Tag Archives: Bonaire

Cayman North Sound
Belize, Bonaire, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Curacao, St. Lucia, Stay, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Caribbean Snorkel Resorts

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One of the great joys of snorkeling tropical waters is freedom. No complex or heavy dive gear to manage, no worries about running out of air or monitoring bottom time, just the tranquility of hovering over a sun-dapple reef. It’s even better when done on your own schedule by wading right out from a resort beach, with no boat to catch and a refreshing shower and beach chair awaiting your return. Here are some of the best beachfront resorts in the Caribbean that provide immediate access to great snorkeling.

 

Grand Cayman barrier reef

Aerial view of Grand Cayman’s northern barrier reef. The outside is safe for snorkeling only in calm seas; the sheltered inner side offers more consistent conditions. Photo: Cayman Island Tourism

The Retreat at Rum Point, Grand Cayman

It’s less than eight miles from Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach to Rum Point as the crow flies, but you’ll have to drive all the way around on the island’s coastal highway or take a ferry across North Sound to get there. This relative isolation means fewer swimmers on the palm-fringed beach and a chance to explore the coral-strewn shallows inside the island’s northern barrier reef. The resort is a collection of rental condominiums that provide spectacular water views. Full kitchens save on dining out, but if the adjacent Wreck Bar saps the cook’s culinary ambitions, then head next door to the Rum Point Club for a meal.

Retreat at rum point

The Retreat at Rum Point sits along 1,200 feet of white sand beach where you might enjoy a beachside massage or a nap in a hammock under the shade. Photo: Rum Point

Fantasy Island Beach Resort, Roatan

The island of Roatan is ringed by magnificent coral reefs. But getting to many of these sites will require a boat ride. The best place to begin a snorkel from shore is at the Fantasy Island Beach Resort. Beginning just to the east of the resort beach is French Key Reef, which is an area of sheltered and protected coral reefs that rise close to the surface. A couple of minutes of finning across the sand bottom brings you to coral gardens filled with an abundance of tropical fish. As an alternative to swimming, resort guests can opt for a guided boat trip. Fantasy Island is a mid-sized resort set on a small private island just off Roatan’s southern shore in the popular Coxen Hole area. All-inclusive packages are available, and the resort is popular with divers and watersports enthusiasts.

Honduras Fantasy Island

This dock at the western edge of the Fantasy Island beach is the ideal starting point for a snorkeling exploration of the sheltered lagoon surrounding French Cay Reef. Photo: Fantasy Island

Tranquility Bay Resort, Belize

Situated on a remote beach on Ambergris Caye, 10 miles north of San Pedro and accessible only by boat, Tranquility Bay is a throwback in time. Traditional, colorful cottages are positioned just yards from the water, and inside you’ll find a surprisingly modern décor and amenities. From the beach it’s a short swim to the inner edge of Belize’s magnificent barrier reef. The resort is secluded and simple, but if clean sand and clear water trump nightlife and spa services, there are few places that can compare. 

Tranquility Bay

Tranquility Bay is the ideal spot to unplug, relax and explore nature. In addition to underwater activities, there are Mayan sites to explore on the mainland. Photo: Tranquility Bay

The Buccaneer Hotel, St. Croix

This landmark property delivers enticing views of the coral-strewn shallows that sit between Mermaid Beach and blue water. Fin east along the rocky coast towards Shoy Point and look under the ledges to discover fish and lobster lurking in the shadows. Those wanting more can catch a boat from the resort dock to Buck Island. Ashore, the Buccaneer remains one of St. Croix’s favorite resorts, providing a complete vacation experience that can include golf, tennis, spa treatments and live music.

