Tag Archives: Caribbean

Soggy Dollar Bar, BVU, Jost Van Dyke
British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Eat, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Beach Bars: Soggy Dollar Bar, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

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It’s hard to imagine how anyone relaxing in a beach chair overlooking White Bay could be feeling any pain. But that doesn’t stop patrons of Jost Van Dyke island’s Soggy Dollar Bar from ordering up a round of the Pusser’s Painkillers that have made this landmark watering hole one of the most famous in the Caribbean. The origins of this signature drink date to the 1970s, long before the island offered paved roads or electricity. Back then, the only way to reach this beach was to anchor nearby and row, paddle or swim ashore—assumedly with a pocket full of soggy dollars to pay for libations.

The bar’s original owner, Daphne Henderson, is credited with creating the savory juice and rum cocktail, which was later made famous by the founder of the Pusser’s Rum company. These days, patrons are less concerned with the history of the drink than with its effects. There are few better places in the world to relax on a sunny afternoon under the soothing influences of a Painkiller or two, with nothing more on the agenda than a few tries at the bar’s much-loved ring game, a dip in the bay, a nap in the sun… and perhaps another round of Painkillers.

Puerto Rico Cabo Rojo Rock Formation
Caribbean, Plan, Puerto Rico, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

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On Puerto Rico’s far southwestern tip, 100 miles and a world away from the bustle of San Juan, a mile-long spit of land juts into the Caribbean. This is Cabo Rojo, the red cape, so named for the rust-colored cliffs that rise from the surf. Barren and starkly beautiful, the cape is uninhabited and untouched by civilization, save for Los Morrillos Lighthouse. This landmark structure, which once guided sailors away from the rocks, now attracts day- trippers, who come both for the view and to swim at an adjacent beach.

From the lighthouse, trails lead westward along the cliffs to a cove that overlooks a natural rock bridge. A mere three feet wide, this rock spine tempts the adventurous to inch their way out to the connected spire, while the more prudent are content to take in the view from the safety of the bluff. After admiring this natural wonder and snapping a few photos, hikers can continue to explore the surrounding cliffs, which are riddled with small caves, and home to thousands of sea birds.

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.

 

St Thomas Charlotte Amalie
Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Walk This Way: 99 Steps, St. Thomas USVI

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Charlotte Amalie is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean. But if you walk a few blocks beyond the waterfront taverns of Veterans Drive, and the duty-free offerings of Dronningens Gade, you can discover a city with a rich history, where cobblestone streets and colonial-era buildings serve as reminders of Danish rule and pirate occupations.

One of the more picturesque remnants of this era is the walkway known as 99 steps, which climbs the hillside from Kongens Gade toward the landmark tower of Blackbeard’s Castle. This thoroughfare, listed on old maps as Greater Tower Street, is one of the best surviving examples of the old town’s numerous stair-stepped streets known as frigangs that connected the waterfront to hillside dwellings.

The Danish-made bricks used to build these stairways date from the 1700s, and were originally used as ship’s ballast before being repurposed as a building material. Today, the stairway is primarily used by sightseers, often as part of a walking tour that takes in other historic landmarks such as Fort Christian, Emancipation Park and the St. Thomas Synagogue, which is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Those who delight in details might note that, despite the name, the stairway actually includes a total of 103 steps. But who’s counting; just enjoy the view.

Antigua Redonda Island Sunset
Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: Redonda, Antigua

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If you happen to be sailing between the islands of Nevis and Montserrat, you’ll pass close to a barren, rocky island ringed by cliffs that rise from crashing surf to heights of 1,000 feet. Though it might not look like much, it’s claimed that the island of Redonda is the home of the Caribbean’s only remaining monarchy. Christopher Columbus made note of the island as he sailed past on his second voyage, and named it Santa María de la Redonda, meaning Saint Mary the Round.

