the beaches are wild, without services and without surveillance, but some are organized and give the possibility to do sports and activities related to the sea.
Montserrat
It is nicknamed “The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish ancestry of many of its inhabitants.
On 18 July 1995, the previously dormant Soufrière Hills volcano, in the southern part of the island, became active. Eruptions destroyed Montserrat’s Georgian era capital city of Plymouth. Between 1995 and 2000, two-thirds of the island’s population was forced to flee, primarily to the United Kingdom, leaving fewer than 1,200 people on the island in 1997 (rising to nearly 5,000 by 2016).
Saba
Saba is a Caribbean island which is the smallest special municipality of the Netherlands. It consists largely of the active volcano Mount Scenery, which at 887 meters is the highest point of the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The island lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, southeast of the Virgin Islands. Together with Bonaire and Sint Eustatius it forms the BES islands. Saba has a land area of 13 square km. The population was 1,933 in January 2020. It is the smallest territory by permanent population in the Americas. Its towns and major settlements are The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, Zion’s Hill and St. Johns.
St. Barthelemy
Saint Barthélemy was for many years a French commune forming part of Guadeloupe, which is an overseas region and department of France. In 2003 the island voted in favor of secession from Guadeloupe in order to form a separate overseas collectivity. The collectivity is one of four territories among the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean that make up the French West Indies, along with Saint Martin, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Saint Barthélemy, a volcanic island fully encircled by shallow reefs, has an area of 25 square km and a population of 9,961 . Its capital is Gustavia, which also contains the main harbour.
It is the only Caribbean island that was a Swedish colony for any significant length of time. The language, cuisine, and culture, however, are distinctly French. The island is a popular tourist destination during the winter holiday season, geared towards the high-end, luxury tourist market.
St. Eustatius
The regional capital is Oranjestad. The island has an area of 21 square km. Travellers to the island by air arrive through F. D. Roosevelt Airport. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, Sint Eustatius became a special municipality of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010.Together with Bonaire and Saba it forms the BES islands.
St. Eustatius has a tropical monsoon climate. Tropical storms and hurricanes are common. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, sharply peaking from late August through September. As St. Eustatius is a volcanic island and very small, all of the beaches on the island are made up of black volcanic sand. These volcanic sands, especially one of the more popular nesting beaches called Zeelandia, are very important nesting sites for several endangered sea turtles such as: the green turtle, leatherback, loggerhead and hawksbill.
St. Kitts & Nevis
It is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere, in both area and population, as well as the world’s smallest sovereign federation and is the only sovereign federation in the Caribbean.
The capital city is Basseterre, located on the larger island of Saint Kitts.[1] Basseterre is also the main port for both passenger entry (via cruise ships) and cargo. The smaller island of Nevis lies approximately 3 km (2 mi) to the southeast of Saint Kitts, across a shallow channel called The Narrows.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia’s largest city is Castries, its current capital, and its second largest is Soufrière, the first French colonial capital on the island.Saint Lucia is a mixed jurisdiction meaning that it has a legal system based in part on both the civil law and English common law.
The local climate is tropical, specifically a tropical rainforest climate, moderated by northeast trade winds, with a dry season from 1 December to 31 May, and a wet season from 1 June to 30 November (referred to by locals as the hurricane season). Average daytime temperatures are around 30 °C , and average nighttime temperatures are around 24 °C . Since it is fairly close to the equator, the temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer.
Sint Maarten-St. Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 300 km east of Puerto Rico. The 87 square km island is divided roughly 60:40 between the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands , but the Dutch part is more populated than the French part.
The northern French part comprises the Collectivity of Saint Martin and is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic. As part of France, the French part of the island is also part of the European Union.
The southern Dutch part comprises Sint Maarten and is one of four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Under the Köppen climate classification, the island has a tropical savanna climate with a dry season from January to April and a rainy season from August to December.
The precipitation patterns are due to the movement of the Azores High during the year. With the wind direction predominantly from the east or the northeast, northeasterly trades, temperatures remain stable throughout the year and temperatures rarely exceed 34 °C or fall below 20 °C . Temperatures remain steady throughout the year with an average mean temperature of 27.2 °C
St. Vincent & Greadines
Its 369 km2 territory consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and south of that, two-thirds of the northern part of the Grenadines, a chain of 32 smaller islands. Some of the Grenadines are habited while others are not. Most of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies within the Hurricane Alley.
In April 2021, the La Soufrière volcano erupted several times with “explosive events” continuing. By 12 April, 16,000 residents had evacuated the areas of their homes. Assistance and emergency financial support was being provided by several nearby islands, the United Kingdom and agencies such as the United Nations.
