Montserrat_

Montserrat is the "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean," settled by Irish Catholics in the 17th century and maintaining Celtic influences unique in the region. The island gained notoriety when the Soufrière Hills volcano began erupting in 1995, burying the capital Plymouth under ash—now a modern-day Pompeii. The volcano remains active, and the Exclusion Zone covering the southern half of the island includes the buried town, visible from observation points. The remaining northern half offers Irish-influenced culture, black sand beaches, and hiking through lush hillsides. Montserrat's small population (around 5,000) creates intimate community atmosphere. This is Caribbean off-the-beaten-path at its most dramatic.