Caribbean: all about the region and life on the islands
The Caribbean is a region of peace between North and South America comprising 35 countries. The region got its name from the Caribs , South American Indians who moved to the islands about 2000,<> years ago.

The Caribbean attracts tourists from all over the world: they are visited annually by about 30 million people. People go to the islands to see the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea, go yachting and diving, stroll through the tropical jungle and relax on the white beaches.

Where is the Caribbean
The Caribbean is located in the western Atlantic Ocean. In the south and west, the region is bordered by the coast of Central and South America, in the north and east it ends with a chain of Caribbean islands.

The Caribbean includes about 700 islands, including the famous Bahamas, Greater And Lesser Antilles. The total area of all the islands is about 245 thousand km². This is comparable to the territory of the UK.

The historical name of the Caribbean is the West Indies. This is how the first European navigators called the region, mistakenly believing that they sailed to India.
Caribbean
When people talk about the Caribbean, they mean a region that includes 35 countries. Of these, 26 states are island states, and nine are part of the continents of South and North America. The shores of all countries are washed by the Caribbean Sea.

Some Caribbean states are considered overseas territories of other countries, for example, Martinique is a region of France. The table shows all the countries and territories that are washed by the Caribbean Sea. The history of each of these states began long after becoming a dependent territory.

Caribbean countries and territories
Country
Square
Population
Official language
Continental states
Belize
22,966 km²
About 420 000 people
English
Venezuela
916,445 km²
About 29.7 million people
Spanish
Guatemala
108,890 km²
About 18.8 million people
Spanish
Honduras
112,090 km²
About 10.1 million people
Spanish
Colombia
1,138,910 km²
About 52.1 million people
Spanish
Costa Rica
51,100 km²
About 5.2 million people
Spanish
Mexico
1,972,550 km²
About 11.3 million people
Mexican languages The government recognizes
69 separate indigenous languages
Nicaragua
129,494 km²
About 6.8 million people
Spanish
Panama
75,517 km²
About 4.5 million people
Spanish
Island States
Anguilla (United Kingdom)
102 km²
About 15 000 people
English
Antigua and Barbuda
442 km²
About 100 000 people
English
Aruba
193 km²
About 125 000 people
Dutch,
Papiamento
Barbados
431 km²
About 290 000 people
English
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands)
322 km²
About 25 000 people
Dutch
Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
153 km²
About 30 000 people
English
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
346 km²
About 105 000 people
English
Haiti
27,750 km²
About 11.6 million people
French,
Haitian Creole
Guadeloupe (France)
1628 km²
About 415 000 people
French
Grenada
344 km²
About 115 000 people
English
Dominica
754 km²
About 72 000 people
English
Dominican Republic
48,442 km²
About 11.2 million people
Spanish
Cuba
110,860 km²
About 11.4 million people
Spanish
Curaçao
444 km²
About 165 000 people
Papiamento, English,
Dutch
Martinique (France)
1128 km²
About 375 000 people
French
Montserrat (United Kingdom)
102 km²
About 5000 people
English
Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)
264 km²
About 70 000 people
English
Puerto Rico
9104 km²
About 2.9 million people
Spanish,
English
Saint Barthelemy (France)
21 km²
About 1000 people
French
Saint-Martin (France)
53 km²
About 35 000 people
French
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
389 km²
About 110 000 people
English
Saint Kitts and Nevis
261 km²
About 55 000 people
English
Saint Lucia
617 km²
About 190 000 people
English
Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
34 km²
About 45 000 people
Dutch,
English
Trinidad and Tobago
5128 km²
About 1.4 million people
English
Jamaica
10,991 km²
About 3 million people
English
Show more 
Expand table Свернуть таблицу
How to get to the Caribbean
Travel to the Caribbean largely depends on the epidemiological situation in the world: because of the coronavirus, countries open borders, then close. Therefore, before traveling to the region, it is better to clarify the information on the official websites of the embassies and consulates of the countries.

