Tag Archives: Aruba

Caribbean Cliff Jumping
Aruba, Bonaire, Caribbean, Curacao, Jamaica, Play, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Trip Ideas

Best Caribbean Cliff Jumping

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Most of us access Caribbean waters via the beach. It’s safe, easy and relaxing. But if you want to shake things up a bit, you can also find places suitable for a leap of faith. Adventurous types willing to trek through underbrush and scramble over rocky bluffs know of dozens if not hundreds of elevated launch points through the region. But if you are looking for a known quantity that’s easy to reach and safe to try, you might want to consider these five, which we have arranged in ascending order from mild to wild.

Conchi, Aruba

A visit to Aruba’s favorite natural swimming hole will take you through the island’s rugged interior to the windswept eastern coast and Arikok National Park. The journey to the site, which is known as either Conchi or Cura de Tortuga will require four wheel drive or a sturdy horse—so most people just sign up with a guide. Once there, a small lagoon is flanked by boulders that shelter swimmers from breakers that foam and surge against the outer rocks. Bathers jump in from one of several points around the pool, most at heights of ten feet or less. The main attraction isn’t the drop, but the stark beauty of this isolated site.

Ricks Cafe, Jamaica

The Caribbean’s best-known cliff jumps take place on Jamaica’s West End cliffs. A mile outside of Negril, Rick’s Cafe perches on the edge of the cliffs, providing panoramic views of the Caribbean and the area’s best sunsets. Here, an undercut cleft in the coastal facade creates an inciting turquoise cove that jumpers can’t resist. Youngsters and the less adventurous can begin at lower stations that promise easy entry. Bolder souls can propel themselves from the top of the cliff to drop 35 feet into clear water, while local performers mount makeshift platforms or shinny up cliffside trees to leap from even greater heights. Anyone who jumps can almost assuredly be guaranteed a cliffside audience, and plenty of encouragement.

Boca Slagbaai, Bonaire

A drive along the dirt roads of Bonaire’s Washington Slagbaai National Park will bring you to Boca Slagbaai, where a weathered limestone outcropping overlooks the southern end of the bay. After enjoying some refreshments at the adjacent waterfront restaurant, make your way through the scrub and cactus-covered slope to the edge of the cliff, where you’ll enjoy a sweeping view of the north coast as you gather your nerve for the 25-foot plunge. Showoffs have just enough time for a quick flip. Otherwise it’s an easy feet-first entry and a 30-yard swim back to the beach. The spot gets popular by mid afternoon, but the fun stops by four, as the park closes early.

Playa Forti, Curacao

A leap from the cliffs at Curacao’s Playa Forti isn’t for the faint of heart. With a drop of nearly 40 feet to the water, it takes nerve to edge out onto the small platform that locals have constructed as a launch point. Commit and you have an adrenaline-charged drop into 20 feet of clear Caribbean water. The path to the jump zone follows a ledge running between the cliff edge and the low walls of an open-air restaurant that perches on the bluff. After the drop, you’ll have a reasonable swim over to the beach, and some stairs to climb back up the parking area. This site in Curacao’s Westpunt region is well known, and most anyone on the island can provide directions.

Maho Cliff, St, Martin

Located just off the airport runway, St. Martin’s Sunset Beach provides safe thrills each time a landing jetliner thunders mere feet overhead. Anyone wanting to take flight themselves can walk up the beach towards the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort, and make their way through the hotel grounds to the cliff face at the western edge of the property. The drop is nearly 40 feet—plenty for most—but true adrenaline junkies can substantially up the ante by accessing the flat roof of the hotel. A running leap propels the brave and possibly foolish into an 80-foot free fall. From either height, there’s plenty of time to relive the jump as you make the 200-yard swim back to the beach.

 

Negril Beach, Jamaica
Aruba, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Jamaica

Best Caribbean Islands for Families

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Most children are happy to be taken anywhere that’s not school or daycare, and a trip to the Caribbean certainly fits the bill. Most destinations in the region have at least one resort with an enjoyable children’s program, but some islands have more to offer the younger generation in the way of activities and are flush with resorts that go the extra mile to cater to kids.

