Tag Archives: Caribbean

El Yunque Puerto Rico
Caribbean, Play, Puerto Rico, Trip Ideas

Adventure Island: Six Memorable Outdoor Activities in Puerto Rico

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Sun, sand and sea lure many to the island of Puerto Rico. The urban delights of San Juan also provide a range of pleasant diversions. There’s culture, history and night life aplenty in the Caribbean’s second-oldest Spanish city. But once you’ve seen the lights, strolled the beach and sated your appetite on some local favorites, it would be a shame to miss the rest of the island. When you leave the pavement behind, a whole range of enjoyable and exciting outdoor adventures await. Here are just some of the ways you can experience the greener side of the island.

Hiking

Beyond the urban sprawl of San Juan lie many wild and wooded areas. There are a total of 20 state forests on the island, ranging from a small urban oasis to the 10,000-plus acre reserve of the Maricao Forest. Many of these natural areas are laced with walking paths and hiking trails. A perennial favorite destination is El Yunque Rainforest, where you can opt for guided tours or strike out on your own to discover lush glades and panoramic overlooks. To the west and south is Guanica State Forest, which offers a totally different hiking experience in dry coastal lands and includes a trail leading to a secluded beach at Punta Ballenas.

Bicycling

Overall, San Juan is not a particularly bike-friendly city, and the narrow, winding back roads of the interior are best left to the locals. But if you stick closer to the coast, you’ll enjoy safe and scenic rides through the streets of Old San Juan, along the Condado waterfront and eastward to Pinones, where you can follow an elevated boardwalk through a mangrove preserve or stop for a nosh at the beachside food shacks. A number of companies in San Juan offer rental bicycles. If you are looking to go off road, organized mountain bike tours take you to the foothills and slopes around El Yunque, and there are rides that follow the coast and include a stop-off at the beach.

Puerto Rico Horse back Riding

Puerto Rico’s interior provides miles of pathways suitable for horseback rides. Photo: Carabali Rainforest Park

Riding

Puerto Rico is home to the paso fino horse, a breed famed for its smooth gait, which means less bounding for the rider. A number of ranches and outfitters across the island offer guided tours into the foothills or along the beach. Just minutes to the east of San Juan at Hacienda Campo Rico, visitors find a variety of trail rides suitable for both casual and experienced riders. To the west, Tropical Trail Riders leads trips into the coastal hills near Isabella and along secluded north-shore beaches, with stops for a swim.

Off-Roading

A number of the island’s private ranches have opened their lands to ATV tours. These rides can range from family-friendly jaunts along mountain roads and meadows with ocean views to true mud-fest adventures that splash through streams and climb slippery jungle slopes. Most tour companies can mount you on either single-passenger four-wheelers or side-by-side off- roaders that allow younger passengers to share in the family fun.

Zip Lining

Puerto Rico’s mountainous terrain provides an ideal setting for zip lines, and there are currently 10 companies located at points across the island offering experiences ranging from single zip-line rides to half-day multi-line adventures. Highlights include everything from sky bridges and cliff rappels to waterfall hikes and boat rides in an underground river. Thrill seekers shouldn’t miss The Beast, a 4,700-foot line that is one of the 10 longest in the world. Unlike the usual chair-harness position of most zip lines, Beast riders can go prone like Superman, reaching speeds of up to 85 mph while soaring up to 850 feet above the ground.

Puerto Rico Caving Rapelling

Rappelling into a cave sinkhole. Photo: Aventuras Tierra Adentro

Caving

The island’s limestone substrate is riddled with caves and flowing underground rivers. The Rio Camuy Cave Park contains more than 100 known caverns and more than 10 miles of underground passages. This is caving that anyone can handle, as there are trolleys from the parking area to the entrance, guides and well-lit pathways inside. For the more daring, deeper passageways can be found on “wild” caving tours that require headlamps and spelunking gear. Another popular tour takes you floating on an inner tube through Cueva del Arco. Those looking for a more private and remote self- guided cave tour can pack water and flashlights and then head to Guajataca State Forest, where a hike just over a mile on rustic trails leads to Cueva del Viento, the Cave of the Winds.

Cayman Islands Sailing
Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Play, Trip Ideas

10 Aquatic Adventures on Grand Cayman

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Grand Cayman Island is a favorite with scuba divers, but there are many more ways to play in these sparkling waters besides blowing bubbles and chasing fish. On beaches and coves around the island you can paddle, sail, skim, shred and even soar with adventures ranging from relaxing to high- voltage. Here’s the lowdown on how to leave the land while still keeping your head above water.

Reel Fun

Cayman Island Fishing, Adventures on Grand Cayman

Blue marlin are among the most prized game fish found in Cayman Island waters. Photo: iStock

Grand Cayman’s sport fishing charter fleet is relatively small—about a half dozen boats—but the fishing is good. Most skippers will head west toward 12-Mile Bank, where there’s always a chance of hooking into a trophy blue marlin, but better odds of landing mahimahi, wahoo and yellowfin tuna. Summer months are the calmest and also when the bite is best for many blue water species. Inshore, tarpon are in the canals and cuts around Governors Creek, while bonefish patrol the flats of North Sound.

Call You Captain

If guided tours aren’t your thing, and if you have basic boating skills, you can hire your own runabout for the day and bring family and friends along for the ride. The two primary areas where rentals are offered are along Seven Mile Beach, where the nearshore waters are usually calm, and within North Sound, where there may be a light chop, but no big waves. The rental fleet includes versatile center consoles and sporty bowriders that can tow a skier.

