Montserrat – My Last Territory in the Caribbean
Montserrat, often called the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean,” is a British Overseas Territory known for its lush landscapes and volcanic activity, especially the Soufrière Hills volcano. Despite past eruptions, the island remains captivating with its black sand beaches, vibrant culture, and welcoming community. Its untouched beauty and resilient spirit make Montserrat a unique Caribbean destination.
Travelling to this small island completely differs from a typical Caribbean holiday destination. This beautiful volcanic island is home to approximately 5,000 people, including Clover and David, the owners of Gingerbread Hill. I stayed two nights at their place in a comfortable self-catering villa with free Wi-Fi and beautiful views.
The owners are very friendly, and thanks to them, I decided to visit Montserrat. I sent an email asking if there was a ferry from Guadeloupe to Montserrat and was told about a catamaran, the Talamanca making scheduled trips now and then. I then contacted Talamanca, who allowed me to join their trip on December 1st for a small fee, with the return to Guadeloupe two days later. The journey was beautiful but a bit tough as I had only slept a few hours because my flight to Guadeloupe was approximately 8 hours delayed. For more information about the Talamanca, you can visit www.talamanca.fr
Gingerbread Hill is the highest-ranked hotel on Tripadvisor and has great rates. For more information, their website is www.gingerbreadhill.com
Montserrat is a small island, and as I’ve done in many other small islands, I decided to hitchhike Saturday morning. It wasn’t difficult, and I easily got the first ride. Later, because of the heat, I decided to go on the public “bus”, a van. Kenneth, the driver, was friendly, and we quickly started a conversation. He told me he also did tours of the island, and as I got a good price for a full island tour, I decided to meet up with him in the afternoon. I can’t remember the name of his company, but his number is +1 (664) 496-2612.
The island tour wasn’t a full island tour as it requires permission to visit some parts of the islands due to the volcano, but what I saw of Montserrat was fascinating. It is such a beautiful island with friendly people. I would rank it among my Caribbean favourites with St. Barth, Saba and Dominica. Montserrat was my last territory in the Caribbean, but I haven’t done all the islands within every country/territory, and I’m sure I will be back again in the future. Below are some of my photos.
Kenneth, the driver. Highly recommended for an island tour.