Grand Cayman

The island is relatively small, so there are no long rides to and from resorts and attractions. The resorts themselves are well-run and all areas of the island are safe to wander. Most days, the ocean at Seven Mile Beach is like bathwater, perfect for little swimmers and snorkeling is close to shore. Farther afield, the trip to Stingray City to pet the rays is an instant lifetime memory for most people, and the boat ride out crosses calm water. The island’s one drawback is that it’s pricey compared to some other destinations. But there are workarounds, as some resorts including a few on Seven Mile Beach have begun offering all-inclusive packages. There are also hundreds of vacation villas for rent; these have full kitchens, and supermarkets are nearby so families can cook to keep costs down.

Jamaica

Jamaica didn’t invent the all-inclusive, but you could argue it was perfected here. Meals, activities and entertainment are right there and well-suited to schedules that may need to adapt based on the whims and needs of the little ones. In addition to providing favorable package prices for family vacations, Jamaica has a nearly limitless supply of attractions and activities: Dunn’s River Falls, rafting on the Rio Grande or Martha Brae rivers, Fern Gully, zip lining, bicycling, fishing, snorkeling, sailing, diving, golf, tennis, spas … it’s all here. For families, the north coast—Montego Bay and Ocho Rios—has the most options, including several all- inclusive properties that take youth programs to the next level, with everything from costumed characters to entertain the little ones to teen-centric lounges and dance clubs. Parents aren’t forgotten either and have the ability to create that ideal mix of family and couples time.

Aruba

Aruba isn’t what many envision as a tropical paradise. There are no waterfalls or lush green mountains, and instead the landscape is dry, hilly and peppered with cacti. But it, too, holds plenty of attractions for families, chief among them are the warm welcomes guests receive and the accommodating nature of the local people. The fabulous beaches rank high as the island’s main attraction. Aruba also has its share of all-inclusives with very active and complete kids’ programs, so no one is going to get bored here. If you can tear yourselves away from the beaches go north and west into the outback to ride an ATV or a horse, rent some mountain bikes, swim in the natural pool, explore the old gold mine and climb the dunes and boulders near the California lighthouse.

Aruba Kukoo Kunuku Bus
Aruba, Caribbean, Eat, Trip Ideas

Aruba’s Party Bus

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The Dutch island of Aruba, just off the Venezuelan coast, is known for a lot of things: an avid windsurfing crowd, a striking desert landscape, gorgeous beaches and a steady flow of mainlanders who come to unwind and celebrate. One of the best ways to do so is to join the Kukoo Kunuku tour company for their six-hour bus pub crawl. You’ll see more of the island, and get a little buzzed and a little rowdy with fellow fun-loving travelers.

It’s red and white and covered with graffiti. The moment the open-air Kukoo Kunuku party bus pulls up at your Aruba hotel for a 6 p.m. pickup, you know it’s going to be a good night. Climb aboard and the other guests cheer and shout. Before you find a seat, your evening’s host hands you maracas to shake things up and get you in the party spirit. With all revelers gathered, the bus stops first at a beach in the shadow of the iconic California Lighthouse. You’re poured a plastic cup or two of champagne to toast the sunset while meeting the other guests.

Then it’s on to dinner at Casibari Grill, located next to the massive boulder formations of the same name. Everyone is served a heaping plate of barbecue: ribs and a skewer of chicken and peppers, plus salad, rice and bread. If you have any interest in face painting, queue up before the watermelon dessert arrives. An artist from Britain provides the service when she’s in town; otherwise, her son takes over. The next decision should be an easy one. Yes, you want the souvenir water bottle, not for its Ronald McDonald color scheme, but because for six dollars, it saves money on drink specials all night at each bar that the group visits.

Note: The cocktails aren’t overly stiff. They’re strong enough that you taste the rum, but light enough that you won’t be hung-over the next morning, especially if you dance. Throughout the evening, the bus stops at three or four bars for an hour each. The line-up changes nightly, but typically includes neighborhood watering holes like U-Wanna Beer, Tumazu (which has billiards) and La Ronda Cafe. The tour host lives to rile up the crowd, getting you to dance on the bar, wear silly hats and whatever else she’s in the mood for. The bars themselves lean toward the plain side, but the fun is in meeting your fellow revelers, joking with the host and dancing.

Just before midnight, the group stops at one last bar—Mojitos—known for keeping its dance floor hopping. If the music isn’t enough to get you joining the Cupid Shuffle and Macarena, then the company will be. But perhaps the best part is simply riding on the bus. It’s when your mica-wielding host cracks jokes and even the driver seems free- spirited, wheeling ’round the roundabouts several times, making the night feel a little bit wild and full of possibilities.

