Montserrat Volcano Observatory

Montserrat

　　Scientists at the MVO keep track of the volcano’s every belch and hiccup. At the interpretation center, an 18-minute documentary by local filmmaker David Lea includes riveting live footage of the eruptions and insight into the physical and social upheaval they caused. The terrace offers sweeping views of the volcano....

Rendezvous Bay

Montserrat

　　Montserrat’s only white sandy beach is a lovely (though totally facility-free) crescent perfect for swimming, snorkeling and diving. It can only be accessed via a steep 0.7-mile trail from Little Bay. Alternatively, get there by kayak, a far more pleasant adventure. Rentals are available in Little Bay. 　　If you're hiking,...

Hilltop Coffee House & Family Center

Montserrat

　　A must-see on any Montserrat visit, this nonprofit cafe founded by filmmaker David Lea and his wife Clover does multi-duty as museum, art gallery, community center and de facto tourist office. Have a juice or cuppa on the veranda, then time travel through Montserrat milestones by watching David's acclaimed documentary...

Jewish Cemetery

Sint Eustatius

　　Only a couple of dozen gravestones are all that's left of Oranjestad's Jewish cemetery, used by the local congregation between 1739 and 1824. Some are almost well-preserved, including that of cantor Jacob Robles. 　　It was here that some Jews tried to avoid British plundering. Troops noticed an extremely large number...

Miriam C Schmidt Botanical Gardens

Sint Eustatius

　　On the lower eastern slopes of the Quill, these botanical gardens have suffered from hurricane damage, drought and roaming animals, and are in the process of being restored. Since the road leading to the grounds is often impassable even with a 4WD, it's best to approach on foot. The Bird...

Government Guesthouse

Sint Eustatius

　　This handsome 18th-century stone-and-wood building was thoroughly renovated in 1992 with funding from the EU. It's now the government headquarters, with the offices of the lieutenant governor and commissioners on the ground floor and the courtroom on the upper floor. The building, which once served as the Dutch naval commander’s...

Fort de Windt

Sint Eustatius

　　Pose with two patina-covered cannon while enjoying sweeping views of St Kitts from this clifftop fort, some 5km southeast of Lower Town at the foot of the Quill volcano. The stone structure was completed in 1756 and used to monitor shipping routes to St Kitts until it was abandoned in...

Zeelandia Bay

Sint Eustatius

　　Some 3km north of the airport, Zeelandia Bay takes its name from Statia’s first Dutch settlers, who hailed from Zeeland province in the Netherlands. Swimming is prohibited because of dangerous currents and undertows, but the sandy beach is a tranquil strip for walks. 　　The beach is also the island's main...

Synagogue Ruins

Sint Eustatius

　　Tucked into an alleyway in Upper Town are the roofless ruins of the Honen Dalim synagogue, built in 1739 from yellow brick brought in from the Netherlands as ships' ballast. For nearly 100 years, this house of worship was the center of Jewish life on Statia. Off to the side,...

Sint Eustatius Museum

Sint Eustatius

　　Set inside an 18th-century mansion built by wealthy merchant Simon Doncker, this modest if eclectic museum chronicles island history with exhibits on colonial trade and slavery, Statia's Jewish community and the famous 'First Salute' to the US. Upstairs period rooms illustrate the lifestyle of rich colonialists like Doncker, while the...

Fort Oranje

Sint Eustatius

　　Soak up history and sweeping views from this extensively restored fort, a mighty citadel complete with cannon, triple bastions and cobblestone parade grounds. The current stone structure was built by the British in 1703, replacing the original wooden fort the French erected in 1629. It's the best preserved of the...

Dutch Museum

Saba

　　Inside a classic Saban gingerbread cottage, this teensy private museum and antique shop has a cluttered and eclectic assortment of Dutch tiles, lacework, porcelain, crystal, copper engravings, paintings, mirrors and furniture ranging from 150 to 400 years old. ...

Harry L Johnson Museum

Saba

　　Surrounded by a flowering garden, this pint-sized museum in a quaint 1840-built sea-captain's cottage is crammed with an eclectic collection. Highlights include vintage photographs of Dutch royalty, a 100-year-old organ harmonium and a dining table set with 19th-century Wedgwood china. A museum guide brings the stories behind the objects to...

Mary's Point

Saba

　　The far-flung village of Mary’s Point was once a 45-minute walk from even the next village. In 1934 the Dutch government decided to move every single villager and house to an area behind Windwardside known as the ‘Promised Land,’ thus lessening the isolation of being so far from any other...

