Kola Nut Travel - Caribbean Destinations

The Caribbean is made up of 25 countries with diverse cultures that include African, British, Dutch, French and Spanish influences. Add to this several more countries in South and Central America whose borders touch the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and you have a broad spectrum of tourism choices that will please even the fussiest traveler. Kola Nut Travel presents Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cancún and the US Virgin Islands as our featured destinations, but we can make arrangements for your holiday in any of the islands.

Here you can cavort at the mega-resorts and casinos in Nassau, Freeport and St. Maarten or escape to a lonely beach on Grand Cayman or Barbados. Explore the rugged beauty of Dominica and St. Lucia or revel in the rum and reggae magic of Jamaica. Journey to Martinique and dine on croissants and café au lait, side-by-side with grouper and conch fritters. Relax on the ivory palm-fringed beach at Cancún or take a day trip to the Mayan ruins of Chichin Itza.

Wherever you go in this tropical paradise, in the Caribbean it is truly an “Endless Summer”.

Of the region’s many annual festivities, Carnival time provides thrills for one and all. Carnival celebrations are found throughout the Caribbean, where it is influenced by African dance and music traditions, creating a unique brand of pomp and pageantry. Caribbean carnival traditions also borrow from the African culture of sculpture, masks and costumes. Participants parade and dance through the streets to the pulse of steel drums, wearing elaborate costumes. Be sure to check our Travel Tools section for links to Caribbean Carnival websites and schedules.

Jamaica defines enthusiasm. Among its people, whether the topic is dominoes or politics, the spirit of the island comes alive. Although Jamaica is well known for its tropical beauty, reggae music and cuisine, you may find that your interactions with local residents are what you truly remember. Montego Bay and its proximity to Kingston is favored by Americans taking short trips. Ocho Rios is a lush destination that's favored by honeymooners for its tropical beauty, while Negril is a growing destination that still hangs on to its laid-back roots.

Puerto Rico offers nothing if not diversity. On one small island, 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, you can experience thousands of years of history and four distinct cultures. Explore colonial forts and San Juan’s Old Quarter, or just lie on a beach and soak up the rays.

The images you'd expect from a tropical island are here: in the US Virgin Islands, where stretches of beach arc into the distance, and white sails skim across water so blue and clear it stuns the senses. The backbone of the economy is tourism, but at the heart of the islands is an independent, separate being: a rollicking hodgepodge of West Indian culture with a sense of humor.

Cancún is a great place to experience 21st-century Mexico. Dance the night away to salsa, mariachi, reggae, jazz, or hip-hop at one of the Zona Hotelera's many nightclubs. Browse for Mexican crafts at the colorful stalls of Mercado Veintiocho and indulge in local dishes like poc chuc and drinks like tamarind margaritas.

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