Wake Up

While almost any fast boat can pull a skier or a tuber, serious wakeboarders are happiest when they are behind a specialized towboat that has plenty of power and a big wake to launch them. It’s possible to hire a high-end pull on Grand Cayman, either by the hour or as a full or half-day charter. Rear- engine, direct-drive towboats provide not only plenty of power but also ample passenger room for the whole family. After the teens get their fill of big air, mom and dad could take a lesson or switch out for an inflated towable so everyone can have some laughs.

Paddle Power

Cayman Islands Kayaking

Kayak tours are an ideal way to discover the North Sound’s mangrove lagoons. Photo: Cayman Department of Tourism

If internal combustion isn’t your thing, you can trade motor for paddle to explore the island’s beaches, sea grass flats and mangrove forests by kayak. Several guided tours are available, including sunset excursions and night explorations into the glowing waters of Bio Bay, where paddle strokes create glowing swirls. For a more casual paddle, look for rental concessions along Seven Mile Beach, at Rum Point and along East End. Several companies even deliver kayaks to resorts and condos island-wide.

Stand on It

The stand-up paddleboard (SUP) craze is alive and well in Grand Cayman, and most all of the same activities and tours that kayakers enjoy can be done on a SUP board—and then some. One popular option for diehards who are on island for more than a day is to secure a long-term rental board and roof rack, then use the rental car to create an island-wide paddle safari. More advanced paddlers can even catch a few waves out on the reefs.

Jet About

The water-sports phenomenon known as Flyboarding that is sweeping waterfronts across the Caribbean has come to Grand Cayman. Participants step into a boot-like fitting on a small platform, designed with jets and a long hose that directs high-pressure water from a personal watercraft to the nozzles. Beginners start off a few feet above the water, but experienced riders can reach heights of 20 feet or more and make swooping dives into the water.

Wind Blown

Cayman Islands Windsurfing

Both East End and North Sound offer ideal conditions for windsurfing. Photo: Cayman Windsurfing

Though you might not guess it when wading the calm shallows on the island’s sheltered west end, Grand Cayman can power up some exciting windsurfing action or provide the conditions needed for beginners to get their sea legs. The two primary hot spots are along the east coast, where a barrier reef knocks down the swell and easterly winds allow for long crosswind runs on the beach, while also keeping beginners from drifting out to sea. The island’s northwest corner provides more experienced riders with a liquid playground for chop hopping and wave riding.

Kite Flight

Cayman Islands Kitesurfing

A kite surfer skims the surface near Barker’s National Park. Photo: Cayman Department of Tourism Kite Surfer on North Sound. Photo: Cayman Department of Tourism

Kiteboarding can be a real thrill ride, but when beginners try to teach themselves or attempt to ride in less-than-ideal conditions, the thrill is soon gone. Several companies on Grand Cayman offer rental equipment and lessons, and the place to learn is in the sandy shallows off Barker’s National Park on the island’s northwest corner. Some schools provide chase boats to rescue neophytes who go adrift, while more accomplished riders can head offshore to play in the waves.

Sail Away

For a more relaxed method of harvesting the wind, charter a sailboat for the day or longer. Small rental boats and catamarans are easy to secure at numerous beachfront resorts, while charter-boat skippers provide trips aboard larger single-hull and catamaran cruisers. One charter company offers multi- day trips to the Cayman’s smaller Sister Islands or as far as the coast of Cuba.

Surf’s Up

Ok, Grand Cayman is not a surfing Mecca. But there are surfable waves from time to time, and a small but committed group of local riders. But for most island visitors, the best way to catch a wave might be at the Black Pearl Skate Park, which has recently reopened, and includes a wave machine that provides riders with an endless curl.

 

Jamaica Trident Hotel
Caribbean, Jamaica, Stay, Trip Ideas

Sexy Jamaica Retreats for the Ultimate Escape

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A sizable island chockablock with alluring resort areas, Jamaica is ever-ready to delight sand-and-sea-loving vacationers. But what about those seeking a bit more style and a bit of quirk in their choice of lodgings? They too are covered, thanks to a collection of unique resorts that both blend and bend tradition in consort with modish design and funky, one-of-a-kind statements of individuality. On an island already noted for original styles, these five properties stand out, delivering ambiance and amenities rolled into an extra helping of style.

Trident, Port Antonio

Trident Hotel, Jamaica Retreats

Trident’s modernist design and sculptures complement the luxurious rooms’ contemporary style. Photo: Trident Hotel

Ceramic sheep on an electric-green lawn? Bright orange pillows as a dash of color in a minimalist, all-white villa? Welcome to Trident: an always-whimsical collection of villas that’s part retro-trendy, part contemporary chic. There’s an antique billiards table and an uber-sleek infinity pool. There’s Mike’s Supper Club, modeled after a 1920s-style speakeasy, and a private beach with its own bar—so very 2014. The hotel’s modish style is that much more inimitable on account of its location: the sleepy parish of Portland, known more for rustic cottages than this sort of SoHo-style fabulosity. 

Goldeneye, Oracabessa Bay

Golden Eye, Bizot Bar, Jamaica

Begin each evening with cocktails at the Bizot Bar overlooking the pool. Photo: Goldeneye

In Oracabessa, on Jamaica’s northeast coast, the one-time home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming is now a sublime Goldeneye beachfront resort owned by former Island Records impresario Chris Blackwell—aka the man who introduced Bob Marley. It would certainly be excellent enough for 007 himself. By day, the place abounds in barefoot-friendly funkiness: album-art walls, a soundtrack that veers from Bob Marley to U2, a lazy seaside lagoon adorned by flying fish and electric-bright butterflies. By night, elegance takes over: the swinging footbridge over the lagoon is torch-lit, guiding you to some of the best locally-sourced fine dining in Jamaica. Later, just try to drag yourself from the massive outdoor bathroom in your beachfront cottage: That tree really is a shower, and that bathtub looks even better under the moonlight. 

