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British Virgin IslandsWelcome to the British Virgin Islands 60 reasons to visit the Caribbean Each of the 60 islands (with only about 16 being inhabited) that comprise the British Virgin Islands has something for everyone with secret bays, hidden coves, isolated beaches, white-tipped waves, swaying palms and a unique people.
The BVI were first inhabited by the Ciboney Indians who arrived in stone age canoes from the Americas, followed by the Arawak Indians from South America who peacefully dominated the islands for many years until the arrival of the Carib Indians. These Carib Indians were a fierce and aggressive bunch, who worked their way north from South America about one hundred years before Christopher Columbus arrived. Columbus’s discovery of the BVI in 1493 brought about its colonization by the Spaniards who were followed by the French and finally the British.
In those days of old the islands abounded with pirates and privateers who left behind a rich legacy of tales of treasures untold. The primary islands of the British Virgin Islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.
Tortola Tortola, is also known as "land of turtle doves," or Chocolate City. It is the Territory's main and largest island, with a population of over 14,000. Sage Mountain is the BVI's highest point with a National Park at 1,780 feet above sea level. Tortola's mountain peaks are covered with frangipani and sage on its southern coast, while its northern shores flaunt white sandy beaches, groves of succulent bananas and mangoes and groups of palm trees. Beef Island, the site of the BVI's main airport, is connected to Tortola by a bridge. Road Town, the capital of the BVI is located on the southern shore of Tortola.
Virgin Gorda Virgin Gorda or "Fat Virgin,” refers to a protruding mountain seen by Columbus when he first encountered the island. It is second largest of the British Virgin Isles at ten miles long and two miles wide (8.5 square miles), and a population of about 2,500. Virgin Gorda is known for its yacht clubs, quiet coves, and safe anchorages for bareboats.
Anegada Anegada is just a dot on the map lying 20 miles north of Virgin Gorda. It covers 15 square miles and rises 28 feet above sea level with a population of about 250. Over the years, more than 300 ships have been wrecked on the perilous coral reefs encompassing the islet, a misfortune which, in turn, has made Anegada a heaven on earth for divers. The wrecks and reefs themselves have been enhanced with colorful formations of the ordinary undersea flora and fauna.
Jost Van Dyke Jost Van Dyke is a four-square mile island to the north of Tortola's West End with a population of 200. Once known as the reputed hideaway for a Dutch pirate of the same name, Jost Van Dyke still opens it arms for travelers looking for an isolated, rustic getaway with first-class hiking trails. more info...
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Cayman IslandsWelcome to Grand Cayman Nestled in the calm, turquoise waters of the western Caribbean, lies the peaceful British Overseas Territory known as the Cayman Islands. Consisting of three islands just 480 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman remain our little piece of paradise.
Blessed with sun-kissed beaches and waters teeming with fish flecked with gold, the Cayman Islands offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world.
Grand Cayman Spectacular natural beauty, a wealth of activities and points of interest, and all the modern conveniences to make your stay as comfortable as possible can be found here on the largest and most developed of the three Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is the home of George Town, the capital city, which boasts some of the finest cuisine and shopping in the Caribbean.
Whether you want to explore a sunken wreck, dance the night away, or simply go sightseeing, Grand Cayman is the place to start.
Cayman Brac "Brac" is the Gaelic word for bluff, the Brac's dominant natural attraction, a limestone ridge which rises gradually from the west along the center of the island to 140 ft. at the eastern tip, plunging as a sheer dramatic cliff into the indigo Caribbean below. It sculpts the landscape into unexpected vistas carved with caves and covered with a startling variety of flora and fauna.
Experience the breathtaking view on the bluff from the lighthouse. Explore the enticing caves and sinkholes, high above water. Wander through the woodlands filled with exotic flowers and plants. Bird watching on the bluff is stunning. Frigate birds, brown boobies, peregrine falcons and the rare Cayman Brac parrot can be spotted in their natural environment.
Little Cayman Little Cayman is the least developed of the Cayman trio. With a resident population of less than 170, most of Little Cayman remains uninhabited. Only 10 miles long and a mile wide, it still offers that rare combination of sun-blessed solitude, glistening beaches and miles of untouched tropical wilderness. Here, shy iguanas and rare birds outnumber humans. more info...
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Saint Kitts And NevisWelcome to Nevis
The best kept secret of the Caribbean… It is an intoxicating blend of sunlight, sea, air and fantastically abundant vegetation.
There's something about this small, sombrero-shaped island that grabs you. The charm and tranquility takes you back to a time when things were simpler, when life was more peaceful, when stress was just a word, not a way of life.
This 36-square-mile island lies near the top of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, about 200 miles south of Puerto Rico, and just west of Antigua. This island jewel is approximately 7 miles long and 5 miles wide, with natural vegetation that is unparalleled.
Green and serene, Nevis is truly one of the remaining unspoiled places and proudly carries the name, "Queen of the Caribees." From the top of the 3,232-foot Nevis Peak to the depths of the clear waters offshore, there is a world of flora and fauna to be explored. In the hills, the comical green Vervet Monkeys’ chatter and scamper; in the sea, the whales cruise by. Stroll around and see the architecture of eras gone by: churches, windmills, and refurbished Great Houses.
Its 10,000 residents are friendly and helpful, ready to make new friends and welcome back regular visitors. The genuine charm and hospitality radiate into the unspoken, "Welcome," "Be my guest," and "Do come again."
more info...
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St LuciaWelcome to St. Lucia The Caribbean’s small, lush, tropical gem. St. Lucia is the sort of island that travelers to the Caribbean dream about—a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown.
In natural beauty, St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South Pacific and tucked into the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar 2,000 feet above the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns and birds of paradise flourish.
St. Lucia has been inhabited since long before colonial times, and its cultural treasures are a fascinating combination of its rich past and traditions.
The island's people have earned a well-deserved reputation for their warmth and charm, and St. Lucia itself is dotted with fortresses, small villages and open-air markets.
There’s a rich array of exciting and exotic activities available on St. Lucia. The island’s steep coastlines and spectacular reefs offer unparalleled snorkeling and scuba diving. Not to be missed is St. Lucia’s Soufriere volcano, the world’s only drive-in volcanic crater.
The rainforest preserves of St. Lucia’s mountainous interior offer some of the Caribbean’s finest hiking and bird watching. Of course, the island also possesses excellent facilities for golf, tennis and sailing. more info...
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