CARIBBEAN
Embarque has a special connection with the Caribbean so you have come to the right place to find specialist knowledge for your tailor made travel to this popular paradise destination. Enjoy lazy hammock snoozes under swaying palm trees on long white sandy beaches, rum on tap and the distant sound of steel drums. Taste delicious creole cuisine, and gaze out at endless blue reefs.
But while you’re there, let us help you go deeper and explore the unique charms of individual islands, discovering the true extent to this iconic region that is steeped in French and British history. From spice-scented Grenada, with fishing villages, and horseshoe bays, waterfalls and rainforest, to the jungle-clad volcanic spires and colourful markets of St Lucia there’s so much to see and do. Get the most from your holiday and visit more than one of the Caribbean’s stunning nations with an island-hopping itinerary that includes visits to historic naval fortresses, lush plantations and estates, Michelin starred restaurants, deserted coves and yachting adventures.
ANGUILLA
The seductive sense of relaxation that pervades this laid-back and sleepy backwater makes this flat coral island a firm favourite for those looking for rest and relaxation. Anguilla is home to some of the finest beaches and luxury hotels in the Caribbean. Some call it their ‘‘secret island’ and it is still one of the lesser known destinations in the Caribbean.
A main island surrounded by islets, you can enjoy plenty of opportunities to sail and snorkel to secluded shores and explore Robinson Crusoe style, except, unlike him, you can take full advantage of the fact that Anguilla is known as the Culinary Capital of the British West Indies.
ANTIGUA
Locals will tell you there’s a strip of sand for each day of the year. It’s true, but Antigua is also full of surprises and contrasts. Named by Christopher Columbus after the word for ‘ancient’, this tiny marine nation and British Territory offers plenty for the history enthusiast.
Explore the Unesco site of Nelson’s Dockyard, a still-functioning marina with roots in the 17th century, or one of the island’s sugar mills and plantations. If you're looking for action and adrenaline there are jungle zip-lines or snorkelling in the gin clear waters around the island, and at the end of the day head up to Shirley Heights to see spectacular sunsets over Falmouth and English Harbour.
BAHAMAS
With more than 700 islands and 2,400 cays, rich in the finest of features that you would expect from a tropical paradise, and only a 45 minute flight from Miami, The Bahamas is a luxury traveller’s dream, and you don’t need to be 007 to enjoy them! Take a tour of the quaint clapbopard towns of Abacos, scuba-dive Andros, and enjoy the colourful pops of culture that festoon the islands. Crossing from the old town of Nassau to Paradise Island, you can also witness the awe-inspiring site of the world’s largest open air aquarium.
With a martini in hand, watch the world go by from one of the island’s world-class luxury hotels or resorts. Enjoy the scenery at the Ocean Club, or find seclusion in the colonial Caribbean suites of Kamalame Cay. Home to Love Beach, the Bahamas are also an easy choice for a truly luxurious honeymoon – where old-world glamour blends beautifully with spectacular diving, surfing, beaches, and world-class food.
BARBADOS
One of the Caribbean’s most enduring and well-established destinations, Barbados offers a cross-section of Caribbean island life, whether you’re seeking out the best waters for swimming alongside turtles, or fancy taking a walking tour of the capital, Bridgetown, dining out in swish restaurants or want to experience the fun of a fish fry with the locals.
There are palm-shaded bars and luxurious resorts along the island’s west coast, where you’ll find long curves of sand, while the east coast runs at an even slower pace, with wild Atlantic rollers frothing onto a rugged, undeveloped shoreline. Inland you will find rum distilleries, plantation houses and botanical gardens that flicker with butterflies and hummingbirds.
With good connections across the Caribbean, Barbados is an ideal starting point for a wider island-hopping holiday that could include a private-island stay in the Grenadines or time exploring Antigua’s British heritage.
