THE GRENADINES
GRENADA
Also known as “the spices island”, Grenada is a volcanic and lush island that hosts rainforests from which rivers and waterfalls gush out: an ideal choice to get away from the worldliness of mass Caribbean tourism. If inland it contains an authentic eden – with the rich vegetation of the Grand Etang National Park and the spectacular trails leading up to the Concorde waterfalls – Grenada’s true strength lies in the coastal beauty: secluded bays and beaches still untouched, wrapped in coral reefs and shoals of colorful fish. Grand Anse beach is one of the main bathing haunts of the island, not far from the picturesque bay of St. George’s and its colorful colonial style houses. Sandy Island, Mourne Beach and the beach of Lance aux Epines are the bathing spots not to be missed during coastal sailing, as well as the Seven Sisters Falls, a natural spectacle reserved to those visitors wishing to explore the enchanting inner heart of the island.
TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO
Immersed in the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles, just off Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago are two twin islands united by white beaches, crystalline waters and breathtaking seabeds, two sides of the same coin able to encompass all the Caribbean charm: more party and worldly the first – full of bars and famous for hosting the most explosive carnival of the Caribbean – more reserved and relaxing the second. Little Tobago, with its rainforest and the varied fauna that lives there, has been awarded with the title of “best ecological destination in the world”: it is the favorite island for those who love pristine beaches, diving between coral reefs and underwater caves (Bucoo Reef and Speyside the sites most frequented by divers). There are plenty of opportunities for trekking, with the majestic Queen’s Park Savanah and the fortresses dating back to colonial dominations: Fort St. Andrés and Fort Chacon the most important. Pidgeon’s Point, Englishman Bay and Castara Bay are just some of the many beaches to visit to bring back home memories of unforgettable baths.
SAINT VINCENT AND GRENADINE
The state-archipelago of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, able to offer – thanks to its 32 islands – enormous variety, on land as in navigation. Thanks to constant but gentle winds, a mainly calm sea and the short distances that separate one island from the other, it is the ideal destination for lovers of catamaran tourism, but also for couples and families who love the lush nature of the forests and of the volcanoes of Saint Vincent and Saint Lucia, to the nightlife and folklore of the most mundane islands, to the palms and thin sand of the southernmost ones. Only ten of the more than thirty islands are inhabited: if St. Vincent is the main one, Bequia is the island elected by VIPs, and not only for its intense nightlife and social life, as well as Mustique. Do not miss Tobago Cays, a mini-archipelago of five islets elected protected nature reserve, but also the islands of Mayreau, Union Island and Palm Island, without forgetting the fantastic backdrops that characterize the whole area: among coral reefs, multicolored sponges and a rich underwater fauna, St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains one of the main destinations in the world for snorkelers.
