The Caribbean holidays

Caribbean holidays are a colourful cocktail of silvery sand, teal-tinted water and emerald rainforests. Plus, there are more historical sights than you can shake a guide book at.

Shorelines to sing about

The trademark of any holiday in the Caribbean is the beaches. Every island in this part of the world sports its own platter of leading sandy swathes. Take Antigua – nicknamed the ‘Land of 365 Beaches’, it’s pretty much covered in linen-soft, white sand. Barbados, meanwhile, is home to the Platinum Coast, where you’ll find 13 miles of blue-chip beaches. They’re so impressive that even A-listers like Sir Cliff Richard and Hugh Grant have been spotted holidaying here.

Plantations, pirates and revolutions

Tear yourself away from your sunbed for a day or two and you’ll find that most of the countries in the Caribbean have plenty of history, as well. Take Cuba, for example. It’s got everything from 18th-century sugar cane plantations to museums based around world-famous writer Ernest Hemingway. And let’s not forget about Havana, the capital city. During a day-long guided tour here, you can learn about important Cuban figures like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara – leaders of the 1950s revolution. Elsewhere, over in Jamaica, you can explore the region’s pirate-filled past during a visit to Port Royal – a former swashbuckling stronghold.

Watersports and wild landscapes

There’s no shortage of activities for you to try during a holiday to the Caribbean. Countries in this part of the world with English roots, like Antigua and Barbados, have a soft spot for cricket. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to swing a bat at the sports grounds in the capital cities of St John’s and Bridgetown. St Lucia, on the other hand, takes full advantage of its thick rainforests and towering mountains. Zip-lining adventures, 4x4 safaris and horse riding top the to-do list here. Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, is one of the world’s best scuba diving spots. Think Finding-Nemo-style coral reefs and gin-clear water.