Western Caribbean

A kaleidoscope of delicious flavours awaits in the Western Caribbean, with fresh seafood, tasty curries and hearty stews among the traditional culinary delights you’ll discover. African, Cajun and European influences play a big part in ensuring the region’s fare is guaranteed to tantalise your taste buds.

Classic dishes include jerk chicken, rice and peas served with chicken and mofongo which features fried plantains, pork and garlic. Roti are flavoursome pancakes filled with curry stew or chickpea curry, while pepperpot stew is a scrumptious favourite comprising okra, aubergine, potatoes and squash which are cooked to perfection with meat with dumplings.

 Popular desserts in the Western Mediterranean include cornmeal pudding, bread pudding and rum cake, while healthy fresh fruits include papaya, guava and mango. The Caribbean’s famous rum is certainly worth sampling and other popular beverages include Pina Colada, Cuba Libre and Daiquiri.

An appealing tropical climate, which ensures sunshine throughout the year, makes the Western Caribbean a great choice for a fun-packed cruise holiday. Temperatures range throughout the year between an average high of 30°C and 21°C, with extreme highs or rainfall during the rainy season and lows during the dry season. July and August are hot and sunny months, when the mercury can rise to around 32°C.
The festival season in spring is a busy time with a real carnival atmosphere, while the months of May and June also experience pleasant sunny conditions and offer the chance to avoid the crowds. Regular sea breezes have the welcome effect of preventing the region from getting unbearably hot. All-year-round sunshine in the Western Caribbean means November and December are also an excellent time to visit, with plenty of space on the beaches for sunbathing and great deals available with the cruise companies. The wet season runs from May to October, while the dry season, from November to April, is cooler, with lower humidity and less rain.      

It’s fun, relaxation and entertainment all the way in the sun-drenched Western Caribbean. Snorkel beneath the waves to explore shipwrecks or coral reefs alive with colourful tropical fish, put your boots on to hike through jungles and mountain ranges or gaze in awe at a myriad of magical ancient landmarks in enthralling cities and coastal towns.
 Among the fabulous attractions which await are The Crystal Caves and Lamanai Ruins in Belize, the Seven Mile Beach and Starfish Point in Grand Cayman, and Bacalar Lagoon and the spectacular Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Costa Maya. A superb family attraction is Stingray City in Grand Cayman where you’ll get the chance to swim with these graceful marine creatures, while Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica is the place where you can actually climb a waterfall. Roatan is a magical Caribbean island with awe-inspiring coral gardens and shipwrecks to explore, while Cozumel is a spellbinding island destination where you can enjoy a myriad of activities including swimming with dolphins and sea trekking, where specialist gear lets you walk on the sea floor. You’ll also discover an abundance of superb sandy expanses including Passion Island Beach in Cozumel, Mahahual Beach in Costa Maya, SunRay Beach in Grand Turk and Turtle Beach in Jamaica.  Popular outdoor pursuits in the Western Caribbean include scuba diving, jet skiing, hiking, windsurfing, jeep safaris, island hopping, ziplining, canyoning and mountain biking.