Secret treasures of the Lesser Antilles

Casa de Campo is a relatively new ‘Resort-port’ in the Dominican Republic, which is entirely geared to the Caso de Campo Resort, rather than an existing town. It is situated on the eastern side of Hispaniola, an island that it shares with Haiti. This port, still in its infancy in terms of development, is somewhat controversial because most of the more interesting options are available only through ships' shore excursions, and hence there's a limited range of activities for independent travellers. Read more about Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, abutting the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, is a region known for its 32km stretch of beaches and clear waters. The Bávaro area and Punta Cana combine to form what is known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast. It is popular for zip-lining, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing. Read more about Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Virgin Gorda (‘Fat Virgin’) is the third largest and the second most populated of the British Virgin Islands. The main business centre is Spanish Town, to the SW of this elongated island. Ships tender to port. Read more about Virgin Gorda, Virgin Islands (British)

Montserrat (‘Serrated Mountain’), also known as the ‘Emerald Isle of the Caribbean’, is a lush green volcanic island in the Leeward Islands of the NE Caribbean. It is a British Overseas Territory. The island is 16.5km N-S and10kmE-W, and one-third of its area is covered by lava flows from the 1995-2000 eruptions of Soufrière Hills volcano (French: “sulfur outlet”; 915m). Read more about Montserrat, Montserrat

In the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, Deshaies is a commune located on the NW coast of Basse-Terre Island. It is situated on the deepest best naturally protected bay of all the Eastern Caribbean coast, and historically it was used as a shelter for the early explorers. Known as Fort Royal, it was the the first village of Club Med intended exclusively for American customers. Read more about Deshaies, Guadeloupe

Roseau, a small, compact and most important urban settlement, is the capital and largest city of the island of Dominica, in the Caribbean. Dominica has been nicknamed the ‘Nature Isle of the Caribbean’ for its unspoiled natural beauty. Interestingly, it is built on the site of the ancient Kalinago Indian village of Sairi. Read more about Roseau, Dominica

Martinique is a Caribbean island that is an overseas department of France. It truly is a ‘little bit of France’, and visitors quickly become aware that very little English is spoken. On the other hand, it is intriguing in that it is one of the few islands where the lush countryside reflects the growth of sugar cane and bananas. Read more about Fort-de-France, Martinique