Windward and Leeward island - must sees

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mattonthesea

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Hi

I'm leaving Grenada soon to contnue the cruise up island to Antigua-ish, ready for a crossing back in May. I already have the Tobago Quays, Union Island, Antigua race weeks and St Martens on the must see list. What else must I see?

I prefer 'real life' places to toytown cute. EG I much preferred Funchal to Quinta Do Lordes, Nazare and Povoa de Vazim to (can't remember!) and Naos to Rubicon or Porto Calero.

Thanks
 
Montserrat - do the tour.

Dominica - Indian river, Trafalgar falls

Martinique - St Pierre

St Barths - Anse du Colombier

Isles des Saintes - Isle de Cabrits

Antigua - English Harbour, Gt Bird Island, St Johns Cathedral

Barbuda - 11 mile beach
 
A great way of seeing Monsarratt is by helicopter from Antigua, outstanding.

Also you can try 'killer bees' at Sunshines bar on Nevis (anchor off it) and the Brimstone Fort tour on St Kitts.

St. Martin Orient Bay for the let it hang out experience, the beach bar disco 'go as bare as you dare'.

Deshais (? spelling) last inlet going north on Guadaloupe. Check the Ti Punch!

Plus all Snowleopards suggestions, all top tips
 
You should also call in on the island of Saba. Besides offering great scuba diving in a marine park and great lobsters in a restaurant high up in the village based in the extinct vulcano area try the local Saba Spice drink. Not to be bought anywhere else! Have a good time!
 
As above + Sint Eustatia, go for a walk into the crater of the volcano, amazing place, and another great island for dive sites with good facilities to rent gear.

Night dives on the wreck where the turtles hang out, or snorkeling on the old sunken city walls spotting the canons.
 
On Guadeloupe, the riviere salee - a canal through the middle of the island, passage only in the middle of the night when the swing bridges open. Not possible on a charter boat as they don't allow night sailing.
 
How much would all that set you back then,including tips,`cool water` and baksheesh? Just asking. Sounds a bit like going round the Notting Hill Carnival on a hot bank holiday carrying two jerrycans of diesel. Good luck Jerry.
 
Dominica-take a tour with "Seacat". Ask the boat boys. He has some moorings too. Brilliant guide, will give a real eco tour.
 
You should allow some time to see (at least some of) the other islands in the Grenadines as well as the Tobago Cays. Admiralty Bay in Bequia is nice, but can get very crowded re anchoring, especially as there are many moorings available now (in the shallower water..... and much of the harbour is 'deep').

When you reach Antigua, if you are not a dedicated racing type you might prefer to be there for the Classics regatta (April 14th - 19th, http://www.antiguaclassics.com ) rather than Race Week (a week later) if you do not have time for both. You can be adventurous and go off the beaten track, eg around the north end, and the odds are you might find a bay to yourself up there. Nonsuch Bay and Green Island are also nice.

Perhaps see if you can buy a copy of one of the excellent cruising guides available (eg by Chris Doyle, or Don Street) on Amazon - Chris Doyle's Windward and Leeward Islands Guides are very detailed and regularly updated (I think every year).

PS - Will you be setting off for Bermuda (or the Azores) from St Maarten? If you still have time available when you get up there, you could consider an overnight trip west to the Virgin Islands, although they will probably appear to be very 'tame' in comparison to the Windward and Leeward islands.
 
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john_morris_uk said:
Its a bit touristy, but the Jump Up on Shirley Heights near English Harbour in Antigua .
Click to expand...

Essential life experience (for yachties) just so that you can spot your boat in the anchorage whilst enjoying steel band, bbq and rum punch, those were the days. The climb up can be quite hard work avoiding cactus spikes and falling off the wall also hurts or so I've been informed by crew who lost his balance.

If you still need more places I quite like carriacou, nice stop off anchorage at Saline island just south of the island if the swell isn't too big.
 
Thanks for all the info. I think maybe my three months or so here may be fuller than imagined. That is, if I don't fall into Caribbean time :-)

I can't imagine that, at one point in Portugal, I nearly gave up! Now I'm thinking about the next time.
 
That is, if I don't fall into Caribbean time :-)


My most glorious moment in the Caribbean was when I said to my wife "what month is it?" :cool:
 
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