Jakes, Treasure Beach

Jakes, Jamaica

Book this tropical ocean-view room and drift off to the sounds of lapping waves. Photo: Jakes

It’s tough to nail down the coolest thing about Jakes. The location, Treasure Beach? It’s a rural, delightfully sleepy slice of Jamaica’s south coast, where tourism doesn’t consist of all-inclusive resorts and fruity drinks. Or maybe it’s the hotel’s cultural history: Jake’s is owned by the family of Perry Henzell, director of the classic Jamaican film The Harder They Come; it was designed by Perry’s wife Sally, set director on that film. Ah, no—it’s probably that design: the whimsical cottages—with names like “Cockles” and “Octopussy”—are individually crafted, incorporating the unexpected: sticks and stones, old bottles, seashells embedded in the walls. It’s wonderfully unpretentious, yet supremely luxurious. 

Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay

Round-Hill-Jamaica-Double-Edge-Infinity-Pool

Originally opened in 1953, Round Hill is steeped in tradition, yet contemporary in design.   Photo: Round Hill Hotel & Villas

61 never looked so good. As one of Jamaica’s oldest hotels, Round Hill—just outside of Montego Bay—has more than an air of sophistication about it; it’s old-world elegance personified, complete with rooms designed by Ralph Lauren and a hyper-professional staff who treat guests like old friends—which many are. Repeat visitors have claimed Round Hill as their ultra-classy home-away-from home for decades. The oceanfront spa boasts some of most experienced masseuses on the island; many of the restaurant’s spices are sourced from the new onsite garden. And for a dose of the contemporary, there’s a modish infinity pool—though dragging yourself away from that lavish beach is a chore. 

Strawberry Hill, Irish Town

Jamaica Strawberry Hill Bird's Hill

Strawberry Hill feels like a magical village full of luxurious details. Photo: Island Outpost

Location, location, location. Strawberry Hill has it, in spades: gloriously perched 3100 feet above sea level, boasting surreally beautiful panoramas of the Blue Mountains. The hotel also gets points for its colonial elegance and illustrious history: an 18th-century-coffee-plantation-turned-vacation-home-turned-hotel, once frequented by the likes of Bob Marley and Mick Jagger. Handcrafted, uniquely appointed Georgian-style cottages feel like tree houses ensconced in the Blue Mountains; the restaurant menu showcases “New Jamaican Cuisine,” made from locally sourced, organic meats and produce and fusing international recipes with Jamaican classics like conch fritters and callalloo soup. And the Living Spa focuses on organic healing, customized treatments and Ayurvedic practices. Try the Blue Mountain Body Elixir, which
combines massage, hydrotherapy and exfoliation using a natural Blue Mountain Coffee scrub. 

 

Boucan Pool, St. Lucia, best views in the caribbean
Caribbean, St. Lucia, Stay, Trip Ideas

Best Views in the Caribbean

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The whole of St. Lucia is gloriously good-looking, but the island’s more rural south end boasts one thing that’s simply transcendental. Well, two things: The island’s trademark Piton Mountains—two volcanic peaks otherwise known as the Helen of the Caribbean. Like a breathtaking backdrop draped across the region, the jagged Pitons lend all the properties in the island’s south an extra dose of ooh-la-la.

Jade Mountain Resort

St lucia hotels, jade mountain

In harmony with the environment, Jade Mountain’s rooms have three walls; the fourth opens to nature. Photo: Jade Mountain

There are no rooms here—there are sanctuaries. And they come not in king or twin categories but “galaxy,” “sun,” “moon” or “star.” This crème-de-la-crème resort, persistent award winner and capital of romance is feted for its supernaturally beautiful, innovative architecture: one-of-a-kind, fiber-optic infinity pools; iridescent-tile domes that reach toward the heavens; verandas—including the magnificent “celestial terrace”— that seem to magically hang by a thread over acres of verdant rainforest. Bathrooms are individually designed masterpieces, complete with “chromotherapy” whirlpool tubs, which use underwater lighting to harness energy and impact mood. Complimentary yoga classes at the otherworldly spa complete the blissed-out experience: Behold an opulent fairy-tale land. 

Ladera Resort

Ladera, St. Lucia

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ladera delivers stunning views of the Pitons and the Caribbean Sea. Photo: Ladera

You’ll love the suites in this storied property less for what’s there than for what isn’t: a fourth wall. That architectural detail provides for a gloriously unobstructed panorama, which allows you to pretend your linen-draped, four-poster bed and private plunge pool are nestled in the heart of those celebrated twin peaks. The resort—the only one located right in the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Pitons—divinely marries the luxurious and the rustic: tropical hardwood beds and floors, local artwork, handcrafted wicker. The all-things-Lucian approach continues at the Dasheene Restaurant, beloved for its use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. 

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

Viceroy, Sugar Beach, St. Lucia

The Sugar Beach resort nestles into a small valley opening to Pitons Bay and a 200-yard stretch of sand. Photo: Viceroy

It’s called Sugar Beach for a reason. Using imported sand, Viceroy created southwest St. Lucia’s only white-sand beach—though one foot on that silky stuff and you won’t believe nature can’t take credit. This sumptuous property is feted for its beach and its size. Opulent accommodations are all-white cottages scattered down a lush seaside mountain; some feature private walled gardens, outdoor plunge pools and personalized butler service. The Rainforest Spa’s tree house-style treatment rooms more than live up to the name, and there’s even a temascal: Amerindian steam room. The chic Palm Court Lounge exudes alfresco elegance, and the uber-funky Cane Bar, with its Alice in Wonderland-style decor, is an ideal place to indulge in a midday rum punch. 

