Containing more than 7000 islands, islets, reefs and cays, the Caribbean region is a place of diversity, full of historical meanings when it comes to slavery, European colonization and plantation systems. Formerly called the West Indies because Columbus believed he had reached the Indies of Asia in 1492, the present sub region of North America carries the name of an ethnical group living in the Lesser Antilles (South East part). With its famous blue waters and abundant marine life, the Caribbean contains 8% of the world’s coral reefs with more than 70 identified species.
Discover a mix of culture in islands which at some point were all colonies of European nations. Taste the different flavors of the Caribbean cuisine, a fusion of African, Amerindian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch, Indian and Chinese. Learn the history behind cities like Santo Domingo, the largest city in the Dominican Republic and the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. Visit the so called “Key to the New World”, Havana, capital city of Cuba. Climb the Blue Mountains of Jamaica or reveal the mystery of the Hato Caves in Curacao. Go diving, snorkeling to admire the undersea magic of the coral reefs, the seagrass meadows, migratory fish or turtles.
The Caribbean is diversity hotspot when it comes to history, culture, as well as marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
