Posts belonging to Category 'Caribbean'

Playa del Carmen

Are you looking for some cheap Caribbean holidays? How about Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. Located in the Centre of the Riviera Maya Playa del Carmen is a small fishing village; only 52 km from Cancun, and a similar distance from the archaeological area of Tulum. A romantic place with a very European way of life, people come to this site to enjoy and relax. The beaches, sand, Palm trees and the fresh sea breeze make this place unique in the region.

Playa, as known by its inhabitants and tourists, has been developed through multiple investments that in just few years have stimulated its growth. This is a place privileged by the tranquility and simplicity. Few minutes from Cozumel, Playa has become one of the most important and sophisticated of the Riviera Maya tourist attraction.

Since 1967 Playa del Carmen has evolved to become a cosmopolitan Harbor. Most residents of Playa del Carmen are natives of the region; however, a large part of the population is made of immigrants, both Mexico and other countries. Among them are some artists such as painters, musicians, dancers and actors.

The folklore of Playa del Carmen does not end there. Often appear different groups of “entertainers”. Everywhere you can listen to the typical songs by duos or trios; or the sound of a marimba and a group of guapangueros that usually come from the Mexican State of Veracruz.

Fifth Avenue is the meeting point of this multicultural and cosmopolitan Caribbean city. It is adorned by craft stores and exclusive beach cloth retailers. As for restaurants, you will be spoilt for choice with an offer of Mexican, Maya-Yucateca, French, Italian, Alemena or Asian cuisine.

Beach nights are the most vibrant, lively and intense in the Riviera Maya, combine the temperament and energy of people around the world, creating a unique multi-ethnic environment.

Looking to find the best deal on Cheap all inclusive holidays, then visit www.cheap-allinclusiveholidays.com to find the best advice on cheap Caribbean holidays for you.

Cheap St Lucia Holidays

Are you looking for some cheap Caribbean holidays? Please allow me to recommend you St Lucia. The legendary beauty of Saint Lucia provides the perfect backdrop for adventure: mountains to climb, forests to explore, an underwater world to discover.

Type of weather

As is the case with many Caribbean islands, St. Lucia’s visitors should expect hot and humid weather conditions year round due to the island’s proximity to the equator. Fortunately, visitors will rarely feel uncomfortable as mild trade winds bring cool breezes off the water that offer some respite from the heat.

What to Do

Spend a day at a spa and be pampered to your hearts content, go on wild St Lucia excursions, take scenic tours around the Island. Who cares what you do as long as you have fun and enjoying every bit of your holiday. You can find a number of places in St Lucia that offers horseback riding. St Lucia scuba diving is definitely the best in the Caribbean and has some of the best diving sites in the world.

Where to stay

St Lucia has an impressive depth of accommodation, which ranges from large hotels through to small and friendly places to stay that are ideal for independent travellers. The accommodation is concentrated in the north of the island, in the tourist heartland that radiates north and south around Rodney Bay. This is where the best beaches are and in addition to the busy resorts you will also find guest houses and a large number of villas.

Nightlife

At Rodney Bay, The Lime and The A Pub are popular hangouts. The Indies Night Club, located next to the Bay Gardens Hotel and Julian’s Supermarket, and Le Chalet, near the Rodney Bay Marina are usually the hot spots. Back Door Indies is also good for a mix of Caribbean and international music. Ask about the daily drink specials – it’s definitely worth it.

safety

Even as a tropical paradise island, St. Lucia is no exception. You need to be vigilant and exercise the same amount of caution for your personal safety as you would do anywhere. Please do not put yourself in any unnecessary risks.

Looking to find the best deal on Cheap all inclusive holidays, then visit www.cheap-allinclusiveholidays.com to find the best advice on cheap Caribbean holidays for you.

The History of the Taino

When Christopher Columbus arrived at the island of Hispaniola, there were five Taino territories. Each community had its own chieftain to which everyone declared their fealty for. The island of Hispaniola is what we now know as that which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, thus the island that is now Cuba lies directly northwest. Just off the eastern most point of Hispaniola is another island nation, Puerto Rico. Plus of course there is Jamaica towards the west off the coast of Haiti. All of these regions were the home of the Tainos.

There are three schools of thought on the origin of the Tainos, although none have been undeniably proven. The first theory suggests the first Tainos arose out of the Amazon Basin, an area that covers what is now Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia. This belief is supported by tracing ancestry and language origins. The second theory of the origin of the Tainos states that ancestors came from the Colombian Andes, a smaller region extending from the northern most tip of Colombia and stretching down to the border of Ecuador. Additionally, the Taino culture is steeped in the belief that they were born of caves in a sacred mountain on the island of Hispaniola.

All three theories have their own level of documentation, whether it be in ancient stories passed down through hundreds of generations or archeological evidence. For example, there are solid indications the Tainos were always at odds with the Carib tribes living amid the Caribbean Islands and South America. Could the rivalry have originated along the northern coasts of South America, where the Carib came from?

At the time of Columbus’ arrival there were at least 3000 Tainos at each population center; clearly they preferred to inhabit metropolis size locations. Perhaps the thought was safety in numbers against attacks by the Carib, or the large numbers of citizens may have been a result of social norms. Polygamy was practiced among the Tainos, by both men and women. In fact the Tainos lived in a matrilineal society, that which lineage is traced through the maternal side.

After the arrival of the Spanish, the Tainos (as well as other indigenous peoples) fell victim to disease, forced assimilation, slavery and complications resulting from intermarriage. Within 30 years of the Spanish arrival, 80% of the Tainos people were dead. Today there are many people who claim to have Tainos ancestry, despite historical claims of their extinction. In the next article of this series we will explore the Tainos of the present and the impact their culture has had on the modern world.

BookIt.com is an online travel company determined and dedicated to becoming the leader in providing travelers with the most intuitive online booking experience full of relevant information, helpful guides and travel tips. Find great deals on dominican republic hotels at BookIt.com!

Puerto Rico vacations

Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean that is easy to get to and easy to explore. Just 110 miles wide by 40 miles high miles, Puerto Rico is straightforward to get around by car and since it is in the US Commonwealth, American citizens do not need a passport and do not have to change currency either – they use the US dollar!

There are several flights from the US mainland and the key airport, found in the major city of San Juan, is the Caribbean’s largest air heart and so if you're travelling elsewhere you're likely to go through San Juan anyway.

Of course many of us travel there in the winter to enjoy some sunshine and the peak months for tourism are in Jan and February, which actually are Puerto Rico’s coolest months. Still, the sea is warm and the beaches golden. And if you like water-based sports of all types the island is ideal to participate or learn a new ability.

Scuba divers will love the coral reefs, full of bright exotic fish and there are many dive operators dotted all around the coast. You'll find a dive center thru PADI, or you hotel could be able to advise concerning how to get in contact.

Puerto Rico’s economy was based primarily on the production of sugar and coffee and so if you're a coffee lover you must love Puerto Rico. One of the brands, Alto Grande, is respected around the planet and has the slogan “the coffee of Popes and Kings”!

The food is reasonably distinct and not to everybody's taste, but you need to truly give it a try. Mofongo consists of plaintains that've been fried, mashed and cooked again with garlic and pork crackling and served meat. In truth the cuisine comes from the Taino and Arawak Indians that originally live there, with influences from Spain, Africa and the U. S. , so it’s quite a mixture.

For more infomation on Puerto Rico vacations, including Puerto Rico’s all inclusive resorts, see Simply Puerto Rico Vacations.

sitemap privacy disclaimer car vehicles buy to let mortgages