Blazing sunsets over Technicolor seas, teeming with 700 species of fish and 70 types of vivid coral. Trade winds that breathe softly into lush rainforests and over mountain peaks. Palms rising majestically out of sparkling white beaches.

These are the images conjured by travelers to the over 700 islets, reefs, cays, and more than 30 islands of the Caribbean. However, to get a true picture of the region, look past what you see and tap into how you feel.

Focus on the sound of steel drums and pounding feet as they echo through the night. Savor what cuisine spooned from a melting pot tastes like—a blend of African, Spanish, Asian, East Indian and European flavors for a profile all its own. Escape to a time and place a world away, with colonial architecture on romantic estates or resorts that provide modern luxury at its finest. This is the Caribbean.