Having no potential for settlement, the islet was largely ignored until the British annexed it to Antigua, with the intention of harvesting the valuable deposits of phosphate-rich guano (aka bird poop) that covered the slopes. A mining colony was established on the inhospitable landscape, and harvesting operations continued until the start of the First World War. At the peak, some 200 workers lived on Redonda, but today it lies vacant, with broken cisterns, rusting machinery, crumbled barracks and a hint of an old post office–all weathered remains of the past mining community.

The tale of Redonda’s monarchy begins with a trader from Montserrat named Matthew Shiel, who laid claim to the island in 1865 so that his newly born son, Matthew Phipps Shiel, could be known as the King of Redonda. His figurehead sovereignty was said to be recognized by the British when they took control of the island. In later years, this title would be passed on not by heredity, but to a succession of literary figures, who ruled their kingdom from afar, preferring the pubs of London to the sunbaked slopes of their fiefdom. The current king goes by the title of Michael the Grey, though there is some dispute as to the order of ascension, with several laying claim to the throne. Various other titles and knighthoods were dispensed to cronies of the kings over the years, but the only subjects his highness presides over these days are flocks of sea birds, an assortment of lizards and a herd of goats.

 

bermuda
Bermuda, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Bermuda: 10 Reasons to Go

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Quaint, yet cosmopolitan. Bermuda is a vacation destination that draws visitors from both sides of the Atlantic. Traditions such as high tea, croquet lawns and afternoon cricket matches blend with modern recreations ranging from golf to scuba diving. History buffs have forts and lighthouses to discover and the beaches are some of the best in the world. Top that with a warm and friendly population whose cultural mix include British, West Indian and a touch of Portuguese and you have a destination that everyone loves and no one wants to leave.

1  Go Coastal

While pink beaches are the island’s trademark, some stretches of coastline are actually covered in soft, creamy-white sand that is just as striking when set against the electric blue waters. Coastlines are punctuated by coves, etched out caves and natural arches formed by centuries of wave erosion. Exploring the coastlines is always interesting and adventurous as you climb over rugged ledges and rocky formations for expansive ocean views. 

Horseshoe Bay Bermuda

The pink sands of Horseshoe Beach are sheltered by rocky headlands and a fringing reef. This is one of Bermuda’s most popular beaches, and a favorite destination for snorkelers. Photo: Todd Taulman/iStock

2  Maritime History

The vision of the British was to make Bermuda the Gibraltar of the west. Construction of the Royal Naval Dockyard began in 1809. This sprawling 75-acre complex was intended as a base to defend the British colonies and to attack American forces. Built by slaves and convicts, the stonewalls surrounding the yards once housed ammunition and barracks. Today you still enter the Dockyard via stone gates, but inside there are shops, restaurants and galleries along with the Bermuda Maritime Museum. 

Bermuda Royal Naval Dockyard

Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard was once an important British military port. Today, the expansive grounds and resorted buildings are a favorite destination for sightseers. Photo: Gerald LaFlamme/iStock

3  The Magic Bus

Bermuda’s bus system is second to none. Known as the Bermuda Breeze, these pink-and-blue coaches are the primary means of transport for locals and visitors alike, and run from one end of the island to the other. The buses are spotlessly clean, run on a schedule and are a perfect place to chat, meet locals and other visitors. More than just a driver, the man behind the wheel is an ambassador for the island.

4  Pristine Properties

Bermuda may be the cleanest island in the world. The island villages are quaint and tidy, as Bermudians take great pride in their property. You’ll notice manicured green lawns and gardens full of blooms; some homes have a vegetable plot arranged so perfectly that it could be featured in a gardening magazine. Stone walls separate properties and orchards and are covered in spider lilies and flowering vines. Homes are tinted in a collection of water taffy pastels. You’ll see lime green, sky blue, lemon yellow and raspberry pink, all topped with stark white limestone roofs. 

Bermuda Village

Though often referred to as the island of Bermuda, this British Overseas Territory is actually composed of 138 separate landmasses, most connected by a network of bridges and roadways with tidy villages. Photo: iStock

5  Top-notch Sleepovers

No mater where you check in, you won’t find a tattered, run down or even a run-of-the-mill resort on the island. Choices range from elegant and historic beach hideaways where guests are indulged in food, wine and white glove service to cottage colonies where you feel more like a resident than a hotel guest. These cottage compounds are unique to Bermuda and date back to an era when guests came for extended summer stays. Stay in a cottage on the grounds of a resort and you can enjoy both privacy and the conveniences of on-site restaurants, lounges, and recreational amenities.