Boucan, Hotel Chocolat

Boucan, St. Lucia

The 50-foot-long black quartz infinity pool of Club Boucan offers both open and shaded areas for relaxation. Photo: Boucan

Yes, you’ve died and gone to chocolate heaven. This stunning boutique hotel, from the founders of Hotel Chocolat, is set on the grounds of St. Lucia’s 140-acre Rabot Estate, the island’s oldest cocoa plantation that is devoted to all things cacao, grown and processed on site. In other words: decadence. The Boucan Restaurant’s gourmet menu features the bean in all its offerings, from cocoa-infused butter to rich desserts you won’t regret putting on pounds for. The lush setting, right next door to the island’s feted Sulfur Springs, is equally stunning (think emerald rainforests and a dead-on view of the Pitons), as are the heavenly rooms. The Cocoa Pods, as the hotel calls them, are simple-yet-elegant cottages featuring a minimalist decor, open-air showers and absurdly comfy four-poster beds.

 

Jost Van Dyke Foxys, biggest parties in the caribbean
Bahamas, Bahamas-New Providence, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Central America, Honduras, Play, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Biggest Parties in the Caribbean

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Some say that just being in the Caribbean is a cause for celebration. True, but there are also times when crowds come together to escalate the revelry and dance like there’s no tomorrow. Here are seven of our favorite Caribbean parties. Mark your calendar.

New Year’s Eve at Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

It’s the Caribbean’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. Jost Van Dyke is a ferry ride away from Tortola, St. Thomas or St. John—sorry, there’s no airport or helipad, and no large hotels. The rest of the year, the island is sleepy, but for what Foxy’s calls Old Year’s Night. The limited supply of villas and beachfront campsites start to book up the preceding summer, and the anchorages fill up days in advance. For many, the play is to stay up and greet the dawn, then catch a morning ferry out. As for the party itself, it’s an all-night rager, fueled by painkiller cocktails and live reggae.

Carnival on Trinidad

Locals start hand-sewing their feathered and beaded costumes a year in advance. The two-day event takes place on the Monday and Tuesday prior to Ash Wednesday and is preceded by days of elaborate pre-parties known as fetes. The energy is infectious thanks to nonstop soca music (think calypso, but faster). Anyone willing to flaunt their stuff can join the parade by signing up with a band and purchasing a costume, which can run from $250 on up. In a nod to the digital age, fete tickets, costume orders and band registration can even be made online.

Sunjam on Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

It’s one night only of all-night dancing, light shows and electronica music, held the first weekend of August. Started in 1996 as a free party organized by former island resident and house DJ Alun Gordon, the festival now draws around 1,500 die-hard fans, who must first make their way to the Honduran island of Utila by plane or ferry. The party is actually on the satellite island of Water Cay (uninhabited and ideal for camping the rest of the year), and local fishermen provide transport. The crowd is mainly twenty-somethings and the vibe backpacker, but all are welcome.

St. Patrick’s Day on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Seven flags have flown over St. Croix—none Irish—but that doesn’t mean the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in downtown Christiansted are anything short of epic. Most locals take the day off work; quite a few start the morning with Irish car bomb shooters. Pacing matters. The streets are shut for the parade that starts midday, followed by an outdoor after-party with live music sponsored by the Fort Christian Brew Pub.

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

Four days, four nights and more than 200 boats from 32 countries. It adds up to the Caribbean’s largest regatta, held annually in early March since 1980. Bring your own boat, charter one or grab a slot on a pick-up crew. Otherwise, watch from a beach or spectator vessel. The finish line is just the beginning, as Apres Sail parties become warm- ups for nightly concerts that feature big-name artists and draw huge crowds to match. Past performers include Wyclef Jean, Shaggy and The Black Eyed Peas.

Junkanoo on Nassau, Bahamas

Junkanoo, a loud and lively street parade, happens throughout the Bahamas—and beyond in places like Key West, Florida—on Boxing Day (December 26) and again on New Year’s Day. The biggest celebration is on Nassau, where troops costumed in intricate crepe-paper creations compete for top honors as they move down Bay Street to the incessant rhythm of cowbells, goat-skinned goombay drums, whistles and brass. The action, known as a rush-out, gets started around 2 a.m. and continues on into midmorning. The crowd gets in on the action, and spectators soon become revelers.

Full Moon Parties at Bomba’s Shack on Tortola, British Virgin Islands

The mushroom tea isn’t as potent as it used to be, but that’s good—it’s easier to locate your dinghy come night’s end. The full moon parties at Bomba’s Shack, found on Cappoons Bay on Tortola, have a history dating back decades, explaining why sizable crowds appear every month for the live music. The place has a street-party feel thanks to a flow of revelers who spill from the beach and open-air bar to the grass on the other side of the dirt road where the stage stands. The average partygoer is mid-30s to 40s, and likely to come off a boat. These folks tend to party hard, and the rowdiness lasts well into the wee hours.