Sacred Heart Church

Saba

　　Locals refer to this charming 1935-built stone Catholic church as ‘Saba’s Sistine Chapel’ thanks to Dutch-born local artist Heleen Cornet's colorful and stunningly detailed altar mural, which infuses biblical scenes with a Saban rainforest twist. 　　You can browse and buy Cornet's works at the Five Square Art Gallery in Windwardside....

Wells Bay

Saba

　　Backed by sheer cliffs, this rocky little bay has a small, coarse sand beach that comes and goes depending on the northerly swell – ask locally to find out when's best to visit. There's great snorkeling; rent gear from Sea Saba in Windwardside. It's about 2.5km from The Bottom. Consider...

Cove Bay

Saba

　　Behind a breakwater constructed from boulders to keep currents at bay, this little cove is one of the island's two ocean swimming spots, with excellent snorkeling in calm weather. It's sunniest in the morning; there's a small strip of coarse sand but no amenities. From the airport, it's a 150m...

Jobean Glass Art Studio

Saba

　　Local artist Jobean works out of her colorful studio up on Booby Hill. During a half-day glass workshop, you’re set up with a torch and an unlimited supply of thin glass shafts that you melt down into swirling balls or cylinders, before making beads of all shapes and sizes while...

Mt Scenery

Saba

　　A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1640, Mt Scenery (887m) is the pinnacle of pyramid-shaped Saba, and officially the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It's covered by elfin forest (cloud forest) with 200-year-old mountain mahogany trees smothered in orchids, bromeliads and other epiphytes. The Mt Scenery...

Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire

Bonaire

　　Ever feel like you're surrounded by jackasses? You will in Bonaire, because the animals live free and wild on the island. The vast Donkey Sanctuary offers safe haven for 700 of the gentle creatures, along with a few rescued flamingos and tortoises. Visitors can view newborn donkeys in the special-care...

Mangazina di Rei

Bonaire

　　Located about 1.5km east of Rincon, the second-oldest stone building on Bonaire used to be a storehouse. Every week, enslaved people made the arduous 10-hour journey from the salt pans in the south to this village in the north, to see their families and to get their provisions from the...

Echo Parrot Sanctuary

Bonaire

　　Bonaire's most beloved bird is the yellow-throated Amazon parrot, but the loquacious lora (as she is locally known) is threatened with extinction: there are fewer than a thousand birds living on the island. Learn about Echo's efforts to preserve the parrot's habitat, rehabilitate injured birds and save the lora. Located...

Cadushy Distillery

Bonaire

　　Drinking a cactus sounds like a prickly affair, but it's not as scary as it sounds. Pay a visit to this small-scale distillery to see how the prickly green plant is turned into the delicious 'Spirit of Bonaire' known as Cadushy. Sample it in the shady courtyard, surrounded by blooming...

Terramar Museum

Bonaire

　　This small museum provides an overview of the history and archaeology of Bonaire. There's an assortment of artifacts, accompanied by audio clips that put a voice to the historical narrative. In the front room, an impressive timeline and video demonstrate how peoples have moved around the Caribbean region over the...

Klein Bonaire

Bonaire

　　About 1km off the coast of Kralendijk, this little deserted island is where you'll find the region's most attractive beach: No Name Beach. There are no facilities, aside from the marked dive sites and a couple of shade structures. But this is a popular spot for cruisers and other beach...

Washington-Slagbaai National Park

Bonaire

　　Comprising almost 20% of the island's area, this vast desert landscape is a fantastic place to explore on foot, by bike or by car (preferably 4WD). Stop at the visitor center, at the entrance, to pick up a map and see exhibits on the park's ecology and history. From here,...

Bonaire National Marine Park

Bonaire

　　Bonaire National Marine Park is the island's star attraction, a unique and precious resource that allows divers and snorkelers to explore miles of pristine coral reef. The protected area covers the entire coast of the island, including Klein Bonaire, to a depth of 200ft (60m). Between the two islands there...

Klein Curaçao

Curaçao

　　Remember the one book/song/food/friend you would bring if you were going to be stuck on a desert island? That'll come in handy when you take a trip to this uninhabited island about 15 miles off the coast of Curaçao. Spend the day lounging on the sand, exploring the recently renovated...

Gallery Alma Blou

Curaçao

　　Housed in the 17th-century Landhuis Habaai plantation house, this cooperative gallery has the city's largest collection of works by Caribbean artists. The rotating exhibits usually feature one or two artists with local connections, but there's always a great variety of works on display, including whimsical sculptures in the courtyard and...

Queen Emma Bridge

Curaçao

　　Spanning Sint Annabaai, this local landmark is sometimes called Our Swinging Old Lady. It's a pontoon bridge that swings open to make way for oceangoing ships. When the bridge is open, two free public ferries shuttle passengers back and forth between Punta and Otrobanda. ...

