As the capital of French St. Martin, Marigot is a unique fusion of French and West Indian culture, alive in the ambiance, cafes, bakeries, wine shops, and the Creole gingerbread houses along Rue de la République. History buffs gravitate to Fort Louis, built in 1789 to overlook Marigot Bay.
Mercado Santurce is a great place to get a feel for San Juan's culinary scene. Here you can see vendors hawking everything from fruits and veggies to hand-held bites and other prepared foods, and see where many of the city's restaurants source their produce. In the evenings, the surrounding Placita de Santurce comes to life with street-food vendors and crowds.
The Rand Nature Centre sits on 100 acres (40 hectares) of beautifully preserved land—home to hundreds of bird species, including a large number of wintering northern songbirds. In addition to the plentiful birds, the center has an extensive network of trails winding past pine barrens, coppices, wildlife ponds, and a native plant arboretum.
In the heart of the Basse-Terre rainforest, Guadeloupe Zoo feels more like a jungle adventure than a zoo visit. You can walk across treetop canopies while observing exotic birds, reptiles, monkeys, and big cats. There are over 450 animals to discover; around 85 species are native and endangered. There’s also an insectarium and more than 1,000 plant species.
Sun, soft sand, and warm, shallow waters characterize Leinster Bay—a favorite among beach lovers seeking solitude. It’s also one of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots on St John thanks to the colorful coral reef of Waterlemon Cay, where it’s possible to spot sea turtles, stingrays, starfish, and schools of blue tang and parrotfish.
Located in the campus of Puerto Rico University in San Juan, the Museum of History, Anthropology and Art possesses one of the most important archaeological collections in the Caribbean, including a vast array of artifacts from the island’s indigenous Taino people. Rounding out the displays are notable works by Puerto Rican painters Francisco Oller and José Campeche.
Emperor Valley Zoo is Trinidad and Tobago’s largest zoo, located north of the Queen’s Park Savannah on the island of Trinidad. The zoo houses familiar animals, such as lions and giraffes, and also showcases flora and fauna unique to the area, including crab-eating raccoons, boa constrictors, and Trinidad motmots—an endemic bird species.
Located on the narrowest part of Eleuthera, the Glass Window Bridge is a concrete bridge that forms the top of a window-like gap between cliffs that separate Gregory Town and Upper Bogue. On one side, you can see the dark blue waters of the Atlantic, and on the other, the calm turquoise waters of the Eleuthera Blight.
Nestled in the hills of central Dominican Republic, the town of Bonao rewards visitors who venture off the tourist path. Known for its traditional arts and culture, and excellent museums, the town is also surrounded by lush green hills dotted with rivers, streams, and waterfalls.
When Fidel Castro marched into Havana and seized the Cuban government, he took the island’s tobacco industry and hand-rolled cigars along with it. Cuban cigar makers then fled the country in search of factories elsewhere. One of those places was La Romana in the neighboring Dominican Republic. Established in 1971, Tabacalera de Garcia has grown into the largest hand-rolled cigar factory in the world.
One of the Caribbean’s great snorkeling destinations, Creole Rock is a small rocky outcropping just off St. Martin’s northern coast. Teaming with the life above and under the sea, the reef is part of a protected marine reserve. It’s also an important bird rookery where pelicans and brown boobies come to lay their eggs.
Karukera Land is a family-friendly park boasting water activities, games, animals, and gardens that represent the ecological diversity of the island of Guadeloupe. The park also offers a variety of events—such as musical performances—as well as a wellness center and plenty of sun-soaked spaces to relax.
Located in Port of Spain, the Red House is the seat of Trinidad and Tobago’s parliament. The original building was constructed in the middle of the 19th century, yet later burnt to the ground during the 1903 Water Riots, a response to increased water costs and the use of water meters in private homes. It was rebuilt in the Beaux-Arts style in 1907.
Just south of San Juan, the Caparra Archaeological Site is a National Historic Landmark that protects the stone foundations of Caparra, the original capital of Puerto Rico. The city was established under Ponce de León back in 1508, but these ruins are all that remain to this day.
Located in the Anamuya Mountains near Punta Cana, La Hacienda Park is an open-air adventure theme park. You can enjoy a mix of thrilling and cultural activities here, including a chairlift ride, a zipline circuit, a QuickJump freefall, horseback riding, Polaris buggies, a Dominican nature and culture safari, and a Dominican buffet lunch.
