Carribean: Now!! Watch out of the Pirates

HAITI

Haiti, once one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean, is now one of the least-visited destinations due to its political instability and a lack of tourism infrastructure. The U.S. State Department maintains travel warnings to keep visitors aware of the potential dangers and American travelers should contact the U.S. Embassy upon arrival. A car with a driver or escorted day tours is advisable. For intrepid travelers intrigued by the country’s cultural offerings and natural beauty, Haiti offers fascinating castles, history, architecture, art, music and spiritual traditions.

Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is located in the central region on the Gulf of Gonâve. Points of interest here include the Musée de Pantheon, Place des Héros, and the Basilica of Notre Dame. Inside the Musée Nationale is a treasure-trove of historical relics such as the pistol used by King Henri Christophe in 1820, which he used to end his life rather than face a coup. Visitors can also see an anchor allegedly salvaged from Christopher Columbus’ famous Santa Maria.

The Museum of Haitian Art features the nation’s famed art naïf paintings. Fine art galleries are located in Pétionville in the hills above the city, where most visitors choose to stay. This upscale district is home to international embassies, trendy restaurants, boutiques and nightclubs. The Barbancourt Rum Distillery is another popular attraction, in operation since 1765 and based in a hillside castle.

The northern peninsula is filled with forts and ruins to explore. The formidable Citadelle crowns the 3,000 foot Pic la Ferriere and in the valley sits Sans Souci, an elegant but ruined palace built in 1810. The two structures are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five additional forts overlook Cap-Haïtien harbor and the coastline. The southern peninsula’s high mountains and thundering waterfalls attract nature lovers. Visit Bassin Bleu, a triple waterfall with deep pools, and Pic de Macaya, a 7,700 foot mountain populated by rare orchids and birds. Étang Saumâtre, a blue saltwater lake, delights with more than 100 species of waterfowl plus flamingos and American crocodile.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture. Port-au-Prince International Airport, located 5 miles from downtown. Local airports: Cap Haitien (northeast) and Port-de-Paix (northwest). Jacmel (southeast of Haiti Pignon, center of Haiti) . Jeremie (southwest or Grand Anse). Gateways/Flying Times: Miami-1.5 hours. Montreal-4 hours. New York-3 hours 20 minutes. Santo Domingo-40 minutes.

CLIMATE: Average daytime temperature 76-82 degrees F., with cooler nights. Rainy season from May to July and September to early December; 20-25 days of rain annually.


DINING: Restaurants available-Local. Fast food. Gourmet. International. Service charge -10% . Dress code is usually casual comfortable summer sportswear. Some hotels may require a jacket and tie.

LANGUAGE: French and Creole are the official languages. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

NIGHTLIFE: Entertainment available includes-Discos. Dinner/Dances. Theaters. Casinos. Nightclubs. Cinemas. Live music.

SIGHTSEEING: In Port-au-Prince: The Cathedral of Port-au-Prince. The Cathedral of St. Trinity. Musee du Pantheon National, Place des Heros de l’Independence. ‘In Boutilliers (3000 ft) panoramic view of Port-au-Prince and the Bay of La Gonave’. In the Cote des Arcadins: Moulin sur Mer Museum. In Cap-Haitien: Citadelle LaFerriere. Palais Sans-Souci. Colonial Architecture. In Jacmel: Bassin Bleu. Manoir Alexandra. Colonial Architecture.Handicraft. La Petite Batterie.

CUBA

There are few more fascinating destinations in the Caribbean than its largest and most populous island, Cuba – not least because it has been a socialist republic since the 1959 revolution, when Fidel Castro seized power. This last remaining vestige of state socialism, 90 miles south of Key West, Florida, was once the last stronghold of Spanish power in the region.

Cuba’s rich artistic heritage ranges from pre-Columbian cultures to the splendors of Spanish colonialism and the internationally acclaimed art of today. It is also a place of great natural beauty, with three magnificent mountain ranges and fertile plains where sugar cane and tobacco grow. And it has some of the best beaches in the world.

A quarter of Cuba’s 11 million people live in and around Havana, which lays claim to being the most beautiful city in the Caribbean. Old Havana, with its square mile of colonial palaces, handsome plazas and charming cobbled alleys was, along with Mexico City and Lima, one of the three richest Spanish cities outside Spain. It has been designated by UNESCO as a city of world heritage.

Cuba has an easy-going, multi-racial population whose greatest enthusiasm is reserved for music. It is the home of the modern rumba, actually of African origin, the mamba, the cha-cha-cha and the salsa. Cuban jazz is also excellent. Wherever you go on the island, music will go with you.

Travel can be an adventure. Transport is cheap and convivial. Cuba is the only place on earth where hitchhiking is regulated by the state – in the nicest possible way. Each town has a hitch-hiking point manned by an official in yellow trousers who supervises the hitchers, registers their destinations and loads them on to any state or private car that happens to be heading in the right direction. Tourists are absolved from the obligation to take on hitch-hikers.

