Best of the Leeward Islands

The Leeward Islands, like the subject of yesterday’s post, the Windward Islands, are part of a large group of islands in the Caribbean Sea known as the Lesser Antilles. Today, I will concentrate on the northern cluster which are “leeward,” away from the wind (the prevailing northeasterly trade winds).

This group is represented by the Virgin Islands, both British and US, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Guadaloupe, Montserrat, St Maarten, and St Kitts/Nevis. Note that there is some disagreement about which islands are in which group (some sources put Dominica on this list, for instance).

Unfortunately, we have not visited many of these islands. The ones we have traveled to are discussed below.

Antigua and Barbuda are sisters and make up a single country, but Antigua is the main island and the place visited by cruise ships. The capital is St John’s and contains a deep harbor which can accomodate these huge ships.

Antigua

The British Virgin Islands consist of several main islands, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost van Dyke, with many smaller islands. The island of Tortola houses the capital, Road Town and is the primary stop for cruise lines.

Cane Garden Bay, Tortola

The US Virgin Islands consist of three (3) main islands, St Thomas, St John, and St Croix. We have been to two of the three. St John is the most pristine of the islands; much of it has been declared a national park and cannot be developed. Trunk Bay is one of its loveliest spots.