Located southeast of the North American mainland is a region most famous for its beautiful beaches and gorgeous islands: the Caribbean. Tourists and expatriates from all over the globe visit and even relocate to this region because of the idyllic island life it offers.
But there’s more to the Caribbean than the sun, sand, and sea.
Beyond the sparkling waters and pearlescent white sand are four more wonderful things that make up the Caribbean: nature, culture, people, and investment. These aspects of the region are what make it a truly great region.
Nature
Although many people move to urban cities to achieve success in their careers, most of them always end up looking for more afterward. Given this fact, you might be wondering: What lies beyond the business growth and corporate ladders that is worth pursuing?
One likely answer is calm and fulfillment in nature. Think about it like this: When the most successful and famous personalities find time to leave their busy lives, where do they usually go? That’s right. Back to Mother Nature.
This is also one of the most likely reasons behind the high tourism rate in the Caribbean.
Of course, people who visit choose to do so because of other natural wonders besides the beaches. With a closer look, you will discover a few other activities that attract tourists and even expatriates to the Caribbean islands, including:
Hiking
Most islands in the Caribbean have unspoiled and mostly preserved forests. The lush tropical jungles are arguably the best place for hiking and discovering interesting things like medicinal plants and their uses.
Hiking on a Caribbean island also offers an opportunity to explore dormant volcanoes, hidden waterfalls, and old plantations and settlements that still reflect the harmonious relationship between people and nature.
Drive through volcanoes
In St. Lucia, you’ll get a chance to witness volcanoes up close and personal.
Drive through Sulphur Springs Park and witness a volcanic crater filled with bubbling water. Don’t worry. It’s not bubbling because the volcano is about to erupt. This is a perfectly safe spot to enjoy a unique tropical moonscape.
Of course, you can always visit during the day and indulge in a mud bath and hot springs.
Meet and greet sea creatures
Another wonderful volcanic destination that draws people to the region is the famous Champagne Reef.
Located in Dominica, this spot is a part of the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve, where you’ll find colorful marine life while snorkeling in what looks like a bubbly champagne glass.
Culture
The Caribbean has one of the most colorful cultures in the world. From its rich history to its mouthwatering cuisine, the region has it all.
Shaped by their long history of colonization, the countries in the region now follow a diverse culture, with native traditions sprinkled with British, French, Dutch, and Spanish customs from the 1600s.
Then, the United States began colonizing parts of the region, adding its own flavor to the mix in the 1900s. All this resulted in some of the most impressionable aspects of the Caribbean, as follows:
Music
When it comes to Caribbean music, the majority of people would think about reggae first. In fact, it would seem like this genre has become the unofficial soundtrack of multiple Caribbean vacations.
Despite that, there are several other types of music born in the region. A few examples are:
- Calypso – has a spiritual vibe and is played with maracas, bongos, and Spanish guitars.
- Soca – a kind of music that combines soul (so) and (ca) calypso and is commonly played in carnivals and fetes.
Cuisine
Caribbean cuisine offers a wide range of flavors, colors, and scents, thanks to the distinctive ingredients, spices, and condiments involved in it. In fact, tasting foods from this cuisine doesn’t just require one sense – it needs all of them.
Plus, food means more in Caribbean culture than just a form of sustenance. From the preparation to the mealtimes, food is the center of socialization and bonding for Caribbean families.
Carnivals
Carnivals are at the core of Caribbean culture. In fact, different countries in the region host hundreds of carnivals every year.
Some of the key characteristics of Caribbean festivals include:
- Loud music
- Invigorating dances
- Elaborate outlandish costumes
More importantly, Caribbean parades and parties showcase the vibrant culture and way of life people have in the region.
People
Did you know that the Caribbean is home to some of the friendliest people in the world? Because of its diverse culture, the locals here have become one of the primary reasons why the Caribbean has become a popular destination for Westerners.
Below are a few of the friendliest countries and islands in the region:
- The Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Antigua
- St. Lucia
- Grenada
- Barbados
- Dominica
Investment
Last but never least the things to look forward to in the Caribbean are opportunities for investment.
Countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Lucia all offer investment ventures that will not only help grow your income but also open doors to Caribbean citizenship.
As an official resident, you’ll also be enjoying additional perks, like:
- Tax incentives
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival privileges, and other travel advantages
- Citizenship extension to legal dependents
- Social benefits, including education and health services
If you wish to enjoy these perks, you should begin learning about the following aspects of Caribbean citizenship:
Investment options
Most Caribbean citizenship by investment programs (CIP) come with two routes: real estate or contribution to the country’s development fund. One of the few exceptions is Antigua and Barbuda, which has a business investment and education-related route.
Average investment cost
Individuals and families can enjoy the benefits of Caribbean citizenship provided that they meet the minimum amount of investment for the route they decide to take.
As of this writing, the lowest CIP by donation for individuals and families comes from Antigua and Barbuda at $100,000 (up to four family members).
For the real estate route, most countries require at least $200,000 to $300,000 investment on a government-sanctioned property or project.
Processing time
Processing time also varies from one nation to another. Some countries offer expedited processing, like St. Kitts and Nevis with their Accelerated Application Process (AAP) that speeds it up from a three- or four-month process to a 60-day wait.
Other countries have the following average CIP processing times:
- Antigua and Barbuda – three to four months
- Grenada – three months
- Dominica – three months
- St. Lucia – three months
Choose the Caribbean
Beyond gorgeous beaches, the Caribbean region offers many other things that could be more than enough reason to go there. They may even suffice in convincing people to uproot their family from life in their birth countries and relocate here.