This document provides information about various Caribbean islands and countries. It lists 24 Caribbean islands and countries. It then provides more detailed descriptions and histories of Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Barbados. Cuba is described as the largest Caribbean island located between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic. Jamaica is located south of Cuba and known for its beaches, markets, music and culture. Puerto Rico is an island located east of the Dominican Republic that Christopher Columbus discovered and named San Juan Bautista. Barbados is praised for its beautiful beaches along its coastlines and culture of fine living. Relevant websites for further information are also provided.

2. 1. BARBADOS
2. BAHAMAS
3. COLOMBIA
4. CUBA
5. DOMINICA
6. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
7. US VIRGIN ISLANDS
8. PUERTO RICO
9. JAMAICA
10. HAITI
11. NICARAGUA
12. SAINT LUCIA
13. SAINT VINCENT AND THE
GRENADINES
14. HONDURAS
15. GRENADA
16. BOLIVAR DEPARTMENT
17. MAGDALENA DEPARTMENT
18. ARUBA
19. GUADELOUPE
20. TOBAGO
21. TRINIDAD
22. ANTIGUA
23. SABA
24. MARTINIQUE
The Caribbean includes more than
7,000 islands

3. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on
a small island he called San Salvador. Columbus believed
he had reached the Indies, or the islands southwest of
India that include Indonesia and Malaysia. Columbus
died believing he had reached the east by sailing west,
but instead he had discovered a “new world.” San
Salvador was one of the islands in the Caribbean Sea, a
body of water between North America and South
America. The islands of the Caribbean are part of the
West Indies. The West Indies received its name because
Columbus believed the native people of the Caribbean
Islands were Indians.

4. Cuba is the largest Caribbean island, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean. It lies 145 km (90 miles) south of Key West,Florida, between the Cayman Islands and
the Bahamas, to the west of Haiti, east of Mexico and northwest of Jamaica. Since
independence in 1902, Cuba had been an American satellite state. The Cuban economy was
dependent on America's and the second most important person in the island was the American
ambassador. During this time, most of the population lived in poverty and social inequalities
were large. It was during this period that Cuba became a popular tourist destination for United
States citizens, mainly due to Havana's European-like beauty, its high standard of living (Cuba
having the largest Latin American middle class per-capita in 1958), and the large number of
shows, events, and casinos catering to tourists. During such era more Americans resided in Cuba
than Cubans in USA. Many Americans had beach homes during the summer, and rich American
companies also owned large factories and land in the island nation.

5. Jamaica is an island nation in the
Caribbean located to the south of
Cuba and to the west of the island
of Hispaniola. Relax on world-class
beaches around the island, bargain
at the local markets, drum at a
Rastafarian village, dancewith the
locals at a Maroon village, sample Kingston nightlife,
experience a different side of this familiar island.

6. Today’s visitors will appreciate their trip to Jamaica all the more if
they embrace the island’s unique character and the inherent
‘African-ness’ of its population. Aside from its people, Jamaica has
much to offer, the curious, thirsty or weary traveller. The Blue
Mountains boasts the world’s best coffee, try a cup in the century-
old factory at Mavis Bank. There are world-class reefs for diving
including those at Runaway Bay and Ocho Rios and great stretches
of palm-fringed sand at Treasure Beach or Frenchman’s Cove
near Port Antonio. There are offbeat bush-medicine hiking tours,
congenial fishing villages, pristine waterfalls, cosmopolitan cities,
wetlands harboring endangered crocodiles and manatees,
unforgettable sunsets – in short, enough variety to comprise many
utterly distinct vacations.

7. Located in the Caribbean Sea to
the east of the Dominican
Republic and west of the U.S.
Virgin Islands Puerto Rico lies
on a key shipping lane to the
Panama Canal, the Mona
Passage. Christopher Columbus
landed on the island of Puerto
Rico in 1492 on his second
voyage of discovery, and
originally named it San Juan
Bautista in honor of Saint John
the Baptist. The name of the
island's present day capital, San
Juan, honors the name
Columbus first gave the island.

8. Barbados beaches are some of
the best in the Caribbean!
Explore the tranquil west coast
beaches, the lively south coast
Barbados beaches , the rugged
east and northern coasts of
Barbados.
Swimming, kayaking, glass bottom boat ride or just relaxing under a
palm tree... what a way to vacation in Barbados!
In Barbados we’ve mastered the art of fine living.And offer daily lessons for
those who seek to do the same .Here at the official turism site of Barbados,
you ‘ll discover a vibriant culture passionate in spirit and full of life. A place
when rifinet luxury and exceptional culinary delights dance and mingle
among lush tropical greenery, limpid blue waters and warm golden sunlight. a
day on a white sandy beach. Try some flying fish. Enjoy a rum punch. Learn to
trade the rush, rush for the slow and easy. Just give us a few days and you
won't remember the old you. Let us teach you how to truly live.

9. www.mrdowling.com
www.worldatlas.com
en.wikipedia.org
wikitravel.org
www.tripadvisor.com
www.visitbarbados.org