Tag Archives: Caribbean

Curacao Christoffel Park
Caribbean, Curacao, Play, Trip Ideas

Curacao’s Wild Side

Leave a comment

 

Curacao is a vacation destination that delivers not only sun and fun, but also one of the liveliest cultural and culinary scenes in the Caribbean. And there’s even more to discover for those who venture beyond the beach resorts of the southern coast, and the cobblestone streets of downtown Willemstad. Along the island’s elevated spine, the landscape returns to native vegetation, while the rugged northern coast is a land of surf-washed shores and red-rock formations. This wilder side of Curacao can be discovered by foot, bike or off-road vehicle, either on your own, or with an organized tour.

Surf and Slopes

Curacao has two national parks, and both offer unique hiking experiences. Shete Boka National Park lies along the island’s undeveloped northern coast. Here, trails lead to rugged limestone cliffs known as iron shore, where surf crashes against the rocks, and plumes of white water spray upward through blowholes carved by wave action. The coastline is cut by small coves known as bocas. The churning waters are not suitable for swimming, but the setting is impressive, and very photo worthy.

Shete Boca Curacao

The north shore of Curacao at Shete Boka National Park presents a landscape of jagged limestone cliffs and crashing surf. Many areas of this coast are only accessible by hiking trail. Photo: Shannon Greer/Curacao Toursit Board

On the island’s northwestern corner, 5,000-acre Christoffel National Park encompasses three former plantations and a historic mining site. Today, this oasis of greenery is home to an abundance of bird life and the island’s population of native white-tailed deer. The hills of the park are laced with eight hiking trails that range from easy routes to a challenging climb to the island’s highest peak of Mount Christoffel. It takes most hikers about an hour to climb to the summit of this 1,227-foot peak. The route begins on a trail with a moderate incline, then involves a bit of scrambling over boulders towards the top. The reward for this effort is panoramic views of the entire island that includes both north and south coast. It is recommended that hikers start their two-hour round trip ascent to Mount Christoffel early to avoid mid-day heat.

Hiking Curacao

Hikers pause on a hilltop to take in views of Curacao’s Santa Martha Bay, and the more distant peaks of Christoffel National Park. Much of the western end of the island remains undeveloped. Photo: Shannon Greer/Curacao Tourist Board

Forts, Forests and Ponds

Curacao’s rugged outback is ideally suited for back road and single track cycling, and there are several companies that rent mountain bikes or provide guided tours. One of the more popular itineraries takes riders to the eastern end of the island for a tour of the Caracas Bay Peninsula. The ride begins in the low hills of the Jan Thiel Nature Reserve, which is home to a number of unique and rare plants and animals. Riders circumnavigate a saltwater lagoon ringed in mangrove forests, where flamingos wade in the shallows. The route continues through former plantations and weaves through thickets of gum trees, brasilwood, dyewood and divi-divi trees. Highlights of the tour include visits to the remains of historic Fort Beekenburg, the restored dwellings of Landhuis Jan Thiel and colonial-era saltpan structures.

Fort Beekenburg Fort

Curacao’s Fort Beekenburg was built to defend Spanish Waters Bay from pirates and British raiders. This 17th century structure was built from the discard ballast stones of sailing ships. Photo: iStock

Other memorable rides include the Jan Ottevanger trail, which begins in a green mangrove forest, follows the shores of St. Joris Bay, and ends on the cliffs of the north coast. The Koraal Tabak route passes through salt flats before reaching the greenery of the Malpais Nature Reserve. Along the way, riders can stop at the fishing village of St. Michiel, and visit a natural cave. Plantation Porto Mari offers a groomed mountain bike trail that can be followed up with a visit to the beach, while the hills of Christoffelpark present challenges for those looking to test their climbing abilities and downhill riding skills.

Mountain Biking Curacao

Mountain bikers skirt the shore of the lagoon known as Spanish Waters. This area lies within the Jan Thiel Nature Reserve, which is home to a diverse population of indigenous plants and animals. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

Off road Adventures

If hoofing it or pushing the pedals isn’t your thing, there are a number of tour companies that can set you up for an off-road tour, either aboard a self-drive ATV, or as part of a guided jeep safari. Tours of the island’s eastern end often begin with rides on dirt trails in the gently rolling terrain around St. Joris Bay, where sea turtles are often seen. Riders then head toward to Playa Kanoa Beach on the north shore. Along the way, there are stops at points of interest such as an ostrich farm and a series of caves once inhabited by the Arawak and Caiquetios tribes of indigenous people.

Curacao Cave

Curacao’s Hato Caves contain pre-Columbian petroglyphs and cave drawings created by Amerindian Arawak and Caiquetio peoples, and was once a refuge for runaway slaves. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

Another option takes riders to Shete Boka National Park, where green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and leatherback sea turtles come to nest on the small, remote beaches that are tucked into hidden coves. Curacao’s most visually exciting off road tour is known as the Orchid Route. This itinerary begins in the island’s central hills, and follows ridgelines toward Christoffel National Park. Riders pass through former plantations, and groves filled with native orchids to arrive at elevated viewpoints, some of which are more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape.

Jeep Curacao

A four-wheel-drive tour vehicle shows passengers a different side of Curacao as it scrambles across a rocky shoreline on the rugged, surf-washed northern coast. Photo: Roger Gibbs/Curacao Tourist Board

Curacao
Caribbean, Curacao, Plan, Trip Ideas

Why Curacao is Trending With Travelers

Leave a comment

 

Curacao is hot. Not that kind of hot, because trade winds provide a cooling contrast to the rays of Caribbean sun. Hot as in happening, trending, on the radar. There are many reasons for this every-growing popularity, and they include everything from natural attractions to cultural charms and international appeal. Here are some of the trends that are putting Curacao on more travelers’ bucket lists.

Curacao Westside Beach

Curacao’s rocky western shoreline is cut by a series of coves that shelter secluded beaches. Coral reefs often lie within easy swimming distance. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

Curacao has longstanding ties to the Netherlands, and Willemstad’s Punda district has been dubbed the Amsterdam of the Caribbean. The narrow cobblestone streets of this UNESCO World Heritage site are lined with 17th and 18th century buildings sporting Dutch gables, red-tiled roofs and exteriors painted in a rainbow of vibrant colors. The historic city center pulses with an international vibe that continues to attract European visitors, some who come to stay and join an eclectic culture of artists, entrepreneurs and expats.

Cobblestone Alley Curacao

A walking tour of Willemstad including Punda and Otrabana takes in cobblestone back alleys and waterfront walkways. Highlights include Fort Amsterdam and the floating market. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

Adding spice to Curacao’s European connection are equally strong influences from the African and Hispanic cultures of the Caribbean, and from Venezuela, which lies less than 50 miles to the south. Walk through town and you may hear the lilting tones of Papiamentu, which is a local dialogue created from a blending of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and African languages. And this is just the beginning of the melting pot that is Curacao. There are said to be more than 50 distinct cultural influences found on the island, as evidenced in cuisines that come from Indonesia, Africa and Italy, as well as fresh seafood, Dutch pub food and original island creations.