St. Croix, best caribbean snorkel resorts

A short swim from the beach at St. Croix’s Buccaneer resort leads snorkelers to a series of coral-covered rock ledges that attract a variety of tropical fish. Photo: The Buccaneer Hotel

Fiesta Americana, Cozumel

Fish and coral are abundant off Cozumel’s west coast, but many sites lack easy beach entries, and to the north of the island, prevailing currents may pull snorkelers away from land. For an easier snorkeling experience, head south to the Fiesta Americana. This all-inclusive property overlooks a colorful stretch of shallow reef just to the north of Chankanaab National Park. There are easy entry and exit points for snorkelers, and milder currents move you southward towards the park. This upscale all-inclusive property is family-friendly, with a pair of pools, a playground and children’s activities. 

Fiesta Americana

In addition to the awesome snorkeling at the Fiesta Americana, there’s a private beach with plenty of beach lounges, umbrellas, over-the-water beds, and hammocks. Photo: Fiesta Americana

Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia

Some of the best coral reefs lie off the southwest coast of St. Lucia in the shadow of the landmark Pitons. They are within an easy swim from the beach at the Anse Chastanet Resort. This protected coral habitat is a favorite with divers and snorkelers, who can wade into the shallows to discover a profusion of sea life mere yards from shore. The resort provides snorkeling equipment for self-guided explorations, or you can book a boat trip with a guide to nearby reefs. The resort itself is the stuff of tropical fantasy, with rooms hiding in the palms, and a short climb up the green hill delivers sweeping views of the Caribbean. 

Anse Chastanet

The beach at Anse Chastanet provides wade-in access to the island’s finest coral reef, which begins in shallow water just 15 yards from shore. Photo: Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia

Plaza Resort, Bonaire

Bonaire’s entire west coast is flanked by one of the finest coastal reef structures in the Caribbean. But only a handful of the island’s resorts are also favored by sandy beaches. Of these, the Plaza provides the best combination of amenities and water access. The reef is just a short swim from the water’s edge, and an on-site dive shop has rental gear or replacement equipment. Ashore, the all-inclusive resort features a collection of low-rise buildings overlooking the channels of a lagoon and marina. Highlights of a stay include open-air seating at the waterfront restaurant and a weekly beach barbecue that is a favorite island tradition. 

Plaza Resort Bonaire

At Plaza Bonaire, a walk to the beach from your room invites snorkeling on a whim or the dive shop organizes snorkeling trips around the island. Photo: Plaza Beach

Sunscape Curacao Resort, Curacao

Six restaurants, six bars, water sports, a spa, first-class fitness center, daily entertainment and a casino—all for one price. Well, not the casino. But if larger all-inclusive resorts are your thing, the Sunscape is the finest on Curacao. When it’s time to submerge, novices can find fish without having to venture beyond the sheltering breakwater. More advanced snorkelers can head outside the breakwater to find vibrant patches of coral on a reef that drops from the jetty rocks to depths of 10 feet, then continues a gradual slope out toward deep water. 

Curacao Sunscape

From the beach at Sunscape Curacao Resort, novice snorkelers will enjoy calm conditions inside the rock jetty, while the more accomplished can explore the outer slope. Photo: Sunscape Curacao

Kayaking the mangroves in Bonaire
Bonaire, Caribbean, Play, Trip Ideas

Action Island: 10 Outdoor Adventures on Bonaire

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You’ll see a lot of dive gear coming out of baggage claim at Bonaire’s airport, and all along the coastal road, pickups loaded with scuba tanks sit parked near favorite shore-entry points. Even the license plates proclaim “Divers Paradise.” But what if you don’t have the urge to submerge? Or are looking for something to do after touring the reefs? Sure, you can choose a beach lounge and a cool drink, but don’t settle in just yet, because adventure awaits.

Windsurfing

Neighboring Aruba was the first Caribbean island to become a windsurfing hot spot. But much of the action has shifted to Bonaire, where the waters of Lac Bay are swept by easterly trades, but protected from pounding surf. The epicenter of sailing action is Jibe City, where first-timers just learning to water start can mingle with some of the world’s best freestyle riders.

