Greater Antilles

What do the Greater Antilles have in common, and how do they differ?

Geographically, the five destinations form an arc from Cuba in the west to Puerto Rico in the east, with the Cayman Islands as a smaller island group south of Cuba. Together they are significantly larger by area than the Lesser Antilles, the ABC islands and the Lucayan Archipelago combined: Cuba alone measures about 110,860 km².

Linguistically and legally, each of the five countries stands on its own: Spanish colonial heritage in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico meets British-derived common law in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. What unites all five is a predominantly Afro-Caribbean population and, by international comparison, a young independence or a special status that persists to this day.

How different the region turns out to be is shown by the particularities of the five destinations: mass tourism with all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, a hurricane-scarred but well-developed tourist Jamaica, a Cuba with fragile electricity and payment infrastructure — and, in the Cayman Islands, a quiet, expensive diving destination. Anyone planning to visit the Greater Antilles should therefore check each country individually and currently, rather than relying on a reputation of "the Caribbean".

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Caribbean Journal · National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany

How do the five countries of the Greater Antilles differ at a glance?

On entry, Cuba is the special case of the region: an online visa via eVisaCuba and advance registration via D'Viajeros within 48 hours before departure are mandatory. The other four destinations require no classic visa for holidays, at most an electronic advance form.

Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · U.S. Customs and Border Protection · Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Explore Cayman)

When is the best time to visit the Greater Antilles?

All five destinations lie in the active hurricane belt. Cuba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have the highest probability of a direct hit between August and October; the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico are on average hit directly less often, but are equally within the warning zone.

Havana, Montego Bay, Punta Cana and San Juan throughout the year

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station JOSE MARTI INTL (17 km, 64 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SANGSTER INTL (4 km, 1 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PUNTA CANA INTL (4 km, 14 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTERNATIONAL AP (6 km, 3 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Cuba has a drier north-coast climate around Havana and Varadero, while Jamaica's north coast (Montego Bay, Ocho Rios) is drier than its interior. The Dominican Republic varies strongly by coast: Santo Domingo and the south are drier, while Puerto Plata in the north is rainier.

George Town (Grand Cayman) and Puerto Plata compared

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station OWEN ROBERTS AIRPORT (2 km, 3 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station GREGORIO LUPERON INTL (13 km, 5 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands have a more even tropical climate with little seasonal temperature variation; rainfall rises mainly during hurricane season. Sargassum seaweed washes ashore in irregular surges, mainly on the east coast of the Dominican Republic and parts of Puerto Rico, typically peaking in spring and early summer.

Sources: National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · NASA Earth Observatory

What defines the five countries and territories of the Greater Antilles?

Cuba: colonial towns and a fragile supply situation

At about 110,860 km², Cuba is the largest country in the Greater Antilles by area, and also has the oldest European building stock: Old Havana (World Heritage Site since 1982) and the sugarcane town of Trinidad (since 1988) rank among the best-preserved colonial ensembles in the Caribbean. This heritage meets a supply situation that shapes daily life across the country: power is cut on a schedule for several hours a day, the fuel supply and thus air traffic are fragile, and foreign payment cards are often not accepted. How far these restrictions apply at the time of travel should be checked with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.

Jamaica: hurricane zone with north-coast resorts

Jamaica lies in the middle of the hurricane belt, and the island's history knows the danger at first hand: in 2025 Hurricane Melissa hit the island with wind speeds of 305 km/h, according to the National Hurricane Center the strongest storm ever recorded there, and claimed 45 lives and an estimated 12 billion US dollars in damage. The tourist centres on the north coast and in Kingston have since been a firm part of the travel offer again; anyone travelling in the hurricane season chooses flexible fares and heeds the warnings of the National Hurricane Center.

Dominican Republic: a record year for tourism

No other country in the region attracts as many visitors as the Dominican Republic: in 2025, the Ministry of Tourism counted 11.6 million arrivals, roughly three-quarters by plane and the rest by cruise ship, generating 2.61 billion US dollars in revenue. Culturally, the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990 and, according to UNESCO, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, provides a counterpoint to the beach resorts of Punta Cana. Set against this are safety risks the Federal Foreign Office specifically names: armed robbery, often carried out by motorcyclists, and one of the world's highest traffic fatality rates.

Puerto Rico: a US territory with Spanish colonial heritage

Administratively, Puerto Rico is part of the United States, but touristically it is distinctly Caribbean: the fortifications and the governor's residence, La Fortaleza, in Old San Juan have carried the UNESCO title since 1983, while entry formalities — including the ESTA requirement — are identical to those of the US mainland. Escaping the bustle of San Juan doesn't require a flight: public ferries from Ceiba on the east coast reach the quieter neighboring islands of Vieques and Culebra.