International flights from the USA, Canada, European countries, Turkey are carried out to the airports of major Caribbean countries. So, from New York, you can get on a direct flight to Cuba or Haiti, mexico or Antigua. And to get from New York to Dominica, you will have to make a transfer in another Caribbean country, for example, in St. Lucia.

Why visit the Caribbean?
People come to the Caribbean to swim in the warm sea, go diving or yachting, get acquainted with the culture of the locals and try the national cuisine. Each country is unique and preserves the history of ancestors, mainly descendants of African slaves and indigenous Indians - The Caribbean and Arawaks.

The Caribbean islands are resorts, long white sand beaches and the sea around. These are high mountains and extinct volcanoes, tropical jungles and exotic animals. Approximately so many imagine the "paradise islands".\

Caribbean resorts. Most often, tourists arrive in the Caribbean for a two-week vacation in the "all inclusive" mode or visit the islands "in transit" on cruise liners.

Most tourists come to the Caribbean from the USA, Canada, great Britain and the European Union. The American magazine Caribbean Journal annually publishes the best Caribbean islands to visit. In 2022, the top ten included:

Providenciales, an island of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Antigua and Barbuda.
Great Exuma, an island of the Bahamas archipelago.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Nassau, an island of the Bahamas archipelago.
Bonaire.
Jamaica.
Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Middle Caicos, an island of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Cayman Braque.
 Providenciales is an island of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Considered one of the most luxurious resorts in the Caribbean and famous for its trendy boutiques, expensive restaurants and perfect golf courses
 "One beach for every day" – this is how they say about Antigua and Barbuda. It is believed that there are about 365 beaches in the country and each is good in its own way. Pictured is Morris Bay Beach
 Great Exuma is an island in the Archipelago of the Bahamas. Here are the most snow-white beaches of the Caribbean
 St. Thomas is an overseas territory of the United States, so Americans like to relax on the island. There are many quiet picturesque bays, evergreen hills and cozy chalets
 Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. The island is known for the international port, where the largest cruise liners call, clean beaches and coral reefs.
Diving. The Caribbean Sea is popular with divers, most of all lovers of the underwater world are attracted by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This is a unique natural phenomenon, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The length of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is about 965 km: it begins in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, runs along the eastern coast of Central America and ends in the coastal waters of Honduras. The longest part of the reef – about 300 km – is called the Belize Barrier Reef.

Another reason to go diving in the Caribbean is to see the sunken pirate ships. There are many myths about pirates: it is believed that they first appeared in the Caribbean in the 17th century. Pirates robbed ships passing at sea, sank ships and hid treasures on the islands.

Yacht. The Caribbean is a maritime region where many yachtsmen register their vessels to save on taxes and maintain confidentiality. Foreigners can register a yacht in Caribbean countries only through a legal entity.

In the Caribbean, you can rent a yacht and go on a sea trip or take part in a regatta. The region hosts about 20 international and local regattas per year. The next international race , RORC Transatlantic - starts on January 8, 2023 in Grenada.

Fishing. Fishing in the Caribbean islands come from all over the world. There are about 450 species of fish in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, including sharks, barracudas, rays and moray eels.

Fishing regulations vary by country. For example, in Saint Lucia, a license for amateur fishing is issued only to citizens and residents of the state. Its cost is about $ 19.

The Caribbean hosts tournaments and professional fishing competitions. So, in April 2022, the 2nd annual fishing tournament in Aklins was held on the Bahamian island of Aklins. It lasted seven days: during the day the fishermen competed, and in the evening they had fun at the festival.

 Belize Barrier Reef in the Caribbean Sea: about 130 thousand travelers come to see it annually
 In the Dominican Republic, tourists can go on a sea adventure on a pirate ship
 All kinds of water sports can be enjoyed in the Caribbean. Recently, sapsurfing is gaining popularity
 Horseback riding tours in Antigua and Barbuda. Seeing natural attractions is sometimes faster and more convenient on horseback
Life in the Caribbean
The Caribbean can boast of comfortable natural conditions for life, developed infrastructure and a large selection of places to relax. Spending a lifetime in the Caribbean is a plan that will suit connoisseurs of measured life, warm weather and water sports.