St. Thomas Iggies at Dusk
Anguilla, Aruba, Caribbean, Eat, St. Kitts, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Five of the Caribbean’s Best Beach Bars for Live Music

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No island experience is complete without at least one night of we-be-jamming. And the best nights happen when you find just the right mix of atmosphere, energy, potent cocktails and bands so lively that you can’t sit down. We traveled, listened in and danced all night to find the best Caribbean joints delivering colorful atmosphere, good crowds and, of course, live music that keeps you in the party spirit until the wee hours. Read on to rock on.

Dune Preserve on Anguilla

Ladies, watch out: Bankie Banx is the famous founder of this open-air reggae joint on Anguilla, but it’s his son, Omari, who’s the main act now—and his looks are every bit as luscious as his voice. The wooden boat-like venue at Rendezvous Bay is cozy. Every seat is a good seat for watching the acts and the impromptu dancing happening in the aisles and in front of the stage. During the day, the beachside bar crowd is mostly tourists— many straight off cruise ships—but at night, it’s a mix of locals and visitors of all ages.

MooMba Beach Bar on Aruba

Dance with your feet in the sand at Aruba’s Palm Beach hot spot. The lineup of local acts playing Friday and Sunday nights constantly changes, but it’s within a category the bartenders jokingly call tropical rock. The scene here starts early, typically around 7 p.m., so you’ll find a more family friendly crowd. But that doesn’t mean the party is tame. Two bars—one big one under the restaurant’s large thatched roof and one out in the sand— make sure you always have a cold one to keep you in the mood to shake it.

Fort Christian Brew Pub on St. Croix

This dockside, open-air venue sees the biggest crowds on St. Patrick’s Day when they bring in five bands to keep the crowd boogieing all day. During high season, they offer live music four nights a week, including Friday and Saturday. Their regular acts include the one-man band of Kurt Schindler, whose music is a blend of calypso and reggae, and DJ Cypha, who spins his own mix of reggae and rap. Expect high energy from the crowd that’s mostly twenty-somethings off duty from the tourism industry. Earlier in the night, you’ll see a wider range of folks who come in for the five beers crafted on site.

Iggies Beach Bar on St. Thomas

Every night of the year, this restaurant, part of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, serves up live music right at the water’s edge. Wednesday is carnival night with steel-pan calypso music and moko jumbies—masked dancers on stilts traditionally believed to ward away spirits. Sunday sees the all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet, and any night is a good night to try the VooDoo Juice. Iggies is popular with visiting families thanks to the quick delivery of conch fritters, sliders and other island-y pub grub. Find the twenty-something set at the joint’s sand volleyball courts.

Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack, St. Kitts

Frigate Bay on St. Kitts is the place to be Friday night. Pretty much everyone looking to party—the expat community, locals and college kids—flocks to this beachside joint with live music. You’ll hear what’s known as soca music: a mix of calypso, soul and funk. Also, on Thursday, the beachside joint hosts bonfires, and Saturday, it’s karaoke night.

Aruba underwater
Aruba, Bonaire, Caribbean, Curacao, Play, Trip Ideas

The ABCs of Snorkeling

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The Caribbean’s ABC Islands-Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao-lack the lush greenery of the windward chain, and instead offer arid interiors where cacti thrive. This is not only good news for sun worshipers, who seldom have to dodge rain clouds, but also for snorkelers, who will find coastal waters unsullied by runoff from rivers and streams. Combine this clarity with underwater topographies that place coral reefs close to shore, and you have the makings of ideal snorkel destinations.

Aruba

If you just fin out from a resort along Palm Beach, you might not think Aruba has much to offer the snorkeler. Finding the island’s more scenic reefs and clearest water will require a bit of travel, either by car or boat. On the island’s northwest corner, the calm waters just offshore of Arashi Beach and Boca Catalina hold colorful schools of fish and are a favorite destination for tour boats. The shores are accessible by rental car or taxi, though reaching the reefs from shore requires one to negotiate coral rubble and rocks in the shallows. Adjacent Malmok Beach offers similar conditions and fewer people. South of the hotel zone, Renaissance Island provides guests of the namesake resort with access to a private island for snorkeling and sunning. Also worth checking out is De Palm Island, which offers an all- inclusive day at their beach club that includes the use of snorkeling gear, instruction and a lunch buffet. Driving or taxiing towards San Nicolas will yield more sites that are accessible from shore, including Savant Beach, and sheltered Baby Beach, a favorite with families and novices. A stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino gives first-timers a protected cove to hone their skills, along with exclusive access to the resort’s private island.