Grote Knip

Curaçao

　　This West End beach is a stunner. In fact, you've probably seen it on the cover of a Curaçao tourist brochure: a perfect crescent of brilliant white sand, framed by azure waters and verdant hills. There are a few snack shacks and places to rent snorkel gear, but it's much...

Landhuis Bloemhof

Curaçao

　　As visitors wander the leafy grounds of this 1735 plantation home they encounter a range of things. An old car covered in mosaic tiles depicting sea creatures. Plants growing out of discarded toilets. A towering cathedral constructed of thorns. Essentially, this is the epicenter of the avant-garde in Curaçao, and...

Blue Room

Curaçao

　　Curaçao's most majestic natural wonder is a hidden cave on its western shore, accessible only via the ocean. The prime attraction of the cave is its electric-blue color, created by sunlight refracting off the water's surface, and the hauntingly beautiful scene inside includes small schools of fish and the occasional...

Museum Kura Hulanda

Curaçao

　　Located in a 19th-century merchant's house and slave quarters, this excellent museum documents the brutal history of slavery in the New World, including the slave trade, the culture of enslaved people, and abolition. There's also a fantastic collection of art and artifacts from West Africa – including a cool sculpture...

Christoffel National Park

Curaçao

　　This 1800-hectare preserve is formed from three old plantations, including the Savonet Plantation, which is now the excellent Savonet Museum; combination ticket available. The park has two driving routes and eight hiking trails, which provide a variety of perspectives on the island's landscape, flora and fauna. It takes two to...

Plage de Lorient

St-Barthélemy

　　With calm waters at its eastern end and gentle surf at the western end, this coral-reef-cradled curve of golden sand is one of St-Barth's most family-friendly beaches. The reef is ideal for snorkeling amid friendly barracuda, sea turtles and rays. The nearest place to rent surfboards and snorkeling gear is...

Plage de St Jean

St-Barthélemy

　　St Jean's beach is separated by the Eden Rock hotel. The western section is a fairly narrow strip right below the tiny airport, making it a favorite among plane-spotters. This is also the more active side, good for windsurfing and other sea-toy-based pursuits. Swimmers and snorkelers, meanwhile, gravitate to the...

Shell Beach

St-Barthélemy

　　In case you're tired of getting powdery-white sand everywhere, take the five-minute saunter from the harbor to this midsize beach awash with tiny crunched seashells. Although the water gets deep quickly, it's generally calm, making it ideal for swimmers and snorkelers (bring your own gear). Daredevils can jump off nearby...

Plage des Flamands

St-Barthélemy

　　The widest beach on the island, Flamands' clear waters seduce beachgoers and surfers when the swell's up. Most of its shadeless sweep is backed by private houses along with a couple of hotels toward the eastern end with bars, sun loungers and umbrellas for paying customers. While much of the...

Plage de Grand Cul-de-Sac

St-Barthélemy

　　Count the shades of blue and turquoise while chilling on the gleaming sands of this dreamy lagoon, where you can wade through knee- or thigh-deep water pretty much all the way to a protective reef (snorkeling spot!), making it an ideal spot for families with small children. Sea-turtle sightings are...

Plage de Saline

St-Barthélemy

　　Secluded Plage de Saline is the most photogenic and serene of all St-Barth's beaches. Bookended by rocky hillside, this sweep of golden sand is ideal for working on your tan and frolicking in the crashing surf, but be aware that there's neither shade nor facilities. From the car park, it's...

Plage de Gouverneur

St-Barthélemy

　　Cradled by high cliffs and untouched nature, Gouverneur is a gorgeous, broad, secluded sandy beach fringing a U-shaped bay. It’s splendid for sunbathing and for picnics. The lack of visitors – even in high season – means beachgoers often sunbathe au naturel. It's at the end of a steep road...

Plage de Colombier

St-Barthélemy

　　This is the tropical paradise you've daydreamed about: a dazzling, secluded white-sand carpet lapped by turquoise waters and backed by undulating hills. The bay is ideal for swimming and snorkeling around the coral reef on the northeast side of the beach, but can only be reached by boat or on...

Fontein Cave

Aruba

　　Though this limestone cave is extensive, only the entrance hall is open to visitors. Aside from stalactites, stalagmites and other impressive rock formations, the cave contains well-preserved drawings by Caquetío people (a branch of the Arawak) that date back about 1000 years. Park rangers are on-site to provide a short...

Palm Beach

Aruba

　　A classic white-sand beauty – but only for those who enjoy the company of lots of people, as it fronts the high-rise resorts. During high season the sands can get jammed, but for some that’s part of the scene. ...