The tourism sector has considerable potential for development. The filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies on the island has helped to expose the country to more potential visitors and investors. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
Trinidad & Tobago
Consists of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands. Unlike most Caribbean nations and territories, which rely heavily on tourism, the economy is primarily industrial with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals much of the nation’s wealth is derived from its large reserves of oil and natural gas.
Trinidad and Tobago is well known for its African and Indian cultures, reflected in its large and famous Carnival, Diwali, and Hosay celebrations, as well being the birthplace of steelpan, the limbo, and music styles such as calypso, soca, rapso, parang, chutney, and chutney soca.
US Virgin Islands
Are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles to the east of Puerto Rico and west of the British Virgin Islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas and 50 other surrounding minor islands and cays.
The territory’s capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas.
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. The villages have offers for its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature the hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com,Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation.
Traditional food
Traditional dishes
St. Lucia- The national dish of St Lucia is Green figs (unripe bananas or plantain) and Salt Fish.
Creole bread, a local treat served at many of the island’s family-run bakeries. The soft-crust loaves are shaped like short, skinny baguettes and cooked in a wood-fired oven, which gives them a delicious, subtly smoky flavor.
St Kitts & Nevis: Stewed Salt Fish with Dumplings, Spicy Plantains, and Breadfruit
St Kitt’s National Dish combines locally available vegetables, coconut and salted codfish with spices to create Stewed Saltfish, which is served with plantains, coconut dumplings and breadfruit.
Montserrat: Goat Water is a crowd-pleasing mélange of stewed goat meat spiked with spices, vegetables, onion, tomato, and sometimes green papaya and breadfruit, then served with rice or bread.
Dominica’s National Dish would be Callaloo Soup. Callaloo is a hearty soup made primarily from the green leaves of the root vegetable dasheen with coconut milk, although some Dominicans will also use water spinach as a substitute.
St Vincent and the Grenadines national dish combines the availability of local fish, the jackfish and vegetables. Fish is marinated in lemon juice, then dusted in flour and fried until crispy. The breadfruit is traditionally roasted over an open fire until slightly charred on the outside but tender on the inside. It will be served with a tomato and onion based sauce that’s flavored with garlic, thyme and other herbs.
Caribbean Restaurants
The best restaurants in St.Martin: Le Pressoir, L’Auberge Gourmande, Emilio’s, Le Telegraphe, Le Tropicana, Le Cottage, Ocean82, Barranco, Le Temps de Cerises.
Sheer Rocks, Antigua – beautiful dining setting on the Caribbean cliffside in Antigua led by local Chef Jamal Warner.
Straw Hat, Anguilla – gastronomic excellence right on the beach, served without pretense.
Catherine’s Café, Antigua – gourmet beach bar, on the sands of Pigeon Point Beach.
The Tides, Barbados – coral stone waterfront eatery set in a former Platinum Coast home emphasizes fresh seafood, and good wine list.
Rhodes at Calabash, Grenada – impeccable service, a broad wine list and a simple, elegant menu that represents the best of Rhodes’ culinary philosophy.
Au Bon Vivre, Terre de Haut, Guadeloupe – a classic French Caribbean menu, a warm, intimate ambience and even its own Rhum cave.
La Table du Poisson Rouge, Guadeloupe – eco-lodge in the hills above the town is simply sublime — with some breathtaking views.
Le Petibonum, Martinique – a traditional Caribbean beach bar that just happens to serve up marvelously made, gourmet food and some particularly spectacular desserts.
La Voile Blanche, Martinique The location on the sands of Diamant Beach is alone worth the trip — but the food takes things to another level, with perfect execution and excellent service.
Orlando’s, Saint Lucia – Chef Orlando Satchell continues to set the bar for contemporary Caribbean food.
The Cliff at Cap, Saint Lucia – great wine list, a breathtaking view and exquisite menu by Chef Craig Jones.
Roxxy Beach, St Maarten – good eats, with a South of France-meets-the-Caribbean menu that also includes some stellar Asian fusion options, too.
Ocean 362, St John, US Virgin Islands – Korean fried chicken to crispy pork belly with mofongo. Just make sure you get there before sunset.
Too Chez, St Croix, US Virgin Islands Dustin Kendrick’s open-air eatery set in an enchanting Christiansted courtyard has quietly become one of the leaders in an increasingly competitive culinary world in St Croix.
The Old Stone Farmhouse, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands Chef Justin Werle’s “OSFH” is set in a two-century-old field house, with St Thomas’ best wine list and an expertly crafted menu that serves up the island’s most memorable meal.
