Ever since colonial periods, American visitors have loved to visit the Caribbean. These islands have been the favorite destination for most dream vacations. Over the past 50 years, tourism to the area has increased greatly, and today millions of U.S. citizens visit the islands every year to enjoy all that the islands have to offer – beaches, thrilling water adventure, fun in the sun, and communing with nature.
But just what exactly is it that makes the Caribbean so dramatically different from all other vacation destinations out there? And how could you increase your enjoyment during your Caribbean dream vacation?
In the Old ‘West Indies’
The Europeans were the first sets of explorers who came to the shores of the Caribbean. At the time, they were searching a sea route to India and when they found this tiny group of islands in the middle of the vast sea, they referred to it simply as the “West Indies.” They thought that they had landed in the Indies (then meaning all of east and south Asia) when in fact they had reached the Americas. It was changed to the Caribbean later on, after the Caribs who were one of the dominant Amerindian groups in the area at the time of European contact.
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The Caribbean is, in fact, a series of tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea. It is located between South and North America and east of Central America. Its more than 7,000 islands extend for nearly 1,700 miles from Cuba in the west to Barbados in the east and are bordered by many reefs, islets, and cays. There are a total of 25 territories, consisting of overseas departments, sovereign states, and dependencies.
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Each one of the islands of the Caribbean has its own personal style and flair. No two islands are the same and you experience something different as you travel from one island to another. The Caribbean has a wealth of natural environments, cultures, languages, scenery, activities, and entertainment all worth checking out. Whether you want the total relaxation under the sun, adrenaline rush of extreme sports, being at one with nature up a hiking trail, or an evening of dancing at a rave party — the Caribbean has it all.
Tagged with: caribbean • travel
Filed under: Travel -- Caribbean