Caribbean from Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly: its wings, Grande Terre and Basse Terre, are separated by a channel and has some beautiful, unspoilt beaches. Grande Terre is the liveliest part, with the market of Pointe à Pitre and roads joining together picturesque villages and sugar cane plantations. Centuries of French rule don’t seem to have influenced the locals’ philosophy too much: “it’s better to avoid something than to face something”.

Antigua, as sweet as the sugar cane form the plantations, welcomes us in a warm embrace and giving us the opportunity to swim in its beautiful sea. We stop in the port of Antigua, an old colony where we can see the vestiges of the agricultural past of the island. Sugar is no longer the livelihood of this small nation, but you can still visit the old windmills of Fuerteventura. Take a dance class at the Shiva school of dance or catch a show of traditional dances from the Caribbean. Before the cruise resumes its course, enjoy a spectacular sunset on the beach, swim with the stingrays and admire the underwater fauna.

A magnet for yachts from many ports, tiny Tortola in the British Virgin Islands is a haven for those seeking the classic pleasures of beaches and crystal waters.

Visit the New World’s first capital and Christopher Columbus’ beloved city. Be sure not to miss the first Catholic cathedral in the Western Hemisphere and the famed El Alcazar Museum.

The land of rum and reggae, Jamaica is enchanting for its relaxing way of life. Ocho Rios is the cultural capital of the island, a city that has attracted great names in music and literature.

The beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are situated 575 miles (or 75 minutes) southeast of Miami. Take the time to explore Cockburn town’s wonderful selection of historical buildings including many Burmudian and Colonial style buildings and ruins. That’s just the beginning of all the things to see and do in Grand Turk.

Samaná (Santa Bárbara de Samaná) is a town on the Samaná Peninsula, in the Dominican Republic. It overlooks Samaná Bay, which plays host to thousands of humpback whales during winter’s mating season. Nearby, the Whale Museum’s prime attraction is a huge whale skeleton. The town’s waterfront promenade, the Malecón, has restaurants and bars. In the bay, Cayo Levantado is a tiny island known for its palm-lined beaches.

Catalina Island is Costa’s private beach and your escape from everyday life. Enjoy volleyball, a barbeque, merengue dancing and island music while sipping your favorite cocktail from the beach bar.

Visit the New World’s first capital and Christopher Columbus’ beloved city. Be sure not to miss the first Catholic cathedral in the Western Hemisphere and the famed El Alcazar Museum.

Twin Pitons spill into tropical valleys. Visit banana plantations, beautiful beaches and an active volcano. Enjoy a quiet picnic on Marigot Bay or take a drive inside the volcano, Mount Soufriére.

Voted on of the best ports in the entire Caribbean basin, Barbados offers natural beauty, attractions, and endless stretches of pink and white sand beaches.

Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly: its wings, Grande Terre and Basse Terre, are separated by a channel and has some beautiful, unspoilt beaches. Grande Terre is the liveliest part, with the market of Pointe à Pitre and roads joining together picturesque villages and sugar cane plantations. Centuries of French rule don’t seem to have influenced the locals’ philosophy too much: “it’s better to avoid something than to face something”.