Little Cayman Beach resort, The Best Caribbean Resorts For Diving and Relaxation
Bahamas, Bahamas-New Providence, Bonaire, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Central America, Cozumel, Curacao, Honduras, Mexico, Stay, Trip Ideas

Sun, Sand, Scuba: Six Best Caribbean Dive Resorts

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Divers crave clear waters and colorful reefs. But while the most dedicated scuba fanatics may be willing to compromise on above-water amenities to gain proximity to the best sites, most vacationing divers want to surface to something more. The good news is that there is no need to sacrifice topside pleasures to gain underwater treasures. Some of the best islands in the Caribbean for scuba divers are also home to premier waterfront resorts that don’t ignore the rest of the vacation experience. Here are some of my favorites, based on my 20-plus years of diving the Caribbean.

Bonaire

Captain Don’s Habitat

Bonaire is home to a number of dive-centric waterfront resorts, and for nearly 40 years, Captain Don’s Habitat has remained among the island’s best. Its namesake founder was one of the first to promote scuba tourism in the Caribbean, and he was instrumental in the creation of the Bonaire Marine Park. What started as a modest shoreside lodge has kept pace with the times, and now includes a series of attractively landscaped oceanfront rooms and villas, perched on a low rock bluff overlooking Kline Bonaire. Rum Runners, the property’s open-air cliffside restaurant, delivers memorable meals and dramatic water and sunset views. The only thing lacking is a beach, but most guests gladly exchange this for the convenience of stepping from the resort pier to one of the island’s favorite reefs. A fleet of well-maintained dive boats take advantage of the resort’s mid-island location to provide quick run times to many popular sites.

Alternate: The Plaza Resort is a larger resort complex situated on a white-sand beach just south of the town of Kralendijk. Toucan Diving is located on the premises.

Curacao

Lions Dive & Beach Resort

Lions Den, caribbean dive resorts

Lions Dive & Beach Resort is home base for the island’s largest dive operation, providing guests with an easy walk from room to boat, as well as a fine swimming beach. Photo: Walt Stearns

The clear waters of Curacao are ideal for both shore and boat diving. Most of the latter takes place along the islands southeastern shore, and the boats from Lions Dive & Beach Resort are the best choices to reach these sights. Located adjacent to the Curacao Sea Aquarium and less than two miles from downtown Willemstad, this property houses not only the island’s premier diving service, but also a spa and the island’s most popular waterfront bar and eatery: Hemingway’s. During surface intervals, guests can spend time on the private palm-fringed beach, or head into town to stroll the waterfront and nosh at open-air cafes.

Alternate: A bit to the west, the Sunscape Curacao Resort is an all-inclusive with a wide range of activities and a private beach. It’s walking distance to popular Mambo Beach and serviced by a satellite facility of Lions Dive.

Cayman Islands

Little Cayman Beach Resort

Little Cayman Beach Resort, Palapa

Little Cayman Beach Resort overlooks a quiet stretch of beach on the island’s south coast, with dive boats leaving from the on-site dock. Photo: Beth Watson/Little Cayman Beach Resort

The Cayman Islands are famous for clear waters and lively reefs. The most discriminating divers head for remote Little Cayman, home to the famed underwater landscapes of Bloody Bay Wall. With a resident population of less than 200, Little Cayman is a puddle-jumper flight and a world away from the bustle of Grand Cayman. A single road circles the island to connect a handful of small lodges, and not much else. The premier property for mixing diving and beach time is Little Cayman Beach Resort, which overlooks a solitary stretch of palms and sand that is the stuff of postcards. Diving is the focal point of resort life, with shoreside activities trending towards a casual bicycle ride or time in a hammock.

Alternate: For a more upscale and cosmopolitan take on the Cayman Islands’ diving scene, skip the commuter flight and stay on Grand Cayman. Check into the Westin Grand Cayman on Seven Mile Beach, which is serviced by Red Sail Sports.

Cozumel

Cozumel Palace

Cozumel Allegro Acoz Hotel, Mexico

The Allegro resort sits on one of Cozumel’s nicer stretches of beach and is conveniently located near favorite southern dive sites. Photo: Occidental Allegro Cozumel Resort

You can’t beat the view from the upscale rooms and suites of the Palace, which faces west to overlook the turquoise waters of the Cozumel Strait. On an island known for its all-inclusive properties, this one raises the bar for both amenities and service. The resort’s in-town location makes for an easy walk to San Miguel’s charming zocalo (plaza), but this same proximity means there’s no sand beach at the water’s edge. If the stunning pool deck doesn’t suffice, you can catch a shuttle south to the affiliated Playa Mia beach park. Diving services are handled by on-site Aqua Safaris, which is one of Cozumel’s highest-rated operators.

Alternate: Those who want to get away from the crowds can move south to the expansive beachfront grounds of Allegro Cozumel, which is another top-shelf all-inclusive property. Pro Dive services the resort, and its southern location means shorter boat rides to some of the prime sites along Palancar reef.

Bay Islands, Honduras

Laguna Beach Resort

Laguna Beach, bay islands, Honduras

The private bungalows of Laguna Beach Resort face a quiet mangrove lagoon and are just steps away from a Caribbean beach and the resort’s dive boats. Photo: Walt Stearns

Isolated on a peninsula on the quiet island of Utila and accessible only by boat, the Laguna Beach Resort is the epitome of the Caribbean away-from-it-all dream. Individual bungalows sit on the water’s edge overlooking a mangrove lagoon, while just steps away via sandy paths is the ocean, where you can wade in and find your way to one of the best reefs in the region. Native hardwoods and tin roofs set the tone, and activity centers around daily dive trips aboard a trio of spacious boats. Other water-centric pursuits include fishing and excursions to outlying islands. Evenings are quiet time, with perhaps a game of billiards and conversation at the clubhouse.

Alternate: On the nearby island of Roatan, Anthony’s Key Resort provides a similar vibe and equally fine diving. Guests can opt for hillside bungalows overlooking the shore or take a short taxi boat ride to beachfront cottages nestled on a private island.

