Montserrat
The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean
The way the Caribbean used to be, Montserrat is a remarkable destination with volcano watching and eco-adventures combined with luxurious villa, beach accommodation, and diversity of culture & heritage. This is a traveler’s paradise for nature lovers, divers, adventurers, family & villa vacationers, and honeymooners.
Truly unique to this "Emerald Isle" is an active volcano that scientists call one of the most interesting in the world. Visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and learn about it, its history and its future. See the awesome legacy of this force of nature from safe vantage points around the island.
The former capital city, Plymouth, lies buried in volcanic ash, a transformation that likens it to a modern day Pompeii, while in contrast, the rest of the island flourishes, boasting green mountain rainforests, world-class nature trails, rare and lovely bird-life - including the Montserrat Oriole, deserted black-sand beaches, the popular white sand Rendezvous Beach, untouched reefs and a quiet, friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be.
Divers can choose from some amazingly pristine dive sites. The reefs are teeming with underwater life - partly as a result of volcanic activity and the small population of about 4700 residents. With only two dive shops you'll be guaranteed personalized service. A must see is the partially underwater bat cave at Rendezvous Bluff, home to hundreds of protected fruit bats.
What you won't find are crowds or a frenetic pace. Montserrat remains probably the only island that represents what a true Caribbean holiday used to be like. There are no cruise ships, casinos, resorts, chain hotels, fast-food restaurants, or traffic lights. In fact there are only a couple of banks, one ATM and two hotels.
Guest accommodations, aside from the two hotels, range from intimate guesthouses and small boutique hostelries to grand oceanfront villas with pools and full staff. Montserrat boasts a number of luxurious villas at amazing prices. Weekly rates for a fully furnished villa with a pool, full kitchen, garden and all amenities start around US$700 per week. Unlike other villa destinations you will get ample room and lots of privacy – ideal if you don’t like tan lines.
There are a several places to eat with a variety of selection but be sure to try the mouth-watering local cuisine which includes sumptuous lobster burgers, fried mountain chicken (frog legs) or goat water (like an Irish Stew but with goat meat chunks).
The people are warm and unpretentious and crime is virtually non-existent. Whether spending time on the deserted beaches or hiking through the jungle, you'll find a sense of tranquility and plenty of space by yourself or with someone special. Enjoy days of adventure or relaxation, and nights under brilliant, magical stars, all with the feel of cool breezes from the continuous trade-winds, that so easily make one forget there's anything else.
History & Today
Sighted by Columbus in 1493, he named the island Montserrat, because its landscape reminded him of the mountains above the Monastery of Montserrat near Barcelona, Spain. Originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians, the first European settlers came in 1632. They were mainly Irish Catholics who moved there to escape persecution under Protestant rule on nearby St. Kitts. In the years that followed, Montserrat continued to attract Catholics from other New World colonies as well as new immigrants from Ireland.
Montserrat has been a quiet haven of extraordinary scenic beauty and near perfect climate to the mainly Canadian, British and US expatriates who sought privacy in its cliff-side villas and estates. When "Beatles" producer George Martin located his "Air Studios" there in the 1970s the island attracted world-famous musicians who came to record in the peace and quiet and lush tropical surroundings.
However, by the end of the twentieth century, two devastating events had occurred:
In September 1989, Hurricane Hugo struck Montserrat damaging over 90 percent of the structures on the island. AIR Studios closed, and the tourist trade upon which the island depended was nearly wiped out. Within a few years, however, the island had recovered considerably – only to be struck again by disaster.
In July 1995, Montserrat's Soufriere Hills Volcano, having been dormant for over 400 years, erupted and eventually buried the island's capital, Plymouth, in more than 40 feet (12 m) of mud, destroyed its airport and docking facilities, and rendered the southern half of the island uninhabitable, forcing more than half of the population to flee the island owing to lack of housing. After a period of regular eruptive events during the late 1990s, the volcano's activity has more recently been confined to infrequent venting of ash into the uninhabited areas in the south, although the nuisance occasionally extends into the populated areas of the north and west parts of the island. However, there have been no injuries or significant property damage of late.
Montserrat today is optimistic. Instead of waiting to see if the volcanic activity will stop, they're rebuilding to the north. Gerald's Airport, a new US$18.5 million facility built on the north end of the island, opened in July of 2005, replacing the W. H. Bramble airport which was destroyed. Montserrat is now reconnected to the travel world by regular scheduled air services from this modern and efficient facility. Also, docking facilities are in place at Little Bay where a new capital is being constructed out of reach of any further volcanic activity.
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