The British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands are one of the most popular sailing destinations in the world. BVI is perfect for sailing because most islands are only 1 or 2 hours away from each other. With the year-round warm weather, calm clear blue waters and steady trade winds the British Virgin Islands is a real sailor’s paradise. The BVI is known for its pearly white beaches, relaxing pirate bars, restaurants, jaw-dropping shipwrecks and lots of great snorkeling areas. There is plenty to see and do in the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands is a real Caribbean dream.
The Bahamas offer endless possibilities with 700 islands and thousands of cays to explore. The consistently gentle and warm trade winds surrounded by the sheltered waters around The Bahamas, make it a perfect sailing destination for families. Almost a quarter of Earth’s coral is in the warm waters of The Bahamas. The Bahamas are home to a spectacular array of tropical marine life, which makes it great for diving or snorkeling.
What especially makes the Bahamas one of the most unique places in the Caribbean and the world is you can swim with pigs. Pig Beach also known as Pig Island or Big Major Cay, is a desert island. Well, not wholly deserted because the inhabitants are pigs. Where the swimming pigs come from is still a mystery. There are theories that the pigs came from a shipwreck. But a more credible theory is that a man named Wayde Nixon brought the pigs to the island. Nixon wanted to make a sustainable food supply because he feared the millennium bug.
Antigua
With its warm, gentle trade winds, safe anchorages, white sand beaches and clear blue waters, Antigua is a perfect destination for sailing. Start your holiday at Nelson’s Dockyard, where you’ll find an active nightlife with lively bars filled with other sailors drinking rum cocktails. The small island has 365 beaches and landscapes that look like they came out of the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean. Antigua belongs to one of the 2 major islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. There are plenty of activities you could do at Antigua. You can visit Stingray City to feed and swim with Sting Rays, go hiking to the Pillars of Hercules or go on a zip line adventure in the Antigua rainforest.
St Martin/St Maarten
St Martin has a lot to offer for sailors. From relaxing island-hops to open-water cruising, sailing St. Martin is diverse, just like the island itself. Half French and half Dutch, St. Martin is a combination of sophisticated European and laid-back Caribbean charm. St Maarten has a variety of snorkeling areas for all levels of experience. On the Dutch side Mullet Bay, Cupecoy Beach and Dawn Beach are fantastic snorkeling spots. The French side has Pinel Islands, Baie Rouge, and David’s Hole, Creole Rock, and Orient Bay Islands as its best snorkeling and diving areas. The island is both urbanized and untouched, with rainforest landscapes, white beaches, and beautiful caves and wild animals. St Maarten is probably the most diverse island in the Caribbean.
Belize
Belize is home to the world’s second-largest barrier reef, which makes it a beautiful place for snorkeling, diving, and kayaking. Not only does Belize have beautiful coral reefs but also tropical rainforests, exotic wildlife, and rich cultural history. If you are looking for relaxation or adventure, there’s something for everyone in Belize. Belize may well be the smallest country in the whole of Central America, regarding sights it can certainly measure itself to top destinations like Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Belize is a fantastic place for snorkeling among tropical fish, colorful coral reefs, turtles and even manatees.
In addition to an impressive underwater world, Belize is home to the world’s most mysterious civilization, the Maya. In the west, against the border of Guatemala, an ancient Mayan world awaits you. These are the temples of Xunantunich. The temples can easily be reached through a walking tour of about 2 kilometers during a Belize holiday. Xunantunich is one of the most famous sights of the country and is rich in 25 temples and 6 large squares. From the largest temple El Castillo you have a magnificent view of the tropical rainforest of the Cayo district.