New Providence, Bahamas

Stuart Cove’s Aqua Adventures

Stuart Cove, aqua adventures, Bahamas

Stuart Cove’s is the largest and most diverse dive operation in the Bahamas, offering accommodation packages and a range of activities that include diving, snorkeling and mini-submarine tours. Photo: Stuart Cove

From humble beginnings as a beachfront scuba concessionaire, Stuart Cove’s has created a business that dominates the Central Bahamas diving scene, and is the go-to location for underwater filmmakers. From a small harbor on the southern shore of New Providence, Cove’s fleet of dive and snorkel boats departs daily to stage shark feeds and wall dives for the adventurous or lead trips to picturesque wrecks and snorkel-friendly reefs. The dive operation is not currently offering accommodation packages with the nearby South Ocean Resort, as the property is in flux, and instead works with the Wyndham Nassau Resort and the Sheraton Cable Beach Resort on the north shore, which have the advantage of being closer to Nassau.

Alternate: Valentine’s Resort sits just north of the town docks on exclusive Harbour Island. In addition to unique dive adventures, guests will find themselves within walking or golf-cart distance of the island attractions, including the fabled pink sand beaches, which lie just over the bluff.

Hermitage Plantation Cottage, Nevis
Caribbean, Nevis, Stay, Trip Ideas

Nevis Legacy Inns

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Nevis had its fair share of expansive plantations during the colonial period. These estates often hosted the international elite, who came as guests of plantation owners to indulge in an island style of life. Formidable great houses hosted elegant dinners and clever conservation. Now these restored charmers boast modern comforts, cuisine to appease the gourmand and wine lists that would impress any oenophile. A world apart from the modern resorts of today, these gems of past retain their former charm and intimacy and are run by a host of welcoming innkeepers who just happen to be family members.

The Hermitage Plantation Inn

Hermitage Plantation Bar

The former great house of the Hermitage Plantation is now the resort’s gathering point, including an intimate bar. Photo: Debbie Snow

The allure of a bygone era captivates you upon entering the Hermitage compound, sending your imagination adrift to languid days of a savored and splendid lifestyle. The family-run Hermitage Plantation Inn is essentially a collection of chattel houses—some built to match the style of the great house, others lifted and moved from locations around the island. The process began in 1971 when they bought the Hermitage and rebuilt it as their home and by 1984 they converted the surrounding 20 acres into an inn and began to welcome guests. The result is an enchanting village of 15 small homes, with names like Pink House, Pasture House and Twin Gables, that provides guests ample privacy and a connection to the past. Porches are strung with hammocks and accented in timeless wicker, all overlooking the gardens and rainforest. Four-poster canopy beds draped in a shimmer of mosquito netting, ceiling fans, plantation shutters and curios from another period atop antique furnishings transport guests back in time.

Today the transformed great house has an elegant library, sitting room and bar, all leading to a terraced dining area where tiny twinkling lights are strung over latticed architectural arches. Inside, the walls lit by candelabras display equine and nautical photos; the tables and shelves are stacked with bronze, wood, silver and china collectables. Antiques acquired throughout the Caribbean by the Lupinacci family are of museum-quality. Settle in with a book, then pause for afternoon tea and conversation with other guests, including visiting artists who come for the inspiration the place exudes.

The result is a welcoming, elegant and comfortable family-run inn with warm and gracious hosts—Richard and Maureen Lupinacci along with their three daughters and son Ritchie. 

Montpelier Plantation & Beach

Montpelier Plantation Inn, Nevis

At Montpelier Plantation, the intact remains of a sugar mill attest to the property’s agricultural origins. Photo: Debbie Snow

The Hoffman family, three generations of hoteliers, lives at and runs the Montpelier Plantation & Beach. If a family member doesn’t greet you as you pass through the iron- gated entrance, then Ziggy or Neptune might. A greeting by a labrador is not what you would expect at a Relais & Chateau property, but here on Nevis the lifestyle and service is relaxed and low-key, even with a five-star rating.

The 60-acre patch of land once a well-cared-for sugar plantation was purchased by the Hoffmans back in 2002. An intact sugar mill and great house, where a giant ficus tree stands guard, are elegantly embedded in the surroundings, and rooms are scattered about the gardens. For updates, they pulled in an interior designer from Miami; rooms as well as common areas were completely renovated.

Today stone walls, wooden shutters and casement windows maintain the 18th- century plantation ambience. A mix of period and contemporary furnishings, pineapple motifs as accents and monochromatic fabrics cast against dark woods exude an Architectural Digest chic. Contemporary artwork hangs against walls of stone at precise opportunities—simple elegance is delivered.

On a rolling green hillside with amazing sea views, guests can fade off in one of the hammocks strung between trees or enjoy the vista and afternoon sea breezes in a pair of Adirondack chairs. A display of Nevis’ flamboyant trees provides texture and shade; petals of red and yellow flowers lie atop green grass creating impressions of madras.

In the evening the stone staircase is illuminated with hurricane lamps, and tiny lights dangle from the tree outside the great house. Guests come to congregate in the communal living room for an evening of cocktails and canapés before dining on the outdoor terrace. Special occasions are celebrated with a five-course tasting menu enjoyed at tables lit by candles inside the circular stone walls of the sugar mill. 

 

Rebel Salute, St. Ann, Jamaica music festivals
Caribbean, Jamaica, Play, Trip Ideas

Jamaica Music Festivals

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Anywhere you go in Jamaica- from urban-jungle Kingston to laid-back Negril, from sumptuous resort to humble roadside rum shack-one thing is a constant: that beat. It’s reggae, of course, on the island that invented it, making it blissfully impossible to enjoy a non-musical Jamaican holiday. To really up the reggae ante, though, visit the island during one of its annual music festivals and get lost in the glorious riddim.

