On a worldwide scale, the Caribbean is a place with unmistakable allure. Due to its great weather and superior scenery, which includes pristine tropical forests, picture-perfect beaches, and azure waters, it is extremely well-liked by people from all different demographic groups. Not to mention the countless islands that make up the actual Caribbean, each of which have tremendously vibrant cultures.
We are aware that visiting the Caribbean may be at the top of your travel wish list, but with more than 7000 unique islands to choose from, each offering a wealth of fascinating and lovely experiences, we will help you plan the ideal winter getaway for 2022 so you can escape the chilly winter months and dive into an exciting journey to this amazing part of the Earth.
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Introduction to the Caribbean
Let’s open the map of the world and focus on the area between South America and the USA. We can see the narrow strip of land that connects North with South America, so-called Central America.
And we can see a long chain of islands- larger in the west and smaller in the east, stretching from Yukatan Peninsula to the northern coast of South America. All these pieces of land surround the Caribbean Sea, and with these lands, all of this forms the Caribbean region.
Basic facts about the Caribbean
What makes the Caribbean so amazing? It is its geographical features, its history, and its fantastic landscapes. So, let’s take a look at some interesting facts:
- It is a tropical region. There is no winter, but only rainy and dry seasons.
- This tropical region happened to be a combination of lands and sea, providing excellent conditions for forming what many travellers dream of as a “tropical paradise”.
- This is the first part of the Americas that has been discovered by the Europeans at the end of the 15th century. Unfortunately, this discovery almost wiped out the indigenous culture, but new cultures flourished in the following centuries.
- Probably, many of you have watched the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series. While it is just fictional entertainment, it is inspired by the most popular pirate stories and images. But the Caribbean is the place where you can explore the real history of the pirates.
- The Caribbean is just beaches with coconut palms, but the region presents a great variety of natural landscapes. Here you can find tropical rainforests, volcanoes, coral reefs, canyons, caves, and many more.
- Politically, today the Caribbean lands are shared between more than 25 countries and territories. Some are poor, with authoritarian regimes, and some are even a bit dangerous for travellers, but most of them are well-developed. Despite these differences, the whole region is peaceful and much safer than other places in the world.
All of the above gives you a lot of good reasons to explore the Caribbean. As you can see, there is so much to explore. Yes, like many people, you can just go on a relaxing vacation, but if you want to get more of this region, go on an exploring journey! So, read below for some useful ideas…
Planning your ideal Caribbean journey
As mentioned earlier, the Caribbean is a very popular region and one which in recent years has received a lot of attention and investment, allowing you to have a broad selection of what kind of adventures you would like to experience.
While some people might want to travel in style and stay at a five-star resort, you might just want to concentrate on the area’s natural wonders and stick to adventure. In either case, the following are some potential choices for you.
Jet service
If you want to spend a little more money for exploring this amazing region, you can enjoy some convenient opportunities. The Caribbean offers a high level of exclusivity, and the region also has a few airports that offer private jet service, so there is no risk in inquiring about private jet prices.
They might be less than you anticipate! You can also explore and appreciate a lot of remote beaches, possibly in South Caicos or St. Lucia. Some of the most notable beaches may be found in these locations, like Jalousie Beach, which is ringed by the Gros and Petit Piton mountains.
For more adventurous people
For those of you who have a more adventurous spirit, hiking or scuba diving can be your ideal vacation pursuits. We advise you to take Belize, a frequently forgotten destination, into consideration if you’re looking for a distinctive diving experience. Belize has fantastic, crystal-clear, warm seas in addition to having The Blue Hole, one of the world’s most well-known diving locations.
Remember that this country has a rich culture as well as fantastic diving opportunities because it is also home to historic Mayan ruins.
There are also many options available if culture and history are more your things. Reggae originated in Jamaica, which is undoubtedly the most famous island in the Caribbean Sea. To understand more about its history and how it has influenced global culture, there are numerous excursions and options available.
Furthermore, this country complements it with stunning untamed landscapes and unmatched rum. However, if you’re interested in learning more about the background of pirates, their origins, and the adventures they undertook, you may visit seaports like Nassau in the Bahamas, Port Royal in Jamaica, and Tortuga in Haiti.
Advance Planning
Despite having year-round pleasant weather, the Caribbean still considers winter to be the “off-season.” When you travel, travel will be at an all-year low, giving you a bit more room to arrange your trip. Not only will prices be cheaper overall, but demand will also likely be poor, which could also result in fewer flights being operated.
The length of your stay should be considered while you plan your holiday. Of course, this will change depending on where you intend to go and whether you opt to stay in one location or go island hopping. Whatever you want to do, we advise staying at least one week in the area so you may take in the experience to the fullest and explore the places you wish at your own leisure.
Accommodation Ideas
Lastly, you’ll have accommodation concerns to quell. With tourism ramping down overall over winter, there may be fewer options available to you. However, the options that are available will be much keener to have you as a guest – resulting in favorable rates and free extras.
Some of the options you can consider include:
Resorts vs Hotels: Resorts are a great way to go when visiting with a big group of friends or family as they will provide you with a variety of leisure activities including sports, water sports, tours, pools, spa treatments and so much more.
On the other hand, hotels are a much better option if you are looking for a secluded more intimate getaway filled with privacy and time to rest. Depending on where you go you will have the opportunity to experience a variety of hotels across the Caribbean.
Adventurous ways of accommodation
If you are a more adventurous explorer, probably you would just focus on the adventures and geography, rather than the accommodation. In such a case, you would look just for a place to spend the night, somehow, in safety. If this is the case, there are a lot of local hostels, cheap guesthouses, and campsites that you can find in almost every Caribbean country or territory.
Since there are many options available to you, whichever option you ultimately decide on, be sure to examine the experience you are seeking, and which one would best fulfill your needs. Keep an eye out for both hotel activities and excursions! Finally, you can engage in unusual pursuits like bird watching, visiting national parks, kayaking, and even mountain biking, depending on where you travel!
So, while the winter is coming closer, if you live in a cold part of the planet and want to try something different than snow, the Caribbean can be your perfect choice for adventures and geographical exploring. And you can do it not just for escaping from the cold (because cold snowy winter is no less desirable and beautiful), but to enjoy the Caribbean during the winter season and try the best of what this region has to offer.
Take a look at this video for more impressions from the Caribbean:
Check some travel books about the Caribbean:
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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.
So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.
Enjoy!