Caribbean’s top charms

Home to more than 74 species of rare and exotic birds, St Lucia is a magnet for bird watchers.

Stay at Anse Chastanet (ansechastanet.com), a seafront resort beneath the Piton peaks, a Unesco World Heritage site, near the village of Soufri¨re, which is offering a new five-day birdwatching package including a visit to Millet Bird sanctuary and a rainforest trail.

Ornitholidays (01794 519445/ornitholidays.co.uk) offers an eight-night Pitons Parrots tour from £3,399pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes return flights from London to St Lucia and transfers.

GET KITE FIT

Kitesurfing, Richard Branson’s sport of choice, makes its Olympic debut in Rio in 2016. Learn to leap the waves at the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. The resort, only accessible by sea, is a watersport fan’s dream, with more than 100 sailboats, kayaks, windsurfers and motor boats to use. You can also embark on diving and snorkelling excursions.

Tropic Breeze (01752 880880/tropicbreeze.co.uk) offers seven nights at The Bitter End Yacht Club from £2,999 per adult and £1,499 per child (four sharing), full board. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick to Antigua, inter-island flights and transfers.

BOWLED OVER

This holiday for cricket lovers combines a week-long cruise from Antigua to Barbados, calling at St Barts, with three Twenty20 internationals and pre-match lunches and dinner with former England Test player Paul Allott.

The cruise, departing March 6, lets you explore St Barts’ chic capital Gustavia before arriving in Barbados, where you can take an excursion along the dramatic Atlantic coast and enjoy lunch at a 350-year old plantation, Fisherpond House.

There is also plenty of time to enjoy activities on 56-cabin SeaDream including rum cocktails around the outdoor pool and pampering in the Thai-themed spa.

ITC Sports (01244 355390/ itcsports.co.uk) offers eight nights from £6,445pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes flight from London to Antigua, return from Barbados and transfers.

GO SOCO ON BARBADOS

A stylish all-inclusive four-star hotel has opened on the South Beach boardwalk in Hastings.

The SoCo Hotel’s 24 rooms feature white leather bed heads and sofas and crushed bamboo veneered furniture.

It’s convenient for all the local beaches and attractions such as Harrison’s Cave, filled with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites.

Tropical Sky (0843 249 5257/tropicalsky.co.uk) offers seven nights at The SoCo Hotel from £1,199pp (two sharing), all-inclusive. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick and transfers.