Jamaica Jazz & Blues (January, Trelawny)

This blockbuster festival has a bit of blues, a decent dose of jazz and a good measure of contemporary and classic R&B—all courtesy of international artists. But it also delivers plenty of local talent: reggae artists performing extra-smooth sets, jazzing up their style and kicking it up with extra flair for an audience that’s come from as far as Japan and as near as the tony suburbs of Kingston. In past years this fest has hosted big- name acts, ranging from Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross and Celine Dion to the Jamaican pop star Shaggy and the reggae crooner Maxi Priest.

Rebel Salute (January, St. Ann)

Do you like to praise Jah with your music? Drink in conscious lyrics? Sway to classic reggae rhythms? Then this is the festival for you. It was launched by local artist Tony Rebel as a one-day homage to roots reggae—a subgenre of reggae and the direct descendent of Marley and co.—and is now a two-day affair, with a lineup showcasing the best of today’s and yesterday’s Jamaican music scene. No alcohol or meat is served, but there are plenty of vendors selling ital—read: Rastafarian-friendly delicacies, such as vegetarian food and wine made from roots and spices.

Bacchanal Jamaica (April, Kingston)

Carnival time in Jamaica is all about being TrinJamaican—a lively fusion of Trinidad-style soca music events and uber- Jamaican reggae ones. Fetes and a grand street parade are held across Kingston, just as one would find in Trinidad’s famous bacchanal. There are even “socacise” events, which turn working out into a fabulous shindig. But the birthplace of reggae music serves up plenty of hometown rhythms along with the soca jams, concerts, all-inclusive fetes and more.

Reggae Sumfest (July, Montego Bay)

If you’re a diehard reggae fan, this is the be-all-and-end-all of Jamaican music shows, and it’s held right in the heart of the music’s mecca. If you’re a casual listener, Sumfest will convert you into that diehard fan. Since 1992 this festival has attracted tens of thousands to a colossal field for performances by all the relevant names in reggae and its younger, hip-hop-flavored offspring, dancehall; at least a couple of big-deal hip-hop and R&B acts are also thrown in for good measure. Get your stamina up beforehand. For three nights the shows wrap up well after sunrise, so devote an extra week on the beach to recovery time.

The Reggae Marathon and Half Marathon (December, Negril)

Talk about an inspiring fitness soundtrack: This certified running event—set on the glorious white-sand beaches and rugged cliffs that make up tourist-friendly Negril—has reggae at the heart of it. The whole event is, really, a grand reggae party, with roadside DJs spinning the latest tunes and the classic oldies. At a Victory Party and Village Bash, runners can celebrate themselves by dancing the night away.

Exumas, Out Islands, Bahamas
Bahamas, Bahamas-Out Islands, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Bahamas Out Islands: 10 Reasons to Go

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If you’ve been to Nassau and Freeport, you’ve made a start. Now, there are just 698 islands left to go. Actually, the inhabited landmasses in the Bahamas geared to tourism number in the dozens, not the hundreds. But the principle remains: There’s still much more to see and do in this island nation.

1  Island Styles

The Out Islands range from pleasantly detached to truly remote, and you can plan your vacation experience accordingly. On Great Exuma, a mid-size commuter aircraft and a 10-minute taxi ride get you to a modern beachfront resort. A trip to Rum Cay requires a charter flight in a smaller aircraft and a taxi transfer to reach a secluded rental home on a bluff. Getting to Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos will involve an airplane, taxi, ferryboat and a golf cart ride to a rustic cottage on the beach.

2  Low-Rise Stays

Hotels in the Out Islands tend to be small and independently owned. For those who want even more privacy and personal autonomy, there is a wealth of rental cottages and villas. Some sit in the center of small villages, others perch on secluded points of land where wind and surf are the only neighbors. Rentals also run the price gamut. You can find a two-bedroom cottage in Georgetown for less than $100 a night or spend more than 10 times that amount for an oceanfront villa on Harbour Island.

3  Island Hopping

While some Out Islands sit alone, surrounded by blue water, others band together into closely linked archipelagos. The Exumas, Abacos and Berry Islands are prime examples, and each group provides an opportunity to explore by small boat, popping into the colorful harbor towns for a libation and a nosh at a dockside eatery or heading to an unsettled beach on a sunny lee shore.

4  Same Day Seafood

When you order a bowl of fish stew or a platter of cracked conch at an Out Island eatery, chances are it was swimming just hours earlier. One of the attractions of the Bahamas’ more remote destinations is that cooks rely on local ingredients because imported groceries are expensive and sometimes hard to come by. This result is culinary dishes that are both authentic and fresh, with a heavy emphasis on things that come from the surrounding seas.

5  Shallow Delights

While some Out Islands lie near the deep blue waters of the Atlantic or the Tongue of the Ocean, most also have at least one shore that opens to shallow, protected waters ideal for snorkeling, swimming and flats fishing. Islands such as Andros are doubly blessed by both expansive sand flats and fringing coral reefs that teem with tropical fish life. Discovering this underwater playground is as easy as wading out from shore.

6  Alternative Transportation

When you are staying on an island that’s a couple of miles from end to end, a rental car just doesn’t make sense. At many Out Island destinations, accommodations are within walking distance of beaches and villages. For slightly longer commutes, bicycles and golf carts are often the preferred conveyance.