Curacao Food

International cuisine highlights Ristoffal and sushi to homemade pasta and ravioli. Local cuisine includes Keshi Yena, a hollowed out ball of Gouda cheese stuffed with chicken or meat stew. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

To showcase Curacao’s culinary diversity and creativity, the island’s tourism association has launched a dine-around plan with a fixed-priced menu that allows visitors to try signature flavors at more that 50 different eateries. Signature dining opportunities include beachfront meals at Karakter Curacao, water views at Boathouse, and the Fruits de Mer dinner at Baoase Culinary Beach Restaurant, where diners create their own shellfish platters that include caviar, lobster, mussels, oysters and more. Curacao’s farm-to-table movement launched at Hofi Cas Cora Plantation, with menus that rely on island-sourced produce and meats, and even vegetarians have a number of premier restaurants to choose from.

Curacao Dining

Dining in Curacao takes place in hidden gardens, ocean view beach houses, historic forts and street side cafes and is often a lingering affair. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

Curacao is known as a place of warmth and welcome. The friendly and accommodating nature of its people sets the tone for everyday life, and can be found in the greetings of shop keepers, the lively street scene at the floating market and the conversations of patrons at local bars, where all are welcomed. Nightlife on Curacao focuses on conversation and live music, with a special appreciation for jazz. The island also attracts history buffs, who come to visit Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, walk the iconic Queen Emma Bridge, and take a voyage to the lighthouse on Klein Curacao.

Synogogue Curacao

Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. Dating from 1732, the striking interior showcases large ornate menorahs and brass chandeliers and sand covered floors. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

The hospitality that is an integral part of island culture can also be experienced at the intimate to mid-sized hotels that line the coast. A number of these properties have benefitted from recent upgrades. Avila Beach Hotel, once a Dutch governor’s mansion, is the oldest operational hotel on the island. This family-run boutique hotel recently completed a $600,000 renovation to its ocean front wing. Kontiki Beach Resort added Cabana Beach, a trendy neighboring beach club with day beds and water views and free Wi-Fi. Floris Suite Hotel is an adult’s only boutique that recently upgraded its suites and Lions Dive & Beach Resort completed renovations of apartments and suites.

Curacao Avila Beach

The swimming cove at Avila Beach Hotel. This resort is known for fine dining, including culinary events with Michelin Chefs from top restaurants in the Netherlands. Photo: Berber van Beek/Avila Beach Hotel

Divers and water sports enthusiasts are another group that are discovering Curacao in growing numbers. The island offers more than 65 diving and snorkeling sites that feature historic shipwrecks, colorful coral reefs and underwater slopes that plunge dramatically to depths beyond 1,000 feet. Kayakers and paddleboard enthusiasts will find a number of sheltered coves and inland lagoons to explore, while kite boarders and windsurfers skim across the flat waters of St. Joris Bay, or test their skills in offshore swell. Beach lovers gravitate to the island’s southwestern coast, where a series of bays shelter quiet beaches. This area recently came to the attention of the world when the island welcomed a group of bathing beauties for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2017 issue. A different side of the coast is revealed by a visit to the west end and Shete Boka National Park, where jagged cliffs rise above pounding surf.

Underwater Wreck Curacao

Diving and snorkeling around the island includes wrecks, walls and shallow reefs. Covered with tube spines and coral, the famous tugboat wreck sits in shallow waters. Photo: iStock

This unique combination of rugged natural beauty, local island charm and international sophistication make Curacao one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean. And as more visitors are learning each year, the island will keep getting hotter—but remain a very cool place to be.

Grand Cayman Snorkeling
Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Play, Trip Ideas

Grand Cayman’s Top Snorkel Resorts

Leave a comment

 

On the island of Grand Cayman, the clear Caribbean waters that wash the shores create a siren song few can resist. The island has attracted scuba divers for decades, but there are also plenty of snorkel-worthy reefs. And some of the best sites lie just offshore of premier beach resorts. Here are three of the best.

Tortuga Club

Morritt’s Tortuga Club is about as far as you can get from the resorts of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach and the cruise ship crowds of downtown George Town. The property is located on a white sand beach on the island’s windward eastern coast, where snorkelers can enjoy calm waters, thanks to the extensive barrier reef that parallels the shore. In front of the club, sea grass beds and coral heads begin just a short way from shore, but reaching the liveliest reefs will require about a five minute swim across the lagoon to the lee side of the barrier reef. Less ambitious snorkelers need go no farther than the pier that holds the over-water bar, where colorful tropical fish gather around the pilings. In addition to snorkeling from the beach, guests can sign up for a boat tour with on-site Tortuga Divers, or head to nearby Ocean Frontiers for a snorkel safari that takes in three different sites along the island’s eastern end.

Grand Cayman Morritts Room

Suites at Morritt’s Tortuga Club feature separate living areas and fully equipped kitchens. Spacious floor plans make this east end property a favorite with families and groups. Photo: Tortuga Club

The Tortuga Cub is an expansive, self-contained resort that includes more than 200 one, two and three-bedroom suites, spread across a large section of beachfront. Amenities include three pools, a fitness center, a full-service spa, supervised children’s programs, and an on-site dive shop. David’s Deep Blue restaurant serves an upscale menu, while Mimi’s Dock Bar blends casual fare and signature libations with a 360-degree water view. The Club has been named one of the Caribbean’s top family destinations, as there is a wide range of daily activities such as beach barbecues, volleyball, karaoke and game nights. Adults will enjoy the swim-up bar at the infinity-edge Grand Pool, which has spectacular ocean views. It’s a half-hour drive from the club to the Seven Mile Beach area, but between the resort’s facilities and a group of nearby shops, there’s really no reason to leave this waterfront oasis of relaxation.

Morritts Tortuga Pool Cayman

Grand Cayman’s Tortuga Club is a large resort with three swimming pools. Shown here is the family pool. The nearby Grand Pool sits directly on the beach, with views enhanced by an infinity-edge design. Photo: Tortuga Club

Sunset House

Sunset House sits within mere yards of the Caribbean Sea, but it isn’t technically a beach resort. That’s because there are no sandy beaches on the southwestern coast of Grand Cayman Island. Instead the property perches on a low limestone outcropping that drops right into the ocean. This is actually good news for snorkelers and divers, who can submerge on a series of finger-like coves by simply making a giant stride entry from shore. The waters are calm and clear, and there’s an abundance of marine life, including passing turtles and rays. While divers head out to deeper water and Grand Cayman’s famous wall, snorkelers can spend hours in the shallows exploring the nooks and crannies of the reef. Those who venture a bit farther from shore may catch a glimpse of the site’s famous bronze mermaid statue, which rests in 50 feet of water, but is often visible from the surface.

Sunset House Cayman

An aerial view of Sunset House shows the maze of coral-lined sand channels that extend outward from the shore, and the cove where novice snorkelers can practice their skills. Photo: Sunset House

Sunset House bills itself as a hotel run by divers, for divers. It is a mid-sized, mid-priced and family-owned resort with 50 rooms organized into smaller two-story blocks. A number of rooms provide direct water views, and all are furnished in a comfortable but unpretentious style. In addition to an oceanfront swimming pool and hot tub, there is a sheltered swimming lagoon carved out of the limestone. Downtown George Town is a short walk away, but most guests gravitate to the on-site Sea Harvest Restaurant and the adjacent My Bar. The outdoor terrace at this landmark watering hole is a favorite happy hour gathering spot for island dive masters and locals, and there is no better place on the island to take in a sunset.