Aruba Snorkeling, the ABCs of Snorkeling

Favorite destinations for snorkel excursions by boat or from the beach are the reefs off Arashi Beach and the California Lighthouse on Aruba’s calm northwest corner. Photo: Aruba Tourist Authority

Bonaire

This quiet island’s nickname is “Diver’s Paradise,” but the same clear waters and nearshore reefs scuba enthusiasts crave are also ideal for snorkeling. Along Bonaire’s sheltered western shore, the reefs begin mere feet from land. Entries can be made directly from one of the waterfront resorts, or at any shoreside parking spot along the coast road where a painted yellow rock marks a dive or snorkeling site. Signature mid-island sites include Karpata and Thousand Steps, where coral growth encroaches on the ironshore. Some of the most colorful and extensive shallows are also found at sites south of the Salt Pier. A number of the dive resorts offer boat trips to more remote reefs to the north and around the desert island of Kline Bonaire. There are several diver-centric resorts perched on low bluffs just north of the town of Kralendijk where one can plunge in from a dockside ladder. If you want a more complete resort experience along with a sand beach, try Harbour Village or the Plaza Beach Resort.

Bonaire Snorkeling

Snorkelers at Bonaire’s Thousand Steps, a site where coral reefs begin just yards from shore and slope gently into the depths. There are actually only 65 stone stairs to descend. Photo: Walt Stearns

Curacao

Curacao’s southern coast creates shelter from the region’s prevailing trade winds, providing calm shallows that nurture colorful arrays of hard and soft corals. One of the island’s most popular snorkeling sites is Caracas Bay, where the remains of a small tugboat sit in shallow water near a coral garden, and the broken pilings of an old pier provide additional opportunities for fish watching. Several charter companies offer boat trips to this site, or you can create a self-guided tour by wading in from the shore. For more snorkeling adventures, rent a car and head to the central and western sections of the coast, which is punctuated by a number of snorkel-worthy bays. Many have beachfront eateries or parks where you can rinse off afterward and enjoy a libation. Stay at one of the waterfront resorts east of Willemstad, such as Sunscape Curacao Resort, Spa & Casino or the Royal Sea Aquarium, and you’ll have walking access to the Curacao Sea Aquarium and the island’s favorite sandy strand, Mambo Beach.

Curacao Caracas Bay snorkeling

The tugboat wreck sits in the shallow waters of Curacao’s Caracas Bay. This is one of the island’s signature snorkel sites, accessible either by boat or from the shore. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

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Aruba Natural Pools
Aruba, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Aruba: 10 Reasons to Go

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Vacationers are lured by visions of expansive swaths of sand, bright waters, casual beach culture and a smorgasbord of water sports. Aruba delivers on these promises, but there’s more to this island beyond the sun and fun. Better than half of all visitors come back, and many form lasting bonds and friendships with locals. It’s not uncommon to find folks who return twice a year for periods of a month or more; many have been coming to Aruba for decades. The island does it right, and it all starts with the people. The Aruba license plate states “One Happy Island,” which is not just a motto, but an integral element of the local atmosphere.

1  Mixing Zone

Though officially part of the Netherlands, Aruba is home to a wide range of cultures and ethnic groups, some dating from the days of the Dutch Caribbean trade, others more recent arrivals. Dutch overtones are evident, but so too are Caribbean and South American influences. Adding to the mix, you may find an artist from Spain, a yoga instructor from Norway and a chef from Italy. Over the centuries, each nation has brought a bit of their homeland culture, which can be seen in the island’s food, drink, dance and art. Native Arubans, descendents of the Arawak, are sprinkled with a dash of Dutch, Spanish and African that blends into a rich cultural mix.

2  International Markets

Aruba’s well-stocked supermarkets turn grocery shopping into an international affair. Much like the island’s diverse population, store shelves are stocked with an eclectic range of products from around the world. Take home one of Europe’s finest coffees, Douwe Egberts, and tins of almond windmill cookies from Holland. South America contributes Cacique rum and Harina P.A.N. cornmeal for making Venezuelan arepas. A bounty of sauces, condiments and spices come from Asian distributors, sharing shelf space with favorite North American brands.

