Quick Facts
Capital: Kingston
Population: 2,825,928
Size: 11,100 square km.
Power Outlets:
Official Languages: English, Jamaican Patois
Currency: Jamaican Dollar
Time Zone: UTC -5
Calling Code: +1-876

Weather: Jamaica has a tropical maritime climate that is a major appeal as a vacation destination. Temperatures along the coasts average 26-30C (78-86F) year-round. Temperatures are a bit cooler as you enter the mountains, but even the Blue Mountains average about 18C (64F). Rainy season is from May/June to November/December, with the heaviest rainfall coming in September and October. Rain can fall at any time of year. Hurricane season is from June to November, with August and September being peak months.

Cost/Budgeting: Jamaica, along with most Caribbean islands, isn’t necessarily meant for the budget traveler. A backpacker can get by on $35/day, but accommodations will be a bit rough and food will have to be found at roadside stalls and budget restaurants. Public transport can be cheap, except for taxis. The best deals for your money can be found at all inclusive resorts, or you can visit in the low season of April to December.

History: Jamaica is said to have been inhabited for close to 6000 years. Christopher Columbus hit land in 1494, claiming Jamaica for Spain. He found over 200 villages on the island upon his arrival. After a series of pirate attacks and battles, the English took Jamaica over from Spain in 1655. Jamaica became a leader in exporting sugar while under British control, much because of the help of slaves. Even though the slave trade was abolished in 1807, Indian and Chinese workers were imported to join the already large number of African slaves. By this time, blacks outnumbered whites about 20 to 1 because of the reliance on slaves. Slavery was finally abolished in 1834 and slaves were emancipated in 1838, resulting the freeing of over 300,000 slaves. In 1958 Jamaica became of a province as part of the British West Indies and gained full independence by 1962. After an initial decade of success after gaining their independence, Jamaica fell upon hard times in the 1970’s and 80’s. Despite a strong tourism industry, Jamaica remains a poor country, with a per capita income of only $4390.

Culture: The largest religion in Jamaica is Christianity as a result of abolitionist and missionary visits during the slave movement. Rastafarians also make up a large number of Jamaica’s population, creating a unique culture different from other Caribbean islands. The still thriving African culture of Jamaica is renowned around the world, particularly for its reggae music, which has had an impact on many musical genres popular today.

Things to See/Do:
Like all Caribbean destinations, the beach and the sea are the main attractions, with Negril being at the top of the list. Swimming, jet skiing, and swimming with dolphins are all activities one can enjoy in the crystal waters of Jamaica. If you want to get away from the beach for a while, plenty of opportunities are around.
Swimming/beaches: Treasure Beach on the south coast is a great little fishing village that welcome’s tourists. Treasure Beach along with Frenchman’s Cove near Port Antonia provides great stretches of palm-fringed beaches.
Diving/snorkeling: You can travel to Runaway Bay, Treasure Beach, or Ocho Rios for some world class diving and snorkeling around reefs.
Hiking: The Blue Mountains provide opportunities for hiking, backpacking, camping, and horseback riding.
Cities/Reggae: Despite the warnings of violence, many of which are real, any traveler with a sense of adventure and some street smarts can head to Kingston for a more cosmopolitan feel and to see some true reggae. Fans of Bob Marley can visit his birthplace at Nine Mile, where he is also buried.
Food: Be sure to sample some amazing Caribbean seafood at restaurants like Little Ochie or the Lover’s Leap on the lesser traveled south coast of Jamaica.
Tours: You can take a tour of the Appleton Rum Distillery or for the more adventurous, take a Black River Safari in a pontoon boat up Jamaica’s longest river. You will get to witness crocodiles and various species of birds.
Parks: Apple Valley Park is a place to have a real good time. It has waterfalls, fishing and boating ponds, and swimming pools to keep the kids having a great time.

Geography: Jamaica is the Caribbean’s third largest island and fourth largest country. The Blue Mountains are located inland, while most cities are found on the coasts. Head to the Kingston Harbour to view one of the world’s largest natural harbours. Several waterfalls and lagoons located around the island are great places for tourists to visit.

Quick Facts About the Bahamas
Capital: Nassau
Population: 330,549
Size: 13,878 km
Power Outlets: 127/230V 50Hz
Official Languages: English
Currency: Dollar (BSD)
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -5
Calling Code: +1-242

Weather: The Bahamas enjoy 320 sunny days a year and temperatures of 70 F during winter and  80 F during the summer. The islands are balmy year-round, with cooling,  winds blowing by day from the east. The rainy season is from late May to November. Humidity in the northern islands is relatively high year-round. Hurricane season is June to November. The high season typically runs from mid-December to mid-April.

Cost and Budgeting for the Bahamas
The Bahamian dollar (BS$) is linked one-to-one with the US dollar and you can use US currency everywhere. There are ATMs in the leading tourist centers. Bring extra cash for small meals, sundries and tips when heading to the far reaches of the Out Islands or hopping between cays where ATMS are few and far between. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the islands.

Bahamas History
The seafaring Taino people, known as Lucayans, moved into the uninhabited southern Bahamas from Hispaniola and Cuba around the 7th century AD.  There were an estimated 30,000+ Lucayans at the time of Columbus’ arrival in 1492. The Spaniards who followed Columbus depopulated the islands, carrying most of the indigenous people off into slavery. In 1648, the Eleutherian Adventurers migrated from Bermuda. These English puritans established the first permanent European settlement on an island.

In 1670 King Charles II granted the islands to the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas, who rented the islands from the king with rights of trading, tax, appointing governors, and administering the country. During proprietary rule, the Bahamas became a haven for pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. To restore orderly government, the Bahamas was made a British crown colony in 1718 under the royal governorship of Woodes Rogers, who succeeded in suppressing piracy.