BERMUDA
A remote slice of pink sandy paradise, you’ll find Bermuda in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago’s closest neighbours, the east coast of America and the Caribbean, are both hundreds of miles away, making this location the ultimate off-the-grid getaway. Picture perfect beaches pepper the islands’ shorelines, while turquoise waters hide some of the world’s best diving spots.
Take your beach day to the next level and head to Horseshoe Bay – this crescent-shaped stretch is often found on ‘best beaches in the world’ lists, so don’t miss the chance to see it for yourself. Away from the coast, golfers have a long list of courses to make their way through. And if you ever tire of the beach-bum life, Bermuda has a thriving museum scene too, with institutions dedicated to everything from marine life to art, check out Bermuda’s National Gallery in the capital, Hamilton.
CUBA
Situated just 90 miles south of the Florida Keys, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. With hundreds of miles of golden sandy beaches, rich and colourful scenery and a proud cultural heritage, this stunningly beautiful and exceptionally diverse country has been enticing visitors since Christopher Columbus landed here in 1492. Blending Latin and Caribbean influences, Cuba’s sensory world of art, music and gastronomy is mesmerising. Take a step into the past as colonial-era architecture sets the scene, vintage Cadillacs roam the roads and the scent of rum and jazz music fills the streets.
Expect a warm and friendly welcome from the Cuban people, and fill your visit with unforgettable experiences; visit historical cities, climb mountains, eat in fantastic secret, hidden away restaurants, watch world class ballet, bike through stunning rainforests, dance the night away, sail to desert islands, zip wire through the trees, and puff on house-rolled cigar.
GRENADA
This might just be one of the friendliest places in the Caribbean. You need only step onto the powder soft shores, close your eyes and inhale the sweet scent of air laced with sea-salt, nutmeg and mace to know that you have arrived in Grenada. A place where miles of untouched beaches run into thick virgin rainforest, you’ll want to explore secret waterfalls, dine with locals at Gouyave and shop at the market in St. George’s to stock up on fresh spices and guava jam.
Located in the Eastern Caribbean at the southern end of the Windward Islands, only 100 miles north of Venezuela, these three islands: Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique are bordered by stunning beaches and dotted with picturesque towns, this verdant island has long been a major source of cocoa, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and cinnamon and more recently Grenada holidays have really become the spice of life.
JAMAICA
Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean islands, and one of the most attractive. Birthplace of reggae, Red Stripe beer, Jamaican rum, beautiful beaches, jerk dishes, luxurious all-inclusive resorts and majestic waterfalls, Jamaica is super laid back with an enticing whiff of danger. Explore the island's lush interior and beautiful mountains and valleys, hike to the coffee plantations of the Blue Mountains, or take to the water for a day of deep-sea fishing in search of barracudas, marlins, and wahoos. Or simply while away sunny days on the coast, sailing, snorkelling and hammock-snoozing. Take a nighttime tour from Montego Bay to swim the glistening waters of Luminous Lagoon illuminated by tiny phosphorescent sea creatures.
Stay at Ian Flemming’s Goldeneye resort and enjoy life shaken not stirred under the swaying palm trees. This fair isle also has a rich social history and is a vibrant melting-pot of Caribbean cultures, which means that a holiday in Jamaica offers far more than many of the smaller Caribbean islands.
ST LUCIA
Beautiful Saint Lucia, with jungle-clad volcanic spires and long arcs of unspoilt sand, it’s easy to see why the British and French fought over it for so long. You can explore the island’s Kwéyòl culture at the Folk Research Centre, tour the British-built Fort Rodney and join the locals at a Friday-night fish fry to find fascinating insight into this multicultural nation.
Inland, you’ll find sugar and cocoa plantations, rum distilleries and nature trails that wind past guava trees and Creole houses. You can appreciate those volcanic peaks in Morne Trois Pitons National Park or take a coastal cruise to gaze up at. To the north is the yacht filled marina of Rodney Bay and the bright markets of the capital, Castries. Along the west coast, hotels lead onto sugar-soft beaches, while the quieter east shore is lined with farming communities and secluded coves.
