The Caribbean region is made up of the Caribbean Sea and its surrounding coasts. The Caribbean is situated southeast of Northern America. It’s east of Central America. And it’s north and west of South America. The Caribbean is made up of more than 7,000 different islands, cays, reefs, and islets. The Caribs were one of the most dominant Amerindian tribes in the Caribbean at the time Europeans first arrived. Read more now on yacht broker mallorca
Many islands in the Caribbean are accessible by air. Some islands require several connections to reach them. Private plane charters are a great way to avoid some of the connections. They’re also not too expensive. Private air charters can pick you up in San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Thomas or other places and fly to Martinique or St. Vincent.
In many parts of the Caribbean, mooring is not allowed and yachts are prohibited from anchoring. This prevents anchors from damaging coral reefs. The cynics may argue that these measures are more for revenue generation than protecting the environment. At $30 per night, it’s hard to disagree with this view. Arriving at the anchorage early is key to getting a spot or mooring before the crowds arrive.
Climate in the Caribbean is mainly sub-tropical and tropical. It depends on the location of the islands, especially those that are located near the tradewinds blowing towards the Eastern Caribbean Islands heading north up the Windward chain. These tradewinds are often overtaken by minor jet streams in the Caribbean when they arrive near the island of Cuba. Hurricanes that occasionally affect the Caribbean region tend to strike north of Grenada or west of Barbados. The main hurricane belt extends northwest from the island of Barbados, in the Eastern Caribbean. The peak of the hurricane season is September and October, even though the official season runs from June to November. You should check the policies of yacht charter companies regarding hurricanes. The prevailing winds are 15 to 20 knots in the winter months of November through January. The famous “Christmas Winds”, which blow 25-30 knots on and off throughout the winter, can be experienced for a few days. From February to June, winds will move from northeast to southeast. Expect 10 to 15 knots. The Caribbean rainy season is from late summer to autumn. Rain squalls are possible at any time, but they tend to be short-lived. The average high temperature ranges from 85deg-90deg, with the highest temperatures occurring in July and October. Average low temperatures are 10deg lower.
Geographically, the Caribbean is a diverse region. Some islands have relatively flat terrains of volcanic origin. Aruba, Barbados or Bonaire are some of the islands that have flat terrain. Other islands have rugged mountain ranges such as Antigua and the British Virgin Islands. In the Caribbean Sea, you can find large schools of fish and turtles.
Antigua and Barbuda is located roughly 17 degrees north from the equator, in the middle of Leeward Islands. Both islands are part the Lesser Antilles Archipelago. Antigua Barbuda is a popular yacht charter destination because of the reliable trade winds that blow from December to May. Scuba diving and snorkelling are made even better by the coral reefs and abundance of marine life. Antigua is served by an international airport with flights daily from cities around the globe. Although the East Caribbean Dollar is the official currency, US Dollars and euros are also accepted. Major credit cards can be used in some hotels, restaurants, and shops. The islands are dominated by Creole cuisine. Antigua’s national dish is pepper pot and fungie. Fungie, a cornmeal-based dish that is similar to Italian polenta, is the national dish of Antigua. Ducana, seasoned risotto, lobster and saltfish from Barbuda are also local dishes. Local confectioneries include: fudge and peanut brittle. There is a wide range of international cuisine.