Cayman Islands: diving destination and financial centre

Compared with the four other destinations, the Cayman Islands seem almost unremarkably calm: security risks play hardly any role for the British Overseas Territory. Tourism here revolves almost entirely around water, from Seven Mile Beach and shallow snorkelling grounds to the sheer walls off the diving spots that give the islands their name. As an established offshore financial centre with a currency pegged firmly to the US dollar, the Cayman Islands are among the more expensive destinations in the whole Caribbean.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · AFAR · Travel And Tour World · Caribbean Journal · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · U.S. Customs and Border Protection · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Puerto Rico Ferry (Puerto Rico Maritime Transport Authority) · Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Explore Cayman) · Wikipedia

Which routes connect several countries of the Greater Antilles?

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico by ferry

Ferries del Caribe shuttles between the San Souci terminal in Santo Domingo and Muelle Panamericano II in San Juan — travelers without a vehicle should, according to the booking portal, arrive three hours ahead, and six hours with a vehicle. For a trip combining both countries, this route replaces a flight that would otherwise require a connection.

Onward from Puerto Rico to Vieques and Culebra

Anyone in Puerto Rico wanting to venture further out onto the water uses the state ferry line from Ceiba: about an hour to Vieques, and around ninety minutes to Culebra. Both islands can thus be added as a day trip or a quieter extension without a vehicle of your own.

Connecting to Cuba

Air traffic to Cuba is more prone to disruption than to the other destinations: the fuel supply on the island is tight, several airlines have temporarily reduced their connections, and direct European flights are rare. Anyone wanting to combine Cuba with another destination in the Greater Antilles checks current flight availability before booking, usually via a hub such as Madrid, Cancún or Panama City.

Cayman Islands as a side trip

From Kingston or Montego Bay, the Cayman Islands can be added as a short side trip, since both island groups lie in the western Caribbean; however, direct flights between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands are limited and should be checked well in advance.

Sources: Ferries del Caribe · Puerto Rico Ferry (Puerto Rico Maritime Transport Authority) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany

How do you fly to the Greater Antilles?

There are no through scheduled flights between all five destinations within the region; a connection via Miami, Panama City or another hub is usually needed. Between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the Ferries del Caribe ferry is an alternative to flying.

Cuba is the special case: the fuel supply on the island is tight, and several airlines have temporarily reduced or suspended their connections. Before any booking to Cuba, check the current flight situation directly with the airline.

Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Ferries del Caribe

What applies for entry and health in the Greater Antilles?

healthytravel.ch lists an active Zika transmission area for the Dominican Republic and advises pregnant women against travelling; a dengue vaccine (Qdenga) has been registered in Switzerland since July 2024. The CDC also points to chikungunya transmission in several regions of the Americas; consistent daytime mosquito protection is recommended.

For Cuba, the medical care described by the BMEIA as "massively reduced" adds a further risk: because of the supply situation, cold chains and equipment in hospitals work only to a limited extent, and imported medicines are scarce. Travel insurance with repatriation cover is particularly important for Cuba.

Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · U.S. Customs and Border Protection · Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Explore Cayman) · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

What does a trip to the Greater Antilles cost?

Cuba is the hardest to gauge in terms of prices: the official rate and the free market differ greatly, and the informal rate is many times the official one. Travellers should carry larger amounts in cash and keep checking exchange rates locally, because the situation changes quickly.

In the other four destinations, the US dollar is widely accepted alongside the local currency, especially in hotels and on organized excursions; for smaller purchases, local cash is still worthwhile, as the rate at a hotel cashier is usually worse than at a bank or ATM.

Sources: CiberCuba · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Wikipedia

What cultures and music styles shape the Greater Antilles?

Cuba's son and salsa, along with Havana's danzón tradition, shaped Latin American pop music worldwide; the colonial towns of Havana and Trinidad also showcase five centuries of Spanish architectural history. The Dominican Republic produced two of its own globally known dance music styles, merengue and bachata.

Jamaica shaped Caribbean pop music worldwide with reggae, ska and later dancehall; Kingston is considered the island's cultural center, with museums dedicated to music history. Puerto Rico is the birthplace of reggaetón, which has helped shape the Latin American music scene over the past two decades.

Religiously, Catholicism defines Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, while various Protestant churches shape Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, often with Afro-Caribbean influences such as Cuban Santería.

Architecturally, more than the official language separates the five destinations: Havana, Trinidad and Santo Domingo follow the Spanish colonial grid of plaza, cathedral and arcades, while Kingston and George Town bear the stamp of British administrative architecture, and Old San Juan combines Spanish fortifications with 20th-century American urban planning. Anyone wanting to see several colonial styles in a short time will find them more densely packed in the Greater Antilles than in any other Caribbean subregion.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Worth combining

• Caribbean
• Cuba
• Jamaica
• Dominican Republic
• Puerto Rico
• Cayman Islands