Where are the Greater Antilles located?

The Greater Antilles are located in the northern and western Caribbean Sea, between North America and the Lesser Antilles. They lie south of Florida and the Bahamas, west of the Lesser Antilles, and east of Central America, forming the geographic core of the Caribbean region.

What countries are part of the Greater Antilles?

The Greater Antilles includes 4 major islands and 5 countries: Cuba, Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. These are the largest islands in the Caribbean and account for most of the region’s land area and population.

How is the Greater Antilles different from the Lesser Antilles?

The Greater Antilles contains larger islands formed from continental rock, while the Lesser Antilles consists of smaller volcanic or coral islands. The Greater Antilles has older geological formations, higher mountains, and more land-based resources.

Why is the Greater Antilles important?

The Greater Antilles is historically and culturally significant. It was the first area of the Caribbean encountered by European explorers and later became central to colonial trade, migration, and resistance movements. Today, these islands remain major centers of Caribbean politics, economy, and culture.

Is Puerto Rico part of the Greater Antilles?

Yes. Puerto Rico is part of the Greater Antilles and is the easternmost of the four main islands in the group.

What languages are spoken in the Greater Antilles?

Spanish is the most widely spoken language, followed by English (Jamaica), French and Haitian Creole (Haiti), along with regional dialects and local variations.

Greater Antilles

The Greater Antilles are the four largest islands in the Caribbean Sea: Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Together, they form the largest and most populated island group in the Caribbean and account for the majority of the region’s land area and population.

Greater Antilles map

This map shows the location of the Greater Antilles within the Caribbean Sea and highlights the four main islands and countries that make up the group.

Zoom and drag the map to explore each island then select a marker to view country details.

What are the Greater Antilles?

The Greater Antilles are a group of large Caribbean islands located primarily in the northern and western Caribbean Sea. They include Cuba, Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

Compared to the Lesser Antilles, these islands are older, more mountainous and significantly larger in both land area and population. Because of their scale and location, the Greater Antilles have played a central role in Caribbean history, settlement patterns and regional development. The Greater Antilles are one of several major island groups within the Caribbean. For a broader overview of how this region fits into the wider area, see the full Caribbean map and island regions.

Countries in the Greater Antilles

Cuba

Cuba is the largest island and country in the Greater Antilles, located at the western edge of the Caribbean Sea. It lies south of Florida, west of Hispaniola and north of Jamaica, making it a central geographic reference point of the region.

Cuba is an independent nation with a long and influential history that has shaped Caribbean politics, culture and regional identity. Its size, population and strategic location have made it the most significant islands in the Caribbean.

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Havana, Cuba

Hispaniola

Hispaniola is the second-largest island in the Caribbean and one of the core islands of the Greater Antilles. It is located east of Cuba and west of Puerto Rico and is the and is the only Caribbean island shared by two independent sovereign states.

The western part of the island is occupied by Haiti, while the eastern portion is occupied by the Dominican Republic. Together, they make Hispaniola one of the most populous and historically significant islands in the Caribbean.

Hispaniola plays a central role in Caribbean geography and history, featuring the region’s highest mountain ranges, major population centers and early sites of European settlement. Its size, elevation and strategic location have strongly influenced settlement patterns, agriculture and regional development across the Caribbean.

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Jacmel, Haiti

Jamaica

Jamaica is a large island nation located south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola in the western Caribbean Sea. It is the third-largest island in the Greater Antilles and one of the most influential countries in the region by culture and global recognition.

Jamaica is an independent country with a long history shaped by Indigenous roots, European colonization and African heritage. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and remains a member of the Commonwealth. English is the official language, alongside widely spoken Jamaican Patois.

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Cliffs in Negril, Jamaica

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an island territory located east of Hispaniola and west of the Lesser Antilles in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. It is the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles and serves as a geographic link between the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States and its residents are U.S. citizens. The island has its own local government while remaining under U.S. federal jurisdiction. Its strategic location, population size and economic role make Puerto Rico one of the most significant political and cultural centers in the Caribbean.

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El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico

Geography and natural features

The islands of the Greater Antilles are older and more mountainous than many of the smaller islands in the Caribbean. Their geological formation is mostly continental in origin, resulting in high mountain ranges, fertile valleys and diverse natural environments. Cuba is home to the Sierra Maestra mountains. Hispaniola contains the highest peak in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, located in the Dominican Republic. Jamaica features the Blue Mountains, an area known for producing some of the island’s best coffee. Puerto Rico is known for its rainforests, mountain views and hidden natural pools. These physical features support a variety of ecosystems and have historically supported agriculture and human settlement.

History and culture

The Greater Antilles was the first part of the Caribbean to be reached by European explorers in the late fifteenth century. These islands quickly became centers of colonial power, trade and cultural exchange. As a result, the cultural landscape of the Greater Antilles reflects a mixture of Indigenous roots, European colonization, African heritage and later migrations from Asia and the Middle East.

Each island has developed a unique cultural identity, yet they share common themes such as language diversity, food traditions, religious practices and artistic expression. Today, the region continues to be a cultural powerhouse, producing music genres like salsa, bachata, merengue and reggae.

Why the Greater Antilles matter

The Greater Antilles contains most of the landmass and population of the entire Caribbean region. These islands host the region’s largest cities, busiest ports and most visited tourist destinations. They also serve as important political and economic centers, with strong ties to global trade, diaspora communities and international policy.

Understanding the Caribbean often begins with understanding the Greater Antilles. This region offers insight into the historical foundations, cultural richness and contemporary challenges of the wider Caribbean area.