Montserrat

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Sovereignty: Non-sovereign territory administered by United Kingdom
• Capital: Plymouth is the de jure capital but was abandoned after the 1997 volcanic eruption; Brades serves as the de facto capital
• Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
• Languages: English
• Main airport: MNI — John A. Osborne Airport, near Gerald’s
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; the volcano is monitored continuously and access to the exclusion zone is restricted

Overview

Montserrat is a small volcanic island in the Leeward Islands, sometimes called the Emerald Isle for its green hills. The Soufrière Hills volcano began erupting in 1995, burying the capital Plymouth and displacing much of the population. Today the settled north of the island is open to visitors, while a large exclusion zone covers the south.

Airports

John A. Osborne Airport (MNI), at Gerald's in the north, is the only airport and has a short runway suited to small aircraft only. There is no jet service; visitors normally fly into Antigua (ANU) and connect on a short scheduled or charter flight of roughly 15 to 20 minutes. A passenger ferry links Antigua with Little Bay in about 90 minutes.

Main cities

Plymouth, the former capital, lies abandoned inside the exclusion zone and cannot be visited. Government functions operate from Brades, with a new town under development at Little Bay. The main open settlements are Salem, St. John's, Olveston, Woodlands and Geralds in the island's northern half.

Places to go

The Soufrière Hills volcano dominates the south, and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory at Flemmings explains the eruption and ongoing monitoring. The ruined capital Plymouth and the exclusion-zone edge can be viewed from safe vantage points such as Jack Boy Hill and Garibaldi Hill. Woodlands Beach and Rendezvous Bay offer black-sand swimming in the north, Isles Bay lies at the boundary of the exclusion zone, and the Centre Hills forest reserve protects the island's remaining upland rainforest.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Montserrat, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked