Travel Guide Caraïbes
A dream destination around the Bahamas and the West Indies which includes 110 islands and 700 islets between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. A subset of the American continent, the Caribbean is not limited to the West Indies, but covers the entire watershed of the sea of the same name. However, the islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles represent the bulk of the territory. The Greater Antilles includes the largest islands and 90% of the area of the Antilles with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Isla de la Juventud and Puerto Rico. In the southeast, the Lesser Antilles are a string of about forty windward islands and fifteen leeward islands, from Saint-Martin to Curaçao via Guadeloupe and Martinique. It is thus a very great diversity of islands which compose the tropical Caribbean, territory of the festival and idleness, rum and bananas, but also of the cyclones and trade winds. Some islands are very touristy, like Guadeloupe and Martinique, some are typical like Cuba, the communist one, or Haiti, with a sad fate, others are tiny and unknown. The Caribbean is shared between Venezuela, the United States (Puerto Rico), France, Holland, Great Britain and sovereign states such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Lovers of sailing and diving, of nature and biodiversity, of hiking and heritage, but also those who want a luxurious seaside stay, even those who go backpacking - except in the islands for wealthy tourists, even very wealthy - will find their account (accompanied by their Caribbean tour guide). The gourmets too.
Suggested addresses de Caraïbes
When to go to en Caraïbes?
When to go to discover the Caribbean? It is more than 20°C all year round. The best time to go to the Caribbean is from December to May for the Bahamas, from November to April for Cuba or the Dominican Republic and the Greater Antilles, from January to May for the Lesser Antilles, from January to April for cruises, dry season and out of hurricanes. Before your departure, get informed about the news related to earthquakes, typhoons and (more rarely) volcanic eruptions. More joyful: consult the calendar of carnivals and local festivals, which are often colorful and very convivial.
Weather at the moment
The Caribbean has a warm tropical climate which includes a rainy season and a dry season. The temperature in this part of the world varies between 25°C and 32°C throughout the year. The temperatures are softened by sea breezes and by the altitude. From December to June, it is the dry and cool season. From June to December, the wet and hot season, known as the cyclonic or wintering period with afternoon thunderstorms.
La Havane
It is not a cheap destination. You have to be on the lookout for good deals or travel without comfort to go to the Caribbean and stay at a low price. Some islands are more expensive, even much more expensive than others. The local currency varies according to whether the islands belong to a particular territory or not. Thus you will pay in euros in Martinique and in dollars in Puerto Rico, in Cuban pesos in Cuba and in gourdes in Haiti. There are often tourist prices and local prices.
The Caribbean area is divided among several countries, so you should find out which countries are involved and what the formalities are before leaving for a particular island or traveling from one island to another. Some islands require a visa. Nothing like that for the DOM-TOM of course, you enter Martinique with your French identity card.
As in all tropical countries, you must protect yourself from mosquito bites, even take a preventive treatment against malaria, beware of poisonous animals, and protect yourself from the sun. Take a first aid kit with you, especially if you go hiking in the mountains. And, of course, be careful what you eat and drink. Find out about local health risks (dengue, zirka, etc.). Find out before you leave whether your health insurance company will cover you, and if so, plan for repatriation in case of a major health problem. Otherwise, no major worries.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to en Caraïbes? Our advice & tips
The formula sometimes the most advantageous to stay in the Caribbean and often the simplest to organize a tour, as in Cuba, for example. The Caribbean is in the catalog of all the major tour operators, you are spoiled for choice from the luxury formula to the freedom formula, from the diving trip to the discovery tour of the distilleries of Martinique or the biodiversity of Guadeloupe.
Nothing prevents you from going alone to the Caribbean whether you arrive by sea or by air. On the spot you have the possibility to manage without any problem especially if you go to an island of the DOM-TOM. You can travel alone even in Cuba.
Regular flights connect the largest islands of the Caribbean. The boat will also allow you to move from one island to another. In the islands, cabs and public transportation are sufficient, especially for those of small surface. On the islands, you can choose between walking (but it's hot!), biking or scooting. Renting a car can be useful in the larger islands like the Dominican Republic.
