Caribbean Things to Do

What goes with sugary beaches, aquarium-blue waters, endless sun, Mai-Tais and palm trees? If you guessed a hammock, I’d have to give it to you, but I was thinking ‘Music.’ And the powers that be on St. Kitts and Nevis read my mind.

Come spring, the best that sail the high seas head to Bermuda for the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. A world-class racing event aimed at primarily small vessels, anybody who’s anybody in the sailing world takes note of this international yachting fixture. A great course to prove your sailing grit means that it’s ten days trying times on the windy seas, and a whole lot of fun times back on land. April 27th to May 3rd is when everyone’s coming to town, so you’d better book your hotels in advance.

Certainly you’ve heard something about this carnival business. From Rio to New Orleans to Trinidad and Tobago, stories, rumors, and bruit circulate about what happens at these fabulous bacchanalian blow-outs. Traditionally, this Catholic holiday is a revelry that builds up in the coming days before Lent, and the correlating renunciation of vices. And while this is true throughout most of the world, some islands in the Caribbean (Barbados, with its August “Crop-Over” celebration, and the Bahamas with their “Junkanoo” come to mind) celebrate their carnivals at different times of the year, and for different reasons.

The Cayman Cookout is an annual epicurean celebration of grand proportions. Set to launch January 17th and run until the 20th, the Cayman Cookout hosts an all-star lineup of celebrity chefs, bartenders, and sommeliers, all gathering to celebrate fine dining and everything Cayman. As if you needed another reason to head to the Caribbean, right?

Found yourself in the Caribbean for the holidays? Fancy a nice spot to do a bit of partying? As any traveler to the Caribbean knows, the Caribbean is wonderful for island sun, coconuts, white sand beaches, and snorkeling and lazing about to your heart’s content. But when it comes down to some actual partying, and better yet, ringing in the New Year, where’s the best place to go for New Year’s in the Caribbean?

Found yourself floating in the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean this Christmas? Wondering what exciting, notable, and festive things there are to do there? You’re in luck. The Caribbean blends a great mix of tropical island tradition and conventional western orthodox holiday meaning to make the Christmas in the Caribbean both a new and time-honored event.

Often called the ‘Isle of Flowers,’ Martinique is an island rich in history, culture and natural wonders. Located in the heart of the Caribbean, Martinique is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Caribbean Sea. It’s a well-known destination for active adventures such as diving, surfing and hiking the slopes of the volcanic Mont Pelée, the island’s highest peak; and the island also attracts culture buffs, many of whom head for the capital city of Fort-de-France, which hosts the annual Martinique Heritage Days celebration of island culture.

Bajans take to the streets in an exhilarating display of music and dance during the annual Barbados Crop Over Festival, the largest national festival on the island of Barbados and the largest summer carnival in all of the Caribbean. The Barbados Crop Over Festival is held over five weeks during the summer season, and it’s one of the most exciting times of the year to visit Barbados. The festival, which the locals have dubbed “the sweetest summer festival,” officially begins in late June and continues through the first Monday in August, though some festival-related activities get underway as early as May.

Aruba has long been attracting windsurfers to its shores, and each year the island plays host to the Aruba Hi Winds Festival, the largest and best-known amateur windsurfing and kiteboarding competition in the Caribbean. The Aruba Hi Winds Festival takes place over six days in early July and attracts windsurfers and kiteboarders from around the world.

St. John may be the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Island trio, but if you love swimming, its waters are ideal. The stunning crescent-shaped bays, soft pearly white sand beaches and craggy coastline provide ample opportunities and clear, warm waters to fine tune your backstroke. And if you really want to test your skills, sign up for the annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, held this year on Sunday, May 27.