The first thing will be to determine the etymological origin of the term Caribbean that concerns us now. In this case, we must know that it derives from the Taíno "Caribbean", which can be translated as "strong people."
The notion of Caribbean has several uses. The name comes from the aboriginal group that, when the expedition led by Christopher Columbus arrived on the American continent in the 15th century , was found on several islands in the Lesser Antilles and in regions of Venezuela and Colombia .
The Caribs, also known as Caribales , no longer exist as an independent ethnic group, although their descendants still live in the area. According to the characterization made by the Europeans upon arriving in America , the Caribs were savages, warriors and cannibals.
On the other hand, about thirty languages that are still spoken in several Latin American countries are known as Carib languages . It is estimated that currently about 50,000 people communicate in Carib languages such as Pemón , Macushí and Kariña .
The Caribbean Sea , on the other hand, is located north of South America and east of Central America . The region formed by this sea , the coasts that surround it and its islands is called the Caribbean .
Thanks to its paradisiacal beaches, the Caribbean is one of the main tourist destinations in the world . Cuba , Dominican Republic , Jamaica , Puerto Rico , Panama , Costa Rica , Venezuela , Colombia and Mexico are countries that have Caribbean attractions.
Among the places that manage to attract the greatest number of tourists are those that have a series of undeniable attractions:
-Havana, the capital of Cuba, is one of the favorite destinations for travelers. It is listed as a World Heritage Site and the most special corners it has are the Plaza de la Revolución, Old Havana or the fortresses of El Morro and La Cabaña, which have the distinction of being the oldest in all of America.
-The Riviera Maya is another of the places that tourists from all over the world prefer to visit. Specifically, in Spain it is one of the most frequent destinations chosen by newlyweds to enjoy their honeymoon.
-Varadero Beach is one of the best known in the world. It is located in Cuba and is acclaimed both for the crystalline color of its waters and for its natural environment.
Its beaches and natural spaces are two of the main attractions that the Caribbean has, although we should not overlook, for example, its gastronomy. In this case, we can point out that dishes such as Cuban lobster, beans, Cuban-style Creole sauce, cochinita pibil from La Rivera Maya and Motuleños eggs become relevant.
Margarita Island , Cozumel , San Andrés Island , Curacao , Aruba and Saint Martin are among the most visited places in the Caribbean, whose land area exceeds 239,000 square kilometers. Santo Domingo , San Juan , Port-au-Prince , Maracaibo , Havana and Barranquilla are some of the most populated cities in the region.