Plus, Cabarete Beach at the northern end is famous for its kiteboarding and windsurfing. Rum, chocolate, coffee, and amber jewelry, among other goodies, are for sale everywhere as you stroll through the colonial city of Santo Domingo. It’s naturally protected by Puerto Rico to the east, and the Mona Channel, where the island’s varying temperatures create a pressure system that (usually) pushes storms toward the sea. Its record with hurricanes isn't half bad either. It has a historical record, too, with Spanish colonial architecture easy to find here. It's growing in popularity, thanks to increasing awareness of its Instagram-ready beaches and reasonable cost. ![]() You can’t mention the Caribbean without mentioning the Dominican Republic, a country that takes up a bit more than half of the large island of Hispaniola (Haiti has the other side). Hotel Pick: Kura Hulanda Lodge & Beach Club The main town, Willemstad, was full of things to do, and we had a really good time shopping at the floating market. "Two friends and I wanted to take girls trip, and I was lobbying for the Bahamas, but we wound up on Curacao. Melissa Koehler of Seaford, New York, is one of the converts. Visitors are often struck by how the island seems to have a little bit of everything, including nightlife, museums, cultural events (such as the annual North Sea Jazz Fest, from Sept. Papiamentu is the lyrical official language, but English, Spanish, and Dutch are common too. While that could mean the island is due, it’s far enough away from the hurricane belt that the chances of a hard hit are low.ĭon’t let the time of year stop you from experiencing an island that showcases 60 dive locations (one to a shipwreck) and the 1,230-foot Mount Christoffel that adventurers can climb to feel on top of the world. Another is that Curacao, like Aruba, hasn’t been touched by a hurricane since Felix. Okay, that's not all that makes it special, but the sweet, striking spirit, made exclusively from the island's native citrus fruit related to Valencia oranges, is definitely a plus. We went in September, and it was totally uncrowded and really delightful to explore," says Lincoln. "It really was a special place to get away from it all and hide out for a while, with all this natural wonder around. The New Rochelle, New York, pair draws comparisons between Bonaire and the Galapagos. Darcy Lincoln and her husband, Jeff, are both outdoor types, and tend toward the exotic and untamed when they travel. It's also one of the most environmentally friendly islands in the Caribbean. The northern tip is dominated by national parks, perfect for hiking and bird watching (over 200 species make Bonaire home, including flamingos). The island is located less than 100 miles off the coast of Venezuela and is only 24 miles long. Part of the Leeward Antilles, it isn’t impervious to the storms, but direct hits are extremely uncommon. ![]() It's also located outside of the hurricane belt. Renowned for its exceptional snorkeling and diving opportunities, thanks in part to the island’s conservation efforts, Bonaire was designated as a marine park in 1979. ![]() NB: Frequencies noted are approximate, and based on Hurricane City research, which defines a hurricane hit as "hurricane force winds for a few hours." So while prediction is an imperfect science, and taking basic precautions is always smart, some islands in the Caribbean are historically less likely than others to see hurricanes, thereby reducing your worry and increasing your fun. And to buy travel insurance," says Feltgen. No matter which island you decide to visit, "The best advice for those traveling to a hurricane-prone region is to make sure that the hotel facility has a hurricane plan in place for its guests. That kind of long-range forecasting does not exist," he says.īut those months are the best as far as rates for hotels and flights, as well as fewer crowds, so it may be worth it to take the chance. "Whether one occurs at a specific location this season is impossible to predict. What that seasonal outlook can't tell you (unfortunately) is whether any particular land areas will be hit and what those impacts would be, stresses Dennis Feltgen, meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center. The NOAA seasonal outlook is forecasting a near-normal 2016 season in terms of activity. The reason the prices are so wonderful then? That's prime hurricane season, which falls between June 1 and November 30. Of course, what better place to relax and recharge than the Caribbean? If you're just starting to plan now, you're likely looking at late summer, early fall for your beachy getaway. As the summer wears on, it hits you: You need a vacation. — - Alarm, go to work, head home, go to sleep.
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