On his second voyage in 1493, Christopher Columbus came across a small island of singular beauty. He named it Santa Maria De Montserrat, after the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin on the mountain of Montserrat, in Catalonia, Spain. Today we know it as Montserrat. Montserrat is mainly known for its active volcano and excellent dive sites. It is also one of the least touristy islands in the Caribbean, but there are still some good value Montserrat hotels to stay in.
Montserrat is located approximately 40 km South West of Antigua, and 480 km South East of Puerto Rico, and has a population of only around 4500. Although it's only 16 kilometres long, 11 kilometres wide, and only 104 square kilometres in size, there is a lot to see and do, as Montserrat abounds in natural beauty that is still largely untouched.
Surrounded on all sides by similarly beautiful locations - Guadeloupe, Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, Dominica and Redonda - this wonderful island peaks at 3,000 feet at the Soufriere Hills. From pristine white beaches to deep black sandy coasts, from exotic marine life to enchanting flora and fauna on strikingly unusual mountain slopes, you can enjoy a veritable panorama of nature. A great way to see the sights is to take a tour of Montserrat.
Although sections of Montserrat were destroyed by volcanic eruptions in 1997, its residents are still able to welcome you to their island with great warmth and hospitality. The de facto capital of Montserrat today is Brades. After the eruption, most shops, Montserrat hotels and government offices have shifted to Brades and the volcano itself is being positioned as one of the most distinct attractions of Montserrat. In 2005, another airport was opened and is fully functional today.
Montserrat offers a very rare opportunity to witness an active volcano from a safe distance. After laying dormant for over half a century, the Soufrière Hills Volcano rumbled to life in 1995 and has been active ever since. Activity increased in 1997, with huge eruptions of lava, rocks and ash changing the face of Montserrat forever.
Entire villages were engulfed by pyroclastic flows, and the southern half of the island was evacuated. The W H Bramble Airport was forced to close and the capital, Plymouth, was abandoned after being buried under layers of volcanic dust. More than half of Montserrat's inhabitants moved away after their homes and businesses were destroyed and the island's tourism industry was also adversely affected.
Nowadays, however, Montserrat's tourist industry is undergoing a revival, with the volcano representing one of the island's most unique draws. There are a number of great places to stay, and visitors can learn about its geological origins and history as well as view the volcano from safe locations around the island. You can use our map to choose the location of your hotel in Montserrat to ensure you stay near a good vantage point to see the volcano.
The volcanic exclusion zone covers the entire southern half of the island, as well as extending two kilometres off-shore. However, there are various locations from where it might be possible to view the volcano and the destruction it has wrought on the island, and a Montserrat tour is a great way to explore these areas.
The people of Montserrat welcome you to come and explore the heritage, culture and the other hidden secrets in this literal jewel of an island!