6  Tee time

Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any other island, including several that are ranked as among the best in the world. Some courses offer spectacular views of the ocean from elevated tees and hilltop clubs, while others such as Belmont Hills have panoramic views of Hamilton Harbour and the Great Sound. Those looking for a memorable challenge can take on two of golf’s most legendary holes: the Mid Ocean Club’s intimidating fourth, known as the Cape, and the spectacular oceanside par-3 16th at Port Royal.

Southampton Golf Course Bermuda

The Turtle Hill Golf Club at the Fairmont Southampton has been ranked among the top par-3 courses in the world. Bermuda offers seven golf courses, including several of championship quality. Photo: iStock

7  Men in Shorts

Nowhere else in the world can men go to business meetings in shorts. No, not beach shorts, but stylish, pressed Bermuda shorts. Proper business attire states that shorts cannot be more than two inches above the knee and should have a two-inch hem. The entire ensemble includes leather shoes—preferable loafers— worn with matching or coordinating knee socks and a long sleeve shirt, tie and jacket. Add a briefcase and you’ve got your power executive. The shorts started as a result of offering businessmen a respite from the warm summers and today are worn in the colors of Bermuda: lime green, pink and lemon yellow—with matching socks, of course.

8  World of Goods

The island is a crossroads for international maritime commerce. During the American Civil War, Bermuda traders ran supplies through the North’s blockades of Southern ports. Today international commerce centers around the capital of Hamilton. Front Street is lined with shops selling imports from around the world. You can stock up on Lalique and Wedgewood along with Irish linens, Scottish Tweeds, Swiss watches, Cuban cigars and Italian silk scarfs all duty free. Local artwork includes hand-blown glass, pottery, paintings and sculptures which can be found in Hamilton and shops at the Dockyard. 

Hamilton Bermuda

Bermuda’s capital city, Hamilton, is both a major international center and a popular port of call. Front Street faces the harbor, and is lined by a collection of popular shops and cafes. Photo: iStock

9  Think Pink

The color of Bermuda is pink. Everywhere you look you’ll find a shade of blush, rose or coral brushed on a building, used in a logo and in articles of clothing. Men, in particular, wear a lot of the color and most have a pair of pink Bermuda shorts in their wardrobe. The various tones of pink are a reflection of the natural beauty of the island, its pink sand beaches and pink sunsets. 

Bermuda Pink Building

This traditional building displays Bermuda’s signature pink hue, and reflects a time before air conditioning, when breezeways and overhangs capitalized on cooling breezes. Photo: Megan Morgan/iStock

10  Wrecking Crew

The treacherous reefs surrounding the island have claimed many a ship. Today Bermuda is known as a wreck diving mecca, with more than 400 vessels sunk off its coastlines. There are 16th- century Spanish galleons, merchant steamers from the 1800s and decommissioned freighters intentionally sunk for reef building purposes. The largest wreck is the Cristobal Colon, a 500-foot luxury liner. Most wrecks are in relatively shallow water, and are easily reached by several dive operators.

St. Lucia Pitons at Sunset
Caribbean, Plan, St. Lucia, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: The Pitons, St. Lucia

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The twin peaks known as the Pitons are among the most iconic landmarks in the Caribbean. Located on the west-central coast of St. Lucia, they rise dramatically from the shore to heights of just over 2,600 feet. The Arawak viewed the spires as gods; the larger of the pair, Gros Piton, being the god of thunder, fire and food, while Petite Piton was endowed with fertility, the phases of the moon and tides. Today these majestic summits are admired by visitors from around the world, and are under the protection of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The cones are actually the remains of a pair of long-dormant volcanoes, and their slopes continue downward beyond the beach, giving divers and snorkelers a coral-encrusted volcanic slope to explore. Ambitious hikers can make their way to the top of Gros Piton on a steep but manageable trail, while an ascent of Petit Piton is considered a borderline mountain climbing expedition. Those who make it to the top of either are rewarded with 360-degree views of St. Lucia, the Caribbean Sea and even the neighboring island of St. Vincent. If you’d prefer to enjoy the view in a more leisurely fashion, check in to one of the upscale resorts that nestle into nearby hillsides. Properties such as Jade Mountain offer especially impressive panoramas of the peaks from balconies and private plunge pools set high on an adjacent slope.