The climate in the Caribbean is hot tropical: the air temperature in the region rarely drops below +20 ° C during the year. But from June to November there is a rainy season, in some countries it coincides with the season of Atlantic hurricanes. For example, hurricanes pass through Dominica every year, and Grenada is most often bypassed.

The most comfortable months for life and recreation are from December to May - before the start of the rainy season. At this time, the Caribbean is relatively cool, there are rare rains.

Average monthly weather figures in the Caribbean
Month
Water temperature
Daytime air temperature
Night temperature
Number of rainy days
January
+26 °C
+29 °C
+20 °C
4
February
+25,2 °C
+30 °C
+20 °C
3
March
+24,8 °C
+31 °C
+20 °C
5
April
+26,7 °C
+30 °C
+23 °C
7
May
+27,3 °C
+31 °C
+23 °C
13
June
+27,4 °C
+32 °C
+25 °C
21
July
+27,6 °C
+32 °C
+25 °C
25
August
+28,2 °C
+33 °C
+26 °C
27
September
+29 °C
+32 °C
+25 °C
27
October
+28,9 °C
+31 °C
+24 °C
16
November
+28,2 °C
+31 °C
+23 °C
4
December
+27 °C
+31 °C
+22 °C
3
Show more 
Nature in the Caribbean region is amazing: tropical jungles, picturesque bays, mountains and extinct volcanoes, mangroves along the coasts and natural beaches with black sand.

About 13 thousand plants grow on the Caribbean islands, half of them are endemic. They cannot be found in any other country in the world. The Caribbean Sea is home to about 450 species of fish, including sharks and rays. Also off the coast of the Caribbean islands you can meet whales, turtles, sperm whales and dolphins, and in Jamaica - manatees and seals.

Nearly 500 species of reptiles live in the Caribbean, such as sharp-snouted crocodiles and green turtles. It is also believed that all amphibian species in the region live exclusively in the Caribbean: some frogs and toads, tree climbers and whistlers.

In the sky over the Caribbean, you can find about 165 species of endemic birds, for example, the Grenadian pigeon, the imperial Amazon, the black guan or the mangrove hummingbird. Parrots, toucans, flycatchers and cuckoos also live in the jungle, and majestic frigates can hover over the sea.

 Dominica is the Caribbean "island of nature". Here, most of the pristine nature has been preserved: European settlers cut down only about 40% of the rainforest.
 Flutoril is a fish whose photo is often shared on social networks by diving enthusiasts in the Caribbean
 A typical Caribbean iguana. Strict, arrogant, but not dangerous for people - it feeds exclusively on plants
 Frigatebirds are small birds weighing up to two kilograms, but with a wingspan of more than two meters. They spend most of their lives soaring in the air.

Cities and infrastructure. Caribbean states have developed rapidly over the past 20 years. Governments are building airports, furnishing harbors and berths, repairing roads and erecting new buildings in cities.

Every country has an airport – international or local. In 2021, Piarco International Airport, which is located on the island of Trinidad, was awarded the best airport in the Caribbean by Skytrax.

There are about 40-50 airports in the region, some of them are very small and private, so there are no statistics and websites. The busiest international airports in the Caribbean are:

Clayton J. Lloyd's, Anguilla.
VC Bird Airport, Antigua and Barbuda.
Queen Beatrix Airport, Aruba.
Linden Pindling Airport, Bahamas.
Grantley Adams Airport, Barbados.
Philip S.W. Goldson Airport, Belize.
LF Wade Airport, Bermuda.
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport, Colombia.
Daniel Oduber Airport, Costa Rica.
José Martí Airport, Cuba.
Las Americas Airport, Dominican Republic.
Maurice Bishop Airport, Grenada.
Toussaint Louverture Airport, Haiti.
Sangster Airport, Jamaica.
Luis Muñoz Marina Airport, Puerto Rico.
Transport. Ferries run between the neighboring Caribbean islands, they replace the residents of the train. Inside the island, public transport is usually represented by buses, minibuses and taxis. Prices depend on the country, for example in Dominica for 1 km taxi will take a fee of $ 2.5.

