The six English-speaking Leeward Islands are the head of the Lesser Antilles. They are spread between the Dutch Windward Islands and the French possessions of St. Martin and St. Barthelemy (St. Barts). The British influence in this area is still visible in some remarkable historical sites. The beaches are beautiful, there are many water sports and you have a wide choice of accommodation ranging from guesthouses to family plantation hotels.

Although the Leeward Islands a common background, each island has its own identity. Anguilla, with its fabulous beaches and luxury resorts, is probably best suited for a relaxing beach. The very quiet and relatively undiscovered Barbuda has a number of delicious and often deserted beaches. The few access to children move with flippers on the enchanting coral reefs. Antigua is much livelier. They say for every day of the year to have another beach, which naturally rich exaggerated. However, there are excursions to historical sights and sounds in the friendly pubs evening live reggae music. The green St. Kitts and Nevis tiny colonial history combine with romantic Vakantiegenoegens on plantations and good walking and touring opportunities in the hills. Unfortunately, the hostages are beautiful Montserrat volcano, which erupted in 1995 and a large part of the island was uninhabitable. In 1997 the capital Plymouth was abandoned and became a temporary seat of government located in the northwest.
Antigua
With 280 km ², Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands. By the irregular coastline, with hundreds of coves and bays, it looks like an ink stain. The beaches are often secluded coves and many are only accessible by boat. The interior consists of an undulating landscape with yellow-gray and dry scrub. The small villages provide color and vegetation. Along the roads are painted wooden houses and modern villas with flower gardens. On the high areas along the coast are many remains of British fortifications, the most interesting Shirley Heights in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. Most of the approximately 70,000 residents live in the capital St. John’s. The bustling port city and cruise ship terminal is worth a visit. It is always busy in St. John’s thanks to the cruise passengers the duty-free shops at the pier at Heritage Quay modern skim. The south and southwest coast of the island have the best locations for diving and snorkeling.
Barbuda
Barbuda, Antigua 45 km is a lot calmer. On this atoll of 22 by 13 km population of only 1500 people who live mainly from fishing, farming and hunting. The top attractions are the incredibly pink white beaches and snorkeling. For ornithologists, there is lined with mangroves or the Frigate Bird Nature Reserve at Lake Codrington, where the largest colony of nesting frigate birds on earth. There is a downside to a visit to Barbuda: both are astronomically expensive holiday. It is advantageous to the island for a daytrip.
Anguilla
Long before the beaches in demand came threw the Spanish explorers a look at the flat, dry and most northerly of the Leeward Islands, called the Anguilla, which means ‘eel’ means and sailed away in search of more fertile, greener and more interesting areas. The island is 25 km long and 5 km at its widest and has 33 beautiful beaches, with sand so fine and red mullet, you must wade through almost rather walk over them. What the island lacks in terms of sights and activities is offset by some of the best and most luxurious hotels of the Caribbean islands with similar restaurants. You can have a great sailing, surfing, snorkeling and diving, and most major hotels have tennis courts and fitness centers. Anguilla has six marine parks and wreck sites 7. The more commercial Saint Martin is 40 minutes away by ferry.
St. Kitts
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is the first largest. They are part of a chain of volcanic islands, which also belongs Saba. The lush green, club-shaped island is 30 km long and less than 10 km at its widest section (see Figure introduction). The tail, which runs southeast to Nevis, consists of dry, rugged hills. In the capital Basseterre on the southwest coast are the best beaches and a range of hotels. To the north, the lower mountain slopes are covered with reeds suker. Apart from Basseterre and the beaches are popular walks through the rainforest. The trip to the edge of the crater of Mount Liamuiga (1156 m) takes a whole day, but less vemoeiend his jeep safaris to expire plantation houses and sugar mills. A nice day trip is a tour to the north of the island with historic sites and beautiful landscapes.
Nevis
St. Kitts Nevis is separated by a channel 3 km wide, The Narrows. In the middle of the almost circular island at 10 km 8 raises the top of the almost permanently in the clouds protruding up Nevis Peak (985 m). The name of the island is a corruption of the Spanish Nievas (snow) because Columbus thought the top of the mountain was covered with snow. The capital is Charlestown. The island has about 12,000 inhabitants. It is the liveliest spot of the island. Nevis in terms of tourism rather chic, yet relaxed and the population is very hospitable. There are no casinos and no major historical sights. The guests of the plantation most hotels have a beach to the Caribbean coast. Further, it is horse riding, hiking or a trip around the island.

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