Top 10: Caribbean wildlife holidays
2. St Lucia
Of the main islands in the Caribbean, St Lucia looks the most dramatic. Rainforest covers much of the island’s mountainous interior, and the Pitons, a pair of green, pyramidal, volcanic spires, rise abruptly out of the sea in the south-west. You can climb one of them (if you’re fit), go on guided rainforest treks, zip-line over the canopy and cruise in a catamaran down the west coast. Fond Doux (fonddouxestate.com) offers back-to-nature stays, its cottages dotted over a working plantation estate: booked through Simply St Lucia (01732 811043; simplystluciaholidays.co.uk), with rates from £1,310, including breakfast. Fred Mawer
St Lucia (Fotolia/AP)
3. Guyana
Formerly British Guiana, this wild, jungle-filled English-speaking country is rich with memorable natural encounters from the lofty Kaieteur Falls to cacophonous tropical rainforests and the vast grasslands of the Rupununi. Macaws, giant otters, howler monkeys, caiman and jaguar are some of the possible sightings, and most tours also visit Amerindian communities and the characterful capital, Georgetown. A 15-day Guyana Wildlife private journey, visiting these sights and staying in lodges, ranches and field stations, costs from £4,643 per person with Journey Latin America (020 3432 1533; journeylatinamerica.co.uk), including flights, transfers, activities and most meals. Nigel Tisdall
4. Montserrat
Montserrat is one of the most incredible sights in the Caribbean, with a tremendous, still-smoking volcano that erupted in 1997 with such force that two-thirds of the island is now out of bounds. The chance to behold the mighty Soufrière Hills, and the colossal devastation it caused, is a chief reason to visit. You can take a day trip from Antigua, or stay longer and discover a welcoming island with an old-style charm and unexpected Irish heritage. Hiking, diving and the relaxed pace of life are further reasons to hide away on “the other Emerald Isle”. Olveston House (olvestonhouse.com), with six rooms and owned by Beatles producer Sir George Martin, is a characterful base. Booked through Motmot Travel (01327 359622; motmottravel.com): from £1,745 with breakfast flying via Antigua. Nigel Tisdall
Montserrat (Fotolia/AP)
5. Trinidad
From the magnificent veranda of the Asa Wright Nature Centre (asawright.org) in Trinidad’s Northern Range, expect to spot an amazing 35 species even before breakfast – violaceous euphonias, bell birds that sing “boing… boing…” and oro pendulas, flashes of yellow with hanging nests like a cannon ball in a straw stocking. On the beaches you can catch a glimpse of massive leatherback turtles nesting. A week’s birding with Mot Mot Travel (01327 359622; motmottravel.com) with breakfast, local taxes and service charges, costs from £1,560, single supplement, £190. James Henderson
• Trinidad and Tobago travel guide
6. Costa Rica
Sitting between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is a place for adventurous eco tourism – up the volcano, down the raging river into the lush rainforest. A tailor-made tour is the best way to see it: a 15-night Costa Rica Nature De Luxe package with Reef and Rainforest (01803 866965; reefandrainforest.co.uk) travels from coast to coast and includes boat tours, rafting on the Sarapiquí River, guided wildlife walks and accommodation in boutique hotels and lodges. From £4,390 per person including flights, transfers, activities and most meals. Nigel Tisdall
Costa Rica (Fotolia/AP)
7. Venezuela
Venezuela is not just home to the world’s tallest waterfall – Angel Falls – the country also boasts snow-capped Andean peaks, wildlife-rich savannah and a long Caribbean coast that includes the labyrinthine water-world of the Orinoco Delta. A 13-day Venezuelan Odyssey small group tour taking in all these highlights, along with time in colonial cities and a visit to a coffee hacienda, costs from £3,815 per person through Geodyssey (020 7281 7788; geodyssey.co.uk), including flights, transfers, activities and most meals. Nigel Tisdall
8. Tobago
The agouti – a large but shy brown rodent – lives on most Caribbean islands and is almost never seen. So it is lovely to spot one picking its way delicately around the garden at Castara Retreats (castararetreats.com) on the north coast of Tobago. You are completely immersed in nature in this part of the island – surrounded by greenery, tropical birds fly through your veranda. There’s even a waterfall nearby. Golden Holidays (01403 755122; golden-holidays.co.uk) can offer trips to Castara Retreats from £782, room only. James Henderson
• Trinidad and Tobago travel guide
9. Jamaica
Jamaica’s rivers and waterfalls are beautiful. The most famous waterfall is Dunns River Falls, a series of cascades and rockpools that tumbles in stages around 600 feet down to the coast just outside Ocho Rios. It is very attractive – but almost always full of people. Go early or at the end of the day and wait until the crowds have cleared. Other waterfalls are also lovely: YS Falls in the south west are well worth a visit (it also has a zip-line), as are Reach Falls beyond Port Antonio in the east. Just down the coast is the Sandals Royal Plantation hotel (sandals.co.uk/main/plantation/rp-home.cfm), which sits on its own secluded and very attractive stretch of coastline, with forested slopes tumbling down to the beach, just east of Ocho Rios on the north shore of Jamaica. Doubles from £199. James Henderson
10. Barbados
The glorious Andromeda Botanic Gardens overlook the east coast. There are two self-guided routes. Iris’ Path has more to see in the way of plants, while John’s Path passes the number one highlight, an astonishingly vast Bearded Fig Tree, with aerial roots everywhere. You may see green monkeys, especially if you’re there early or late. The gardens are a five-minute walk from the Sea-U Guest House (seaubarbados.com), which nestles on a hillside just above the sea at Tent Bay. A couple of minutes’ drive, or a 10-minute walk along the coast, brings you to the beautiful beach of Bathsheba. Doubles from £100. Fred Mawer
Tell us about your favourite Caribbean family holiday destination at telegraph.co.uk/caribbeanawards
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