Eastern Caribbean

Located on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, just half an hour from the Costa Rican border lies the pretty fishing village of San Juan del Sur. Considered by some as the “St. Tropez of Nicaragua”, the village certainly has some resemblances. A sleepy little port by day favoured by the local jet-set and curious traveller alike, San Juan del Sur enjoys a laid-back family orientated feel that is closer to southern France than southern America. By night however, San Juan del Sur transforms itself into the hottest of hot-spots. View less Known principally for its excellent surfing and vibrant nightlife, the town’s charms transcend these more mainstream attributes and it remains an idyllic boutique resort, with bright, colourful houses and remote beaches, offering respite for a community of likeminded cultured travellers. The sunsets here are legendary, so enjoy a Mojito or a local Toña beer, put your feet up and relax.

Glorious golden beaches, fiery sunsets and verdant tropical backdrops await at Nevis - a picturesque sliver of Caribbean heaven, and the smaller twin of Saint Kitts. The sight of the island’s golden sands, lying before the verdant backdrop of Nevis Peak’s clouded taper, is sure to mesmerise you - just as it moved Christopher Columbus, the first European to encounter these majestic islands in 1493. Charlestown serves as the laidback capital of Nevis and is peppered with a charming assortment of baby blue colonial architecture. The perfume of incense hangs heavy in the air at the Botanical Gardens of Nevis - where orchids open up in the bright sunshine, and fountains trickle among the green haven of tropical plants. The simple pleasure of a vivid sunset is one of a myriad of reasons why Nevis is such a sought-after destination, and the nightly explosions of salmon-pinks and blood-reds that spill across the sky never fade in impact. Head to the magnificent Pinney's Beach - which stretches for more than three miles - to stroll through turquoise water and caramel-coloured sand. Lovers Beach offers an alternative flavour in a quieter, breathlessly romantic setting – laying out views across the Atlantic rollers to St Kitts before you. Shipwrecks wait, strewn just offshore, and enthusiastically embraced by abundant marine life. Scuba dive to explore the skeletal wrecks first hand, as clownfish zip between the broken boughs of doomed vessels. Booby High Shoals is a popular diving spot where you can meet curious sea turtles, gliding through the water.

Offering an island bounty of electric-blue Caribbean Sea waters, sensational scuba diving, and elevated viewpoints, Philipsburg revels in Caribbean beauty. St. Maarten is an unusual island of dual personality - partitioned into French and Dutch sides. Discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second journey to the Americas in 1493. A truce was eventually brokered in 1648, sharing the island between the French and Dutch - an arrangement that endures today. View less A Caribbean mirage of soft sand beaches and perfect snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities – arrive on the south of this beautiful island at the Dutch side’s capital, Philipsburg. Squeezed between the bay and the Great Salt Pond, the town offers waterfront strolls in the gentle breeze, duty-free bargains, and plenty of room to sit and drink in the dazzling sea views. Clear, turquoise waters hold underwater worlds of colourful corals and fish, while glorious beaches of typical Caribbean beauty invite you to sprawl out beside the tempting shallow waters. Look out to see occasional jet skis skirting the waters, as you recline on sand flanked by lush vegetation on both sides. Tear into the fresh local produce and taste the island’s sensational seafood - from lobster to red snapper and conch cocktails. Don’t miss the opportunity to try out the island’s favourite tipple, either - guavaberry rum. Beautiful green peaks offer stunning hikes, amid the rich tangle of jungle scenery. Maho Beach may also be on the radar – the tranquillity of this small beach is regularly interrupted by the deafening roar of jet engines, as Princess Juliana International Airport’s runway comes perilously close to the sands. Huge planes skim just above the beach before touching down, and the blasts of departing jet engines blow violent gales out towards the waters.

This small group of islands lies opposite the western part of Guadeloupe. They were discovered in November 1493 by Columbus, who named them Los Santos. French settlers established themselves in 1648 and changed the name to Iles des Saintes, commonly known as Les Saintes. Since then the islands have been closely connected with Guadeloupe.