Cayman Sunset House Room

Rooms at Grand Cayman’s Sunset House have undergone recent renovations. Some provide direct ocean views, and all include a full range of modern amenities and comforts. Photo: Sunset House

Retreat at Rum Point

Island lore attributes the name Rum Point to the casks of the namesake spirit that washed ashore when a cargo shipwrecked on Grand Cayman’s barrier reef. Today, the site is intoxicating for different reasons. The point’s white sand beach is shaded by a grove of Casuarina pines, and surrounded by the island’s finest shallow coral reef. Snorkelers can make a 30-yard swim from shore across a meadow of sea grasses to coral heads that begin in depths as shallow as five feet. The seascape includes staghorn, elkhorn and brain coral, along with a variety of colorful soft corals, sea fans and sea whips. The reefs are patrolled by schools of rainbow parrotfish, blue tang and queen triggerfish. Because this site is less than a half-mile from Grand Cayman’s famed Stingray City, snorkelers may also catch the occasional glimpse of a passing flock of rays.

At the Retreat at Rum Point, a long pier provides easy access to a shallow lagoon that is home to some of the best snorkeling reefs on the island of Grand Cayman. Photo: Retreat at Rum Point

The place to stay for easy access to the reefs is the Retreat at Rum Point. This small resort is made up of 23 condominiums with one, two and three- bedroom floor plans, each offering a full range of home-like comforts, including full kitchens. The complex includes a pool and 1,200 feet of beachfront, and provides full-time on-site management to assist with services such as dinner reservations, childcare, transportation, catering or scheduling an in-residence massage. There are several excellent restaurants nearby, and the beach scene includes volleyball courts, hammocks, a water sports center operated by Redsail Sports and the iconic Wreck Bar, which is reputed to be the establishment responsible for the island’s signature drink, the Mudslide.

Retreat at Rum Point

The beach at Rum Point is a favorite gathering point for both visitors and island locals, who come for a game of volleyball or a cool libation at the Wreck Bar. Photo: Retreat at Rum Point

Zemi Beach Anguilla
Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Eat, Nevis, St. Lucia, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Caribbean’s Best Rum Bars

Leave a comment

 

Move over fruity rum drinks. The Caribbean’s favorite spirit has caught the attention of connoisseurs. These enlightened imbibers shun blenders and fruit garnishes in favor of snifters, and sample small-batch rums and artisanal blends that need no enhancements beyond a comfortable atmosphere. Hoteliers have taken note, and a new breed of rum bars is cropping up across the Caribbean. Here are five of the best places to savor the spirits with island style.

The Cane Bar at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

Much more than a beach bar, The Cane Bar offers a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere where there are no distractions to take away from the pleasures of sampling premium rums. Located inside the resort’s Great House, the room features a subdued white and pale charcoal design palette. Oversized chairs sit around tables and living room style arrangements provide group settings and the sleek white bar offers alternative seating. Prized artworks hangs on the walls, and the shelves behind the bar are lined with an extensive selection of expertly chosen local and international rums. With many choices on hand there is a professional rummelier to help with your selection. When hunger strikes, a Japanese-inspired menu includes a selection of fresh- catch sashimi and a variety of rolls. Signature dishes include the Caribe Roll, which is wrapped in mango, and the Cane Bar Roll with spicy stone crab and avocado. The bar is open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., and you’ll want to leave your beach togs back in the room and dress “smart casual” for the evening.

St Lucia Rum Bar

Subdued colors lend a sophisticated ambiance to The Cane Bar at St. Lucia’s Sugar Beach resort, where vintage and small-batch rums are featured. Photo: Sugar Beach

Rhum Room at Zemi Beach House, Anguilla

One of the newest and now most popular boutique resorts in the Caribbean boasts Anguilla’s first rum bar. The design of the Rhum Room at Zemi blends modern accents with classic Caribbean architectural details to create a sophisticated yet beach-ready vibe. This setting is enhanced by the natural backdrop of Shoal Bay East, which has been called one of the world’s best beaches. The bar features over 100 small-batch, single-estate rums selected to showcase the breadth and diversity of the Caribbean’s distilling traditions. Guests can delve into the world of rum by sampling the curated Rhum Flight, which includes a selection of rums assembled by the house rummelier. The inventory includes bottles of Appleton Estate 50 Year Old, of which only 800 bottles are available to the public worldwide. Also in the collection is Clément Cuvée Homère, the highest rated vintage rum in the past 15 years, and the recently released premium Brugal Papá Andrés, which is a handcrafted blend created by master blender Maestros Roneros.

Anguilla Rum

The Rhum Room at Anguilla’s Zemi Beach House puts a sophisticated spin on the classic Caribbean club motif. The bar is stocked with a collection of super-premium rums. Photo: Dylan Cross/Zemi Beach

Rum Bar at Cooper Island Beach Club, BVI

You wouldn’t expect to find a well stocked rum bar to be on a tiny island in the British Virgin Islands. With just nine rooms set around a remote bay, the Cooper Island Beach Club caters to those wanting to get away from it all. Day sailors will sometimes stop in for lunch or dinner at the club’s restaurant as part of an island- hopping itinerary. In 2015, mariners found another reason to stop when Cooper Island added the Rum Bar and then a microbrewery. Patrons can sit beachside on wooden benches made from recycled teak and the reclaimed wood of boats, or hang at the bar for some serious tastings. The bar boasts the largest collection of rums in the Virgin Islands, with more than 150 labels from distilleries around the world. A sampler board introduces patrons to the world of premium rums, and the bar staff is on hand to offer suggestions and share tidbits on the origins and history of the labels, and on the general craft of rum making. Signature rum cocktails are accented with fruits and herbs grown at the onsite organic garden, and the bar creates proprietary rum infusions with flavors such as such as honey and lemon, hazelnut praline and jalapeño.

