island destinations Archives

October 24, 2013 by Arlene

When to Visit the Caribbean

Home to over 5,000 islands, the Caribbean offers a combination of sunny beaches and wonderful local culture to suit any traveller’s tastes. From Aruba to Barbados, the islands of the Caribbean vary dramatically in terms of culture, but share much the same climate throughout the year.

There are some small variations in local temperatures – when it’s 70-something in the northern islands, it may be 80-something in the southern ones – but most of the time, a warm and sunny day in Barbados is a warm and sunny day elsewhere.

Because of this, it’s fairly easy to work out the best time to travel to the Caribbean, regardless of the particular island you’re visiting. Read on to learn from the experts at Royalwestmoreland about the best time to visit the Caribbean.

Sun, Sand, and Comfortable Heat: The Caribbean Winter

While the idea of going to the beach in winter might scare people from temperate climates, the ‘winter’ of the Caribbean has little in common with the winter we’re used to back at home.

The Caribbean winter lasts from December until early April. During this season, rainfall is rare and sunny weather is the norm. Although it’s winter, the daytime temperature varies from 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit in most destinations.

Because of the cool weather in North America and Europe during this time of year, the Caribbean fills up with tourists from December until late March. Book ahead of time if you plan on visiting the islands during this time of year.

Windy, Wet, and Overcast: The Caribbean Rainy Season

Like all tropical regions, the Caribbean experiences powerful rainstorms for three months every year. Unlike the Pacific Islands or Southeast Asia, however, the wet season of the Caribbean is far windier than it is rainy.

Known to locals as the ‘Hurricane Season,’ the period lasting from September until the end of October is when most Caribbean hurricanes occur. It’s important to note that hurricanes do not affect all islands, and that travel in the region is still possible during this time of year.

Warm, Humid, and Very Sunny: The Shoulder Season

From May until August, the Caribbean is warm, immensely humid, and delightful to visit as a traveller. As the flood of tourists return home, the resorts that come at an incredible cost during peak season lower their rates and open their doors.

Likewise, the beaches that were once crowded from morning until night become an open expanse of sand just waiting for you to visit. If you’re searching for untouched nature and great prices, the Caribbean shoulder season is a great place to look.

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Photo by erikkristensen on Flickr

October 8, 2013 by author

Winter is Ideal for a Trip to Tenerife

As the evenings start to get dark earlier and the temperature starts to fall sharply it can be easy to feel a little depressed. After all, it is a long time until spring and summer came around to cheer us up again.

At times like this it is fantastic to have a trip to somewhere warm and sunny lined up. The winter can seem a lot more bearable and a lot shorter if you know that you are going to get a lovely dose of sunshine somewhere along the way. One of the most popular destinations for winter sun seekers is Tenerife, which is part of the Spanish Canary Islands. If you are at the stage of thinking about a holiday to Tenerife during the winter season then here are some of the reasons why it would be a great decision to make.

Sun, Sun, Sun

It is almost impossible to overestimate the feeling of wellbeing which washes over most of us when we leave a cold winter behind and feels rays of sun on our faces. One of the best things about Tenerife is that it enjoys incredibly mild winters. If you are travelling from the North of Europe to the Canary Islands then you will experience a magnificent feeling as you step off the plane and feel the sun beat down on you. The temperature here in December is often around 20 degrees centigrade, which is a very pleasant temperature for this time of year. The weather here is highly predictable and a quick look at some historic weather records for the islands will give you an excellent idea of what sort of weather awaits you.

Things to Do

If you have ever gone to a seaside holiday resort away from the peak summer season then you might have been left disappointed by the lack of things to do. Many of these resorts virtually close down in the winter season, with hotels, restaurants and shops closing down for a couple of months. The good news is that Tenerife’s popularity as a winter holiday destination means that it is busy and lively all year round. In fact, many sun lovers from colder countries own properties here and come to enjoy the winter months. This means that there are always plenty of people around to keep the holiday spirit in the air.

Good Value

Another big reason for travelling anywhere in the winter months is that the cost is usually lower than it would be in the peak summer period. While we have already seen that Tenerife is a fantastic winter destination it is still going to be better value for to go around this time of year than in July or August, for example. By looking online plenty of time before you plan to travel you should find a deal which lets you enjoy this classic holiday island for less money than you might think. Who knows, the saving you make might even allow you to stay longer than you had originally planned to stay.