Cuba Salto De Vegas
Caribbean, Cuba, Plan, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Cascades: Salto Vega Grande, Cuba

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To the west of the scenic town of Trinidad, the green slopes of Cuba’s Escambray Mountains rise to heights of 3,000 feet. Here, jungle rivers flow through steep canyons and plunge over waterfalls to fill cool, inviting swimming holes. Much of this rugged and verdant landscape is protected within the boundaries of the Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes.

This nature reserve is fast becoming a favorite with hikers and eco tourists, who can explore miles of pathways that wind through groves of ferns, bamboo and eucalyptus, and lead up to wooded slopes riddled with grottoes and caves. Some, such as the route to the popular Salto del Caburni falls, can be demanding, and will require sturdy walking shoes and several hours to complete.

By contrast, the footpath from the roadside to a view of the Vega Grande falls is short and relatively easy. After taking in the panoramic vistas, many visitors continue on to the base of the falls, where a sparkling freshwater pool awaits.

Grand Cayman Queen Elizabeth Botanical Park
Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Play, Trip Ideas

Grand Cayman’s Eco Adventures

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Vacationers flock to the beaches of Grand Cayman for sun and sand. Move inland a bit, however, and you’ll discover a quieter, greener side of this island. Here are a few ideas to get you headed back to nature.

Exhibit One

You don’t have to go trekking to catch a glimpse of Grand Cayman’s wilder side. Overlooking Georgetown Harbor, the island’s oldest public building now houses the Cayman Island’s National Museum. Along with cultural exhibits, there’s a gallery devoted to the island’s flora and fauna. If this exhibit whets your appetite for green spaces, take a short drive to the coastal village of Bodden Town and the historic Mission House. After touring the home, spend some time wandering the wooded grounds and adjacent wetlands, which are a protected wildlife habitat.

Grand Cayman Bodden Town Pedro St James House, eco adventures

The great house at the historic seven-acre Pedro St. James estate has been meticulously restored and furnished with period antiques to provide a glimpse of island life in the 18th Century. Photo: iStock

Smell the Flowers

For a civilized yet authentic take on Grand Cayman’s biodiversity, plan an outing to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park. A 40-minute drive from Georgetown, it’s located in the island’s greener North Side District, and on the site of a natural wetland. Meticulously tended floral gardens and orchid displays will delight the botanically inclined, but the real treat for naturalists is the Woodland Trail, which winds through the 40-acre grounds, giving access to a small lake that is a haven for waterfowl. More than half of Cayman’s native fauna can be found along this walk, and the park is also a haven for the indigenous blue iguana, which has rebounded from the brink of extinction.

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana

Once plentiful in the Caribbean, the blue iguana is now an endangered species. This one has found refuge on the grounds of Grand Cayman’s Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Photo: Colin D. Young/iStock

Take a Hike

Named for the namesake trees that shade portions of the route, the two-mile Mastic Trail carries hikers through old growth forest, and ecosystems ranging from mangrove wetlands to palm groves, banana orchards, dry woodlands and former agricultural lands. Wooden walks span marshy areas, and the only climbing involved will be the imperceptible ascent to Grand Cayman’s highest point—which towers all of 60 feet above sea level. The walk will be rich in the scents of wild jasmine and the sounds of birds. The trail is open to all, and guided tours are offered through the National Trust for the Cayman Islands.

