Caribbean Islands

Spanish Speaking Islands of The Caribbean

The Caribbean Islands are an attractive mix of many cultures and languages for the tourist who is seeking a vacation on an island. To visit different Caribbean islands with different languages will reveal substantial cultural differences that will add to your enjoyment of your vacation.
I will here give you a quick overview of the Spanish [...]

The Caribbean Islands are an attractive mix of many cultures and languages for the tourist who is seeking a vacation on an island. To visit different Caribbean islands with different languages will reveal substantial cultural differences that will add to your enjoyment of your vacation.
I will here give you a quick overview of the Spanish speaking islands of The Caribbean.

Spanish Speaking Caribbean Islands
Among The Caribbean Islands three islands are Spanish speaking. These Spanish speaking islands are Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic and I would like to add Islas Margarita the Caribbean Sea,, a part of Venezuela, too, even it isn’t exactly classified as an island of the Caribbean.

The Dominican Republic, the Eastern part of Hispaniola
In fact The Dominican Republic isn’t an island but just a part of the island Hispaniola Island. The island Hispaniola is divided in the Republic of Haiti, occupying the western third of Hispaniola and English speaking, and the Spanish speaking Dominican Republic of the eastern two thirds of Hispaniola Island.

The population of what is now The Dominican Republic has had a tuff history. Interesting enough this geographical location was the place where the first permanent European settlement in the Americas took place. Linked to this its capital Santo Domingo became the first colonial capital in the Americas.[2] It was also the site of the first cathedral, the first university build by the Europeans etc. The population has been through really tuff regimes, but now The Dominican Republic is a democratic republic. The population of The Dominican Republic is around 10 million people, mostly of mixed origin.

Tourism in The Dominican Republic is a growing income and The Dominican Republic boasts many nice sandy beaches and interesting tourist destinations.

Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico archipelago
Puerto Rico isn’t just an island but a number of bigger and smaller islands and keys. This makes Puerto Rico a special nice location for island vacation as you will have many options for different islands to settle at. The main island of Puerto Rico is ‘Puerto Rico’ and some smaller islands include Culebra, Vieques, Mona, Caja de Muertos, and Desecheo.

Despite Puerto Rico is one of the Spanish speaking islands of The Caribbean Puerto Rico is a so-called “unincorporated territory” of the United States which according to the United States Supreme Court is “a territory appurtenant and belonging to the United States, but not a part of the United States.”

Cuba – the biggest of the Spanish speaking Caribbean Islands
Cuba is by far the biggest of the Spanish speaking of The Caribbean Islands in size and has the second largest Caribbean population, second to The Dominican Republic.
The relationship to USA has been quite difficult due to political tension but let us hope that the future will make it much more easy and attractive for Americans to visit and enjoy the Cuban hospitality and good mood.

Tropical Caribbean islands
All of the Spanish speaking islands in the Caribbean offer attractive white sand beaches in a tropical climate and with a relaxed atmosphere, very attractive when on vacation or when you want to retire or to get a second home or a third home for your holidays or stay at winter time.

To improve your connection to the local Spanish speaking inhabitants of these Caribbean islands you should try to learn a few Spanish sayings and words. The difference of being able to say absolutely nothing of the local language and to say just a few words is really big. So enhance your experience and learn a little Spanish. As a Dane I always try to catch a little of the local language when on vacation.