There are so many places to see in the Caribbean Islands. Your choice of popular tourist destinations is almost unlimited as many countries in the Caribbean and in the area surrounding the Sea offer a lot for visitors. In the past this area was known as the West Indies and was colonized by the English, Dutch, French, Germans, Spanish, Portuguese and other European nations starting from the 14th century onwards. The area also has a native indigenous population that has been there for thousands of years as well as an African population that were brought there during the era of slave trading. For these historical reasons, the Caribbean Islands are largely multicultural and multi-ethnic. They comprise about 7000 islands, islets, reefs and cays and are considered a sub-region of North America. The name of the region comes from the local indigenous population called the Carib, who were dominant in the area at the time of European contact and settlement.
Trying to list all of the places to see in the Caribbean Islands would be a futile exercise, so the best approach is to present some of the more popular and famous islands. This article will look at two very popular summer tourist destinations - Aruba and Barbados.
Aruba
Aruba is a tiny 33 km long island located in the southern Caribbean Sea and is today still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The first thing a tourist needs to know that to get into Aruba you need to have a valid Dutch visa or permission to enter the European Union. The tiny island is home to some 100,000 people and is very popular as a tourist destination in the summer because it is out of the hurricane area.
Some of the places to see in the Caribbean Islands in Aruba are Arikok National Park (taking up 18% of the island including a lava formation and other geological anomalies, as well as some unique snakes and birds), Eagle Beach (famous for its low-rise resorts and very wide public beach, including soft white sand), Palm Island (a small private island which is a popular tourist destination a short 5 minute ferry ride from the mainland; the island has a Water Park and is a fantastic scuba diving place) and finally the world famous Tierra del Sol Golf Club (which has villas, a spa, a fitness center and an 18 hole golf course).
Barbados
Barbados is almost as tiny as Aruba at just 34 km in length. It is located in the western area of the North Atlantic Ocean and is also outside the Atlantic hurricane belt, which makes it a popular summer destination. The European history of Barbados goes back to its status as part of Portugal, but eventually it became a British colony. Today it has a population of about 275,000 people. In 1966 Barbados became an independent nation but remained part of the Commonwealth. Barbados is the most developed. In fact, it is one of the most developed nations in the world.
Barbados has many stunning buildings to see that date from various periods of time going as far back as the Dutch and British colonization efforts. Churches, museums, universities in many different styles intermingle with beaches, resorts, spas and villas to provide a beautiful setting for tourists of all different tastes.
Matt loves the warm weather and beaches of the Caribbean and has put together many Caribbean travel tips for you as well as tips for traveling to Curacao, his favorite country.
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