Arid vs. tropical
 

I was surprised our first trip to the Caribbean to discover that some islands are quite arid and some beaches therefore rather desert-like. We enjoyed our stay -- love it all -- but were perhaps misled by various calendar pictures! <BR> <BR>I understand it all has to do with tradewinds (Windward vs. Leeward), etc. but wondering which islands (big and small) are the most verdant, and which beaches have both the wonderful Caribbean sand and clear water and also are protected by rich tropical forestation. <BR>

Some rich, tropical islands with gorgeous white beaches and clear waters include: Grenada (also has black beaches); BVI; some of the Grenadines; the USVI (St. Croix has an arid zone as well as a rain forest zone, but the beaches are not as great as St. John or St. Thomas). Though I haven't been there, I understand Puerto Rico, the DR and Jamaica also have what that kind of geography.

St. Lucia is very green, lush and mountainous. A large part of the island is tropical rainforest. The tropical foliage there is beautiful. We loved it. The white sand there is imported though -- the natural sand is dark volcanic sand. The water is clear and has a beautiful emerald-green tint due to the volcanic minerals.

Tropical = Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John, Barbados, Antigua, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Lucia, Bahamas (sort of),Martinique, Grenada, Jamaica, Roatan <BR> <BR>Arid = Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Cozumel,Caymans <BR> <BR>These are the only places I have been so thats all I will comment on.