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Photo by engerundio on Flickr

July 30, 2013 by author

Lanzarote Offers More than Just the Beach

Spain is a fantastic holiday destination if you like sunshine, and it doesn’t get much sunnier than in the Canary Islands. However, one of the very best things about places like Lanzarote is that there is far more to do than just lie on the beach and soak up the sun’s rays.

Ride on a Camel

The idea of riding a camel on a safari trip might sound like it belongs in Africa rather than Spain. However, we need to remember that the Canary Islands are closer to the African coast than they are to mainland Spain. This is an incredibly exotic way of getting around and the best place to do so in the incredible Timanfaya National Park. Here you will see the Islote de Hilario volcano and might even eat a meal which has been cooked thanks to the heat from the volcano. The landscape here has been sculpted from lava and it has a sometimes unearthly and unsettling feel to it.

See the Pirate Caves

The Cueva de Los Verdes area is filled with caverns which were formed by cooling lava around 3000 years ago. These are sometimes called pirate caves, although it is believed that the locals hid in them, rather than pirates using them to hid treasure. Perhaps the most spectacular thing about these caverns is the 500 seat concert hall which sometimes hosts events.

Drink the Wine

You might not expect to find wine production on a volcanic holiday island like Lanzarote but it exists alright. La Geria is the region you will want to go to if you want to try some locally made wine. There is also the interestingly titled Lanzarote Wine Run & Traditional Cuisine Festival held here every June. It is a 21 km race and it includes a stop to taste some wine, which is a great idea when you think about it.

Go Diving

It is becoming popular for any holiday resort with a beach to offer diving opportunities. However, in Lanzarote the diving is truly amazing. The warm waters, the abundant wildlife and even some shipwrecks add up to a tremendous place to get some diving done. The manta rays are among the most sought after sights.

See El Golfo

El Golfo is a village on Lanzarote which is famous for the Green Lagoon. The lagoon has actually been formed inside a volcano’s crater, which has been eroded away over the centuries. The algae in the water gives it the striking green appearance which makes it so popular with photographers. If you recognise this place from somewhere then cast your mind back to Raquel Welch in a prehistoric film. When you are in Lanzarote you won’t want to miss this treat.

Enjoy Teguise Market

Shopping is one of the great pleasures of any trip abroad and the Teguise Market is hard to beat on Lanzarote. Sunday morning is the best time to go if you want to see the market in all its glory, while it is easy to find something to eat or drink after it.

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Photo by mike_lawrence on Flickr

April 3, 2013 by Arlene

From the tides to the Teide of Tenerif

Teide National Park, on the Spanish island of Tenerife, is named after the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano, the highest peak on Spanish soil. At 3718 metres, Teide-Pico Viejo is the third-tallest volcanic structure in the world. Strictly, there are two volcanoes: Teide, and the slightly smaller Pico Viejo.

So why visit? Tenerife flights arrive regularly from all over the world, including many low-cost options such as Jet2. While many visitors head for the beach, Teide offers a different experience. A Spanish national park since 1954, and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, the area is considered essential to preserve, not least because of the evidence it is said to provide of the geological processes that underpin the evolution of oceanic islands.

In fact, Teide is one of the most visited national parks in the world. But don’t let that make you think it’s crowded… The landscape is other-worldly, with craters reminding you of moon footage: Mars robots have even been tested here.

Mount Teide National Park

The landscape may look barren, even empty, but it doesn’t take much of a closer look before plants and animals native to Teide can be seen: red Tajinaste flowers (the three-metre-high ‘tower of jewels’) poking up amongst the rocks and rubble – or you may glimpse the blue sides of a Southern Tenerife Lizard skittering past if you’re lucky. Spring is a particularly good time to visit to see this area in best of bloom.

A highlight of a trip to the national park is the cable car journey almost to the peak of the volcano at 3550 metres. Even walking the lower slopes by foot can be taken at a steady pace, easily managed by most people of reasonable fitness – although the high altitude can require more puff than usual. Park rangers offer guided walks in Spanish and English which are free (though entry to the national park is charged).

The last volcanic eruption was over 300 years ago, and so nowadays visits are considered safe! Accommodation is scarce, however, so don’t expect out-of-this-world hotels. But when you get ‘out of this world’ from the view, that’s good enough. And Teide is also more than just a day trip – many people spend an entire hiking holiday here. With the ancient university town of La Laguna, lava caves, and the resort of Puerto de la Cruz on the north coast, the national park can easily be the entire focus of your trip.

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