3  Drink All You Want

Rather than rely on rainfall or limited and sometimes brackish groundwater reserves, Aruba gets ample supplies of fresh, coral- filtered drinking water from a state of the art desalinization plant in Oranjestad. The island is quite proud of its taste, and it flows from taps in generous and safe-to-drink quantities. Now, this pure water has also become a key ingredient in a local beer: Balashi. The island brew has edged out sister island Curacao’s Amstel as the local beer of choice.

4  Going Coastal

Aruba’s calm west coast is flanked by miles of magnificent beaches, and at the center of the action is Palm Beach, the Aruban equivalent of Copacabana. This stretch of sand is home to the island’s finest resorts and is a playground for water sports, beach activities and plenty of people watching. Whether it’s spending the day lazing in a chaise, bobbing on a float or napping under a shaded palapa, everyone makes it to Palm Beach at one time or another. Closer to town, lower-key Eagle Beach is a favorite with families, who come to play in banks of soft sugary granules and frolic in small pale turquoise waves.

5  Dry Land Adventures

More than 20 percent of Aruba lies within Arikok National Park. Located along the island’s northern shore, this 13-square-mile preserve resembles an arid Arizona landscape, with intriguing rock formations, caverns and giant cacti. Explorations can take place on foot, via horseback or by car. In addition to ancient Arawak petroglyphs, there are caves to be discovered along with pocket- size beaches and tidal pools tucked into coves that protect waders from the pounding surf. Wildlife includes donkeys, lizards, burrowing owls and the occasional rattlesnake.

6  On the Waterfront

Most everyone who visits Aruba takes in some water-based activity, even if it’s just a snorkel from the beach or a sunset sail. The steady trade winds that blow from the east made the island an early mecca for the sport of windsurfing, and kiteboarders have since joined in. In more sheltered waters, where hotels block the wind, conditions are ideal to paddle a kayak or take a yoga class on a SUP. And just offshore, coral reefs and shipwrecks beckon divers and snorkelers.

7  A Diverse Palate

The island’s 200-plus eateries are known for serving up a medley of international cuisines. Dutch, French, Belgium, Chinese, Italian and Thai dishes are favorites, but don’t pass up the opportunity to try local recipes like keshi yena—a ball of Gouda or Edam cheese filled with spiced chicken or beef, tomatoes, onions, olives, green pepper and raisins. Pastechi, an empanada filled with chicken, beef or fish, is a favorite grab-and-go snack from markets and bakeries. Dutch and Indonesian influences come together in another local pairing: chicken satay with peanut sauce, served with French fries and mayo.

8  Lady Luck

Casinos are big on the island, and just about every large resort has its own. The tables at the Hyatt Regency Casino, the Marriott Stellaris Casino and the Radisson on Palm Beach are busy day and night. In town you can try your luck at the Seaport Casino and spend your winnings at the shops, restaurants and bars right there. One of the island’s first—now rebuilt bigger and better—is the Alhambra Casino, with its own shopping and dining arcade. Operated by the Divi Group and close to its resort locations on Eagle Beach, this casino even provides complimentary transportation via golf carts, so carrying all that loot is never a burden.

9  After Hours

When the sun goes down, Aruba parties on. There is no shortage of nighttime activities both in Palm Beach and downtown Oranjestad, where you’ll find the best action including rooftop dancing and ocean views from the Local Store bar. Mojito’s Cantina & Grill at the Royal Plaza Mall pulls in the Latin lovers who gravitate toward salsa and bachata, and at the Grand Café Tropical in Renaissance Marketplace, dance tunes dominate the scene. The hotel zone is ideal for a nightcap at places such as MooMba Beach Bar & Restaurant, which sits under a massive palapa right on the sand. If your night takes you no farther than Palm Beach, several clubs and bars are within walking distance of many hotels.

10  Artistic Impressions

For a small island, Aruba has a burgeoning art community, with locally grown talent. Inspiration often comes from nature, but exposure to global art and ideas has influenced both technique and medium. You’ll find sculptors, potters and painters; some portray the local landscape while other offer subtle social and environmental messages. A variety of work is showcased at three primary galleries: Gasparito Restaurant & Art Gallery, Insights Art Studio and long-time favorite Que Pasa Restaurant, Art Gallery & Bar. Exhibitions can also be viewed at the Marriott and Westin resorts on Palm Beach.