Grand Cayman Mastic Trail

Grand Cayman’s Mastic Trail enters a nature preserve containing the island’s largest contiguous area of old growth dry forest. The 2.3-mile route is open to the public. Photo: Burrard Lucas/iStock

For the Birds

Avid bird watchers have identified more than 240 feathered species that either call Grand Cayman home, or make a stopover during annual migrations. You don’t have to be a die-hard ornithologist to appreciate the sea birds that swoop and dive along the harbor waterfront and patrol the beaches, but a trip to wetlands such as Collier’s Pond or Barkers National Park will reveal a whole different population of waders and fliers. An easy side trip from Seven Mile Beach is the Governor Gore Bird Sanctuary in the town of Savannah, where a boardwalk leads to a small pond that’s home to egrets and herons, while the surrounding woodlands shelter a variety of warblers, kingfishers, thrushes and more.

Grand Cayman Scarlet Ibis

A scarlet ibis searches for snacks in the wetlands of Grand Cayman’s Barkers National Park. More than 240 species of land and sea birds can be found on the island. Photo: Scott Griessel/iStock

Cruise, Paddle or Splash

Grand Cayman’s North Sound is an expansive area of mangroves and sea grass flats that provides a fertile nursery for marine life. You can discover this natural corner of the island aboard a stable pontoon boat, or get a closer look by joining a paddling tour. Kayak trips follow calm-water channels, and are suitable for the moderately active. For a total immersion into the shallows, several tour companies also offer guided snorkel adventures. In addition to finding fish lurking in the shadowy mangrove roots, there’s a chance of discovering seahorses camouflaged in colorful sponges and octopus hiding in the grasses. Tours depart from marinas in the Seven Mile Beach area.

Grand Cayman Kayaking

The mangrove-shrouded shoreline of Grand Cayman’s North Sound is butted by miles of shaded channels for kayakers to explore, and provides a protected nursery for many species of fish. Photo: iStock

Night Lights

Grand Cayman’s North Sound is one of only a handful of places in the world where water conditions nurture concentrations of tiny single-cell organisms known as dinoflagellates. At night, these diminutive creatures glow like underwater fireflies when disturbed by the flick of a fish’s tail or the stroke of a paddle. On evenings when there is little or no moonlight, guides lead boat and kayak tours into this phosphorescent soup. The more adventurous can even immerse themselves for a night snorkel adventure; creating glowing eddies with every fin stroke.

Grand Cayman Bioluminescence Kayak Tour

At night, the waters of Grand Cayman’s North Sound come alive with bioluminescent organisms. Paddle strokes excite tiny glowing animals, creating eerie glowing trails in the water. Photo: iStock

 

 

San Felipe Del Morro
Caribbean, Plan, Puerto Rico, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snap Shots: Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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The massive stone walls and iconic turrets of this fortress have become one of the most famous landmarks in Puerto Rico. Known to most simply as ‘El Morro’ this sprawling fortification occupies a seaside promontory overlooking San Juan Bay. Soon after the original Spanish colony of San Juan was founded on the shores of the bay, work began on a fort that would guard the entrance to what would become one of the most strategic and active ports of call in the Caribbean.

For the next 200 years, work continued as fortress walls grew higher, thicker, and longer. The cannons repelled English and Dutch warships, but were no match for the US fleet that shelled and then captured the fort during the Spanish American War. When control of the island shifted from Spain to the United States, El Morro became a US military base, and remained active until 1961, when it was turned over to the National Park Service. Now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the grounds are restored to their 18th century appearance.

Today, no visit to Old San Juan would be complete without a walking tour of El Morro, though seeing the entire complex will require some legwork as you hike over hillsides and climb winding flights of stone stairs to reach lookout posts where sentries once stood guard against the approaching enemies. Following the labyrinth of tunnels, dungeons, ramparts, towers and barracks can take most of the day.

Weekends bring out locals who come to the grassy hillside to picnic, relax and fly kites. The strong breezes that come in off the Atlantic and the spacious park-like area make “El Campo” ideal for flying homemade or store brought craft. Food vendors sell drinks and snacks, and the sky is filled with a rainbow of darting and soaring colors.