What Are The Four Windward Islands?

Here are their coordinates: Grenada (12.1165° N, 61.6790° W), St. Lucia (13.9094° N, 60.9789° W), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (13.2526° N, 61.1765° W), Dominica (15.4150° N, 61.3710° W).

Together, they cover about 1,800 square miles (4,662 square kilometers) and house roughly 1.1 million people (2026 estimate).

Geographic context of the Windward Islands

These islands form the southern part of the Lesser Antilles, created by the North American Plate diving under the Caribbean Plate. They sit smack in the path of those steady northeast trade winds, which dump moisture and keep the rainforests lush. Barbados usually gets lumped in with them, but it’s actually a bit further east—making it the easternmost island in the Caribbean. Fun fact? These islands act like speed bumps for hurricanes, weakening them before they reach the Leeward Islands to the north.

Volcanoes shaped these islands—Dominica alone has nine active centers—while coral reefs hug many coastlines. You’ll find biodiversity hotspots like St. Lucia’s rainforest and Grenada’s underwater gardens. Flying between them? Expect short hops; LIAT used to fly this route daily, though service has bounced around with fuel prices and regional economics.

Key details at a glance

Dominica’s Morne Diablotins is the highest point at 1,447 m (4,747 ft).

Major airports include Melville Hall (Dominica), Hewanorra (St. Lucia), Argyle (St. Vincent), and Maurice Bishop (Grenada).

UNESCO sites here include Soufrière in St. Lucia (volcanic landscape and reefs) and Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica (rainforest, waterfalls, and boiling lake).

Interesting background

The name “Windward Islands” goes back to 16th-century Spanish sailors, who called the first islands they spotted “islas de barlovento”—islands of the windward side. Dominica’s Carib Territory is one of the last indigenous Carib communities still speaking an Arawakan language and keeping traditional fishing alive. St. Lucia’s famous Pitons—those twin volcanic peaks—formed around 200,000 years ago and now anchor a marine reserve packed with parrotfish and sea turtles. Grenada’s spice trade—nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves—earned it the nickname “Isle of Spice,” a legacy that lives on in the Spicemas festival, which in 2025 even attempted a Guinness World Record for the largest pot of callaloo soup.

Volcanoes are still active here. Dominica’s Valley of Desolation steams with fumaroles and hot springs, while St. Vincent’s La Soufrière blew in April 2021, forcing 20,000 people to evacuate and turning Caribbean skies dark for weeks. The eruption spurred upgrades to regional monitoring networks, coordinated by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Practical information for visitors

Entry rules are straightforward: bring a valid passport and proof of onward travel. Dominica and St. Vincent let U.S., Canadian, and EU citizens in visa-free for up to 90 days. Grenada and St. Lucia take part in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so Americans just need ESTA approval.

Getting around is easy. Ferries run daily between main islands—check schedules on the Dominica government site. Inter-island flights (when available) are handled by LIAT and SVG Air, with flight times from 20 minutes (St. Lucia to St. Vincent) to 45 minutes (Dominica to Grenada). Renting a car? Left-hand drive in former British territories, right-hand drive in Dominica. Fuel averages $4.80 per U.S. gallon as of June 2026.

Health-wise, tap water is generally safe to drink, but bottled water is everywhere. The CDC travel page suggests routine vaccines (hepatitis A, typhoid) and malaria prophylaxis for rural Dominica. Hurricane season peaks September–October; the National Hurricane Center issues five-day forecasts that most hotels watch closely. Petty theft is the main risk—use your hotel safe and skip isolated beaches after dark.

Money matters are simple: all four islands use the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), pegged at 2.70 XCD = 1 USD. Credit cards work in resorts and restaurants, but markets and taxis prefer cash. ATMs are everywhere in capitals—just tell your bank you’re traveling to avoid blocks. Tipping isn’t required but is appreciated (10–15% in restaurants).

Timing your trip? December–April brings the driest weather and calmest seas, perfect for hiking Dominica’s Waitukubuli Trail or diving St. Lucia’s Anse Chastanet reef. May–June is quieter and cheaper; July–August means occasional showers but lush landscapes and lower hotel rates. Skip September–October if you hate humidity and tropical storms.

What are the four main islands forming the Leeward group?

The Leeward group includes the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthelemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Antigua, Redonda, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.

What is the difference between Windward and Leeward Islands?

Here’s the thing: sailing terminology calls “windward” the upwind direction—the way the wind blows. So an island’s windward side faces the prevailing trade winds, while its leeward side sits sheltered from those winds, protected by hills and mountains.

What are 4 major islands of the Lesser Antilles?

The Lesser Antilles chain starts in the Virgin Islands and stretches down the eastern Caribbean all the way to Trinidad and Tobago. It also tends to include small islands north of South America, like Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, and Los Roques.

Which islands are considered the Windward Islands?

These islands are called the Windward Islands because they’re more exposed to the northeast trade winds than the Leeward Islands to the north. The group includes Barbados, Grenada, the Grenadines, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tobago, and Trinidad.

Who owns Windward Islands?

The British Windward Islands was a colonial grouping that existed from 1833 until December 31, 1959. It covered Grenada, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, and Barbados (which hosted the governor until 1885, when it returned to its own administration).

Is Jamaica a Leeward island?

Nope. Jamaica sits in the Greater Antilles, not the Lesser Antilles. The Leeward Islands include St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Antigua, Montserrat, and others—none of which are Jamaica.

Are the Leeward Islands safe?

This British territory in the Leeward Islands is widely considered one of the safest spots in the Caribbean. Its biggest concerns are the active Soufrière Hills volcano and hurricane season (June–November).

Which is the most easterly island in the Caribbean?

Barbados takes that title—it’s the easternmost island in the Caribbean, completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and untouched by the Caribbean Sea.

What islands are US Virgin?

The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of four main islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island, plus around 50 smaller islets and cays.

What is the safest island in the Caribbean?

Montserrat holds that reputation. Nicknamed “The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” for its green terrain and Irish heritage, it’s a British territory in the Leeward Islands and hasn’t recorded a murder since 2008.

Why are they called Windward Islands?

These islands are called Windward because they lie upwind of arriving Caribbean cruise ships compared to the Leeward Islands. “Windward” means upwind from a reference point, while “leeward” means downwind.

Which island is the richest in the Caribbean?

The Bahamas is the richest island in the Caribbean, with a GDP per capita of $33,516. It’s not just the wealthiest in the West Indies—it ranks 14th highest in North America.

Is Jamaica in the Lesser Antilles?

No. Jamaica belongs to the Greater Antilles, along with Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles include smaller islands like the Virgin Islands and Guadeloupe.

Why are the Lesser Antilles divided into two groups?

The division dates back to early Spanish colonization in the late 15th century. The Carib people inhabited many islands at the time Europeans arrived, and by the 16th century, Europeans—including the French, Dutch, and British—adopted this north-south split.

What is the largest island in the Caribbean?

Cuba is the biggest island country in the Caribbean Sea, covering nearly 111,000 square kilometers. It’s followed by the Dominican Republic at almost 49,000 square kilometers.