I just returned back to the states from 10 days in Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis – what a great trip and great islands!

If you are looking for a more exclusive and private beaches, Anguilla is the place!   The white sand beaches and turquoise water, as well as beautiful weather year round with temperatures ranging between 80-86 degree, make this a great place to visit.  Uncrowded beaches, water sports and a spectacular coral reef are just a few reasons to visit for relaxing and unwinding.

The best activities to take part in are scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, charter boats and water sports.  One can also take day trips to St. Maarten and St. Barts.  There are  more then 80 species of birds, so bird watching is another great activity.  Other land activities include hiking, bike riding and horseback riding.

Anguilla is a British overseas territory, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.  It consists of the main island of Anguilla which is approximately 26 km (16 miles) long by 5 km (3 miles) wide at its widest point. If you are seeking a special, romantic getaway on a small island, gifted with 33 of the best beaches in the Caribbean, this could be the island you are looking for.

Yes, there are 33 beaches, each one super in their own way. They range from the really serene Little Harbor to the wild Windward Bay, from the popular East Shoal Bay & Rendezvous Bay.  And don’t forget Maunday’s Bay, Shoal Bay West and Cove Bay for starters.

You can view my photos and see more videos in a new blog about my visit to Shoal Bay

It was fun meeting Bankie Banx.  He is Anguilla’s reggae  star and local real estate mogul.  I met Bankie at the Dune Preserve in Rendezvous Bay.

We have heard that the rich and famous go to other Caribbean islands when they want to be seen, but they go to Anguilla to hide & disappear. You do not have to be rich and famous to vacation here.

Interesting – there are no chain stores or restaurants here – no franchises are allowed. This is a 100% genuine, tropical Caribbean island getaway. The shopping here is not great, but if shopping is on your agenda, a 20 minute ferry ride to St.Martin/St. Marteen is worth the ride.

Click on these links below to get more info:

Anguilla Tourist Board

Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information on Maundays Bay

Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information on Shoal Bay

Professor Beach’s New Squidoo Lens about Shoal Bay in Anguilla – West Indies

The last time I visited I visited the Turks and Cacios was in 2005 . I never made it to the Conch Farm.  I was too busy taking in the sun and sand on the beach.  Did you know that Provo is home to the only Conch farm in the world?  These mollusks have beautiful pink shells and they take five years to grow to their adult size.  Have you ever had Conch Soup?

The Conch Farm is open for tours during the winter months.

Providenciales, also known as “Provo“, is a 25 mile long island in the Turks & Caicos Islands.  The island is situated on the west side of the Caicos archipelago.  Provo has an area of 38 square miles.

Besides being home to the only conch farm in the world,  Providenciales is famous for it’s 12 mile Grace Bay Beach.   One of my favorite magazines Conde Naste, has rated Grace Bay Beach among the top ten beaches in the world.

Grace Bay Beach features beautiful white sand that edges spectacular clear, turquoise water and pristine coral reefs.  Providenciales offers an uncomplicated lifestyle and natural beauty.  Provo is a divers’ and water lovers’ paradise.

Provo is the urban center of the Turks & Caicos Islands.  This island offers all the modern conveniences one could dream of taking an awesome vacation to get away from the stress and the hustle-bustle of the overpopulated cities.

Provo has an 18 hole golf course, a casino, shopping centers, three marinas, a growing number of of bars and excellent restaurants.   Provo is also a divers’ and water lovers’ paradise.  There is something here for everyone!

The Caicos Bank, on the south part of the island, is a shallow, pale turquoise sea.  It is partly composed of swamp and tidal flats, filled with an abundant resource of conch and lobster.   On the opposite end of Providenciales, the deep channel of Leeward Going Through makes a natural and safe harbor on the northeast end of the island.  Sapodilla Bay is a popular mooring for yachts traveling through the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The natural island formations offer safe mooring areas for sailors.  On a hill overlooking Sapodilla Bay, stones engraved by shipwrecked sailors can be found.

Turks and Caicos is one of my very most favorite places in the world… Yes,  I am thinking of going back this winter to enjoy the white sand & the crystal blue water.  Living in upstate New York, I need some more photos to remind me of warmer days… it’s about 35 degrees right now where I live….. oh to be basking in the sun once again…

It is easy to get there.  The Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is a modern, full service facility that welcomes dozens of international flights every week from North America, Europe and other Caribbean Islands.  It is also the gateway to the rest of the Turks & Caicos Islands. The goal of the PLS is to make your arrival and departure from their island paradise as smooth and efficient as possible.

