Tag Archives: Grenada

Trinidad Hyatt
Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Nevis, St. Lucia, Stay, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Caribbean Resorts for Holiday Celebrations

 

You won’t have to choose between a white Christmas and a Caribbean holiday getaway at these resorts, which honor holiday traditions, but with a tropical spin. And for the white stuff? Look no farther than the beach.

The Buccaneer, St. Croix, USVI

Santa comes to the tropics to visit this beachfront classic resort on Christmas morning, with presents for the children staying there. Midday is devoted to lounging on the beach and listening to live local bands, then guests gather at the historic Great House to enjoy a holiday buffet created by Executive Chef Dave Kendrick. A week later, when it’s time to ring in the New Year, the party moves to The Terrace restaurant, which sits high on the hill overlooking the grounds and beach. Guests enjoy a New Year’s Eve buffet complete with carving stations, followed by a champagne toast at midnight. There are fireworks, which can be enjoyed from The Terrace bar or from private room patios or balconies. www.thebuccaneer.com

St Croix Buccaneer Beachfront

After a morning visit from Santa, Christmas Day is spent enjoying live bands and sunshine on the beach at St. Croix’s Buccaneer resort. Photo: The Buccaneer Resort

Windjammer Landing, St. Lucia

The Windjammer Landing goes all out for Christmas, with a tree lighting ceremony, special Christmas menus and a visit from Santa, who makes a visit to the sun and sand at Labrelotte Bay. Guests wanting a taste of sweet holiday spirit will find eggnog stocked at the bar and restaurant during the season. The resort is popular for family and group holiday getaways, with villas of two to five bedroom boasting private pools where everyone can gather before heading out to the resort’s festivities. www.windjammer-landing.com

St Lucia Windjammer Landing Villa

Families and groups can gather for private celebrations at the villas of St. Lucia’s Windjammer Landing, and then join a range of resort-wide activities. Photo: Windjammer Landing

Montpelier Plantation & Beach Resort, Nevis

This elegant enclave brings in a holiday choir to kick off the festivities on Christmas Eve. In keeping with the resort’s tradition, guests are invited to join in to sing The 12 Days of Christmas. The evening continues with refreshments in the stone walled Restaurant 750 before moving to the terrace for an elegant meal paired with fine wine to celebrate Christmas Eve. As the holiday spirit progresses, guests can join the “Save Water, and Drink Champagne” event at the poolside restaurant Indigo. Here, the bubbles flow all afternoon, accompanied by light canapés. On New Year’s Eve, there is a white party held on Montpelier’s private beach. The night unfolds with a big beachside bonfire as guests dine and dance to live music before ringing in the New Year. www.montpeliernevis.com

Nevis Montpelier Resort Champagne

One of the signature traditions at the Montpelier Plantation & Beach Resort on Nevis is the poolside known as “Save Water, and Drink Champagne.” Photo: Montpelier Plantation

Mango Bay Hotel, Barbados

Located in historic Holetown, this small all-inclusive resort offers guests of all ages a range of holiday activities. During afternoon tea, a primary school choir visits the hotel to serenade guests. Santa Claus arrives on Christmas morning, and during the day guests indulge in Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are candy hunts and a piñata party for the youngsters, and Boxing Day brings races, sand building workshops and an evening movie on the beach. Entertainment and fireworks follow the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve Grand Buffet. mangobayresort.com

Mango Bay Barbados

Special Christmas activities at Barbados’s Mango Bay Hotel include choir concerts, a visit from Santa beach parties and holiday foods. Photo: Mango Bay

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada

Music fills the resort during the weeks leading up to Christmas, with a mix of Grenada top brass bands, steel bands and choirs, all rotating nightly to put guest in the holiday spirit. Christmas Eve is a time for caroling and the following morning begins with a champagne brunch. Guests head beachside to round out the day with a buffet lunch to the background sounds of the Jolly Boys—a local group playing Caribbean tunes. Dinner is a traditional Christmas meal served at Oliver’s restaurant. On New Year’s Eve, a culinary journey begins at 7pm and guests dance until midnight when the firework welcome in the New Year. www.SpiceIslandBeachResort.com

Grenada Spice Island Resort

Music enlivens the holiday season at the Spice Island Beach Resort, where the sounds of Grenada’s favorite brass bands, steel bands and choirs put guest in the holiday spirit. Photo: Dehoog/Spice Island Resort

Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is home to the Christmas Elf Village, an edible community of 12 elves, which are brilliantly colored showpieces made of pure chocolate and fondant. In addition, there are two holiday dessert-making classes hosted by pastry chef, Melissa Logan. The Gingerbread House workshop brings families together to decorate a pre-made house with edible decorations. The second class is devoted to making the chocolate roulade and butter crème Yule Log. In this class guests learn how to roll the log with different filling and add decoration. The New Year’s Eve ball includes a festive dinner with music of Spinphony, a string group. After dinner the DJ takes over and couples hit the beach for dancing and fireworks at midnight. www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/caribbean/grand-cayman

Grand Cayman Ritz Carlton Christmas

The Christmas Elf Village is a tasty tradition at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. These chocolate confections are just for show, but guests can create their own gingerbread houses. Photo: Irene Corty/Ritz-Carlton

Peter Island Resort & Spa, Peter Island, BVI

Christmas Eve kicks off with a visit from the Peter Island Choir, followed by dinner and guitar music. Christmas Day takes guests to the beach for a sandcastle building competition while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. At the resort, a steel band plays holiday music and moko jumbies entertain guests. New Year’s Eve begins with a pre-gala cocktail hour featuring flowing champagne and oyster stations. Dinner is a grand gala buffet while the Elvis White band plays. After the meal a DJ spins and fireworks bring in the midnight hour. Guests are free to find their own private holiday moments on the 1,800 acres that make up the island resort. peterisland.com