It's a great time to visit Cuba, if you can. It is a vibrant island with resorts and beaches, some extensive – and the fact that it does not always provide the fully-honed and polished version of modern-day tourism suits many of its visitors just fine.

CAYMAN ISLAND

Like three brilliant siblings, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman each have their own charms while sharing familial traits. A British Overseas Territory, the trio makes up a one of a kind vacation spot beloved by families, couples and watersport enthusiasts alike.

Grand Cayman’s capital, George Town, is a vibrant city center, housing unique historic sites, a renowned National Gallery and Cayman’s National Museum. The downtown area also boasts some of the Caribbean’s very best duty-free shopping. Travelers can choose from fine European fashions and top designer labels, artisanal crafts such as Caymanite jewelry, antiques and treasure coin jewelry.

The perfect family vacation destination, Grand Cayman is full of adventures. At Boatswain’s Beach, site of the renowned Cayman Turtle Farm, children and parents alike can enjoy a fully interactive marine park--home to more than 16,000 endangered green sea turtles, exciting shark exhibits and a fabulous snorkel lagoon. At Stingray City, families can touch and feed stingrays, while snorkeling over magnificent coral reefs filled with colorful tropical fish.

With dozens of world-class dining options and a host of luxury accommodations, Cayman is also the perfect setting for a destination wedding, honeymoon or romantic weekend getaway. Whether it be relaxing at Seven Mile Beach or experiencing exhilarating dives, Grand Cayman has it all.

If you’re looking for a remote retreat, Cayman Brac is only 45 minutes away. A nature lover’s paradise, this small island is lined with walking and hiking trails and is home to nearly 200 species of birds. Cayman Brac is also the site of the only dive-accessible Russian warship in the Western Hemisphere.

Little Cayman, just five miles from Cayman Brac, is the quintessential island escape. Fewer than 150 people live here year-round, and the bonefishing and diving are spectacular. There are more than 50 walls, wrecks and other dive sites teeming with tropical fish and coral. Bloody Bay Wall off Little Cayman and the Great Wall off North Cayman, draw divers from all over the world.

For some, Cayman is a diver’s dream offering clear waters, famous wrecks, and diverse aquatic life. For others, it’s a fun, educational and enriching family vacation. For others still, it’s the perfect romantic getaway. The Cayman Islands truly has something for everyone.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: (GCM) - Owen Roberts International Airport serves Grand Cayman. Gerrard Smith International Airport is on Cayman Brac. Edward Bodden Airstrip is on Little Cayman. Little Cayman has no customs or immigration, so no international flights stop there. Gateways/Flying Times: Atlanta - 2 hours 40 minutes. Kingston, Jamaica - 1 hour. Miami - 1 hour 20 minutes. Tampa - 1 hour 40 minutes. New York – 4 hours. Toronto, Canada – 4 hours. Charlotte - 2 hours 50 minutes. Newark - 4 hours 15 minutes. Montego Bay, Jamaica - 45 minutes.

CLIMATE: Average annual temperature, high-27.6 C/86.6 F: low-19 degrees C/66 degrees F.

DINING: Local. Caribbean. International. Gourmet. Chinese. Italian. Mexican. Southwestern USA. German. Indian. Thai. English pubs. Fast Food. Dress code is casual. 15% is standard for gratuities.

LANGUAGE: English.

NIGHTLIFE: Discos. Live Music. Nightclubs. Dinner/Dances. Cinemas. Theaters. Comedy Club. Café. Occasionally gospel concerts and concerts by top reggae, country and rock bands.

SIGHTSEEING: Grand Cayman - white sand beaches, dive and snorkel sites; Marine trips; Atlantis Submarine; SeaWorld Explorer Semi-Submarine; Nautilus Semi-Submersible Submarine; Jolly Roger cruise excursions; Turtle Farm; Conch Shell House; Hell in West Bay; Blow Holes in East End; Stingray City (snorkeling or diving) dept 4 to 12 ft; Tortuga Rum Factory; Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park; Mastic Trail; Pedro St. James; Rum Point; Stingray Brewery; Yacht Club; Britannia, the Links at Safehaven Golf courses. Butterfly Farm. Cayman Brac - Bluff; Caves; Honeymoon Cottage; Museum; NIM Things; Parrot Reserve; M/V Capt. Keith Tibbetts (diving or snorkeling site). Brac Nature Trails. Little Cayman - Booby Pond Nature Reserve; Museum; National Trust House and Bird Sanctuary; Owen Island; Point O’ Sand Beach; Salt Rocks Dock; Tarpon Lake; Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson Marine Parks (diving and snorkeling sites).

