Gliding the Waters of the Windward Islands

Pointe-à-Pitre is the bustling capital of Guadeloupe, offering a vibrant mix of Creole culture, historical significance, and stunning natural beauty. Must-do experiences include sampling the local delicacies like “colombo de poulet” and exploring the nearby Îles des Saintes for their breathtaking beaches. The best season to visit is from mid-December to mid-April, when the weather is pleasantly warm and dry.

Grande Anse is a pristine crescent beach on Martinique's southwestern coast, where sea turtles glide through crystalline waters and beachside restaurants serve authentic Creole cuisine with world-class rhum agricole. Must-do experiences include snorkeling with hawksbill turtles at Anse Dufour, photographing the iconic waterfront church at Les Anses-d'Arlet, and hiking the coastal hills for views to Saint Lucia. Visit December through May for the driest, most pleasant conditions.

The Tobago Cays are five uninhabited islands in the southern Grenadines, surrounded by a horseshoe reef and some of the clearest water in the Caribbean, where green sea turtles graze in the shallows and pristine coral reefs teem with tropical fish. Must-dos include snorkeling with the sea turtles, enjoying a beachside lobster barbecue from local boat vendors, and swimming at the Pirates of the Caribbean filming location on Petit Tabac. December through May offers the best visibility and steadiest trade winds.

Sandy Island is an uninhabited coral cay off Grenada's Carriacou Island, offering a pristine Caribbean experience of white sand, coconut palms, and crystal-clear snorkeling waters protected as a marine reserve. Must-dos include reef snorkeling directly from the beach, spotting hawksbill turtles, and pairing the visit with cultural exploration of nearby Carriacou. December through May provides the driest weather and clearest underwater visibility.

Port Elizabeth is the beguiling waterfront capital of Bequia, a former whaling island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines where Caribbean authenticity endures in gingerbread cottages, hand-built schooners, and charcoal-grilled lobster on the sand. Stroll the Belmont Walkway for the island's finest harbour views, then sail to the Tobago Cays for world-class snorkelling among sea turtles. The dry season from December through May offers the most reliable sunshine and the peak of luxury cruise calls into sheltered Admiralty Bay.

Portsmouth is England's preeminent naval city, home to the Historic Dockyard where Nelson's HMS Victory still resides, and a vibrant waterfront culture spanning Georgian Southsea to the cobbled lanes of Old Portsmouth. Visitors should not miss the dockyard's extraordinary collection of historic warships and a seafood lunch overlooking the Solent. Late spring through early autumn offers the finest conditions, with long coastal light and calm seas ideal for exploring the harbour and nearby attractions such as Stonehenge and the Isle of Wight.

Marie-Galante is an unspoiled French Caribbean island near Guadeloupe, renowned for producing some of the finest rhum agricole in the world and for beaches that rival any in the Antilles without the crowds. Must-dos include touring the three rum distilleries, lounging on Plage de la Feuillère, and tasting tourment d'amour pastries and court-bouillon de poisson. December through May offers the driest weather and most comfortable trade-wind breezes.

Pointe-à-Pitre is the bustling capital of Guadeloupe, offering a vibrant mix of Creole culture, historical significance, and stunning natural beauty. Must-do experiences include sampling the local delicacies like “colombo de poulet” and exploring the nearby Îles des Saintes for their breathtaking beaches. The best season to visit is from mid-December to mid-April, when the weather is pleasantly warm and dry.