16/07/2024
When you hear the name of the Caribbean region, you immediately think of sunshine, crystal clear sea and palm trees. However, the region offers much more than stunning beaches. The Caribbean islands await visitors with a rich history, diverse culture and unique attractions.
The palm trees stretching over the white sandy beaches, which have become the symbol of the Caribbean Islands. The year-round pleasant summer heat and fresh sea air began to lure guests to the then still very underdeveloped region at the end of the 1700s.
The first hotel opened in Nevis in 1778 and hosted wealthy Americans seeking healing and a pleasant sea climate. In the 60s, flights also started, so the real boom arrived on the islands at that time.
A tourist paradise in Mayan land, at the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, created by the Mexican government in 1970 to boost tourism. Cancún means snake's nest in the Mayan language. Mexicans are the descendants of the Aztec and Mayan people who lived here, as well as the Spaniards who migrated from Europe.
130 km from Cancun lies Tulum, the only Mayan ruin city on the Caribbean Sea. In the ruined city, we can admire not only the Mayan culture, but also the iguanas living among the ruins.
We can also visit the city of Coba, which may have been built between 300 and 900 in the middle of the jungle. Here is the highest pyramid-like temple on the Yucatan Peninsula, where climbing 120 steps opens up a view of the endless jungle.
In 2009, an underwater art museum unique in the world was opened, and from its name you must have realized what makes it one of the most unique museums in the world: all the sculptures are located underwater. The sculptures were attached to the seabed, and moreover, they were made of a special material that promotes the life of corals. The museum is also an integral part of the reef.
The nearly 23,000-square-kilometer area of Belize, which is mostly covered with tropical forests and is located on the west coast of the Caribbean Sea, was considered one of the centers of the Mayan civilization for many centuries. One of the largest Mayan settlements, Caracol, which was home to 140,000 people in its heyday, was located in the territory of Belize, but the jungles hide the ruins of many smaller cities.
Belmopan was made the capital of Belize after the devastation of Hurricane Hattie, but failed to breathe life into it. At the time of its foundation, it was the smallest capital city in the world, but today it is still on the TOP10 list.
However, Belize City still has some notable buildings from the colonial era, including St. John's Cathedral and the Baron Bliss Lighthouse
Roatan - island is located near the northern coast of Honduras, close to the Belize Barrier Reef, which is the second largest coral reef in the world. Roatan is the largest island of the island chain, 60 km long and 8 km wide. Roatan Island is simply hard to put into words, it's like a huge aquarium, but it's out in the middle of the ocean, far away from everything, and you can see the most beautiful fish and corals.
However, on the pristine island surrounded by beautiful palm trees and a white sandy beach, you can not only relax, but also follow the pirates, as the island played a very important role in their history in the 17th century, as it was designated as the headquarters of the famous pirate Henry Morgan.
The former Spanish colony gained its independence in the 19th century. Most of its territory is dominated by the volcanic chains of the Coordilleras. The locals like to call their country "pais de lagos y volcanes", meaning the country of lakes and volcanoes. Nicaragua actually attracts tourists more with its natural beauty than major cultural attractions.
Main attractions: Grandaa, Lake Nicaragua with its many small islands, the largest freshwater lake in Central America, Masaya volcano, Somoto canyon, Apoyo lagoon (a volcanic crater), the ruins of Léon Viejo are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Costa Rica is one of the most visited countries in Central America. The country covers an entire part of Central America and stretches from the aquamarine lagoons of the Caribbean Sea to the foaming waves of the Pacific Ocean. You can find everything from volcanoes rising out of the clouds, to heights that cross the clouds, to ancient rainforests inhabited by howler monkeys and golden frogs.
Perhaps Limon's most thriving area is Tortuguero National Park in the northern part of the province, a vast protected area and primary green turtle nesting site on America's Atlantic coast.
The province of Limon has a unique culture in Costa Rica, a way of life that can be appreciated in all its glory at the carnivals they organize every year, a euphoric and captivating experience of rhythms and colors.
Columbia, the legendary country of South America, in addition to its rich history, preserves the memories of pre-Columbian cultures and a multitude of ancient traditions. In addition to adventurers, it is also targeted by many tourists, as the diversity of the golden city is unparalleled. Today, it is the 3rd largest coffee exporting country in the world. It's a beautiful country, yet little is known about it. Most people associate Colombia with the drug trade and the name of drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Columbia was named after the legendary Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Its capital is Bogota, the third highest city in the world.
One of the most successful entertainers in the world, Shakira is from Columbia. He spent most of his childhood in Barranquilla.
The truth is that there is not much to see in Barranquilla. It's a huge city, with almost 2 million inhabitants, and yet nothing to see. Regardless, the city is not a bad place. The streets have a pleasant atmosphere, the city comes alive in the evenings and the streets are filled with people talking, soccer fans gather in bars, others go jogging or play soccer in the park.
Columbia is a paradise for street artists. The government not only tolerates graffiti, but also encourages and supports street artists.
10% of the Amazon rainforest is located in Columbia. More species of birds live in Colombia than in all of Europe and North America.
The richest emerald mines are in Columbia. There are more than 150 mines in the country that produce high-quality emeralds.
We hear little about the 180 square kilometer country. Aruba, officially the Republic of Aruba, is an island in the Dutch Caribbean. Its capital and largest settlement is Oranjestad. The first European to set foot on Aruba was Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The conquerors declared Aruba a useless island, as the island lacks mineral resources. The first Christian church was built on the island in 1750.
The license plates of Aruban cars are decorated with the slogan "a happy island", so the number plates are very popular among tourists, so the IDs sold as souvenirs need to be constantly replaced.
18% of Aruba is a national park. the Arikok National Park provides a pristine environment for many special plants and animal species.
One of the symbols of the island, the California Lighthouse, was built in 1910 and got its name from a steamship that sank in 1891.
Aruba is known as one of the main wreck diving destinations in the Caribbean. The best-known dive site is perhaps the German ship Antilla, sunk in 1940, which offers an impressive sight with its length of more than a hundred meters.
Of course, a vacation in Aruba cannot go by without being the star of Instagram photos with pink flamingos walking by the turquoise sea. However, I have to disappoint everyone, flamingos are not native to Aruba, they can only be found on the private island of the Renaissance Hotel. Nevertheless, a day spent with flamingos and iguanas at Flamingo Beach is an unmissable experience.
Curacao is a Caribbean island belonging to the Netherlands. Its capital is Willenmstad, which is a beautiful, cozy, colonial-style, unique city that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The island of Curacao is one of the so-called ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, part of the Netherlands Antilles archipelago. Once a center of the slave trade and Caribbean piracy, today it is a paradise for tourists and offshore companies. At the beginning of the 20th century, oil was also found off the coast of the island, which brought unexpected wealth to Curacao.
The landscape is very desolate, as there is very little rainfall, but there are plenty of cacti growing on the island. According to the locals, soup made from cactus increases virility.
One of the characteristics of Curacao is Curacao liqueur, which is flavored with the dried peel of the Laraha bitter orange. The strength of the drink varies between 15 and 40%. The key ingredient in Curacao liqueurs is the peel of the Larac bitter orange, a variety of the well-known Seville orange brought to the island by the Spanish in 1527. They originally produced a clear, bright orange-spicy liqueur known as Curacao. Blue Curacao is a blue drink made with dyed natural dye that shows up in cocktails because sometimes cocktails have to be fun.
Author: VCL Team
16/07/2024
