The Caribbean islands & Sea are an extensive archipelago in the far west of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly strung between North and South America. They've long been known as a resort vacation destination for honeymooners and retirees, but a small movement toward eco-tourism and backpacking has started to open up the Caribbean to more independent travel.To the south and southeast of Florida, are several relatively large islands:
Cuba
Cayman Islands
Jamaica
Navassa Island - uninhabited wildlife refuge
Haiti - western Hispaniola
Dominican Republic - eastern Hispaniola
Puerto Rico
The archipelago
In an arc between the Greater Antilles and along the north coast of South America are dozens of small tropical islands:
The Bahamas - a cluster of islands north of the Greater Antilles and southeast of Florida.
Turks and Caicos Islands - a cluster of islands south of the Bahamas
Bermuda - some distance to the north of the Caribbean, but commonly associated with the region.
Several countries in South America, Central America, and Mexico have shorelines – and islands – in the Caribbean
Aruba
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados - the "little England" of the Caribbean
British Virgin Islands
Dominica
Grenada - "The spice isle"
Guadeloupe
Martinique - the "little France" of the Caribbean
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Redonda
Trinidad and Tobago
Virgin Islands