To fully appreciate the island's unspoiled beauty, a trip into the interior is a must. A good part of Dominica's mountainous terrain is covered with dense evergreen rain forest, where rare plants and animals are still found that have long been extinct on neighboring islands. The Smithsonian Institute called the island a giant plant laboratory, unchanged for 10,000 years. Numerous hot springs bear witness to continuing volcanic activity. Dominica is truly a place to discover nature in all her splendor. But it is not an island for those looking for white sand beaches. Around the mouth of rivers and in sheltered bays, the beaches are pebbly and of dark color.

Martinique is well known as France’s favoured Caribbean isle, but it is the little commune of Trois Ilets where the two cultures really mesh together. Found directly opposite the busy capital Fort de France, Trois Ilets retains its historic culture – much of it due to Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, aka Empress Josephine of France aka Mrs Napoleon Bonaparte. In fact, so proud are the Martiniquais of their famous daughter that they have sanctified her childhood sugar plantation home. View less La Pagerie is a fascinating museum housing rich colonial artefacts, including some of Napoleon’s rather risqué love letters to his future wife. Trois Ilets was once an important French colony, and as such played an active role in the slave trade. A trip to the Savane des Esclaves will have you learning of the plight of Neg Marrons – and others like him – slaves who fled the plantations to live alone in the hinterland. Visit the reconstruction of a typical rural shack where Neg and others managed to survive by living off the land and by their wits. Like many Caribbean villages, life is centred around the church square. Colourful wooden houses with locally thrown pottery tile rooves flank the typical creole village, while the church itself (where Empress Josephine was baptised) takes pride of place. In fact, so important is pottery to the local culture that the entire village referred to as “Le village de la poterie” in the 18th century. Unsurprisingly though, the islands natural beauty takes a front seat. Many world class beaches are found here including the lovely l’Anse a l’Ane, and the peninsula of Pointe du Bout (literally End Point). This latter place is where you’ll find most of the seaside fun. Think Hobbie-Cats, kayaking, windsurfing and jet skiing for island exploration – the Genipa Mangrove at the end of the island begs discovery if you like to take to the waterways. If your idea of heaven involves the more simple pleasures of reading and strolling under the shade of the palms, then look no further.

Cherry red roofs, yacht-sprinkled bays and a sophisticated French flavour all add to the gorgeous Caribbean allure of Gustavia. The island's capital rolls around a horseshoe-shaped harbour, where gleaming yachts hover and fancy boutiques, bars and restaurants fizz with life and clinking cutlery. Head up to red and white Gustavia Lighthouse to look down over the revered waters, which attract many a celebrity guest and diving enthusiast to these shores. View less Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover this volcanic island in 1493, giving it the name St Barthelemy in honour of his younger brother. The island has a unique history as a Swedish colony, following a deal with the French King Louis XVI to exchange the island with Sweden for better trading rights. It was returned to French control in 1878 and is now a French Overseas Collectivity. Learn more of the Swedish legacy at Fort Karl - which sits on a 29-metre-high hill above Shell Beach. The fort now lies in ruins, but you'll meet wandering iguanas, and the views down of sweeping sea and emerald coastline are some of the island's finest. Down below, a delightful spread of tiny pebbles and shell fragments are scattered like confetti and lapped by crystal-clear water. A little exploration uncovers countless other glorious beaches and natural wonders. Colombier Beach is a little out of the way but cradles silky-smooth sands and typically turquoise waters. If you have chance, find somewhere to settle and sip fruity rum cocktails as the sunset flares across the waves.

Located on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, just half an hour from the Costa Rican border lies the pretty fishing village of San Juan del Sur. Considered by some as the “St. Tropez of Nicaragua”, the village certainly has some resemblances. A sleepy little port by day favoured by the local jet-set and curious traveller alike, San Juan del Sur enjoys a laid-back family orientated feel that is closer to southern France than southern America. By night however, San Juan del Sur transforms itself into the hottest of hot-spots. View less Known principally for its excellent surfing and vibrant nightlife, the town’s charms transcend these more mainstream attributes and it remains an idyllic boutique resort, with bright, colourful houses and remote beaches, offering respite for a community of likeminded cultured travellers. The sunsets here are legendary, so enjoy a Mojito or a local Toña beer, put your feet up and relax.