Kiteboarding

Kiteboarding along Bonaire's southwestern coastline

Kiteboarding along Bonaire’s southwestern coastline. Photo: iStock

Bonaire’s strong, steady trade winds are ideal for the high-flying sport of kiteboarding. The hot spot for kiting is along the island’s southwestern shore at Atlantis Beach. Offshore winds and calm near-shore waters allow beginners to practice their starts without fear of being driven onto a lee shore, while experts stage screaming exhibition reaches and high-flying tricks within camera distance of the beach’s iconic surf shack.

 

Hiking

The best hiking in Bonaire’s arid interior is at Washington Slagbaai National Park, which covers the entire northern end of the island. The two-mile climb up Mount Brandeis begins with a well-worn path, but ends as a scramble over boulders for a dramatic, wind-swept view of the island. At 780 feet, it’s the island’s tallest point. There are several other less taxing but equally memorable hiking paths in the park, including a coastal trail that leads to a spouting blow hole on surf-washed windward cliffs.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding

The SUP craze hasn’t missed Bonaire, and two of the island’s early adopters, Roan Jaspars and Frederick Vloeberghs now offer rentals, lessons and guided tours at SUP Bonaire. If you are paddling on Lac Bay, you can avoid the wind by plying the sheltered mangrove channels. But more often, tours and lessons launch from the calmer western shoreline, where you can enjoy solitude down by the Slave Huts or tour Kralendijk’s waterfront. On lighter wind days, the duo will lead trips across the channel to uninhabited Kline Bonaire.

Birding

No visitor to Bonaire should miss a chance to watch the pink flamingos wade in the shallows of Goto Lake or the Pekelmeer salt pans. If you are really into species identification, you can delve deeper by seeking out the more than 200 types of sea, shore and land birds that either call the island home or stop by during annual migrations. Local ornithologist Jerry Ligon leads tours for both novice watchers and avid ornithologists.

Bicycling

Bonaire's Washington-Slagbaai National Park biking

Bonaire’s Washington-Slagbaai National Park provides miles of dirt roads and challenging terrain. Photo: Debbie Snow

Bonaire offers something for all breeds of pedal-pushers. Caribbean Sports rents classic Dutch-style urban cycles for casual rides around town, or mountain bikes that are ready to take on the island’s challenging single track. For an adventurous but still comfortable in-between, head to Washington Slagbaai National Park for a day of cycling the unpaved loop road, with stops at some of the hidden coves and beaches.

 

Kayaking

Paddling excursions can be launched from most any place on the island’s western shore, and “kayak snorkeling” with clear-bottomed boats provides a different twist on a shoreline tour. The island’s favorite paddling adventure takes place in the mangrove channels in the northern end of Lac Bay, where nature tours begin at the Mangrove Information Center and wind through narrow, shaded waterways before emerging into the bright sunshine of the bay.

Caving

Bonaire’s limestone substrate is riddled with caves. But visits to these subterranean chambers require one to engage in “wild caving,” meaning no handrails, footpaths or built-in lighting. If you are in reasonable physical shape and don’t mind getting a bit dirty, this might be for you. One signature cave tour includes an underground snorkel trip in a clear-water pool.

Fishing

Outdoor adventures on Bonaire, Deep sea fishing

Yellowfin tuna are just one of the gamefish caught in the blue water that run close to Bonaire’s coast. Photo: Tom Balaguer / iStock

The blue waters surrounding Bonaire are fertile ground for a big game- fishing trip. For more than three decades, the man to charter for an angling success has been Capt. Chris Morkos. Whether it’s trolling for billfish and mahimahi, light-tackle plugging on the reefs or bottom fishing, his 42-foot twin-engine Piscatur is equal to the mission. For inshore action, Morkos can also set you up for catching outsized bonefish and permit on the flats.

Sailing

A day sail is a great way to see Bonaire’s coastline, hop over to Kline Bonaire or stage a longer voyage to visit the northern coves of the national park. The sailing catamaran Mushi Mushi is a good choice; its twin hull configuration is both stable and spacious. Even landlubbers can enjoy these passages because the sailing is done on the calmer, protected waters along the island’s west coast. Sunset sails are also a popular option.