Welcome to IslandZest's Blog
Caribbean carnivals, travel tips, events, costumes, rum brands, rum tastings and much more!
The Best Rum Tours in Barbados
Barbados is known as the birthplace of rum, and for any traveler, a proper island visit isn’t complete without exploring its legendary rum culture. Barbados is home to historic distilleries and rum shops. The island offers a wide variety of rum-themed tours for...
Top Caribbean Island Snorkeling Tours for Adventure Seekers
The Caribbean offers a combination of sand, sea, fun and relaxation. It offers tropical island getaways which many describe as paradise. Possessing some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the crystal clear waters and marine life of the Caribbean offers the...
The Top Soca Songs for Trinidad Carnival
This was a great year for Trinidad carnival and soca music. So many artists put out incredible music this season. Music sets the tone, vibe and atmosphere of all the events. As the genre continues to grow the music continues to evolve and new artists are emerging...
Queens of Soca: Celebrating Female Soca Artists Through The Decades
Female artists have helped to shape and elevate Caribbean music through the decades. Many female soca artists have broken down barriers and contributed to the genre’s evolution. Therefore, it is only fitting that we highlight some of these talented women who have...
Coastal Gems: 5 of the Best Beaches in the Bahamas
The Bahamas, a beautiful collection of nearly 700 islands, is famous for its spectacular beaches. These beaches offer the perfect blend of beauty, adventure and tranquility. While many may be a hive of activity for visitors, many of these beaches are secluded....
Carnival Band Directory: Your Ultimate Guide to Caribbean Mas Bands
This is a list of carnival costume bands for various carnivals in the Caribbean and other parts of the world. This list has the bands organized by country and will feature from the popular carnivals such as Trinidad Carnival, Crop Over, St. Lucia Carnival and Jamaica...
A Guide to the Best Places to Stay in Barbados
Barbados is known for its tropical weather, clear water beaches and warm friendly environment. Speaking as a proud Bajan, over the years I have seen the country evolve its tourism landscape and built many hotels, guesthouses and villas that cater to all travelers....
How Rum Tastings Enhance the Travel Experience
A rum tasting is an event where people sample different flavors and styles of rum, enjoy special cocktails made with rum, and learn about the rums history and production. While they vary in format most tastings are organized as rum distillery tours. Educational rum...
The Top Five Rum Brands in Barbados
Barbados is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. When thinking of the country the tropical weather, beaches, food and relaxation may come to mind. However, Barbados is well known for its rum production and is regarded as the birth place of...
Bermuda Carnival Planning Guide
Bermuda Carnival is a colorful fiesta, a vibrant expression of culture held annually in the month of June. The festival showcases the islands music, food and beauty. While Bermuda Carnival is one of the newest carnivals in the Caribbean, it is also one of the fastest...
Grenada Carnival Planning Guide The Spicemas Experience
Grenada Carnival 2025 We decided to update this article as next year is Spicemas and carnivals are back in full swing. While the pandemic has been over for a couple years now I personally know many people who decided not to travel or take part in carnivals for a...
Trinidad Carnival – Planning Guide
Trinidad Carnival is one of the biggest street parties in the world. It has become one of the staples for carnival enthusiasts and is without a doubt the biggest carnival in the Caribbean. Some call it the greatest shows on earth, it brings together people from all...
Dominica Carnival – Planning Guide
Dominica Carnival is also referred to as Carnival Mad Dominik and is the main carnival celebration in Dominica. Dominica not to be confused with the Dominica Republic is a small island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is close to the French islands of Guadeloupe and...
The Impact of Coronavirus on Caribbean Carnival
No one could have predicted that a pandemic would shake the world like this, a pandemic that limited social interaction and events worldwide including Carnival. The only country to have their carnival in 2020 was Trinidad and Tobago (lucky bastards). This was because...
A Complete Guide to Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival 2019 Notting Hill Carnival is one of the most anticipated events in the UK. Every year, the streets of London come alive with Caribbean culture and flavor. Over the course of two days, people unite and celebrate with soca music, floats, colorful...
The Best Earplugs for Concerts, Carnivals and Music Festivals
Did you know that excessive noise is one of the leading causes of hearing loss? Spending hours consistently around loud music can damage your ears. That is why it is important you wear earplugs to concerts and to events around carnival.You may ask yourself why you...
Guyana Carnival – Everything You Need to Know
Guyana carnival is the newest edition to the carnival family in the Caribbean. Starting in 2018 the festival is in its early stages of development. However, it already shows promise to become one of the best carnivals in the Caribbean. The carnival coincides with...
Barbados Crop Over Festival – The Best Carnival
The Crop Over festival is a culturally rich event celebrated annually, drawing visitors from around the globe. Rooted in the island's colonial history, when it marked the end of the sugarcane harvest, it has since evolved into a dynamic celebration of Bajan culture,...