Rum Bar BVI

Cooper Island Beach Club is a family-run boutique resort that features the Rum Bar offering over 100 different rums from all around the Caribbean. Photo: Cooper Island Beach Club

101 Rums Bar, Four Seasons Nevis

Take a seat at the pastel painted bar, where large open windows frame views of the colorful fishing boats lined up on Pinney’s Beach, with the green slopes of St. Kitts as the backdrop. The 101 Rums Bar is housed inside Mango, the Four Seasons open-air beach restaurant. Set on water’s edge, the restaurant and bar offer the best sunsets on the island. Guests can sample signature cocktails like Nevisian Spirit or the 100 Mile Cocktail, which is made exclusively from ingredients harvested within 100 miles of the resort. Serious rum drinkers can bypass the mixed fare and focus on tastings and sippings of some of the world’s premier rums such as Appleton Estate 50 Year Old, El Dorado 25 Year Old and Pyrat Cask. With over 101 aged rums and a selection of artisanal rhum agricoles to choose from, there’s a flavor to please every palate. Weekly rum tastings are on the itinerary, and guests should plan on arriving for sunset, as the bar is open only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Four Seasons Nevis

Sand and sea breezes set the scene at the 101 Rums Bar. The bar is located on Pinney’s Beach at the Four Seasons Nevis resort. Photo: Four Seasons Nevis

The Reef’s Rum Bar at Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, St. Thomas

One of the first rum bars to grace the Caribbean combined premium labels with a memorable setting. Located just off the main lobby, the Reef’s Rum Bar offers a sophisticated indoor seating area that opens to an expansive outdoor terrace that delivers harbor views and a panoramic sweep of the mountains of St. Thomas. The indoor bar features small, intimate tables that become gathering points for smaller groups, as well as high-tops and flat screen TVs where guests can mingle and catch their favorite sports game as they sip and relax. There are a number of premium rums available for tasting, as well as a creative roster of handcrafted cocktails. Many of the drinks are made with Cruzan rum, locally distilled and bottled on sister island St. Croix. Try the signature cocktails like the Reef Rum Punch or Mango Tango.

St Thomas Frenchmans Reef

One of the Caribbean’s first rum bars opened at the Frenchman’s Reef resort in St. Thomas. The Reef’s Rum Bar provides an informal setting to enjoy premium spirits. Photo: Frenchman’s Reef

Jamaica Strawberry Hill
Anguilla, Bermuda, Caribbean, Central America, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Nevis, Play, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, Stay, Trip Ideas

10 Unexpected Caribbean Activities

Leave a comment

 

Once you’ve had your fill of sun, beach and water, it’s time to try something different. And at resorts all across the Caribbean, you can do just that. Young and old alike will find activities that entertain, educate or encourage engagement. Here are ten experiences that go beyond the ordinary resort experience.

1  Visit a Mountain Village:  Strawberry Hill, Jamaica

Lace up your walking shoes and ask the concierge for directions and a map. From the Strawberry Hill resort, the path to Redlight village winds through the wooded hillsides of the Blue Mountains, passing streams and a waterfall along the way. It’s an easy 20-minute walk, and once there, you can tour the historic St. Mark’s Chapel, which was built by the British in the early 1800s. To make a day of it, have the resort’s kitchen staff prepare a picnic lunch to bring along.

2  Swim with a Mermaid: Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, St. Bart

She might join you in the pool, or make a surprise visit during a snorkel trip. Amarylis is St. Bart’s resident mermaid, delighting imaginations of all ages at the Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France resort. This upscale boutique property overlooks the stunning beach at Baie des Flamands, where crystal- clear waters are ideal for young snorkelers. In keeping with its family- friendly atmosphere, the Isle de France often hosts Amaryllis, who poses for photos, and shares stories of her home in the sea.

St Barth Mermaid

Amarylis the mermaid photographed while diving beneath a breaking wave. She makes regular beach and pool appearances at Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France. Photo: Amarylis

3  Spot a Monkey: Four Seasons Nevis

End your day with a private sunset tour of the Four Seasons’ Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course. As you wander the hillside fairways, you’ll learn about the native flora and enjoy sweeping views of the resort, the Caribbean Sea and the nearby island of St. Kitts. And be sure to scan the trees and hillsides for a glimpse of the island’s famous green vervet monkeys. First brought to Nevis in the 1800s as pets, they now roam free across the island.

Nevis Monkey

The green vervet monkeys of Nevis are often sighted on the grounds of the Four Seasons Resort. These monkeys communicate using an elaborate series of calls. Photo: David Danzig/Flickr

4  Blend Your Own: Nayara Springs, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known for its fine coffees, and you can sample some of the best blends at Mi Cafecito, which is Nayara Springs’ in-house expresso bar. The flavors are created by resident coffee connoisseur Ken Palmer, who learned his craft training with Alfred Peet of Peet’s Coffee. Palmer will also guide guests through the steps of creating their own personal blends. The results are delicious, as novice blenders work with high-quality beans from the country’s premier Tarrazu region.

5  Mix a Dirty Banana: Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios

Rum is the Caribbean’s signature spirit. Guests of the Jamaica Inn can get into this spirit of the islands during a Rumology class held each Thursday morning at Teddy’s Beach Bar. In addition to mingling with other rum enthusiasts, participants learn to create a number of signature drinks such as Teddy’s signature planter’s punch, the dark and stormy, dirty banana and the piña colada. The session is hosted by the knowledgeable bar team, who also recounts the history of popular rum mixes, share stories of the rich Jamaican heritage of rum, and describe mixing techniques.

Jamaica Inn Drinks

Sun and Rum. All the elements come together at Teddy’s Beach Bar, where guests of the Jamaica Inn can learn to mix some of the Caribbean’s most iconic rum drinks. Photo: David Massey/Jamaica Inn

6  Art Walk:  Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda

The recent hundred-million-dollar upgrading of the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club included the addition of an extensive collection of contemporary art. Today as your walk through the lobby and public spaces these art works are juxtaposed against the hotel’s historic architectural details such as crown molding and oriental rugs. The collection includes works from Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Nelson Mandela, Banksy, and Philippe Decrauzat among others. You can walk through the collection on your own or join a guided tour, which is offered every Saturday morning.

7  Pick Tomatoes Off the Vine: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, Anguilla

To provide the kitchen with the freshest and finest possible ingredients, this upscale beach resort maintains an 18,000-square foot greenhouse, which supplies much of the produce used in the restaurants. Crops include vine- ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces and micro-greens and herbs. The chefs delight in being able to pick fresh dill, basil and parsley on a daily basis, and in creating dishes featuring guava and pumpkin grown on the property. Guests can tour the greenhouse, help with the harvest and even take a seat at a hands-on cooking class.

Anguilla Greenhouse

Food doesn’t get more local that this. The on-site greenhouse at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa supplies the kitchen with an abundance of fresh produce. Photo: Joe Rahim/CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

8  Immerse in the Culture of Curacao: Sonesta Kura Hulanda Village & Spa, Curacao

Spread over an eight-block compound in the center of Willemstad, Kura Hulanda village is a collection of meticulously restored historic buildings that now house boutique lodgings and the anthropological museum of Kura Hulanda. The museum focuses on the predominant cultures of Curacao, taking visitors on a journey that ranges from the origin of man to West African empires, a chronicle of the African slave trade, pre-Columbian gold, Mesopotamian relics and Antillean art. Visitors can conduct self-guided visits or join an interpretive tour.

9  Explore an Ecological Park: Tortuga Bay Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana, DR

Guests of Tortuga Bay are invited to take a complimentary self-guided tour of the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve. This 1,500-acre nature reserve provides a habitat for indigenous birds, reptiles, insects and native plants. A series of interpretive trails cover the natural and cultural history of the island, and include a sugar cane exhibit, a fruit tree garden and an iguana habitat. Pack a swimsuit, because trails also lead to 12 freshwater lagoons where you can take a dip.

