Caribbean and Central America Travel

It was Christopher Columbus who first sighted Grenada, but it was the French who was able to take control of it, and the British that eventually got them gave them their independence.

Grenada is an archipelago made up of islands called the Grenadines. The biggest island is Grenada itself, where most of the population lives. The smaller islands are Carriacou, Petit Martinique, Rhonde Island, Caille Island, Diamond Island, Large Island, Saline Island and Frigate Island.

Like the other Caribbean islands, Grenada’s islands are formed by volcanoes, are mountainous and have fertile soil. And like the other islands in the Caribbean, Grenada enjoys a tropical climate, with seasons alternating between rainy and dry. Grenada is on the southern edge of the hurricane belt, and usually suffers the worst when hurricane season hits.
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The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in eastern Caribbean. Blessed with spectacular whites and beaches, mountain ranges, different bodies of water including salt water lakes, bevy of exotic wildlife, and colorful culture, Dominican Republic have something for every tourist.

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 for Spain, Hispaniola became the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. When the gold in Hispaniola ran out, it lost its prominence. When pirates ransacked the settlements in the western part of the island, the Spaniards relinquished control of what is now known as Haiti to the French.
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Dominica is one of the most unspoilt islands in the Caribbean. Covered by a lush rainforest, Dominica is a haven for nature lovers, with its many waterfalls, springs, rivers, and the world’s second largest boiling lake.

Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-eek-a) was discovered by Christopher Columbus on a Sunday – Dominica in Latin. For its Carib Indian settlers, however, the island is known as Wai’tu kubuli, which means “Tall is her body”.

Though history, the island has been claimed by the French, who eventually relinquished the island to the British. Dominica became a British colony in 1763, after hundreds of years of isolation. The emancipation of African slaves in the British empire gave way to Dominica having the first British Caribbean colony headed by Africans. The British took control of the country once again in 1896, but eighty years later Dominica finally became an independent nation.
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The biggest island in the Caribbean, Cuba is a haven for tourists who wants a little of everything: mountain ranges, plains, bays and gorgeous beaches. Located where the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Cuba is prone to hurricanes, but during the summer season, it has the most pleasant tropical weather.

Cuba had a tumultuous past, having its fair share of revolutions and uprisings. From insurgence from the Spanish colonizers to fighting off modern day capitalists, Cuba’s history and culture was molded.

Nevertheless, Cuba remains one of the most visited island in the Caribbean. Magnificent architecture, thriving party vibe, fine white sand beaches, Cuba manages to move towards the future while being able to keep its environment pristine.
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It was Christopher Columbus who first sighted the Cayman Islands, but it was Sir Francis Drake who was the first recorded visitor to the island. While Columbus named the islands Las Tortugas due to the number of sea turtles he saw, Sir Drake named it after the crocodiles.

The Cayman Islands fell under the British rule under the Treaty of Madrid, along with Jamaica. This happened as settlers from Jamaica came into Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The islands became a strategic British base in the Caribbean, although it also became a hideout for pirates. Permanent settlement finally happened in the Caymans in 1730.

The Cayman Islands became a dependent of Jamaica, though it was effectively able to govern itself. After 165 years, the Cayman Islands became independent from Jamaica, though it acted like a Jamaican parish. When Jamaica became independent in 1962, the Cayman Islands sought for independence one more, and became a direct dependency to the British Crown.
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