Montserrat is located in the Eastern Caribbean, about 50km southwest of Antigua and northwest of Guadaloupe. This island is about 16km long and 10km wide with lush vegetation and four main mountain peaks.

Montserrat is truly a Caribbean treasure; unique, beautiful, undeveloped and original. One of the most appealing attractions is its people, who are very proud of their island and welcome every visitor with unmatched friendliness. With next to no crime, nobody hassling you and the locals always happy to help, you will feel home away from home almost immediately.

Montserrat offers a very rare opportunity to witness an active volcano from a safe distance. After lying 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 WH 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. Visitors can learn about its geological origins and history, as well as view the volcano from safe locations around the island.

The Soufrière Hills Volcano is under constant supervision by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO). As well as monitoring the volcanic activity, the MVO is responsible for providing information on the volcano to the public and running an educational programme.