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10 Caribbean Islands You Might Have Missed

Dominica: Beyond the Beach

Not to be confused with the much larger Dominican Republic, Dominica (dough-min-EE-ka) is one of the least developed islands in the Caribbean and is a favorite with ecotourists. Waterfalls, natural springs, and lush forest invite exploration while birders are challenged by 160 species that call this island home. At the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, you’ll explore mist-covered peaks then cool down in a crater lake or in the waterfall-fed Emerald Pool—just steer clear of Boiling Lake, heated by volcanic gases. If that's not enough, Dominica has plenty of cultural opportunities as home of descendants of the Caribbean's indigenous residents: the Caribs.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Sailor’s Delight

Natural beauty abounds on St. Vincent and visitors enjoy a laid-back attitude as they tour the island’s rural landscapes. Breadfruit trees descended from seedlings brought from the South Pacific by Captain Bligh of the H.M.S. Bounty thrive in the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens. Life here has a dedicated following among sailors. Thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean movie filmed here, St. Vincent is slowly being discovered by other visitors as well. South of St. Vincent, the Grenadines remain below the tourist radar, treasured for their privacy and simplicity. Bequia (beck-way) is a popular spot for yachties while the rich and famous make their home away from home in Mustique (keep an eye out for Mick Jagger.).

Martinique: Under the Tricolor

This island rings with Gallic romance, a touch of France in the Caribbean. Visit the birthplace of Empress Josephine, now a museum that includes love letters written by Napoleon (with English translations). Art lovers enjoy a tour of the Paul Gauguin Museum, located in Anse Turin. And witness the forces of nature at the Volcano Museum, built in memory of the 1902 eruption of Mt. Pelee. The museum includes relics of the blast such as misshapen glassware and distorted clocks melted by the heat and frozen at the hour of the eruption when St. Pierre, a city that was once known as “the Paris of the Antilles,” was destroyed.

Grenada: The Spice Island

With a nickname like “the spice island,” it’s assured that a cruise with a stop in Grenada will be anything but bland. The nation of Grenada is actually three islands: Carriacou, Petit Martinique, and Grenada, the most visited and home to markets featuring the island’s bounty. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, clove, cocoa and others make this the largest spice producer in the Western Hemisphere. Visitors find plenty of zest in the island’s other attractions as well, from its 45 beaches to its beautiful waterfalls to its rainforest hikes beneath a canopy of birds, monkeys, and exotic vegetation.

St. Lucia: Mountain Majesty

The two symbols of St. Lucia — Gros Piton and Petit Piton — make it easy to see why this island earned the moniker “the Helen of the West Indies.” These twin mountains that soar from the sea are just one draw on this lush island, a veritable forest of banana trees. Nature lovers find plenty of fun with excursions to the rain forest, home of the rare St. Lucian parrot, and tours of the Sulphur Spring volcano, known as the world’s only “drive-through” volcano. Nearby, the Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens bloom with tropical splendor including a cascade that creates a spray of “diamond” twinkles in the air. Travelers can also take a soak in the mineral baths originally funded by French King Louis XVI, when the ruler had the baths constructed for use by his troops.