Ready, Set, Let’s Go!

Did you know that Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea?  In fact, it is Mexico’s largest island.  It is located off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, opposite the Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel.  Cozumel is a very popular tourist destination and is known throughout the world for it’s scuba diving and snorkeling.  Some of the most spectacular coral reefs are found in Cozumel.

The island of Cozumel is approx 30 miles (48 km) going north & south and approx 10 miles (16 km ) going east & west.   It’s the largest Atlantic island of Mexico.   It’s approx 12 miles (20 kms) from the mainland, and approx 36 miles (60 km) south of Cancun, Mexico.

With the tropical climate of Cozumel, the weather can change from one day to the next.  It is warm year round with an average temperature of 81 F (27 C).  Heavy rains start in June and go on through October.  Even if it rains every day, the usual duration of a shower is short.  Humidity is naturally high during the rainy season.

The west side of Cozumel is calm – ideal for swimming, diving or just relaxing in the sun.  This part of the island is also the most developed with banks, markets, shops, restaurants and hotels.  The east side of the island is more secluded, with very few people living there and little activity.  There are some calm beaches with clear emerald green water.  There are at least 20 live reefs so close to the shore,  it makes snorkeling and diving a must. The island also has it’s share of Mayan ruins hidden in the jungles that can be explored by car, bike or foot.

The area’s diving and snorkeling are legendary.  Following a 1961 documentary by Jacques Cousteau, Cozumel earned a worldwide following of divers who ranked it one of the top five scuba diving and snorkeling sites on the planet.  The island’s surrounding waters are filled with undersea life, colorful reefs, and the wrecked hulls of Spanish galleons.  The area’s marine life & reef structures attract more than 75,000 divers from all over the world, every year.   With over 30 kms of reefs & water visibility up to 200 feet and over 200 species of tropical fish, Cozumel is considered by many to be the best.  It’s very easy to find dive shops – they are everywhere!

For non divers, the island has something for everyone.  Sightseeing includes some archaeological sites.  You won’t want to miss the shopping & dining in the village of San Miguel de Cozumel.   Nature lovers come to Cozumel to see giant see turtles laying their eggs from May to September and to view the island’s variety of exotic migratory bird life.

Fishing is also a major sport in Cozumel.  Species like dorado and barracudas can be caught.  It’s easy to find charter boats.  Other water activities include sailing, water ski & windsurfing.

According to Mayan legends, the home to Goddess Ixchel, the islanders built temples to honor her, the goddess of love & fertility.  In return, Goddess Ixchel sent the swallow, her favorite bird, as a gesture of gratitude, thus the name of “The Island of the Swallows”.

Before traveling to Mexico – click on the link below for some “Good to Know” important travel tips.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/spring_break_mexico/spring_break_mexico_2812.html

Click here for more information on Cozumel and visit Professor Beach’s website

There you will find maps, airport information and other good stuff!

The Cayman Islands are an outstanding choice for couples or families looking for a fabulous vacation. The Cayman Islands consist of 3 islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.  This group of islands is located in Caribbean Sea, approx 150 miles (240 km) south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica.  The Cayman Islands are located approx 20 degrees north of the Equator. This results in nice temperatures year-round. The coolest month in the Cayman Islands is February and the warmest month is July.

Grand Cayman is approx 22 miles long and 8 miles at its widest point.  Grand Cayman is approx 90 miles south of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are approx 5 miles apart.

Cayman Brac is approx 12 miles long and 1 mile at its widest spot.  Cayman Brac has the highest point in all of the Islands with the impressive “Bluff” that rises 140 feet out of the sea.

The smallest island is Little Cayman.  This island has a population somewhere around 150 people.

This illustration is not to scale.  Little Cayman & Cayman Brac are much further north and east of Grand Cayman.

This map puts the islands into better perspective

If you are a beach lover, you have many choices on Grand Cayman – Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Public Beach, Spotts Beach, Smith Cove, West Bay Public Beach, Cemetery Beach, Rum Point, East End Public Beach, Cayman Kai and Heritage Beach.

Depending on your likes, there are many places of interest on Grand Cayman:

• Boatswain’s Beach (Cayman Turtle Farm)
• National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
• Pedro St. James Castle
• Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
• Wreck of the Ten Sails Park

There is public minibus service on Grand Cayman but I suggest renting a car.  This is the best way to explore the island.   Motorcycles and scooters are also available on all three islands. Traffic moves slow and driving is on the left.

http://www.petermilburndivecayman.com/index.htm

http://www.paradise-divers.com/

http://www.donfosters.com/index.html