In 1967, Lynden Pindling of the Progressive Liberal Party became the first black premier of the colony, and in 1968 the title was changed to prime minister. In 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. Sir Milo Butler was appointed the first black governor-general shortly after independence. Based on the twin pillars of tourism and offshore finance, the Bahamian economy has prospered since the 1950s. However, there remain significant challenges in areas such as education, health care, international narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration from Haiti.

Bahamas Culture
In the less developed outer islands, handicrafts include basketry made from palm fronds. This material, commonly called “straw”, is plaited into hats and bags that are popular tourist items. Another use is for so-called “Voodoo dolls,” despite the fact that such dolls are the result of the American imagination and not based on historic fact. Obeah, a religion of folk magic, sorcery, and religious practices derived from Central African and West African origins, is practiced in some of the Family Islands (out-islands) of the Bahamas. Junkanoo is a street parade of music, dance, and art held in many cities of the Bahamas every Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Regattas are important social events in many family island settlements. They usually feature one or more days of sailing by old-fashioned work boats, as well as an onshore festival. Some settlements have festivals associated with the traditional crop or food of that area, such as the “Pineapple Fest” in Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the “Crab Fest” on Andros. Other significant traditions include story telling.

Things to See and Do in the Bahamas
Bahamas National Trust Park- For hikers, birders, turtles and more than 50,000 flamboyant flamingos, this national park is a great way to spend the day when the beach gets boring.
Clarence Town- Beautiful churches watch over secluded bays and a 660ft deep blue hole that makes for excellent diving.
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park- Explore 365 cays with excellent boating, snorkeling, and diving.
San Salvador- This area boast some great diving around deep sea walls.
Cat Island- African heritage apparent in crumbling slave plantations and obeah practices
Sailing- There’s sailing great to Abacos where the gentle trade winds blow.
Diving- Dive Andros’ blue holes to sea a plethora of undersea life.

Bahamas Geography
All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft). The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia, formerly called Como Hill, which has an altitude of 63 metres (210 ft) on Cat Island. To the southeast, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and three more extensive submarine features called Mouchoir Bank, Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank, are geographically a continuation of the Bahamas, but not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, and is moderated significantly by the waters of the Gulf Stream, particularly in winter. Conversely, this often proves very dangerous in the summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands.

Weather: Like the rest of the Caribbean, the best time to go is between December and April when the weather is drier. The months of August through November are hurricane season and there are many storms.

Cost and Budgeting
Curacao is a fairly expensive place to go visit. Lodging is the biggest expense here as many of the rooms are in high-priced hotels. Travelers looking for a resort vacation should plan on spending about US$200 a day. For those looking for a budget holiday, you can get by on about US$75 per day if you hunt down an inexpensive guesthouse or hostel and eat from food stands. There’s a 7% room tax and 12% service charge added to every hotel bill and the porters will expect a 10% tip. Restaurants also add a 10% service charge.

Curacao History
The original inhabitants of Curacao were Arawak Amerindians. The first Europeans here were the Spanish in 1499.  The island was occupied by the Dutch starting in 1634. The Dutch West India Company founded the capital of Willemstad on the banks and the natural harbor proved quickly to be an ideal spot for trade and defense. Commerce and shipping became Curacao’s most important activities and eventually the Dutch West India Company made Curacao a center for the slave trade.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the island changed hands among the British, the French, and the Dutch many times but Dutch rule returned in 1815. The Dutch abolished slavery in 1863 and this caused economic hardship, prompting many inhabitants of Curacao to leave.  The discontent between many of the Curacao social groups culminated in large scale rioting and protest in 1969. The civil unrest fueled a social movement that resulted in the local population having more influence in politics.

Curacao Culture
The majority of the inhabitants of Curacao are Roman Catholic. However, there are practicing Muslims as well as Hindus. Though small in size, Curacao boasts the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas, dating to 1651, and the oldest synagogue of the Americas in continuous use. Local food is called Krioyo and boasts a blend of flavors and techniques best compared to Caribbean cuisine and Latin American cuisine. Curacao liqueur was developed here when a local experimented with the rinds of the local fruit, laraha.

Things to See and Do in Curacao
Visit the Museums- Curacao has a number of museums and forts that provide a look at the island’s history. The Kura Hulanda museum, Fort Nassau and Fort Amsterdam are very good.
Head to Christoffel National Park- Christoffel National Park is home to Indian caves where you can see paintings left by the Arawak Indians.
Head to Shete Boka National Park- Shete Boka is home to the boca’s. Some of the boca’s serve as sea turtle breeding grounds.
Visit the Curacao Sea Aquarium- One of the most popular attractions in Curacao, there is a Dolphin center that allows you to interact with the animals.
Explore the Hato Caves- Coral and limestone caves that have beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations as well as water pools and a waterfall. The caves are also home to a colony long nose fruit bats.
Scuba Dive/Snorkel- Curacao has some excellent dive sites too and the clear waters make for excellent visibility. If you don’t want to or can’t dive, the snorkeling is just as good. The waters are their calmest around December.

Curacao Geography
Curacao is famous for its coral reefs, making it a great place for scuba diving. The beaches on the south side contain many popular diving spots. An unusual feature of Curacao diving is that the sea floor drops off steeply within a few hundred feet of the shore, and the reef can easily be reached without a boat. This drop-off is locally known as the “blue edge.” Strong currents and lack of beaches make the rocky northern coast dangerous for swimming and diving. The southern coast offers remarkably calm waters. The coastline of Curacao also features many bays and inlets.