JAMAICA

Jamaica is surely one of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations. The scenery offers everything from fish-filled coral reefs and white-sand beaches to breathtaking waterfalls and cloud-shrouded rainforests. The music is infectious, and the people represent one of the most diverse populations in the Caribbean, drawing from African, Chinese, Indian, British and German heritage.

Jamaica is the Caribbean’s third largest island with six main tourist regions – Montego Bay, Negril, Mandeville and The South Coast, Kingston, Port Antonio and Ocho Rios. There are numerous tranquil places to visit: The 7,402 foot Blue Mountain Peak is a challenge to all serious island trekkers, and bird watching is increasingly popular with more than 200 native species, including at least 25 species that are endemic. Jamaica is also reputedly home to more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, some 720 of which are found nowhere else. Jamaica is rich with formal gardens, too, such as Hope Botanical Gardens, Shaw Park Gardens, Coyaba River Garden and the Cranbrook Flower Forest.

Ocho Rios is a prime port for cruise ships but also boasts a succession of bays and beaches. Most notable are Runaway Bay, and Discovery Bay. Just inland lies Dunn’s River Falls – a much photographed attraction. Montego Bay is a mecca for watersports lovers including sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, sport fishing and glass-bottom boat excursions. For shoppers, Gloucester Avenue (dubbed the "Hip Strip") is lined with duty-free shops, souvenir arcades, restaurants and bars. Negril became known in the 1960’s and 1970’s as an idyllic escape for the backpack crowd, and still enjoys a low-key demeanor. Perched on limestone bluffs, Negril’s West End is home to numerous small resorts snuggled into the craggy cliffs.

Visit the many plantation great houses such as Rose Hall and Greenwood Great House. Tour the rum distillery at Hampden Great House. Like many Caribbean islands with a sugar plantation heritage, Jamaica showcases numerous fine rums, including Appleton, which offers a top-shelf label of aged rums. Another favorite treat is Tia Maria, a coffee-flavored rum liqueur.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), 13 miles from Kingston. Sangster International Airport (MBJ), 2 miles from downtown Montego Bay. Sangster to: Ocho Rios 1.5 hours, Negril 1.5 hours. Manley to: Port Antonio 2 hours, South Coast 2.0 hrs. Gateways/Flying Times: From Baltimore-3 hours. Boston-3 hours 40 minutes. Chicago-3 hours 45 minutes. Dallas-3 hours 20 minutes. Los Angeles-5 hours 30 minutes. Miami-1hour 25 minutes. Montego Bay from Atlanta-2 hours 40 minutes. New Orleans-3 hours. New York-3 hours 20 minutes. Toronto-4 hours.

CLIMATE: Temperatures high/low-Summer 80/70-80 degrees F. Winter 80/70 degrees F. Annual average temperature is 82 degrees F. In the hills it’s cooler with an average temperature around 70 degrees F. In Kingston, humidity ranges from 63% in February to 75% in October. In Montego Bay, humidity ranges from 71 to 77%. Average rainfall is 77” annually. Approximate sunrise/sunset 0600/1900. For every 1000 feet in altitude the temperature drops 3.5 degrees F, so that the Blue Mountain Peak has an average annual temperature of 56 degrees F.

DINING: Local. Fast food. Gourmet. International. Tipping: 10-15%

LANGUAGE: The official language spoken is English. Patois, a mix of English and African, is also spoken.

NIGHTLIFE: Discos. Nightclubs. Dinner/Dances. Theaters. Live music. Cinemas.

ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTSEEING: Kingston: Bob Marley Museum. Bank of Jamaica Money Museum. Caymanas Park. Devon House. Emancipation Park. Fort Charles & The Maritime Museum, Port Royal. Hollywell. Hope Botanical Gardens. Institute of Jamaica. Liberty Hall. National Gallery of Art. National Heroes Park. Putt n’ Play. Rockfort Mineral Bat. Serenity Wildlife Park. Spanish Town's Historic District. Mandeville/South Coast: Appleton Rum Tour. Black River Safari Boat Tour. Cashoo Ostrich Park. Irie Safari. Lover’s Leap. Milk River Mineral Spa. YS Falls. Montego Bay: Animal Farm. Aquasol Theme Park. Bob Marley Experience. Braco Stables.
Chukka Blue Adventure Tours. Craydon In the Mountains. Doctor's Cave Bathing Club. John’s Hall Adventure Tour. Half Moon Equestrian Centre. Hilton High Day Tour. Luminous Lagoon/Glistening Waters. MoBay Undersea Tours. Outameni Experience. Rafting on the Martha Brae. Jamaica White Water Expedition. Rose Hall Great House. Negril: Royal Palm Reserve. Mayfield Falls. Rick’s Café. Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay: Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour. Chukka Cove Adventure Tours. Coyaba River Gardens. Cranbrook Flower Forest. Dolphin Cove. Dunn's River Falls. Firefly. Five Star Watersports. Green Grotto Caves. Harmony Hall. Heave-Ho Charters/Fun Cruises. Hooves Limited. Island Village. James Bond Beach. Ocho Rios Marine Park. Prospect Plantation. Reggae eXplosion. Shaw Park Gardens. Sting Ray City. Trails Plantation Rides. Walderswood Jerk Country Tour. White River Valley. Port Antonio: Blue Lagoon. Frenchman’s Cove. Castleton Gardens. Nonsuch Caves. Rio Grande Tours. Sommerset Falls. Reich Falls.

