Information Caribbean

Destination West indies

Our sites in the West indies

Useful news :

Destination West Indies

The West Indies are a large group of islands that separate the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.

Our sites in the West Indies :

Guadeloupe

Martinique

Bélize

	Guadeloupe Guadeloupe is a lively center of Creole culture, boasting a spirited blend of French and African influences. As well known for its sugar and rum as for its dive sites and resorts, the archipelago offers an interesting mix of modern cities, rural hamlets, rainforests and secluded beaches.

	Martinique Martinique is a slice of France set down in the tropics. Islanders wear Paris fashions and eat croissants. Zouk music pouring out of tape players, bars and nightclubs will remind you, however, that Martiniquans have a culture of their own, solidly based on West Indian Creole traditions.

	Belize This tiny nation is so laid-back it's almost comatose. Dabbling its toes in the Caribbean Sea, Belize has more in common with its island neighbors than the fiery volatility of Central America - its history is thoroughly coup-free. Soak up the glorious natural wonders and rich cultural history. Unpaved roads, high prices and a lack of infrastructure make it a difficult place to travel, but Belize compensates with brilliant diving, dramatic ruins and pristine jungle - secluded eco-lodges cater for sedentary adventurers. The English-speaking population is mainly Creole and Mestizos (mixed descent).

Useful news :

Money	Visa	Health	Useful phonenumbers
Electricity	Climate	Useful links	Conditions for renting a boat

Money

In Guadeloupe and Martinique, Euro is the local currency.

In Belize, the local currency is the Belizian Dollar ($Bz). 1 US$ = 2 $Bz .

Visa

Visas are not required for citizens of the US, Canada, Australia or the European Union. Citizens of the EU need an official identity card, passport or valid French carte de séjour(visitor permit). Citizens of all other foreign countries need a valid passport and some require a visa for France. All visitors officially require a return or onward ticket

Health

Good medical care is available throughout the French West Indies. Not all doctors speak or understand English. Hyperbaric chambers are available in Guadeloupe at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Abymes and in Martinique at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Fort de France.

Cases of dengue fever have been reported in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.

Sun:

In the West Indies, the sun can easily damage your skin , so you need to protect it with high protection solar cream before each cruise.

Useful phonenumbers

Police in Belize: 911

In the french West Indies :

Fire Patrol : phone :18
Emergency : phone : 15

Police : 17

Climate

The islands of the West Indies are all in the tropics, the warm climate zone between latitudes 10° and 23°27’ north. In these latitudes the sun is high overhead all year, so there is little variation from day to day between the times of sunrise and sunset.

The sun's heat is moderated by the cool temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean and by the trade winds, which blow from the northeast throughout the year. These winds blow more strongly from January to April, bringing cooler temperatures and showers from far out in the Atlantic.

Conditions for renting a boat

If you want to rent a sailboat or a motorboat, you need a sailing licence or a boat licence.

Electricity
Power is exactly the same in the West Indies as in Europe, that is to say 220 V.

Useful Links

Internet : www.antilles-info-tourisme.com