Caribbean Golf
Rates & Dates
Prices: Starting at $3,955
2009 Dates:
Feb 28
Mar 28
2010 Dates:
Feb 27
Mar 27
Ships: Pearl Seas Ship
8 Days ~ 7 Nights
St. Martin
Partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch for almost 350 years. The French tend to emphasize comfort and elegance; the beaches are secluded, and the latest French fashions can be found in many of the shops. Three different cultures can be experienced in one day: the remnants of Dutch colonialism in Philipsburg and French chic in Marigot, both infused with Caribbean flair.
Antigua
Antigua was discovered by accident in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. It remained, however, virtually uninhabited until 1632, when a body of English settlers took possession of it. The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for outsiders to navigate is where today's trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The fascinating little island of Barbuda, her sister island, once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs, is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries.
St. Kitts
Like no other island in the Caribbean, St. Kitts seems to embody a kind of lush tropical paradise usually associated with the South Pacific. It is an intoxicating blend of sunlight, sea, air, and fantastically abundant vegetation. In Basseterre's Historic District there are excellent examples of Creole and West Indian architecture. Artists of St. Kitts and Nevis create works inspired by their own native traditions, life on the islands, and African roots. Pottery is especially notable, both red clay pieces and pieces fired with colorful glazes and indigenous designs. Dutch cultures have sculpted the island's motif. This can be observed while shopping for island specialties such as needlework, silkscreened fabrics, and beachwear from the artisan's foundation.
Iles des Saintes
Also known as simply Les Saintes, these islands off of the Southwest corner of Guadeloupe are comprised of two inhabited islands and six smaller islands. The population of the islands is made up mostly of skilled fishermen or sailors descended from Breton corsairs (pirates.) Iles des Saintes is home to what some call one the most beautiful bays in the world-a small Rio de Janeiro with a Sugarloaf. If one is looking for unspoiled, laid-back Caribbean islands, these off-the-beaten path islands certainly fit the bill.
Martinique
Martinique is a slice of France set down in the tropics. Islanders wear Paris fashions and eat croissants. Zouk music pouring out of tape players, radios, and cars remind you, however, that Martinicans have a culture of their own, solidly based on West Indian Creole traditions. Take a lush jungle walk through Les Ombrages, a botanical garden situated at the site of what was once a rum distillery. A trail passes by stands of bamboo, tall trees with buttressed roots, torch gingers and the ruins of an old mill.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is a high, green island, with a spicy history dating back to the 1550s when St Lucia's first French settler, Jambe de Bois ('Wooden Leg'), used it as a base for raiding passing Spanish ships. Tour through Pigeon Island, which is more a historical monument than a nature reserve, with ruins dating from the mid-1700s, including a fortress, barracks, and some rusting cannons. The grounds are well endowed with lofty trees, including a few big banyans, and you'll get fine views of the coast and nearby Martinique.
St. Martin
Partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch for almost 350 years. The French tend to emphasize comfort and elegance; the beaches are secluded, and the latest French fashions can be found in many of the shops. Three different cultures can be experienced in one day: the remnants of Dutch colonialism in Philipsburg and French chic in Marigot, both infused with Caribbean flair.