Punta Cana Lagoon

Visitors can cool off in one of the numerous freshwater lagoons that are scattered through the grounds of the Dominican Republic’s Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve. Photo: Ecological Park

10  Salute the Sun: W Retreat & Spa, Vieques, Puerto Rico

It’s a great way to begin or end your day. Join other guests in the W Retreat’s Living Room, an eclectic, neo-Bohemian relaxation space, where you can hang out and mingle before heading out to the deck for a mind, body and breath workout. Sunrise and sunset yoga sessions meet daily. Private yoga sessions available through the AWAY Spa, featuring Detox Yoga, Art of Meditation, and Introduction to Breath. If you are feeling more energetic and awake a bit earlier, join the kayak tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.

BVI Bitter End Yacht Club
British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Play, Stay, Trip Ideas

Five Best Snorkel Resorts in the British Virgin Islands

Leave a comment

 

The British Virgin Islands are ringed in colorful coral reefs. But getting to many of these snorkel-worthy sites will require a boat ride, which means showing up on time, and getting in and out of the water on a time table. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just wade in from shore, make a short swim to the reef, then stay as long as you like? At these select beachfront resorts, that’s exactly what can happen.

Bitter End Yacht Club

This landmark property is a favorite with both visiting yachtsmen and shore side guests, who enjoy sweeping views of Virgin Gorda’s North Sound from hillside cottages. The resort bustles with activities that include sailing regattas, dive excursions and fishing charters. The resort offers 15 weekly snorkel trips to area reefs and more distant sites such as the Baths and Anegada. Guests can use one of the resort’s Boston Whalers to create their own snorkel cruise, or simply walk down the beach to Wedding Point to discover a reef line where colorful tropical fish hide among the corals and rocks close to the shore. A swim into slightly deeper water provides a chance to see stingrays, turtles, and silver-sided tarpon. Keen-eyed snorkelers may even catch a glimpse of relics from the days of sail such as anchors and cannon balls, now encrusted within the corals of the reef.

Bitter End Yacht Club

Bitter End Yacht Club operates a snorkel boat that makes regular trips to the reefs around Virgin Gorda. This stable and spacious vessel has ample room for families and groups. Photo: Bitter End Yacht Club

Mango Bay Resort

On a quiet beach on the west coast of Virgin Gorda, the private villas of Mango Bay Resort overlook a large coral reef that begins less than 50 feet from shore, and stretches the entire length of Mahoe Bay. The waters are rich in fish life, but not accessible by boat, so resort guests have the reefs all to themselves. The property includes six villas, two located directly on the beach, and four more tucked into a tropical garden just inland. Interiors feature upscale Italian contemporary furnishings, with studio to five- bedroom floor plans that allow for flexible groups. Each unit includes kitchens, living and dining areas and expansive outdoor terraces with BBQ grills and outdoor showers.

Mango Bay

The Mango Bay Resort is located right on the beach at Virgin Gorda’s Mahoe Bay, giving guests exclusive access to one of the island’s best coral reefs. Photo: Kent Smith/Flickr

Peter Island Resort & Spa

Each of the five beaches on this private 1800-acre island resort has its own personality, from the lively water sports scene at Deadman’s Beach to the intimate seclusion of Honeymoon Beach. To find the best snorkeling reefs, guests can check out complimentary equipment from the water sports center, follow a footpath over a low hill to White Bay and settle in to a beachfront tiki hut. The reef is just a short swim away, and the fish life is abundant. With more than 70 percent of the island left in its natural state, guests have miles of trails to bike and stroll, plus a variety of active pursuits that include beach volleyball, tennis and morning yoga. Accommodation choices include ocean view rooms, beachfront suites and private hillside villas. The spa offers 10 indoor treatment rooms, two outdoor pavilions and a couple’s suite, all with spectacular views of Big Reef Bay.

Peter Island

A split level view of the shoreline at Peter Island’s White Bay reveals corals growing on the rock formations that begin right at water’s edge, and provide habitat for tropical fish. Photo: Armando Jenik/Peter Island Resort

Marina Cay Hotel

Just off the eastern shore of Tortola, the green speck of land known as Marina Cay sits within a coral-rimmed lagoon. Snorkelers can wade in from most any point on the white sand beach that rings this eight-acre private island, and a few fin strokes will bring them to reefs swarming with a wealth of colorful fish life. The boutique resort offers just eight hillside rooms, decorated in a casual island style with wicker furniture, louvered windows and verandas that provide expansive views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The resort is owned by the Pusser’s Rum company, and is a favorite stopover for sailors, who come to shop in the Pusser’s Company Store and dine at the on-the-beach restaurant, which specializes in traditional West Indian-style and Caribbean dishes like conch chowder, spicy jerk chicken, and cod-and-potato fish cakes.

Marina Cay Snorkeling

An aerial view of Marina Cay shows the large area of coral reef that begins just offshore of the island. Snorkelers can spend hours exploring this formation. Photo: Martin Ronchetti/Flickr

Cooper Island Beach Club

Sitting on the northwest shore of its namesake island, the Cooper Island Beach Club is a family owned eco resort that delivers a lifestyle of tropical barefoot luxury. Ten beachfront guest rooms sit nestled among palm trees and tropical flowers, with expansive views of Sir Francis Drake Channel and the islands beyond. Interiors blend whitewash timbers with the warm tones of recycled teak furniture and the elegance of gauze-shrouded canopy beds. With mask and snorkel in hand, guests can enter the water at the resort’s dingy dock and swim along the shoreline to a u-shaped reef that holds schools of blue tang, butterfly fish and snapper, along with passing eagle rays. Sea turtles are also a common sight, and the resort sponsors a turtle tagging and conservation program. After returning to shore, guests can freshen up and take in the sunset at the resort’s rum tasting room and on- site microbrewery. Order the signature Turtle IPA and a portion of the sale will go towards turtle conservation.

Cooper Island Snorkeling

A large tarpon cuts through a massive school of silverside minnows swarming on a reef that is located just offshore of the Cooper Island Beach Club. Photo: Alex Fox/Cooper Island Beach Club

Shark Cuba
Bonaire, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Cuba, Mexico, Play, Trip Ideas, Turks & Caicos

The Caribbean’s Best Coral Reefs

Leave a comment

 

The islands of the Caribbean are ringed by coral reefs. These colorful underwater gardens are special places. But some are more special than others. There are a number of qualities that put certain sites at the top of divers’ and snorkeler’s aquatic bucket lists, including the clarity of the water, the health of the corals and the variety of fish life. When these factors are tallied up, a handful of reefs always top the list. Here are five of the best.

Kline Bonaire, Bonaire

The entire island of Bonaire is surrounded by a marine park that protects some of the most vibrant coral reefs in the Caribbean. At points all along the island’s calm western shore, divers and snorkelers can wade in from shore to discover a wealth of underwater diversity. But to discover the very best of Bonaire’s underwater treasures requires a short boat ride to the small, uninhabited island of Kline Bonaire. There isn’t much to look at above the surface, as the land is a barren limestone plateau almost devoid of vegetation. Slip below the waves, however, and you will be immediately immersed in riotous growths of colorful soft corals and sponges. The exceptionally clear water allows ample sunlight to penetrate and brighten this underwater garden, which begins just below the surface and continues into the depths in a series of slopes and ledges.

