Eastern Caribbean - Background and Travel Essentials

Most people think of the Caribbean as a playground for the rich - luxury resorts, cocktails on the beach, glamorous yachts - and it is, but if you take a dive under the surface you'll find there's a lot more going on besides.

The Eastern Caribbean is made up of a 600-mile long sweep of islands known as the Lesser Antilles. Collectively, they're a mixture of African, European and East Indian influences and it's possible to island hop between the cultural extremes. It's a mecca for diving, tropical hikes with steamy craters and epic waterfalls and rich in colonial history. The area is home to many thriving and vibrant cities. It has been shaped by centuries of history and is the birthplace of numerous powerful and distinct cultures, languages and music.

Cash

There are five official currencies in the Eastern Caribbean, all with their own exchange rates, which can make things pretty confusing for island-hoppers. Luckily, though, the US dollar can also be used on virtually all of the islands just as easily, so this is certainly the preferable currency to have with you. Approximate conversion as of 2002:

UK £1 = $1.5
EURO 1 = $0.87

Check with your local exchange bureau for up to date conversions.

People

Nearly three million people reside in the Eastern Caribbean, a third of whom live on the island of Trinidad. The majority of these people are of African ancestry, descendants of the slaves who were brought in to work on the sugar plantations. The native Caribs were almost completely wiped out by the colonists, though around three thousand still live on the island of Dominica.

Language

English is the primary language to be spoken on all of the islands except for the French West Indies; Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Barts and the French side of St Martin, where French is the main language to be used. Most locals speak either French Creole or patois.

Climate

The Eastern Caribbean lies in the tropics and consequently the temperature hardly varies all year round. It is hot and humid most of the time, although sea breezes from the east temper the humidity between January and April, making this the peak time to visit. The rainiest time is May to November.

Health

The Eastern Caribbean is, in general, a healthy place. Difficulties you are most likely to come across health-wise are heat related if you are coming from a colder place, so a few days of restful acclimatisation could be advisable, as well as decent protection from the sun.