The good life | Round trip

Even in hard times — and 2020 brought more than its fair share — the Caribbean is one of the sweetest places on earth, thanks to beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm, generous people

By Caribbean Beat | November/December 2020 • Digital Issue

Photo by NinaMalyna/Shutterstock.com
The natural rock formations known as the Pillars of Hercules have guarded the entrance to English Harbour for centuries. Photo by Adventure Antigua, courtesy Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority
A rustic bar is just the place to relax and shoot the breeze over a cold beverage or two . . . Photo courtesy Pure Grenada Tourism Authority
. . . or seek out some saltwater therapy at Grenada’s famous underwater sculpture park. Photo courtesy Pure Grenada Tourism Authority
A rich heritage of dance, music, storytelling, and cuisine, influenced by African ancestral traditions, are at the heart of the island’s identity. Photo by Alexa Fernando, courtesy Tobago Tourism Agency
You can get up close to giant Victoria amazonica waterlilies at Mobai Pond, near Karanambu Ranch in the Rupununi Savannah. Photo by Gregorio Best, courtesy the Guyana Tourism Authority
Whether your vantage point is a private seaside terrace in Treasure Beach, the cliffs of Negril, or the misty slopes of the Blue Mountains, Jamaica has no end of stunning views. Photo by Ian Cumming/Alamy Stock Photo
A beautifully preserved traditional “sand yard” cottage, with its pastel shades and delicate fretwork, is a glimpse of life in slower times. Photo courtesy Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
The Caribbean’s largest island is equally famous for its dynamic culture and scintillating nightlife, and for the art of taking it easy. Just follow the lead of this gentleman in an old-time bar in Havana. Photo by Danm12/Shutterstock.com
The Grenadine Islands are a sailor’s paradise — whether you’re captain of a luxury yacht or a simple coconut-shell toy boat like these in Bequia. Photo courtesy Discover St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Bamboo Cathedral is the gateway to a popular uphill walk — or ride — in the northwest peninsula’s Tucker Valley . . . Photo by Stephen Bedase, courtesy Unsplash
. . . then unwind to the sweet sound of the steelpan, the national musical instrument. Photo by Rick Rudnicki/Alamy Stock Photo
One of the Caribbean’s best preserved forts at Nieuw Amsterdam is a short boat trip from Paramaribo, where the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of charming historic buildings. Photo by Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock.com
Harbour Island off Eleuthera is as famous for its quaint cottages as for its incredible pink-sand beaches — and small enough to explore by bike. Photo courtesy the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
Like the one that’s actually called Secret Bay, where dramatic cliffs surround a stretch of pristine sand and perfect water. Photo courtesy Discover Dominica Authority
From luxurious restaurants on the “Platinum” west coast to the laid-back stretch of St Lawrence Gap or the lively Oistins Fish Fry, Barbados is a foodie’s delight . . . Photo by Lu Lin/Shutterstock.com
. . . then explore Bajan history at St Nicholas Abbey, a plantation house turned museum. Photo courtesy Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc
The Caribbean’s Emerald Island is named for its lush forests, but the intense blue hues of the surrounding sea are equally mesmerising . . . Photo courtesy Montserrat Tourism Division
. . . especially glimpsed from the soaring heights of the Silver Hills. Photo courtesy Montserrat Tourism Division
The most unmissable view in Willemstad is the row of colourful historic buildings along the quayside near the floating Queen Juliana Bridge — eye-catching by day or night. Photo by Gail Johnson
Pitons Bay, nestled between the island’s iconic twin peaks, is one of the Caribbean’s most dramatic swimming spots. Photo by BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock.com
Need an adrenaline shot? Head for the world’s steepest zipline at Rockland Estate in the hills above Philipsburg, with a drop of 1,050 feet. Photo courtesy Rainforestadventure.com