Following on from our blog on the Jamaican bobsleigh team, which was the inspiration for the hit moving 'Cool Runnings', we’ve decided to return to Hollywood for a look at some of the top destinations in the region to have links to the big screen.
A number of movies have been filmed across the Caribbean islands through the years, which means you might well be able to pay a visit to destinations that has had its moment in the spotlight in the cinema world.
Laughing Waters, Jamaica - Dr No
The first suggestion on our list is tied in to one of the most iconic moments in cinema history, and comes from the the first film in the James Bond franchise - which was actually written in the Caribbean by Ian Fleming.
Released in 1962, Dr No starred Sean Connery in the role of Bond, who is sent to Jamaica to investigate the murder of an MI6 agent on the island. As his investigations continue, Bond ends up being taken to the a fictional island by the name of Crab Key which is where he encounters Honey Ryder; played by the Swiss actress Ursula Andress.
The moment when Bond encounters Ryder coming out of the sea after collecting shells is one of the most memorable scenes in cinema history and made Andress famous across the world.
The scene took place close at Laughing Waters close to Ocho Rios, which is also known by the name Crab Key Beach. As well as the beach itself, you can see the small waterfall that flows directly into the sea and which was Connery’s backdrop during the scene.
As a bonus, Dunn’s River Falls - which also featured in the film - is located nearby.
Gorda Cay, the Bahamas - Splash
The Ron Howard-directed Splash was one of the hit movies of 1984 and included a famous scene shot on the island of Gorda Cay in the Bahamas.
In the scene, Tom Hanks’ character Allen Bauer wakes on a beach after an incident on a diving trip sees him knocked unconscious.
As he comes round, Hanks meets a naked woman - played by Daryl Hannah - and the pair share a kiss before she runs into the water and is transformed into a mermaid.
Gorda Cay is now known as Castaway Cay and is used exclusively by ships from Disney Cruise Lines.
Wallilabou Anchorage, St Vincent - Pirates of the Caribbean
The Wallilabou Anchorage is a hotel located in Wallilabou Bay on the island of Saint Vincent and played an important role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
The area doubled for Port Royal in Jamaica, with the set for the film built around the hotel in order to bring the famous pirate town to life.
After filming ended, the hotel worked to preserve as much of the set as possible, and a museum was created that means visitors are able to explore props and costumes that played key roles in the film.
You can even dress up as one of the characters from the film for a photographic souvenir.
One & Only Ocean Club, the Bahamas - Casino Royale
The 2006 movie Casino Royale marked the first outing for Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond and marked a reboot of the series following Die Another Day four years earlier.
Early in the film, Bond is sent to the Bahamas where he takes part in a game of poker against a corrupt official by the name of Alex Dimitrios, eventually winning Dimitrios’ Aston Martin DB5 and going on to seduce his girlfriend Solange.
Filming of this first casino scene took place at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, which sits in a beachfront location on Paradise Island.
The lobby and bar areas both feature in the film as does the car park outside, where Bond deliberately crashes a Range Rover after being mistaken for a parking valet.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II was the second film in the famous trilogy directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring the likes of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Released in 1974, the film told two stories that took place before and after the first movie - with one following Pacino’s character Michael Corleone and one following De Niro’s character Vito.
Part of the film was set in Cuba but issues between Cuba and the USA meant that scenes that should have been set on the island were instead filmed in the Dominican Republic - with Santo Domingo instead doubling as Havana.
The Presidential Palace in the heart of the city was one major site that featured in the film, and was used for the scene where Michael Corleone confronted Fredo - played by John Cazale - about betraying him.
Falmouth Swamp Safari, Jamaica - Live and Let Die
We return to the world of James Bond for the final suggestion on our list, and another of the most iconic scenes from the franchise.
This time, we head back to 1973 and Live and Let Die, the film which marked the first appearance of Roger Moore in the role of 007.
The film follows Bond as he investigates the death of three MI6 agents who were all investigating Dr Kananga - the dictator of a small Caribbean island called San Monique.
As the film progresses, Bond finds himself captured by Kananga and his men, who plan to feed him to crocodiles on a farm in the Deep South of the USA. Bond however is able to escape from a small island by running over the back of the animals before kick-starting a speedboat chase.
Jamaica doubled as San Monique throughout the film, but the iconic crocodile scene was also filmed on the island rather than in Louisiana as the story suggests.
It actually took place at the Jamaica Swamp Safari Village in Falmouth, where founder Ross Kanaga personally carried out the stunt and you can learn more during a guided tour of the village - which also features the chance to see various crocodiles in close quarters.