The Caribbean Islands


Greater Antilles
the most-visited region in the Caribbean
British Overseas Territory
Havana, capital city of Cuba
Santo Domingo, capital city of DR
Port-au-Prince, capital city of Haiti
Kingston, capital city of Jamaica
San Juan, capital city of Puerto Rico
The Lesser Antilles
form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic

The majority of the islands in the Lesser Antilles form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic. They are located in the northern part of the West Indies. The islands here are further divided into the three regions: the Leeward Islands,the Windward Islands, the ABC Islands

Leeward Islands
the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain
ANGUILLA :. Caribbean Islands
The Valley, capital city of Anguilla
Island in Antigua and Barbuda
British Overseas Territory
Basse-Terre, capital city of Guadeloupe
British Overseas Territory
The Bottom
Overseas collectivity of France
French side, north of island
southern Dutch side of Saint Martin island
Municipality in the Dutch Caribbean
Basseterre, capital city of St. Kitts & Nevis
US Virgin Islands :.
US insular area
Windward Islands
South Caribbean
Bridgetown, capital city of Barbados
Roseau, capital city of Dominica
St. George's, capital city of Grenada
Fort-de-France, capital city of Martinique
Castries, capital ciy of St. Lucia
Kingstown, capital city of St. V&G
Port of Spain, capital city of Trinidad & Tobago
ABC Islands
Oranjestad, capital city of Aruba
Kralendijk, capital city of Bonaire
Willemstad, capital city of Curaçao
Its proximity to the U.S. makes it a very popular vacation destination
Nassau, capital city of The Bahamas
British Overseas Territory

The Caribbean is the holiday destination to go when you need a break from the fast, hectic pace of everyday life. It is one of the most prestigious tourist destinations in the world.

Read more about The Caribbean

Where in the world are the Caribbean Islands?

Caribbean islands
Map of the Caribbean and Central America

The Caribbean islands are located in the region of the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean Sea region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, north of South America and West of the Atlantic Ocean. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, considered as the Lucayan Archipelago and do not border the Caribbean Sea, they are technically part of the West Indies but not the Caribbean. The mainland countries of Belize, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are often included as Caribbean Islands due to their political and cultural ties with the region.


Countries of the Caribbean

The Caribbean islands are made of 25 independent countries and other territories

  2. Antigua and Barbuda
  4. Bahamas
  5. Barbados
    • Tortola
    • Virgin Gorda
    • Anegada
    • Jost Van Dyke
  7. Caribbean Netherlands also known as the BES islands are the three special municipalities of the Netherlands that are located in the Caribbean Sea. Consist of the islands of
    • Bonaire
    • Sint Eustatius
    • Saba
  9. Cuba
  11. Dominica
  12. Dominican Republic
  13. Grenada
  14. Guadeloupe (France overseas territory since 1946)
  15. Haiti
  16. Jamaica
  17. Martinique (France overseas territory since 1946)
  21. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  22. Saint Lucia
  23. Saint Martin (France overseas territory)
  24. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  26. Trinidad and Tobago
  28. United States Virgin Islands USVI is a territory of the United States. Consist of the main islands of
    • Saint Croix
    • Saint John
    • Saint Thomas

What are the capitals of the caribbean islands?

Why the Caribbean?

For many travelers, the Caribbean represents the ultimate escape. Over 7,000 islands await exploration, surrounded by turquoise waters and home to pristine white beaches. On land, visitors can hike through vivid emerald wilderness, spot sunshine-yellow parrots and glimpse fiery-red orchids, and fish of every color dart through corals in shades of purple and orange under the crystal-clear waters. Bold and colorful in every sense of the word, the Caribbean beckons with its splendid scenery, delectable foods, friendly people and boundless opportunities for exploration, adventure and relaxation.

Due to the close proximity of many Caribbean islands to their neighbors, many travelers today “island hop” around the region, going from shore to shore to experience a variety of scenery and culture in one trip. The first “island hoppers” were actually the Arawaks, Amerindians who ventured west and north throughout the region, from Cuba to the Bahamas. Little else is known about the Arawaks, who lacked a written language, but one Arawak invention can be seen on the beaches of the Caribbean to this day – the hammock.

Caribbean history

Life in the region changed forever when, in October, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of the Bahamas. He also island-hopped and developed the first European settlement on the island that today is split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Columbus and his fellow conquistadores recognized the riches in the region and saw money when they gazed upon the bountiful seas and fertile land. They exploited both the natural resources and the native populations, claiming lands as their own and enslaving the people of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and other islands.

The English followed suit in the 17th century, claiming St. Kitts, Barbados, Antigua and other lands, and the French soon followed, claiming Guadeloupe and Martinique. The Dutch also wanted a piece of the Caribbean, settling St. Martin, Saba and Sint Eustatius. For the next two centuries, the Europeans battled for control of the islands, and possession frequently changed hands.

The colonial infighting between European powers created an opportunity for locals to fight for their own independence. Haiti led the way, declaring independence from its colonizer in 1804, and Cuba and the Dominican Republic followed, along with other smaller islands in the region. Some islands, such as Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe, still maintain strong neocolonial relationships with their parent nations.

Caribbean culture

Modern Caribbean culture has been heavily influenced by the culture and traditions of Europe, along with hints of African culture and others that have come to the islands through immigrant populations. These various waves of migration have formed a truly unique blend of cuisines, music, art, customs and traditions in the region.

One of the most recognizable aspects of Caribbean culture is the region's music. Although they have roots in both European and African culture, the sounds of reggae, meringue, calypso, rumba and zouk music are distinctly Caribbean. Although the Caribbean islands share aspects of a common culture, each nation offers something unique and distinct to visitors. For stunning scenery and luxury resorts, they head to the Cayman Islands. St. Kitts and Nevis attract with their seclusion and lively music festivals, the unique flair of Barbados combines horse races by day and calypso dancing at night, and the US Virgin Islands draw visitors with their plantation tours and unspoiled beaches.

Caribbean lifestyle

Nature enthusiasts can explore the botanical gardens underwater limestone caves and offshore reefs of the Bahamas, then gamble at twinkling casinos and delve into pirate lore without ever leaving the islands. In St. Lucia, they can unwind on an isolated beach, then indulge their adrenaline by zip-lining through a rainforest or climbing the Pitons. These are just some of the many unique experiences visitors can have while exploring the islands.

Caribbean climate

The sun always shines on the region, and many travelers are attracted to the balmy tropical climate when winter strikes their home countries. The temperatures do not vary much throughout the year, with average temps of between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit regardless of season. Trade winds make days and nights relatively comfortable, but humidity can be high year-round. The rainy season arrives in autumn, and hurricane season spans June through November, but satellite forecasts now give plenty of warning so that precautions can be taken during a storm. Truly a year-round destination, there really is never a bad time to visit the Caribbean.

The pleasant weather is one of the reasons that tourism has become a key industry for the Caribbean economy. Millions of people come to the islands every year, but other major industries include textile, clothing and electronics manufacturing and oil refining and production.

Caribbean, one of the world's premier travel destinations

Still, most Caribbean economies are largely dependent on tourist dollars. Luckily, there are no signs of the industry slowing. People all over the world dream of spending their days in the shade of palm trees on a sandy beaches, sipping tropical concoctions and feasting on the freshest seafood, dancing to the sweet rhythms of steel-drum bands at night and getting away from it all in an island paradise. The Caribbean offers all this and more, making it one of the world's premier travel destinations for anyone looking for a true tropical escape.

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Caribbean interactive map