what island has the least amount of mosquitos??
Jan 21st, 2008, 10:15 AM
#1
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what island has the least amount of mosquitos??
We are planning this last minute vaca to the islands in March. Havent booked anything yet...because kind of worries of the mosquitos and the night time (forget the name) bugs that bite you and you cant see them. bugs LOVE me. I end up getting welts from bites that actually stick with me for months...maybe going to the Caribbean isnt for me then?
Do you have suggestions on islands that would have the least amount of bugs? Early March is when we are planning to vacation.
Thanks!
Do you have suggestions on islands that would have the least amount of bugs? Early March is when we are planning to vacation.
Thanks!
Jan 21st, 2008, 10:36 AM
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There is no "mosquito free" island and one can't tell you which island has the "least". Mosquitos are a function of "climate and environmental conditions" not time of year or location of the island.
Mosquitos are more prevallent after periods of prolongued rain, when breezes are very light or completely still, they are more apt to be found around salt ponds and other sttanding water and along the beach at dusk. There are more mosquitos in rainforest areas then there are in say a more urban location.
The thing is you can visit an island one week and not encounter a single mosquito and a week or two later there can be hordes - you just never can tell.
You can lessen your chances of being bitten by avoiding avoid standing water, don't walk along the beach at sunset, use a good inscet repellant and avoid using perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, and scented hairspray (the sweet smell acts as an attractant.)
Mosquitos are more prevallent after periods of prolongued rain, when breezes are very light or completely still, they are more apt to be found around salt ponds and other sttanding water and along the beach at dusk. There are more mosquitos in rainforest areas then there are in say a more urban location.
The thing is you can visit an island one week and not encounter a single mosquito and a week or two later there can be hordes - you just never can tell.
You can lessen your chances of being bitten by avoiding avoid standing water, don't walk along the beach at sunset, use a good inscet repellant and avoid using perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, and scented hairspray (the sweet smell acts as an attractant.)
Jan 21st, 2008, 10:51 AM
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Mosquitoes don't like to fly in windy conditions, so any island with constant trade winds will have fewer mosquitoes flying about. Aruba comes to mind as a good example. You still may need to bring some bug repellent for sand fleas however. They are present on most beaches especially around sundown. I always pack a small tube of the combo sun screen/bug repellent for use around my ankles.
Jan 21st, 2008, 11:38 AM
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Barbados is relatively mosquito-free because it is a coral island, with most of the rainwater draining off or into the ground, so few stagnant ponds to breed the nasties. We've had only a handfull of bites in 5 trips to the island.
March is still the (relatively) dry season, so fewer mosquitos anywhere in the Caribbean.
March is still the (relatively) dry season, so fewer mosquitos anywhere in the Caribbean.
Jan 21st, 2008, 02:48 PM
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I've been to several of the islands, Mexico, and Central America during March and the only place I recall being bitten by bugs was Roatan, Honduras. They weren't mosquitoes, but sand fleas. March is usually dry and breezy so you really shouldn't have much of a problem.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 07:37 AM
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We have been to several islands and I can't say that you can guarantee not getting bit by mosquitos. (Bugs love me too and I have yet to find a product that works for me.)
Like a previous post stated if you go to a place that has some winds it should help. We got bitten like crazy in St Lucia and even Provo but others have not. It really depends on weather and rain the island has had over that period of your stay dates.
They are usually out more around early evening and mornings and will normally not be out near the beach. I usually get bit more on balconies on ground floors or anywhere near foliage. If you go to the beach you usually won't encounter many.
I don't really care for Aruba but I can say we didn't get bit there maybe because the island had a constant wind blowing all day and night while we were there.
Like a previous post stated if you go to a place that has some winds it should help. We got bitten like crazy in St Lucia and even Provo but others have not. It really depends on weather and rain the island has had over that period of your stay dates.
They are usually out more around early evening and mornings and will normally not be out near the beach. I usually get bit more on balconies on ground floors or anywhere near foliage. If you go to the beach you usually won't encounter many.
I don't really care for Aruba but I can say we didn't get bit there maybe because the island had a constant wind blowing all day and night while we were there.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 09:34 AM
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I would expect a dry island like Anguilla or Aruba or Curacao to have fewer mosquiotoes. They can be a problem anywhere, though, if the conditions are right.
And the no-see-ums ("sand fleas"
are ubiquitous throughout the Caribbean, though completely absent in Hawaii.
And the no-see-ums ("sand fleas"
are ubiquitous throughout the Caribbean, though completely absent in Hawaii.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 10:55 AM
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You just can't go to the Caribbean and be completely bug free. Buy yourself some mosquito milk (actual name of the product) and you should be bug free. My husband gets really bad bites too, but he used mosquito milk this past trip to Anguilla and didn't get one bite!
