Out of these Caribbean Islands, which one should I go to?

Question

I am interested in St.Lucia, Barbados, or Turks & Caicos. My husband and I enjoy snorkeling, hiking, and beautiful scenery. Out of these three, which one do you recommend?

Answer 1

St Lucia is the one that combines all three,they have great snorkeling destinations even if its not as plenty as Turk and caicos;
http://www.theshroyers.com/stlucia/beaches.shtml
The Anse Cochon and Anse Chastanet reefs and an old sunken ship are some of the underwater haunts waiting to be explored.
The islands natural view in terms of nature is spectacular from its Magnificent Gross Pitons which rises and astonishing 700 meter out of the sea to turtle watching.
http://www.geographia.com/st-lucia/lceco01.htm
The country abounds with beauty all about.
Barbados is beauty ful however you will be severely limited. hike,http://www.barbados.org/sightseeing/flowerforest/tour.htm
http://www.parks.it/world/BB/Eindex.html
Turks and Caicos even worse,these two destination offer beaches historic sites and a few nature parks that are pretty however pale in comparison,interms of hiking.
However the Turks and caicos offer a huge area for Diving and snorkeling over 200 miles,of excellent white sand beaches.
Shopping and night life are also high on the list,yes St lucia will offer good night life but then each island has its own unique flavor.
Barbados is excellent for its sun sea percption,great night night life good tours on its estate in sugar and historic sites from wind mills to sampling of natural sugar cane juice made naturally,however not much in its original look like natural vegeatation of the land.
And another interesting area in which many traveler dont take into consideration is the size of the islands intended for you vacation Turcks and caicos is the smallest of the three when single out island by island.http://www.turksandcaicos.tc/turks/index.htm
So the question beckons which item on your dream list is more appealing?
So as to get a better idea how you want,were you want ot spend you vacation.
If its Hiking St lucia,If its suns sea Turks caicos ,you can also includ Barbados if you think that sun and sea will not hold your attention,with shopping and other manmade attractions.

Answer 2

Turks and Caicos is my first choice for snorkeling and water excursions. However, they are short on beautiful scenery (very dry and not so pretty landscape). Hiking is not what you do in Turks and Caicos. It's all about the water and beaches.
Never been to St Lucia, but I have read the island is beautiful.
Barbados would be your best bet out of the 3. Good snorkeling, hiking and pretty scenery.

Have you ever considered St John in the USVI. The beaches are awesome and great snorkeling. The island is 75% park land. Perfect for hiking. And the island is volcanic. You have beautiful hills and valleys. The island is everything you described and more.

Good Luck in finding your dream island)

Answer 3

Im going to be frank and honest with you.
If you are interested in hiking then Barbados and Turks and Caicos are Definately Out of it.
St Lucia has hiking trails and has very beautiful scenery but I have never snorkeled there so dont know what the snorkellng is like.

However There is and island that Matches ALLL of the above AND MORE but you have not mentioned.
This island is nicknamed"The Nature Island Of The Caribbean" because it is virtually untouched-said to be the only Caribbean island that Columbus would recognise if he would return.
It is the English speaking island of Dominica Situated inbetween the french islands of Martnique and Guadeloupe in the eastern Caribbean.2 islands North of St Lucia.
The island empasises Not mass Tourism but rather Eco-Tourism.There are many well maintained trails to various one-of-a kind sites such as our famous "Boiling lake"..it is the Largest of its kind, largest in the world and biggest one in the western hemisphere.
The island has 365 rivers, the most mountainous of the islands with the highest peak reaching 4 747 ft therefore the island of Dominica has uncountable waterfalls some being discovered to This DAY!
I bet you did not kno that Dominica was rated the 3rd best Destination in the ENTIRE Atlantic for scuba Diving all round by the Readers Choice Magazine 2007(that speak for itslef) WITH TOP MARINE LIFE TOP SMALL ANIMAL ENCOUNTER
Dominica is also branded as the "Whale watching Capital of the Caribbean"

I can go on and on and talk about all the activities such as atv riding in the forest,river tubing RIVER CANYONING,and so fourth but i will leave u with webistes that give u an idea of how beautful the island is and various accomodations available.

p.S YOU REMEBER THAT BEAUTIFUL GREEN MOUNTAINOUS ISLAND YOU SAW IN PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2&3..WELL THAT IS DOMINICA IT WAS FILMED HERE....AS WELL AS THE CBS REALITY SERIES PIRATE MASTERS.
I f you are really looking for all teh 3 things u asked for ..then Dominica is definately the place for you.Nowhere else seriously!

Answer 4

If you are interested in snorkeling you will be disappointed in St. Lucia. The beaches are not good unless you stay at the very tip of the island where the priciest resort is and even there you will not snorkel. The snorkelling you can find there is near Anse Chastenet and unless you are staying there plan on a long ride to get there.Barbados...eh....too typical. Turks and Caicos are supposed to be excellent for snorkeling. Now....if you really want some great snorkeling I know the spots in Mexico if you want to visit the Riviera Maya. Just email me

Answer 5

Turks And Caicos Islands my dear ! That place is just so beautiful and you can snorkel & eat conch on Grand Turk and all the other Islands as well.

Answer 6

Barbados, Turks and Caicos. Even Grenada, that's where I'm from they've got great beaches an other areas for snorkling and diving.

Answer 7

My husband and I did some awesome snorkeling in St. Lucia and it was absolutely beautiful and with a lot of excursions. The rain forest is awesome and the zip lining is incredible! We stayed at the Sandals Regency and they had three snorkeling trips a day to various locations.

Answer 8

I am acquainted with all three and looking at your combination of interests and the fact that you don't want to spend all your time on beaches, I would recommend Barbados.

Answer 9

Bahamas is large yet additionally relatives orientated and the Sandals hotels in Jamaica are large and their no infants so as this is relaxing too! relies upon who your going with yet i'd decide on a sort of two!

Answer 10

Barbados is probably the best place to go and do all that stuff. I personally have never been there but heard it's a great place to visit.