7  See You at the Regatta

Sailing sloops no longer carry freight and passengers between islands, but their white sails and brightly colored hulls are still evident each year at Great Exuma’s Family Island Regatta. For six decades, boat crews and their followers from around the Bahamas have congregated in Georgetown each April for a week of racing and revelry, and everyone is welcome at the party.

8  Nautical Heritage

As would befit an island nation, the Bahamas has a strong boat building tradition. On Man of War Cay, families such as the Alburys craft both traditional and modern vessels from local woods. While on Bimini, fifth-generation boatbuilder Ansil Saunders handcrafts floating works of art that are prized by collectors.

9  Bluer Mysteries

Underneath the islands and coastal flats of the Bahamas are flooded caverns and underground rivers. When these chasms break the surface, they’re known as blue holes. Inland, they create freshwater oases in the forests and scrub. In the ocean, they flow in and out with the tides, a flow which local legend attributes to the watery breaths of the sea monster Lusca. Water movement attracts schools of fish to the entrances and creates coral gardens in the shallows. The largest known blue hole on Long Island has been plumbed to depths of more than 600 feet.

10  Rake-n-Scrape

To hear the traditional sounds of the southern Bahamas, make your way to Cat Island for the Rake and Scrape Festival. Held over the Bahamian Labor Day weekend (the first weekend in June), it brings together traditions, musicians and performers, who come to dance the quadrille and compete for top honors in the musical style known as rake-n-scrap or rip saw. As the name suggests, a performer coaxes the style’s signature sounds from a carpenter’s saw by raking it with a pic, while goombay drums keep time.

High Rock Lighthouse Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Bahamas, Bahamas-Grand Bahama Island, Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas

Grand Bahama Island: 10 Reasons to Go

Easy to reach, affordable and packed with activities, the island of Grand Bahama is a vacation destination all can enjoy. From the civilized luxuries of Freeport and Port Lucaya to the traditional villages and undeveloped beaches that dot the rest of the island’s coastlines, there’s a lot to discover.

1  A Diverse Destination

Like Goldilocks’ middle bear, Grand Bahama Island offers a just-right mixture of attractions and amenities for all ages and tastes. Freeport is clean, safe and family-friendly, but also ready to host a night on the town with fine dining, dancing to live music and a bit of casino action. Water sports from mild to wild await in the clear waters, while the land-bound can opt for anything from duty-free shopping to a round of golf, a jeep safari or just a relaxing afternoon on the beach.

2  Easy Access

Grand Bahama Island is the closest major vacation destination to Florida. The cruise ships come calling, while longer-term guests arrive by both air and sea with equal ease. Flights connect daily from southern U.S. gateways, and charter airlines offer direct service from cities as far away as Canada. Private boats have a 60-mile run across the Gulf Stream to West End, while a fast ferry makes a daily run from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, with a one-way ticket going for as little as $50.

3  Room Rates

A handful of five-star properties on Grand Bahama are worth a splurge, but what makes the Freeport and Port Lucaya area a favorite is the abundance of three- and four-star hotels and resorts at attractive prices. Book smart and you can get an ocean-view room for around $200 or a canal-front three-star within easy walking distance of a prime beach for less than $100 a night.

4  Life’s a Beach

Grand Bahama Island has more than 180 miles of coastline. The north shore mixes beach, marsh and mangrove, but most of the south side is swathed in pure sand. This means beaches for all tastes, from the popular strands near the resorts to deserted stretches miles from town. And these beaches are made for play, offering everything from high-flying parasailing adventures to horseback rides in the surf and sunset beach parties.

5  Sweet Water

Unlike drier islands to the south, which must rely on rainwater conservation and saltwater desalinization, Grand Bahama has abundant supplies of fresh water. Below the surface, the limestone substrate is riddled with underground rivers and caverns that trap and hold rainwater like a huge natural cistern. Hotels are able to tap into these reserves to keep pools sparkling and showers flowing.

6  Natural Attractions

While Freeport and Port Lucaya are lively resort destinations, most of Grand Bahama Island remains in a natural state. You can get a sampling of the native flora and fauna at nearby Rand Nature Center or venture eastward to Lucayan National Park, which is home to more than 250 species of birds. Just across the road is a wild expanse of perennial-favorite Gold Rock Beach.

7  Blue Waters

Beckon While the island’s north coast is bordered by extensive shallows, the south side sits close to deep blue water. A fringing reef shelters the beaches, creating calm water for swimmers and underwater adventures for snorkelers, while less than a mile away lies an ocean playground that is a favorite with divers, fishermen and sailors.

8  Local Flavors

When dinner ingredients swim within a stone’s throw of the shore, it’s no surprise that good seafood is easy to find. Some of the best comes from the least assuming venues—rustic fish shacks with names like Robinson’s Seafood Delight, De Conch Man and Daddy Brown’s. For an authentic taste of the Bahamas, served with a side of beach party, stop in for the Wednesday night fish fry at Smith Point, which has become a local tradition.

9  Many Menus

If lobster, conch and fresh fish aren’t enough, the Freeport area offers more than 80 restaurants serving up a wide range of local and international cuisines. You’ll find everything from upscale Italian to pub food, Pacific Rim creations and even an innovative chef serving up Bahamian-Mexican fusion.

10  Authentic Undertones

With its modern architecture and U.S. influences, Freeport seems comfortably familiar, yet just different enough to remind you that you are in the islands, mon. For a richer Bahamian experience, head out to the quieter villages to the east or west, where the old ways still hold. Keep time to the rhythms of a rake-n-scrape band, plan your visit around a Junkanoo parade, or head to the Conch Cracking Festival in McLean’s Town.