Jewels of the Northern Caribbean

The seaside resort of La Romana is ideally located in the south east of the Dominican Republic. In Casa de Campo, luxury villas and golf courses overlook the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Above the River Chavon, a surprising reconstruction of an Italian mediaeval village and Roman amphitheatre serves as the backdrop for a great variety of cultural events. A museum of pre-Columbian archaeology, an American design school, and many artists and artisans have set up in this flowery village. Just off the coast, the idyllic islands of Catalina and Saona are edged with white sandy beaches and palm trees.

Cayo Levantado, also called Bacardi Island, is one of the most beautiful islands in the Dominican Republic. Resting in the heart of Samaná Bay not far from the must-see Los Haitises National Park, the islet offers visitors magnificent picture-postcard panoramas of white-sand beaches with crystal-clear water, lined with coconut trees. The island’s abundant marine life makes it a favourite destination for scuba divers and snorkellers.

San Fernando de Monte Cristi (often simply called Monte Cristi) is the capital city of the Monte Cristi province in the Dominican Republic. Located in the remote northwestern region along the Haitian border, this historic coastal city is widely celebrated for its wild, arid landscapes, pristine mangrove forests, and distinct ecological landmarks. Unlike the heavily commercialized resort towns of the east, it offers travelers an authentic, uncrowded eco-tourism experience.

A British Overseas Territory located to the south-east of the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands stand out for their spectacular beaches and the exceptional clarity of their waters. Unspoilt and little-known, they are home to the world’s third-largest coral reef system, offering underwater landscapes of rare beauty and purity. As you explore this marine sanctuary, you may be lucky enough to witness the fascinating ballet of green turtles, bottlenose dolphins and tropical fish in these extraordinarily clear waters.

On Long Island, Gordon’s Beach reveals a more intimate, untamed and almost hidden side of the Bahamas. Here, cliffs sculpted by the ocean and long stretches of deserted beach define the landscape. Inland, the roads lead you to welcoming, authentic villages where it is a pleasure to wander. Nearby, fascinating natural sites await travellers in search of adventure: Dean’s Blue Hole, a striking deep blue marine sinkhole, and Hamilton’s Cave, one of the most impressive underground caves in the Bahamas.

A little-known gem of the Exuma Islands, Staniel Cay reveals some of the Caribbean’s most striking landscapes in an atmosphere that remains unspoilt. The water, in an almost unreal shade of turquoise, invites you to swim, while the shallow lagoons are home to remarkable marine biodiversity, and the pristine sandbanks that emerge at low tide are perfect for pausing and taking in the horizon. Nearby, Pig Beach offers a surprising, truly unique and now iconic experience: swimming alongside free-roaming pigs in a picture-postcard setting.

Along the unspoilt shores of Grand Bahama, Barbary Beach offers an experience in tune with the elements. Its wild, contrasting scenery unfolds between long stretches of white sand bordered by turquoise waters and lush mangroves. On this pristine island paradise, discover the geological treasures of Lucayan National Park, remarkable biodiversity and endemic vegetation, and visit a coral conservation site. The island’s botanical garden is also home to a wide variety of tropical plants set within a lush environment where numerous bird species thrive.

Lying between the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, Central America and the United States, Nassau is an important crossroads at the heart of the Bahamas. A favoured haunt of pirates and then smugglers, a colonial land coveted by the British, the Spanish and the Americans, the town, which was created in the second half of the 17th Century, is famous for its tumultuous past. Today transformed into an upscale tourist destination, the capital of the Bahamas has succeeded in maintaining its authentic charm whilst offering a number of attractions thanks to its boutiques, casinos and the spectacular Atlantis complex. Built on Paradise Island, this gigantic construction is home to the largest tropical aquarium in the world.