BAHAMAS

Approximately 700 islands, spread over nearly 100,000 square miles of ocean, constitute The Bahamas. The term Out Islands (or Family Islands) refer to all of the islands except New Providence, home to Nassau and Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama, home to Freeport/Lucaya. There are flights to all of the island centers from Nassau. It’s also possible to charter a plane, take a high-speed catamaran ferry, or hop aboard a chartered sailboat or motorboat.

Home to the Bahamas capital of Nassau and the resort development of Paradise Island, New Providence Island is the most visited Bahamian island, thanks to its international airport and busy cruise ship dock. Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island is a popular destination offering excellent golf courses including ones designed by Dick Wilson, Joe Lee and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Grand Bahama Island is the headquarters of UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society, providing numerous scuba opportunities. The Lucayan National Park offers such birds as flamingos, red legged thrushes and the rare Bahama parrot. The largest of the Bahamas’ islands, Andros, boasts freshwater creeks, lakes, mangrove swamps, and miles of unspoilt beaches. The island boasts the second-largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and fishing for bonefish is the island’s biggest tourist industry. The Berry Islands, home to Chub Cay and Billfish capital of The Bahamas. Bimini is a popular destination for first-rate big-game fishing. Inagua is home to more than 80,000 flamingos and other exotic birds. Long Island is known for broad beaches on its west coast and rocky cliffs on the east.

Cat Island's deserted beaches make for a total getaway. The Abacos and their string of cays are known for their sheltered waters and easy boating. The Exumas have a lot to offer both above and below the surface of the water. At the north end lies the astounding Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Great Exuma, in the south, is home to lodgings and restaurants and Stocking Island, with its untouched beaches separated by towering, rocky cliffs. Eleuthera is 100 miles long but just a few yards wide at some points. At the Glass Window Bridge, you can see the Bahama Bank on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Harbour Island offers good snorkeling and fishing on the bayside and is famous for a 3 mile pink sand beach.

AIRPORT/ GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airport: Lynden Pindling International Airport - to Cable Beach - 10 minutes. To Downtown Nassau - 20 minutes. To Paradise Island - 30 minutes. Grand Bahama International Airport - to downtown - 5 minutes. To International Bazaar – 10 minutes. By Sea : Discovery Cruise Line - Operates a daily service between Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Grand Bahama Island. Imperial Majesty Cruise Line’s Regal Empress sails every two days between Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau. Gateways/Flying Times: To Nassau from London – 8 hours. Miami - 35 minutes. New York – 2.5 hours. San Francisco (via Miami) - 5 3/4 hours. Toronto – 3.5 hours.

CLIMATE: Average temperature - Summer: High 90, Low 78. Winter : High 75, Low 60. Average humidity 78. Average rainfall - Rain showers occur any time of the year, but rainy months are from May to October. Approximate sunrise - Summer: 0630 - 0700. Winter: 0630
- 0700. Approximate sunset - Summer: 2000. Winter: 1730.

DINING: Restaurants available - Local. American. Fast Food. Gourmet. Continental. French. Italian. Chinese. Japanese. Polynesian. Mexican. Caribbean. French. Greek. Mediterranean. Seafood. 15% service charge is usually added. Dress code is casual. Some restaurants may require slightly more formal attire.

NIGHTLIFE: Entertainment available includes - Nightclubs. Discos. Casinos. Cabarets. Theatre. Cinema. Live music. Native shows.

SIGHTSEEING: Abaco: Hope Town Light House. Wyannie Malone Museum. Albert Lowe Museum. Memorial Sculpture Garden. Exuma: Exuma Land and Sea Park. Stocking Island. Plantation ruins. Underwater caves. Eleuthera: Preacher’s Cave. Glass Window Bridge Ocean Hole. Harbour Island: Pink sand beaches. Grand Bahama: International Bazaar. Glass-bottom Boat. Port Lucaya. UNEXSO Dive Center. The Dolphin Experience. Lucayan National Park. East End Adventures. Kayak tours. Nassau: Straw Market. Bay Street. Pompey Museum. Pirates of Nassau. Horse and carriage rides. Government House. Historical Forts. Ardastra Gardens. The Fish Fry At Arawak Cay. Queen’s Staircase. Water Tower. Walking Tours. Discover Atlantis.