Expedition Caribbean Islands: Paradise Locations That Only A Few Know About

Icoaraci, a riverside district of Belém at the Amazon’s mouth, is celebrated for its pre-Columbian Marajoara pottery workshops where artisans continue thousand-year-old ceramic traditions. Must-dos include visiting the ceramic studios, exploring Belém’s legendary Ver-o-Peso market, and tasting Amazonian specialties like duck in tucupi sauce. Visit June through November for drier weather in this equatorial gateway to the Amazon.

Ile Royale, French Guiana, delivers South America's irresistible combination of dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and extraordinary biodiversity. Essential experiences include exploring local markets, tasting the distinctive regional cuisine, and venturing into the surrounding natural environments. Best visited year-round, though the drier months from May to October tend to offer the most comfortable conditions. Cruise lines including Azamara feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Tobago is a lush Caribbean island boasting the Western Hemisphere's oldest protected rainforest, pristine uncrowded beaches, and world-class diving where manta rays glide over spectacular coral formations. Visit during the dry season from January through May for the best conditions to explore its beaches, hike the ancient Main Ridge Forest Reserve, and sample legendary curried crab.

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.

Dominica is the Caribbean's Nature Island, a volcanic wilderness of rainforest-covered peaks, the otherworldly Boiling Lake, year-round sperm whale watching, and the indigenous Kalinago community. Must-do experiences include hiking to the Boiling Lake, snorkelling the bubbling Champagne Reef, and tasting callaloo soup. November through June is driest, with February through April offering the most comfortable conditions for hiking.

Saint-Barthelemy is an eight-square-mile French Caribbean island where Swedish colonial heritage, world-class French gastronomy, and 22 pristine beaches create the most refined tropical destination in the Lesser Antilles. Must-dos include exploring Gustavia's elegant harbour, dining on French-Creole cuisine at beach bistros, and swimming at wild Saline Beach. Visit December through April for dry, trade-wind-cooled perfection.

Anguilla, a slender British Overseas Territory in the Leeward Islands, perfects Caribbean luxury through refined simplicity — thirty-three powder-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters protecting vibrant coral reefs, and a culinary scene that rivals destinations many times its size. From Shoal Bay East's legendary two-mile strand to intimate offshore cays, the island offers exclusivity without pretension, complemented by world-class dining that ranges from beachfront crayfish grills to acclaimed chef-driven restaurants.

Bermuda is a 181-island Atlantic archipelago famous for pink sand beaches, pastel cottages with white stepped roofs, and the UNESCO-listed town of St. George's—the oldest English settlement in the New World. Must-dos include exploring St. George's colonial lanes, snorkeling the northernmost coral reefs in the Atlantic, and diving the island's 300 shipwrecks. May through October provides the warmest conditions for swimming and beach exploration.

Halifax, the historic capital of Nova Scotia, is a refined Atlantic port where centuries of maritime heritage meet a flourishing culinary scene anchored by Digby scallops, donairs, and one of North America's oldest farmers' markets. Visitors should not miss the star-shaped Citadel Hill and the harbourfront boardwalk's constellation of galleries and tasting rooms. The ideal season stretches from late June through October, when autumn's blazing foliage transforms the entire province into a masterwork of colour and the cruise terminal welcomes the world's finest vessels.