Top 10 Caribbean Fun Facts: Discover the Secrets of this Tropical Paradise!

1. Rock Star Iguanas

If rock iguanas were rock stars, the Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana would be shredding guitars as seed-dispersing heroes on a reunion tour of their vanishing dune habitat: Sadly, with only 30,000 adults remaining across their island ecosystem, they're a critically endangered Caribbean sensation fighting off invasive predators and habitat loss, with Dr. Glenn Gerber and the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research headlining their conservation comeback.
Source => news.mongabay.com

2. Beach Vacation Pigs

Who let the pigs out? Pigs gone wild on a Caribbean beach vacation: There's an uninhabited island in the Bahamas called Pig Beach, where an estimated 20 to 25 swimming pigs and piglets reside, greeting delighted visitors via boat as they munch on bread and fruits - but be wary, they can get quite feisty when it comes to their grub!
Source => bahamasairtours.com

Did you know the Saint Lucia racer, a non-venomous snake, is fighting for survival with a population as low as 18? Learn how these slithery underdogs are trying to make a comeback on a mongoose-free islet. 🐍

=> Fun Facts about St-Lucia

3. Bonaire's Salty Export

Salt to the rescue: in a sea where Aquaman would trade his fishy underpants for a pair of Bermuda shorts, Bonaire has mastered the art of turning its liquid paradise into a salty, sodium wonderland. Seriously though: the island produced over 112 million metric tons of high-quality sea salt in 2021, securing its shining spot in the global salt market but not quite seizing the second-largest exporter title.
Source => tridge.com

4. Montserrat's Musical History

As they say in Montserrat, "We've got the groove, the hurricane moves, and volcanic views": This Caribbean island was once home to the legendary Beatles producer George Martin's music studio, which recorded the iconic soca hit "Hot Hot Hot" until Hurricane Hugo shook things up in 1989 and a volcanic eruption in 1995 further rocked its world.
Source => rustytraveltrunk.com

5. Bananas' Caribbean Debut

Peeling back history's fruitiest surprise: Bananas, once the shining golden stars of the Caribbean, were brought ashore by a Spanish priest who smuggled some banana suckers from the Canary Islands.
Source => stlucia-history.com

6. Maho Beach Plane Spotting

When those seeking sun and surf inadvertently become plane spotters: Maho Beach in Saint Martin is known for commercial airliners flying startlingly close overhead, due to its dangerously close proximity to an unusually short landing strip. This daredevil beach offers a unique experience, with local businesses providing flight schedules and live airport tower transmissions, but beware of powerful jet blasts that could sweep beachgoers off their sandy feet!
Source => boredpanda.com

7. Curacao's Colorful Makeover

Once upon a time, a sun-struck spectacle aided the eyewear industry in Curacao: a 19th-century doctor diagnosed the dazzling white houses of Willemstad responsible for causing visual strain. Consequently, a law mandating a colorful makeover transformed the cityscape into the vibrant haven it is today, now proudly boasting a UNESCO World Heritage designation.
Source => girugten.nl

8. Dominica's Hiking & Bubbling Paradise

Dominica, a Caribbean paradise that's much more than just a beach destination: it's a one-stop hike-em-up extravaganza, complete with live bubbling Champagne-spas – for the fish! This "Nature Island" boasts over 300 miles of hikeable trails amidst lush rainforests, which cover two-thirds of the island. Not to mention, geothermal phenomena-stealing the show, from boiling shores to undulating stream-bubbles known as underwater Champagne that have scuba divers diving head over fins.
Source => nytimes.com

9. Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival Party

Get ready to wine and dine with Pan's melodious tribe, because the Caribbean's ultimate party takes place in a tropical wonderland where rhythm is their religion: Trinidad and Tobago holds the torch as the birthplace of the modern Caribbean carnival, featuring an extravaganza of colorful masquerades, pulsating calypso and soca music, fierce steelpan contests, and traditional competitions that have been shaking hips since before 1846, with dates that groove to their own beat.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Salty Doves of the Caribbean

Who knew that doves were such salty characters? Aside from throwing lavish weddings and acting as the poster birds for world peace, they're also busy dabbling in a little Caribbean culinary mischief: The Zenaida Dove, found primarily in the Caribbean, is a favorite game bird among hunters due to its plentiful population and scrumptious taste. Known for gobbling up grains, seeds, and insects, these doves possess an unusual ability to consume salt from mineral-rich soil or livestock salt licks, which may contribute to their egg production and the creation of their signature pigeon milk.
Source => en.wikipedia.org