Caribbean

SECURITY

Faced with the risk of snatch theft, it is important to respect basic safety rules, and in particular to avoid outward signs of wealth. Extra care should be taken at ATMs, in certain parts of the islands and during celebrations. Avoid beaches at night, and finding yourself alone - day or night - in isolated places. Also avoid going alone on hiking trails.

HAS
BEFORE YOU LEAVE

know

The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that includes the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American continent, east of Central America, and north of South America.

GEOGRAPHY

Located largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises over 700 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. Island arcs demarcate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea: the Greater Antilles to the north and the Lesser Antilles to the south and east (which include the Leeward Islands). They form the Antilles with the neighboring Lucayan Archipelago (the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands), which are sometimes considered part of the Caribbean although they do not border the Caribbean Sea. On the mainland, Belize, Nicaragua, the Caribbean region of Colombia, Cozumel, the Yucatán Peninsula, Margarita Island, and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, the Guayana region of Venezuela, and Amapá in Brazil) are often included because of their political and cultural ties to the region.

HEALTH

In the Caribbean, the quality of drinking water varies from one location to another, in general prefer to drink bottled water and make sure that the bottle is well sealed. When ordering drinks, do not take ice cubes.

Some vaccinations such as rabies, typhoid, hepatitis B and hepatitis A are recommended, so consult a vaccination center before your departure.

DESTINATIONS

COSTA RICA

CUBA

MEXICO

MAP

MY BEST MEMORY

LANGUAGES SPOKEN

English is the most commonly spoken first or second language in most Caribbean destinations and is also the unofficial “language of tourism.” However, you will often find that your travels will be more enriching if you can speak with locals in their native language: often Spanish, French, Dutch or the local Creole.

Caribbean

FOR

BEST

SEASON

to visit

The climate in the Caribbean is insular and tropical. The outside temperature is on average 27 °C throughout the year, and it varies very little. The trade winds , which are winds coming from the east, allow the regulation of the temperature, especially at night, when the temperature can sometimes drop to 20 °C.

In general, the most pleasant months to travel to the Caribbean are from December to May: this is the "dry season". During this period, the Caribbean countries enjoy wonderful weather, with temperatures around 25 degrees; the sun is not too aggressive despite its presence throughout the day.

Then, from June to November, it is the "wet season"; the rains would occupy more the postcards of the heavenly beaches while being accompanied by strong heat. It is also the season of hurricanes which occur most often in August and September and mainly in the northern islands. By traveling at this time, it is therefore possible that a hurricane occurs but violent cyclones are not usual and hurricane warnings are transmitted with enough advance notice to allow you to prepare for them. It is therefore quite possible to enjoy the trip on these dates! It is also a good option for a more economical trip to the Caribbean, since it is the low tourist season.

An important recommendation to take into account when traveling to the Caribbean is to avoid the sun in the middle of the day, as it shines intensely without seeming to and the risk of burning increases.