CARB

The yachting capital of Martinique, Le Marin sits at the head of a deep bay and has one of the largest marinas in the Caribbean. At the center of town is one of the area’s few historic sights, the 18th-century stone church of Église Saint-Étienne, whose design suggests an overturned ship’s hull. Businesses in Le Marin are oriented to sailors and yachtsmen, who enjoy the lively ambience in the waterfront bars and clubs. The nearby peninsula of Sainte-Anne is home to the island’s best beaches, the celebrated Grande Anse des Salines among them.

Montserrat represents a unique opportunity to experience the forces of nature – both destructive and creative – that have forged the mountainous idylls of the Caribbean. After decades of dormancy, the island’s Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in 1995, causing widespread devastation. Ongoing explosions and other volcanic activity turned more than half the land into an “Exclusion Zone.” Incredibly, the northern half was largely untouched, its rugged landscape still as lush and green as the historic nickname of “the Emerald Isle” – also a nod to the many Irish who settled here – would suggest.

Once a sleepy fishing village, Marigot became St. Martin's capital during the reign of Louis XVI, who built Fort Louis to defend the colonial settlement's harbor warehouses. The formidable walls and cannons of the ruins overlook Marigot Bay and are well worth the short hike up. The town itself charms visitors with winding streets and colorful buildings. Restored St. Martinoise-style houses are now boutiques for luxury goods, all duty-free, while Marigot Market is a melting pot for local foods, spices, art and crafts.

No airport, few vehicles, one village, beautiful palm-lined beaches – tiny Mayreau, the only inhabited island within Tobago Cays Marine Park, represents Caribbean pleasure, pure and simple. On the northern coast, Salt Whistle Bay is the island’s most popular anchorage. Its calm, sheltered waters and soft sands are great for swimming, sunning and snorkeling. Around the island, smaller bays and hidden coves, many rarely visited, offer even greater tranquility. Mayreau’s best views are found at the hilltop Catholic church, a quaint stone building featuring lovely stained glass and art work.

Numerous islands and hundreds of tiny cays form the nation of the Bahamas. Small at just 21 miles long and nearly seven miles wide, New Providence Island boasts numerous white sand beaches as well as the vibrant capital of Nassau. In the lively city center, the National Art Gallery and Junkanoo Museum showcase the fine art, unique traditions and colorful crafts of the local culture that melds African, English and West Indian influences.