It has birdlife more closely related to S. American birds, 1/3 of the island is set aside as protected parks.

I wrote a detailed report of most of the anchorage for the SSCA, but that was about 20 years ago so I doubt that they could find it. Here's a short entry: http://www.cruiser.co.za/hostmelon3.asp

Some of my favorites [with no charts in front of me, there are serious lapses in my memory of names]: Majors Bay on the SW side (could be Captain's Bay, but eh!) . Gateau (or Bateau) bay - where Blue Water Inn is. From there it's an easy dinghy ride to the Japanese Garden, a beautiful dive spot. We anchored in a bay below the then finest resort, and a gold course. Loved that place, too.

You won't find many people there, for sure.

Another island that we loved is Martinique. And renting a car and driving up into the hills is worth it. The "guard rails" along the mountain roads are just sticks they stuck into the ground that then rooted and grew. Fertile, fertile island.

Grande Anse d'Arlet was a beautiful bay to anchor in for a few days. And they, too, have a Marigot Bay. And there is Saint-Pierre that was buried in ash from a volcano eruption 100 or more years ago - not far from Fort de France.

Grenada was not our favorite island, but there is a lot of history and beauty there.

Even in the busiest locations there are quiet, little-visited bays. Salt Whistle Bay in the Grenadines is chock-a-block full usually, but a better, more comfortable anchorage is in Saline Bay.

The best part of the Caribbean, and what I miss most, is the fantastic sailing. Not many places like it.

Heading to Cartagena and Panama, you can find some really, really strong winds and huge following seas. Be careful.

Fair winds, J