Bonaire Reef

The shallow reefs of Kline Bonaire give snorkelers a prime window to the underwater world. These sites are noted for colorful coral formations and abundant fish life. Photo: David Stahl/Flickr

Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman

Imagine hovering weightless on the face of a sheer cliff that drops vertically into unseen depths. This is wall diving, and for many, it is the Holy Grail of scuba. The Cayman Islands have long been a mecca for wall diving, as they sit atop oceanic plateaus that plunge dramatically into the depths just a short distance from shore. The most famous of these aquatic precipices is found off the northern shore of Little Cayman island. While most underwater walls in the Caymans start at depths of 70 to 80 feet, Bloody Bay Wall rises to within 20 feet of the surface, and then falls away abruptly to a depth of more than a mile. Adding to the drama is the site’s extremely clear water, which creates the illusion that divers are floating in air. For added adventure, there are canyons and tunnels that cut into the wall, creating an underwater maze ripe for exploration.

Cayman Islands Reef

A diver hovers on the face of Bloody Bay Wall. This mile-long underwater formation is the prime attraction on quiet Little Cayman island, which is home to fewer than 200 people. Photo: Erwin Poliakoff/Flickr

Palancar, Cozumel

Marine life thrives on the nutrients brought by moving water. And the steady oceanic currents that wash the western shores of the Mexican island of Cozumel create a bountiful buffet for both fish and corals. Small wonder that Cozumel has remained one of the Caribbean’s top diving destinations for more than 40 years. In addition to nurturing a rich variety of marine life, the moving waters are ideal for drift diving—a technique in which divers are dropped at one end of the reef, then picked up by the boat down current after enjoying the underwater equivalent of a soaring Superman flight. A series of shallow coral formations closer to shore allow novices and snorkelers to get in on the action, but the big ticket are the outside reefs, which rise on the edge of an underwater abyss that plummets to unseen depths.

Cozumel Reef

At Cozumel’s Palancar Reef, a grove of gorgonians extends webs of finger– like appendages to capture nutrients carried by the currents that wash over this site. Photo: Tam Minton/Flickr

West Caicos, Turks and Caicos

One of the thrills of diving is never knowing what might swim up from out of the blue. And one of the best places for these chance encounters are the reefs of West Caicos island. Here, just a chip shot from shore, a coral- encrusted sea wall faces the open ocean. These reefs are especially colorful, home to huge, bright-orange elephant ear sponges and multi-hued vase and barrel sponges. Stands of pillar coral shelter colorful butterfly, angel and parrot fish, along with large groupers, toothy barracuda and swirling schools of jacks. As captivating as these reef scenes can be, divers often keep one eye on open water while exploring these reefs. At any given moment, a squadron of spotted eagle rays may glide by, a curious sea turtle may come in for a closer look or patrolling reef shark may be seen in the distance. For the truly lucky, there may even be a visit from a passing pod of dolphins, and each winter humpback whales have been known to swim by on their way to southern breeding grounds.

Turks and Caicos Reef

A coral head near West Caicos island becomes a gathering point for numerous species of tropical fish, while the crevices hide lobster and crabs. Photo: Benignorco/Flickr

Gardens of the Queen, Cuba

When Christopher Columbus sailed into this archipelago of 250 coral and mangrove islands on Cuba’s southern coast, he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the waters, and christened the area Jardines de la Reina—Gardens of the Queen—to honor his Spanish Queen Isabella. These waters later caught the attention of another historic figure. In the 1990s, Fidel Castro declared the entire area a marine sanctuary, and banned all forms of commercial fishing and industry. A diver himself, Castro was reputed to enjoy exploring the reefs in his younger years, and considered the waters to be his private fishing spot. The gardens have since been opened for limited dive tourism, and those who visit proclaim the reefs to be the most vibrant and pristine in the entire Caribbean. As an added bonus, divers can move from the corals into nearby grass beds and mangrove lagoons that hold a wealth of juvenile fish species. The truly adventurous can seek out the North American crocodiles that visit certain reefs, and are said to be non– aggressive when encountered in clear water.

Cuba Reefs

A school of colorful grunts patrol a garden of soft corals in Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen. This protected area supports thriving fish populations. Photo: Jon McClintock/Flickr

St Kitts Kitchen
Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean, Eat, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Trip Ideas

The Caribbean’s Best Lunch Spots

Leave a comment

 

There’s nothing like lingering over lunch when on vacation, letting the food come out slowly while the corks keep popping. And these relaxed meals are even better when enjoyed in a unique and memorable setting. We know of several such places in the Caribbean, and here are three of our favorites.

On the Beach

On the island of Antigua the place for beachfront dining is Catherine’s Café Plage, French Restaurant & Beach Bar. On Sunday’s you’ll be keeping company with members of the British expat community, who come for brunch and fill tables inside, out on the deck and onto the sand. After a nosh, many patrons linger and move to chaise lounges or spread a beach towel under the grape trees to make a day of it.

Antigua Catherines Cafe

Catherine’s Café Plage puts a Caribbean spin on the traditional Salad Nicoise. The menu at this favorite beachfront dining spot includes a number of innovative takes on French favorites. Photo: Debbie Snow

Located on Pigeon Beach, Catherine’s is an easy jaunt from Falmouth Harbour by land or sea. The husband and wife team of Claudine and Guillaume add a personal touch greet arriving guests. Their passion for good food shines as they read off the day’s menu from a movable blackboard. While some items are menu standards, there are constant changes that include fresh catches and new renditions of French cuisine. There’s typically a hot or cold soup to start, lobster or gazpacho. Salads are meals in themselves and while the menu changes you’ll always find a fish ceviche, and the lobster risotto and fish en papillote are always hot items. The café offers a lineup of fine wines, and are famous for sumptuous deserts. Catherine’s is open for lunch Wednesday through Monday, along with jazz on Wednesday nights, and special gourmet dinners each Friday.

On a Farm

With a farm right outside your door, you’ll expect to find plenty fresh produce on your plate. And that is just what you’ll find at The Kitchen, set inside the Great House overlooking the Belle Mont Farm resort at Kittitian Hill. Ask for a table by the glass doors and you’ll have an expansive view of the hillside down to the sea. If you are lucky enough to be staying here, then lunch is just a stroll from your villa. But most happen upon Kittitian Hill by recommendation, and it’s become the go-to lunch stop on an island tour.

St Kitts Kittian Hill

On the Island of St. Kitts, the culinary team at The Kitchen on Belle Mont Farm makes exclusive use of local ingredients, much of which is grown on the property’s organic farm. Photo: Debbie Snow

The Kitchen sources local ingredients from Belle Mont Farm to create a clean, authentic cuisine. This farm-to-table philosophy taps into the riches of the adjacent 400-acre organic farm, giving Executive Chef Christophe Letard and his team plenty of offerings to choose from when crafting the ever-changing menu. Meals can start with a cocktail made with fresh passion fruit juice, an arugula salad topped with a just-laid poached egg and sorrel salad dressing, then continue with freshly-caught snapper surrounded by savory organic vegetables. The view is majestic and the service is warm and friendly, so plan on a staying for desert of a freshly backed fruit tart.