Saving Tips
- Book online and in advance – When we think of beautiful landscapes and wonderful islands, the first travel option that comes to mind is a cruise. So, if instead of flying and staying on one island, you prefer to explore several beautiful islands, this is the best option. On a cruise you can also relax on the days when the ship is only on the sea/ocean, but you also have the advantage of exploring more places if you are an adventurer. We collaborate with the best companies in the world and you can choose the perfect cruise:
- If you’re planning on going diving, or doing any other expensive activities, be sure to check online for discounts beforehand. Some companies offer discounts for direct bookings. Also, last-minute accommodation bookings cost a fortune. If you can, book as far in advance as possible.
- Eat and drink locally – You’re on an island, local specialties such as grouper and snapper are less expensive than other seafood options (plus, they’re fresh)! Imported alcohol can be expensive so sticking to local liquor if you’re going to be drinking keeps your costs down.
- Bring your own snorkel gear -Snorkel rentals can cost $7-10 USD per day. If you plan on doing lots of snorkelling, bring or buy your own equipment and it will pay for itself.
- Taking a day sail but plan on heading to the next island after? Most tour companies will drop you off at no extra charge if the island is nearby.
- Use public transportation. Many Caribbean islands have local public bus systems — usually small, colorful vans that serve the major routes and towns across the island. Fares on these vans tend to be extremely inexpensive (only a dollar or two per person). A few islands with particularly strong local bus systems include Aruba, Puerto Rico and Curacao.
- Don’t book tours through the cruise or all-inclusive resort. They are more expensive and usually very crowded because a lot of people book this way because it’s fairly hassle-free. If you want to save, book on your own!
If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours,things to see and do in the villages,we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!
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There’s no feeling in the world like connecting with new places, people and experiences through travel. From the iconic to the unexpected, get those “pinch me” moments through a series of Trafalgar highlights others may never know about, or have access to.
Shopping
Grenada is known as “The Spice Island,” and there’s no better place than the city market to see the panoply of spices grown on the island, as well as the products made from them. The island is also famous for its locally made chocolate and rum. Grenada’s duty-free shops, located primarily on the Carenage in St. George’s and at the airport, offer the usual selection of liquor, jewelry, and other luxury goods.
St. Lucia– You’ll find duty-free shops at most of St. Lucia’s major shopping centers, including the Marina Village in Marigot Bay and J.Q. Charles Shopping Mall.
Broad Street in Bridgetown, Barbados has the island’s greatest concentration of duty-free shops like Harrison’s and also is home to Cave Shepherd the island’s largest department store.
The Heritage Quay Shopping Center in St. John’s is your best destination for duty-free shopping in Antigua.
St. Marteen– Philipsburg offers great deals on jewelry, high fashion, tax-free tobacco products, leather goods, and local liquor, including a great selection of flavored rums. Native prints and crafts also are sold.
U.S. Virgin Islands– St. Thomas’ capital city of Charlotte Amalie is home to literally hundreds of duty-free shops, making it the top duty-free shopping destination in the Caribbean.
Transport
Taxis are usually a safe option but require the same common sense that you would employ at home. Local buses on many islands provide an affordable alternative, but you may have to ask around to work out the schedules and routes.
Within the island, the most convenient way of travel is going to be via rental car. This is especially helpful if your travels are going to be in a rather densely populated island with multiple cities such as St. Maarten. Most large rental car companies such as Enterprise, Dollar, Alamo, etc. have a presence in the Caribbean islands but there are also smaller companies you may not have heard of. Make sure to check around to compare and get the best pricing.
Although frequency and availability will largely vary by island, traveling by bus is another way to get around on an island. It is also a very cost efficient for those traveling on a budget .
Some islands have buses and others will not at all. Bus service will generally range from 50 cents to $3 USD per person. Buses tend to run from 6am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. Sundays are either going to be very limited or offer no service at all.
Getting here
Many flights to the region transit through Miami/Fort Lauderdale or Panama, but there are direct flights from various U.S., Canadian, and European cities to some islands. Traveling between islands can be surprisingly difficult and expensive, meaning any multi-island trip requires advanced planning.
There are a few options for island-hopping in the Caribbean. The most popular is booking a cruise, but you can easily go it alone and create your own island-hopping loop by taking advantage of the numerous ferries that go back and forth between all of the islands.
As the Caribbean inter-island airlines will be less known, searching for flights can be a bit of a challenge and it is far easier to search for flight prices through airline comparison sites such as Cheapair, One Travel, Cheapoair etc. If booked ahead of time, inter-island flights can be as low as $100 or less for a one-way.
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11 most dangerous sea and ocean creatures divers should recognize
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Riu Paradise Island has a white sand Beach and mesmerizing locations if you want to make your day special on the island hire our luxury cars for the trip to Nassau Airport to Riu Paradise Island.