From December 26 through New Year’s Day, the streets of Nassau erupt with live music, festive floats, and costumes for Junkanoo—a festival akin to Mardi Gras and Carnival. Located in an old customs warehouse on the wharf, the fun Junkanoo Expo Museum, offers visitors who can’t make the trip during the holiday season a chance to experience the wonderful event.
The Yaque del Norte is the longest river in the Dominican Republic and a popular destination for whitewater rafting. Running through the beautiful scenery of the Cordillera Central mountains, the river offers a combination of thrill-seeking and great views.
A crescent of fine white sand stretching along Puerto Rico’s Atlantic coast and backed by tall palms, Pine Grove Beach is one of San Juan’s most idyllic beaches. The tranquil waters here make Pine Grove a perfect spot for families with small children, while novice surfers can ride the waves at its eastern end.
One of the lesser developed beaches of St. Kitt’s southeast peninsula, tranquil Turtle Beach is a lovely little stretch of sand, boasting opportunities to spot monkeys playing in the trees and swim with a view of the green mountains of Nevis. Snorkelers come here to observe the protected coral reef teaming with fish.
Famed for being the monument that gave Bridgetown its name, Chamberlain Bridge crosses the Constitution River in Barbados' capital city. This pedestrian-only bridge was once a swing bridge, but was replaced with the current lift bridge in 2006 to allow boats to pass underneath to reach the inner harbor during storms.
Enjoy avant-garde films at Fine Arts Miramar in the Miramar area of San Juan. Fine Arts Cinema is known as the premier cinema in San Juan to see foreign and independent films, particularly those with artistic, cultural, and social relevance, all the while grabbing a bite to eat and a drink.
On Barbados’s idyllic western coast, Sandy Lane Beach is famous for the upscale resort of the same name that occupies most of the beach. Being a guest isn’t required, as this beautiful public beach is open to all visitors. With calm shallow waters, swimming is relaxing. For more adventure, go waterskiing or wreck diving off the shore.
Note: Grivelière Coffee Factory and Plantation is temporarily closed. Located in the historic area of Vieux-Habitantes, on the island of Guadeloupe, Domaine de l'Habitation la Grivelière is a coffee factory and plantation that dates back to the 18th century. Visit the site’s traditional Creoloe gardens, which are full of coffee and cocoa plants as well as an abundance of other medicinal and edible plants.
Tumbling down from Bermuda’s South Road to the sea, Palm Groves Garden is a beautifully landscaped private garden that you can explore for free—thanks to its generous owners. Its standout sight is a lily pond with a Bermuda map built into it, along with other fun features such as a Chinese moon gate, a wishing well, and an aviary.
Opened in 1956, Santo Domingo’s Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) is one of the Dominican Republic’s premier cultural institutions. The large neoclassical structure is home to the National Gallery of Fine Arts, three theaters, and several art schools, making it a must-see for any culture vulture in the capital.
The founders of the Tortuga Rum Company began baking and selling rum cake on the Cayman Islands in 1987. Today, more than 5,000 cakes a day are produced at the Tortuga Rum Cakes Bakery, and you can visit the factory and sample the treat for yourself.
Founded by the Eduardo León Jimenes Foundation, Centro León is one of the top cultural institutions in the Dominican Republic. Housed in a modern building in Santiago de los Caballeros, the museum and cultural center offer exhibitions, educational activities, workshops, live performances, craft markets, and community events.
Cornwall Beach sits along a long stretch of creamy white sand beaches just outside Montego Bay on Jamaica’s west coast. This private beach offers travelers a gentle, crystal clear sea and well-managed facilities, making it a desirable spot for swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying a seaside meal.
One of the oldest European settlements in the New World, La Isabela was founded by Christopher Columbus in his second voyage in 1493. The remnants of Columbus' time in the colony—meant to establish a Spanish presence in the West Indies—can be seen at La Isabela National Park, which contains a few notable structures and artifacts.
With its deep-blue swimming hole and rock formations that have been formed over millions of years, Cuevas Arenales is a cave complex attracting adventurous travelers and nature lovers alike. Often touted as one of Puerto Rico’s must-visit caves, it offers scenic hikes, hidden springs, underground cave paths, and idyllic swimming spots.