All Caribbean countries accept American dollars. True, if you pay them in restaurants, the rate will not be in favor of the client. The main exceptions are Cuba, Martinique, Guadeloupe. In Cuba, you must first exchange currency, the settlement is only in Cuban pesos. In Martinique and Guadeloupe, it is the euro. Other countries also accept local dollars, such as Haitian, Bermuda, Jamaican.

Eight countries have introduced a common currency and a single system of financial control and management. These are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and Montserrat. They have a single Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.

The financial system of these countries is managed by the Eastern Caribbean Bank, the local dollar has been pegged to the US dollar since 1976.

Average annual exchange rate of the Eastern Caribbean dollar in 2021
To U.S. Dollar
To euro
0,37 $
0,313 €
In Cuba, exchangers are reluctant to accept dollars and cards of the American payment system "Visa". But credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and many restaurants throughout the Caribbean region. You must have a credit card to rent a car, and hotels and airlines usually require a credit card impression as collateral to cover expenses.

 Grand-Terre Marina, Guadeloupe. In large countries, comfortable harbors are equipped: in them you can rent a parking place, leave the ship for repairs and relax during a sea voyage
Population and culture. The Caribbean is home to several peoples: the Arawak Indians, the Caribbean, European settlers and descendants of African slaves. The latter in the region are about 80%.

Most of the inhabitants of the Caribbean islands speak English: this is the official language of many countries, for example, Grenada and Dominica. In the overseas territories, the official language is the language of the country under whose sovereignty they are. So, in Martinique they speak French, and in Curacao three at once - Papiamento, English and Dutch.

In some countries, the population is more likely to use the Creole language in everyday life, which can be formed from French, Spanish or English.

The identity of the culture of each island is unique, reflects the history of the state and the influence of the traditions of different peoples.

When people talk about Caribbean art, they usually mean the work of local painters and sculptors. Their works were influenced by the nature of the region, history, religion and traditions of their ancestors.

Often the artists' works reflect the political trials and natural disasters faced by the population of the Caribbean islands. This is especially evident in artists from Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Caribbean music is also multifaceted. It includes such directions as bachata, merengue, mambo, denbo, calypso, chutney, dancehall, reggae, salsa and others.

 Shop with traditional souvenirs in the Dominican Republic
 Cuban ensemble in a local restaurant. In the Caribbean, they know how to relax and have fun: live music sounds from every second café
Political and economic structure of the Caribbean
Political structure. The history of the Caribbean states is not easy. After European settlers arrived in the Caribbean, most Caribbean countries became colonies. For the Caribbean islands fought mainly Great Britain, Spain, France and the Netherlands. Until now, some of the states are overseas territories of European countries.

Most Caribbean countries are parliamentary republics. States are headed by presidents, and executive power is in the hands of the prime minister.

Also among the states there are constitutional monarchies, where the head is officially considered the Queen of Great Britain, but power is concentrated in the hands of the Cabinet of Ministers. For example, such a political structure in Grenada.

Almost all Caribbean countries are members of several international associations:

United Nations (UN).
World Trade Organization (WTO).
British Commonwealth of Nations.
CARICOM is a trade and economic union of central and northeastern South America.
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.
CARICOM provides small Caribbean countries with dialogue with the European Union. Full members of the Union are Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. In October 2008, they signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.

 Caricom Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana
Some Caribbean states have maintained political and cultural ties with Britain. They are part of the British Commonwealth of Nations, which consists of 56 countries. Citizens of these countries have the right to study in British universities on preferential terms.

The Caribbean countries also have close economic relations with the United States. Some of the islands are overseas territories of the United States, other US states issue tourist visas for 10 years at once and under a simplified procedure.

Tax system. There are no capital gains and inheritance taxes in the Caribbean. Residents of some countries do not pay income tax and real estate tax. Especially favorable tax systems in countries where the government offers foreigners to obtain citizenship by investment. Thus, states seek to attract wealthy people and contribute to the development of local business.