The Caribbean has always lured travelers with the promise of turquoise seas and endless rum punch. But a new tide is rising. According to Discover Corps, more than 1.6 million people now spend roughly $2 billion each year on voluntourism, choosing purpose over pure indulgence. For those who still crave island beauty—but want their footprint to matter—Island Routes is opening doors that lead far beyond the beach.
CARIBBEAN LIVING
INSIDER TIPS
FROM SAND TO SERVICE
In partnership with the Sandals Foundation, Island Routes’ Island Impact excursions invite visitors of every age to roll up their sleeves and connect with the soul of the islands. “People come for the scenery,” says a local guide in St. Lucia, “but they leave remembering the people.”
READING ROAD TRIP
Step into a vibrant primary school, where brightly painted walls echo with laughter. Visitors are paired with small groups of eager students for a morning of edu-tainment, blending storytelling, games, and reading drills. The reward isn’t just the sparkle in a child’s eyes—it’s the realization that literacy can change an island’s future.
TURTLE WATCH PROGRAM
As twilight melts into indigo, conservation teams gather along the shore. Guests help monitor hundreds of freshly hatched sea turtles, watching the tiny silhouettes make their first, fragile dash to the surf. It’s humbling work— one that protects a species as ancient as the Caribbean itself.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT
What begins as a half-day outing often sparks a lifelong connection. Guests return home not only with photos, but with the warm memory of a child’s first confident sentence or the sight of a tiny turtle disappearing into moonlit waves. It’s travel that transforms the traveler—and strengthens the Caribbean communities we cherish.
LOCAL COMMUNITY TOURS
Culture comes alive on Island Routes’ curated neighborhood immersions. In Barbados, the Oistins Express sizzles with a Friday-night fish fry where flying fish and music fill the air. St. Lucia’s Gros Islet Street Party throbs to the beat of soca drums. In Grenada, the GRENROP farm-to-table experience invites guests to walk the fields with women farmers before savoring a fragrant, freshly harvested feast.
