The Leeward Antilles are a chain of islands in the Caribbean – specifically, the southerly islands of the Lesser Antilles (and, in turn, the Antilles and the West Indies) along the southeastern fringe of the Caribbean Sea, just north of the Venezuelan coast of the South American mainland. The Leeward Antilles, while among the Lesser Antilles, are not to be confused with the Leeward Islands (also of the Lesser Antilles) to the northeast.
Largely lacking in volcanic activity, the Leeward Antilles island arc occurs along the deformed southern edge of the Caribbean Plate and was formed by the plate's subduction under the South American Plate. Recent studies indicate that the Leeward Antilles are accreting to South America.
Papiamentu is the local language of the Leeward Antilles / ABC Islands -Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
The official language is Dutch, and the written Papiamentu is limited to some local newspapers and literature.
Papiamentu is a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, and it also has some Arawak Indian and African influences. Papiamentu is one of the few Creole Languages of the Caribbean that has survived to the present day.
If you think this Dutch island in the Leeward Antilles is just about diving, then it's time to think again - about mountain biking, kayaking, spelunking and other gnarly adventures.
The Leeward Antilles comprise (roughly from west to east):
