General Overview:
The Caribbean is formed by four different island groups based on their general location. These are:
The Caribbean temperatures range from around 28oC (83oF) in the winter to nearly 32oC (89oF) in the summer. Some of the coolest daytime temperatures in the wintertime are noticed in Turks & Caicos, Puerto Punta, The Bahamas, Punta Cana, and Roatan, with averages around 27oC (80oF), while the hottest destinations with daytime temperatures flirting with the low 30s Celsius (low 90s Fahrenheit) in the summer are St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, Curacao, Cancun, Aruba, and Cozumel islands.
English is the official language in most Caribbean destinations due to the British colonial past. However, a 2001 census has shown that more than 60% of the locals actually speak Spanish as their first language. However, English is widely spoken. That being said, the majority of islanders speak Creole, a native language that is the outcome of blending multiple languages. For example, you will hear French Creole in Martinique and Guadeloupe, which is a mix of West Indian, African, and French languages.
Expect pure white, but also pink and black-sand shores in the Caribbean. Pink beaches get their tint from microscopic pieces of shells and corals left by tiny pink and red-shelled organisms that live in the coral reefs. Some of the islands with pink sand are Pink Sands Beach (Harbour Island), Horseshoe Bay Beach (Bermuda), Crane Beach (Barbados), and French Leave Beach (Eleuthera). As for the black volcanic sand beaches (formed by volcanic activity), you will find them on islands with volcanoes, such as Montserrat (Woodlands Beach), Saba (Well’s Beach), Dominica (Rosalie Beach), St. Vincent (Black Point Beach), Martinique (St. Pier), and Grenada (Black Bay).
Besides basking in the sun and enjoying your time by the beach, there are lots more to do in the Caribbean, such as ziplining, hiking, kayaking, rafting, bird-watching, whale-watching, mountain climbing, and more. This makes sense considering the mountainous regions, rainforests, waterfalls, rivers, and jungles that make up the Caribbean topography. So, you could be on the beach one minute, and out in the jungle the next! Other than that, you can explore Mayan ruins sitting in the heart of forests, see exotic wildlife (the Caribbean is home to hundreds of indigenous animals and birds, including the smallest lizard in the world), and admire a profoundly rich aquatic cosmos.
You will find plenty of fresh fish and seafood dishes across the Caribbean destinations, especially cod, lobster, crab, saltfish, and mahi-mahi, along with meat and chicken options, such as jerk chicken and goat water, which is actually a goat stew that is spiced with local spices and a touch of rum. It is also the national dish of Montserrat.
Speaking of spicy food, the locals like their plates to give them a piquant flavour. No wonder one of the world’s hottest peppers is grown in Trinidad & Tobago! We are talking about the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Chilli Pepper that held the reigns as the spiciest on earth until 2012. Then, it was dethroned by Carolina Reaper in 2013. In addition, the local Scotch Bonnet Pepper is also hot and a main ingredient in many Caribbean dishes, which are also infused with tastes from local vegetables and fruit.
The Carnival season is a big deal in the Caribbean and a serious business, which is celebrated with glorious parades, live, loud music in the streets, vibrant, intricately-designed costumes, colourful floats, and invigorating dance moves, displaying the rich Caribbean culture and folklore. Each country has its own set of festivals and carnivals (counting hundreds of events year-round) that can last up to several months! Of course, music is a huge component of these parades, especially reggae and steelpan bands.