On the Strand

Puerto Rico is a hotbed for culinary talent, and the city of San Juan is the arena that showcases their skills. Cocina Abierta is tucked off the main drag of Ashford Avenue in the trendy Condado disrict. Here, Chef Martín Louzao displays his creative genius in variations of contemporary cuisine with a touch of the Old World. His background and extensive travels have inspired unique variations and combinations of ingredients and seasonings that result in distinctive flavors and textures. Louzao is frequently visited by food lovers and chefs from other parts of the world. Hailing from Argentina, he spent time working with Albert Adrià and Argentinian Chef Gato Dumas, both innovators and pioneers of contemporary and modern cuisines. Louzao also worked with Spain’s Koldo Royo, who held a Michelin star rating from 1989 to 2007.

Puerto Rico Condado

At San Juan’s Cocina Abierta, Chef Martín Louzao creates offerings designed to please both the eye and the palate. He has been named as one of America’s best chefs. Photo: Debbie Snow

Today Louzao displays his talents at his three outlets in San Juan, Cocina Abierta, Nonna and Touro. For a long lunch, Cocina Abierta is the spot. Here the menu is set up like a play, in acts, and while you might want the entire performance at once, it’s more enjoyable to order acts One through Five at a more leisurely pace. Begin with one of the handmade cocktails; the signature list includes the Orange Blossom Ten, which is light and refreshing with orange blossom water, mandarin tonic and Tanqueray. Others include homemade reductions and fruit infused soda. You might start the First Act with a cold almond soup or the Purple Potato & Octopus Peruvian Causa, which features layers of potatoes and octopus, accented with black olive sauce and creamy garlic. The Second Act always includes seafood such as a Caribbean bouillabaisse or a squid ink pasta layered in prawns, with notes of Sambuca and cilantro. The Third and Fourth Acts include poultry and beef and there’s even a full act for the vegetarian. Plates come out looking like works of modern art, suitable for framing. But your taste buds will win out.

Bonaire Horse in Water
Bonaire, Caribbean, Dominica, Turks & Caicos

Best Caribbean Horseback Riding on the Beach and in the Water

Leave a comment

 

There’s nothing like a refreshing dip in the ocean at the end of a good ride. And it’s not just humans who enjoy the cooling waters. Horses are natural swimmers, and when the conditions are right, they will gladly wade right in and splash about in the shallows, or even take a rider for a swim. Here are some of the best places in the Caribbean to make this happen.

St Lucia

This green and scenic island offers two different chances to swim with the ponies. In the heart of the Roseau Valley, the Hoof Print Horse Riding Ranch schedules a variety of tours suitable for both novices and seasoned riders. The signature route leads through forests and banana plantations on the way to the remote sands of Roseau Bay, where horses and riders can wade in for a refreshing dip, then stay for a beach barbecue. To the north, the town of Gros Islet is the home of the International Pony Club. The club’s signature rides lead to the Atlantic coast beach of Cas en Bas. Sign up for the two-hour tour and you’ll have time to change into swimwear and ride into the surf. Go for the four-hour option and the club will organize lunch on the beach as well. www.hoofprintranch.com, www.internationalponyclub.com

St. Lucia Horseback Riding on Beach

Riders gallop at waters edge along the sands of St. Lucia’s Roseau Bay. Before ocean swims, horses are often stripped of saddles while riders change into swimsuits. Photo: Stuart Godfrey/Flickr

Antigua

The best place on the island of Antigua to find rolling hills and elevated ocean views is along the island’s southwestern coast, near English Harbor. And that’s where the Antigua Equestrian Center is located. When you arrive, you may find some locals working their mounts through dressage and jumping routines, but the stables also provide daily trail rides through the hills with scenic views. These rides, which are limited to groups of four or less, can include a stop at Falmouth Bay for a canter in the shallows or a full soaking. The stables also offer longer riders to the pristine beach at remote Rendezvous Bay. www.antiguaequestrian.com

St. Croix

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands is another destination offering two unique horseback rides that include beach swims. On the island’s north shore, where rainforest-clad hillsides overlook Caribbean beaches, riders begin a journey through the historic sugar plantation of Rust Op Twist and the village of Lavalle. The ride continues onto the beach and arrives at Cane Bay, and after a ride along the surf line, humans and animals end the adventure with a refreshing plunge and a photo op. Similar adventures await on the island’s west cost near the port of Frederiksted, where family– owned Cruzan Cowgirls leads tours through forests to historic landmarks, and along sandy beaches, where riders have the option of taking the horses into the water. A specialty of the stables is sunset rides, and the operation supports a horse rescue and community education program. www.horsebackridingstcroix.com, www.cruzancowgirls.com

Bonaire

When horseback rides through the countryside of Bonaire lead to the sand- bottom lagoon at Lac Bay, riders have a chance to do more than wade with their mounts. While humans change into swim trunks, the guides remove saddles for a true bareback swim. As depths increase gradually, and the adventure transitions from a wade to a swim, riders are instructed to maintain a body position that will allow the horse to use all four legs and keep its head above water. These swimming exercises are supervised to ensure the safety of horse and rider, creating a unique and memorable adventure. www.horseranchbonaire.com

Bonaire Horse by Lac Bay

A horse pauses for a snack during a ride at Bonaire’s Lac Bay. The island’s favorite breed is the Paso Fino, which is known for its smooth gait and “no- bounce” ride. Photo: Ellison Acosta/Flickr

Dominica

Dominica is one of the greenest and most pristine destinations in the Caribbean, with much of the island covered in rainforests and wooded mountain slopes. One of the most memorable ways to experience the island’s natural beauty is by horseback, on an excursion organized by Rainforest Riding. Rides of various durations follow the Waitukubuli Trail, a 115-mile wilderness path that winds its way across the island. A favorite route leads to Purple Turtle Beach, where riders can experience a bareback swim with their horse. Another popular choice is a ride on a section of the Waitukubuli Trail that leads through wetland and swamps that are prime habitat for native and migratory birds. This ride leads to the black sand beaches of Douglas Bay. www.rainforestriding.com

Turks and Caicos

The island of Providenciales is known for its long and spectacular beaches, which open onto the turquoise tinged shallows of the Caicos Banks. At Long Bay Beach, the shallow water continues far offshore, giving horseback riders a perfect chance to lead their mounts into the water for some splashing fun. Rides begin at the stables of Provo Ponies, and lead to the beach. Unlike some tours, which include a short swim as part of a longer trail ride, these tours spend most of their time at the beach and in the water. More experienced riders are allowed to canter in the shallows when the tides are out, and the horses don’t play follow the leader on any ride. Instead, everyone is encouraged to spread out and enjoy their time on the sand or in the shallows. There are plenty of chances for photo ops with the wading ponies. www.provoponies.com

 

Bahamas Abaco Club
Bahamas, Bahamas-Out Islands, Caribbean, Stay, Trip Ideas

Best Out Island Resorts in the Bahamas

Leave a comment

 

There are no cruise ships. No high rises. No tourist clogged straw markets. Welcome to the Out Islands. This is a very different side of the Bahamas, one where traditional fishing villages are served by the weekly mail boat, cell phones may not work, and the stars can be seen each night from beaches far, far away from streetlights. If this is your idea of an ideal vacation, there are properties where you can indulge your desires for Out Island isolation while still enjoying a few upscale luxuries and plenty of exciting activities. Here are four of our favorites.

