Ryan Ver Berkmoes - Caribbean Islands

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With amazing culture, beaches, activities and weather not to mention the rum the Caribbean is a joyous riot of islands offering the ultimate escape.

Rocked by music, rolled by change, lapped by turquoise water, blown by hurricanes the Caribbean is not a place anyone could call static. Its a lively and intoxicating profusion of people and places spread over 7000 islands (fewer than 10% are inhabited). But, for all they share, theres also much that makes them different. Forming a huge swath around the Caribbean Sea, the namesake islands contradict in ways big and small. Can there be a greater contrast than between socialist Cuba and its neighbor, the bank-packed Cayman Islands? Or between booming British-oriented St Kitts and its sleepy, Dutch-affiliated neighbor Sint Eustatius, just across a narrow channel?

Travel long enough in this region and youll soon discover there is no typical Caribbean.

Azure seas, white beaches, green forests so vivid they actually hurt the eyes there is nothing subtle about the bold colors of the Caribbean. Swim below the waters for a color chart of darting fish and corals. Wander along the sand and stop at the paint-factory explosion that is a beach bar, from the garish decor to the rum punch in your glass. Hike into emerald wilderness and spot the accents of red orchids and yellow parrots.

Even the food is colorful, with rainbows of produce brightening up the local markets. Youll also see every color but dull at intense, costume-filled festivities like Carnival, celebrated throughout the region.

And all this color is infectious. Like birds shedding dull adolescent plumage, visitors leave their wardrobes of gray and black behind when they step off the plane and don the Caribbean palette.

No matter what youre looking for in an island adventure, youll find it here. Zero in on one perfect place or mix and match from a banquet of islands.

With so many islands, beaches, cultures, flavors and waves to choose from you are bound to have a fabulous time. Doing nothing on the sand, partying at a resort, exploring a new port of call, hopping between islands, discovering wonders under the water or catching a perfect wave above, reveling in a centuries-old culture, and finding your inner pirate are all possible.

Go on, take the plunge.

Island in the Tobago Cays (), St Vincent & the Grenadines
HOLGER LEUE/LONELY PLANET IMAGES

With nearly 700 islands spread across 100,000 sq miles of ocean, the Bahamas has enough secluded beaches and tempting hidden coves for a lifetime of exploration. For ethereal rosy-hued sands, hit up Eleuthera and Harbour Island, where beaches are tinted pink by crushed coral. The 365 Exuma Cays ( ) offers luscious sands just a few minutes from bustling downtown Freeport. Its fair to say the Bahamas ugliest beach would still be a beauty queen in most other places in the world.

RICHARD CUMMINS/CORBIS

The Carenage, St Georges, Grenada

One of the prettiest waterfronts in the Caribbean, this buzzing little horseshoe-shaped harbor ( ) is the perfect place to get a flavor of Grenada, with bobbing boats, busy cafes and a sprinkling of shady spots where you can watch the world go by or admire the lineup of gorgeous old waterside buildings. Spreading up from the bay, the hillside hodgepodge of brightly colored rooftops and a glowering stone fort get a scenic backdrop courtesy of the green, misty peaks of the Grand Etang National Park.

DONALD NAUSBAUM/PHOTOLIBRARY

Seafarers Joy, British Virgin Islands

Endowed with steady trade winds, tame currents and hundreds of protected bays, the British Virgin Islands ( ), known as the charter boat capital of the world, is the launching pad, so its easy to get geared up. Dont know how to sail? Learn on the job with a sailing school.

STEVE SIMONSEN/LONELY PLANET IMAGES

Fishing Villages, Martinique

The remedy to Martiniques often rampant development can be found in its charming fishing villages, where life goes on much as it always has and the tourist dollar has still not made much of an impact. Surrounded by majestic forested hillsides and framed by crescent sand beaches, theres a particular string of these beauties on the islands southwestern corner dont miss lovely Anse dArlet ( ).

J-LBELLURGET/PHOTOLIBRARY

Wild Wonder, Dominica

Before you die, spend some time in Dominica ( ), one of the least developed and most unusual islands in the region. Covered almost entirely by thick, virgin rainforest, it has a landscape quilted with innumerable shades of green. Stagger into beautiful scenes of misty waterfalls, chilly and boiling lakes, hot sulfur springs steaming through the earth, and valleys and gorges chiseled by time and the elements. Its a natural mosaic that will tug mightily at the hearts of artists, wanderers, romantics and anyone with an eco bent.

JUSTIN FOULKES/PHOTOLIBRARY

Tiny Islands, the Grenadines

Its heard in office cubicles the world over daily: Im chucking it all in and going to tramp around tropical islands! In a world of package tourism, huge cruise ships and mega-resorts, the very idea seems lost in another, simpler time. Until, that is, you reach the Grenadines. Starting with Bequia ( ), multiple tiny islands stretch south, still mostly linked by wooden fishing boats and poky mail boats. Hitch a ride, feel the wind in your face and head off to adventure.

GARDEL BERTRAND/PHOTOLIBRARY