Sun, sand and sea are the natural things which first spring to mind when the Caribbean is mentioned.
This collection of islands is one of the most sun-kissed to be found anywhere in the world and the majority of the islands have beautiful beaches and wonderful blue seas to make it the ideal destination for those who love to spend time on the beach without having to battle to find themselves a spot. For while the beaches of Spain are traditionally crammed full of people during the summer season, the islands of the Caribbean remain relatively quiet.
Perhaps that is not so much because they remain undiscovered, but more to do with the fact that there are just so many of them. Choose from the Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua, the Virgin Islands or the Dominican Republic to enjoy a relaxing time by the sea, as well as the many other islands which can offer a similar level of beauty and exotic flair.
However, there is much more to these islands than long lengths of white sands and deep blue ocean. The Dominican Republic, for example, is home to the large city of Santo Domingo, where two million of the island's eight million people reside. It is a vibrant city which offers many varied activities for travellers and allows them to enjoy city life Caribbean-style.
Santo Domingo remains the hub of the country and a festive atmosphere seems to waft across the city at nearly all times. Even the country's various political and economic difficulties have not put off the islanders' love of music and their flair for enjoying themselves. The city is also the capital of the country and has a number of old buildings which hark back to the colonial days of when the Caribbean was first colonised by the Spanish.
Many of the islands have remnants of colonialism about them, including the British Virgin Islands and the former French colonies of Guadeloupe and Guyana. While the colonials may have largely left, there remains a feel of old Europe about the islands, although now their own unique identity is also mixed in. Perhaps some of the most laid-back islands in the region are those of Trinidad and Tobago, where life barely rises above a canter and the importance of relaxation is impressed upon stressed out Western visitors.
For a somewhat different experience, there can be nowhere better to visit than Cuba. Perhaps best known for its Communist leader Fidel Castro, the country does not have shut borders in the style of many old Communist regimes and enjoys a lively atmosphere. That is particularly true of the state's capital, Havana. Notorious for its cigars and classic cars, the city is also a vibrant centre of music and fun for travellers. It has an exciting nightlife which usually goes on into the following day.
The Caribbean clearly has far more to offer than the beaches and scuba diving, with each island having its own identity. This is just a flavour of some of the many islands in the Caribbean and to see them all in one visit would be to miss out on the charm and beauty of many areas simply because of the large number of places that would require visiting.