Abaco Club on Winding Bay

If you love the Abacos, join the club. That’s the opportunity offered to guests of this exclusive enclave. The Abaco Club is not a resort, but a private club where members can get away to golf, swim, play tennis and enjoy fine dining. Here, you are isolated from the outside world, as the property is set on a private peninsula on the southeastern shore of Great Abaco Island, overlooking 2.5 miles of deserted beaches and clear water. Members enjoy a wide range of water sports from paddle boarding, kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and fishing. For the active minded, there are beach boot camps, a fitness center and tennis courts, and the on-site spa offers a full range of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments. The club’s attraction is the Scottish-style links course, created by renowned British golf course architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie.

Abaco Club Room

The one-bedroom cabanas at the Abaco Beach Club are available for rent. Each of these freestanding residences includes a screen porch, and easy access to the beach. Photo: Abaco Club

To share a taste of island life, the club welcomes visitors, who are free to enjoy all the club’s activities and amenities. Guests can choose from a range of rental accommodations that range from cozy one-bedroom cabanas and two to four-bedroom cottages, or even a grand oceanfront estate home. Private decks provide inspiring ocean views, and each fully equipped residence is positioned on the landscaped grounds to ensure privacy. Guests are provided with golf carts for easy access to all parts of the club’s grounds and facilities, and a dedicated staff is on call for any requests. The only requirement asked of guests is that after three visits, they must become a member or resident to continue to visit. For many, this seems a tempting offer after their first stay.

Abaco Club Pool

The Abaco Club’s club pool commands a prime site on Ocean Point ridge, with panoramic views of Winding Bay and the ocean. The neighboring observation deck is a favorite gathering point. Photo: Abaco Club

Resorts World Bimini

For decades, the small islands of Bimini were the exclusive playground of the boaters and big game fishermen. Most made the run from South Florida in private boats, and that changed with the opening of a large-scale resort complex on the island of North Bimini. The 750-acre development known as Resorts World Bimini includes private residences, villas, cottages and a 305-room hotel by Hilton. A centerpiece of the resort is the 10,000 square foot casino, which is the only one in the world with panoramic water views. There are four pools, including an infinity-edge rooftop oasis with panoramic views and full food and beverage service, to the family-friendly lazy river at ground level. Guests have nine restaurants and lounges to chose from, along with exclusive beach access to Paradise Beach, private cabana rentals, and numerous water sports activities to enjoy.

Bimini Resort

The five-story Hilton Hotel opened in 2016 as Bimini’s first large- scale, full-service resort. This family-friendly property includes a spa, a kids’ club, and a beachfront amphitheater. Photo: Resorts World Bimini

Guests arriving by water can dock right at the resort, which is now home to the largest marina complex in the Bahamas. There are actually two marinas. The one percent can dock their 200-foot showboats at the Mega Yacht Marina, while sport fishermen and family boaters will prefer the Fisherman’s Village Marina, which includes open air shopping venues and a dining promenade. No boat? No problem. Resort World is served by seaplane flights, conventional air service to the adjacent island of South Bimini and a daily fast ferry from Miami.

Bimini Hilton Rooftop Pool

The rooftop infinity-edge pool at the Hilton looks out over the shallows of North Bimini Sound, which has long been a favorite destination for sport fishermen stalking bonefish. Resorts World Bimini

French Leave Resort, Eleuthera

The name of this unique resort comes from a traditional British expression meaning to escape without notice, which is what guests can do effortlessly when they arrive on the quiet island of Eleuthera. Here, it’s easy to fall into the lifestyle and openness of the Out Islands. The resort sits on 270 acres that includes an exclusive stretch of pink sand beach. Accommodations are limited to just 20 seaside cottages, which combine traditional Out Island architecture with a contemporary British West Indies décor. Each cottage includes all the amenities needed for a self-sufficient stay, including full kitchens and laundry facilities. But if cooking isn’t on the agenda, there’s also room service, and a personal golf cart to whisk you to the resort’s signature 1648 restaurant, or one of the eateries in the nearby village of Governor’s Harbor. A nice added touch is the in-room, on-demand iPad that allows for maximum beach and downtime, as guests can request everything from additional towels to lunches packed to go.

French Leave Resort Eleuthera

On the island of Eleuthera, the tidy Colonial-style cottages of French Leave Resort sit on immaculately landscaped grounds facing the Atlantic Ocean and the property’s private marina. Photo: French Leave Resort

Eleuthera is an island of deserted beaches and wild coastlines that are wonderful for long walks. There are small, authentic Out Island villages to explore, while activity seekers will find kayaks, snorkel gear and paddleboards on hand, right at the resort. So too is the marina that is the launching point for diving and fishing excursions. Two island favorites are horseback riding along the shoreline and cliff jumping into the clear water. For an authentic taste of Out Island life, guests can try the Friday night fish fry at Governor’s Harbour, check out the Historic Hanes Library or visit the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve for some inside history and background on the island. It’s easy to become a local on this island.

Eluethera French Leave

With separate living and dining spaces, the cottages at French Leave Resort are more home than hotel room, and include everything needed for a comfortable and self-sufficient stay. Photo: French Leave

Coral Sands, Harbour Island

Small, colorful and far away from the crowds, Harbour Island has long been the favorite hush-hush escape in the Bahamas for the wealthy and well traveled. Many visitors rent private homes or villas, and spend days relaxing on the island’s famous pink sand beach. Of the limited number of small hotels that are available, a favorite is the Coral Sands. Fresh from a three million dollar renovation, this boutique eight-acre property now includes several additional ocean view cottages and a new soaking pool. In addition to these high-level renovations, interiors were refreshed with a modern, island theme that complements the property’s British Colonial style. Guests can opt for individual rooms, suites or a spacious two-bedroom cottage, all providing direct access to the beach.

Coral Sands Restaurant Harbour Island

At the Coral Sands resort on Harbour Island, the imagined Latitude 25 restaurant complements sea views with an innovative menu that pairs fresh and organic local foods with a premier wine list. Photo: Coral Sands

The Coral Sands is home to the Latitude 25 restaurant, which is noted both for it’s food and the open air dining terrace, which delivers sweeping views of the beach. At night the lights are dimmed, candles flicker, and Chef Ludovic Jarland serves Caribbean cuisine with a French flair. The resort is just steps away from the colorful cottages and small shops of Dunmore Town, and those who are able to resist the sirens song of the beach can venture to the west side of the island to charter a fishing boat, book a diving or snorkel trip, or just join the locals relaxing at the town dock. Getting to Coral Sands will require an island hopping flight, a taxi ride and then a boat trip across a sheltered lagoon. But as anyone who has visited this charming Out Island can attest, the reward is well worth the journey.

Coral Sands Harbour Island

The new beachside cottages of the Coral Sands resort set rich wood tones and bright geometric accents against white walls and large windows, all designed to complement the water views. Photo: Coral Sands