Peter Island BVI

Guests at Peter Island Resort can start with caroling and a visit from Santa, then go tropical with steel band music and a parade of stilt-walking moko jumbies. Photo: Peter Island Resort

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

Magic, meditation and mind reading ring in the holidays at Sugar Beach as well as traditions of lantern lighting and tree decorating. Holiday activities include appearances from Michal Sindelar, magician and illusionist, who will engage guests in his defying magic tricks with cards, coins and balloons. Gerard Senehi, the master mentalist, will perform mind reading, telekinesis and telepathy in his show. A small session is open for moonlight crystal mediations with Latham Thomas. And, for the little ones, Santa arrives on Sugar Beach by boat to hand out presents. New Year’s Eve begins with a young DJ, Fulano Librizzi, and as the evening progresses DJ Marc JB takes over to usher in the New Year. A highlight of the night is the fireworks show against the backdrop of the pitons. www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/sugarbeach

Sugar Beach St Lucia

At the Sugar Beach resort, the holidays are enlivened by visits from magicians and mind readers, and a New Year’s Eve fireworks show with a backdrop of the Pitons. Photo: Sugar Beach

Hyatt Regency, Trinidad

Everyone in the culturally rich islands of Trinidad & Tobago celebrate the holidays. Children go from house to house for festive food and drink, with holiday favorites that include pastelles, spicy meat filled corn patties, and black fruitcake. At the resort guests can enjoy holiday specialties like sorrel, which is a crimson-colored drink obtained from a local flower, ginger beer, and ponche de crème, which is a sweet milk and rum-based drink similar to eggnog. At the end of the day, celebrants can take a dip in the rooftop infinity pool and enjoy the views overlooking the city, with a sorrel mojito in hand. trinidad.regency.hyatt.com

Trinidad Hyatt Regency

One of the favorite seasonal libations offered at Trinidad’s Hyatt Regency is sorrel, which is a crimson-colored drink, here, in the form of a mojito. Photo: Hyatt Regency

Hermitage Plantation, Nevis

The Hermitage holiday experience is reminiscent of a home party. The halls are decked, the sorrel and black cake is served and carolers come to visit. Because the planation is a family home, guests are made to feel like family members. When the children make Christmas cookies, guest can join in. On Christmas Eve, the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes is served. Christmas Day is typically spent at the beach after a Christmas buffet brunch. Afterward, guests come home to a visit from carolers from nearby church choirs. Christmas dinner its roast goose and all of the trimmings followed by Victorian figgy pudding. New Year’s Eve is a more subdued dinner of beef and salmon followed by drinks and relaxing music. www.hermitagenevis.com

Hermitage Nevis

At the family-owned Hermitage Plantation on Nevis, guests enjoy an intimate setting and holiday traditions such as caroling, and a Christmas dinner with roast goose. Photo: Hermitage Plantation

Laluna, Grenada

The white sand beach at Laluna replaces snow to create a tropical white Christmas, where villas are decked out with holiday decorations. Every year, carolers visit the Laluna Sunset Lounge, and guests gather around to enjoy the music and sip Ponche Crème, a local version of eggnog that infused with rum. Christmas lunch is celebrated as a barbecue on the beach. For holiday tastes from the tropics there is sorrel and black cake. www.laluna.com/

La Luna Grenada

Each December, the beachside villas of Grenada’s Laluna resort are decorated and lit for the holiday season. Guests gather at the beach on Christmas day for a mid-day barbecue. Photo: Laluna Resort

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Palace, Dominican Republic

These sister properties offer a wealth of special activities for the two weeks around Christmas and New Years. Both resorts are decorated with lights, trees and wreaths by early December, and Santa makes his first appearance for the lighting of the main Christmas tree a few days before Christmas. On the night of December 24, a live nativity scene is set on the beach and Santa comes for his visit in the late afternoon on December 25, landing by parachute to deliver presents to each of the kids at the resort. On New Year’s Eve, there is a huge party with Olympics games, live music and a gala dinner and show. The holiday activities continue until January 6. www.vivaresorts.com

DR Wyndham

In the Dominican Republic, the adjacent resorts of Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Palace liven up the Christmas season with a live nativity scene and a visit from Santa. Photo: Viva Wyndham

Cancun Underwater Sculpture
Bahamas, Bahamas-New Providence, Cancun, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Mexico

Four Amazing Caribbean Underwater Sculpture Parks

 

Swimsuits and snorkels are not usually considered appropriate attire for viewing works of art. But that’s exactly what you’ll need to gain a full appreciation of these sculptures, because they all lie beneath clear Caribbean waters. What started with the placement of a single iconic statue has become a trend, with four islands now offering underwater exhibitions, and more expected to follow. Here are the places where you can combine artistic appreciation with aquatic recreation.

Grand Cayman’s Bronze Gods

In the summer of 2000, a mermaid appeared on one of Grand Cayman’s most popular snorkeling and shore diving sites. Swimmers will have no trouble finding this legendary lady, because she hasn’t moved since. The 9-foot-tall, 600-pound bronze statue is a representation of Amphitrite, the legendary queen of the seas and wife of Poseidon. The work was created by Canadian artist Simon Morris, and placed just offshore of the Sunset House Resort, where it can be viewed from the surface, or enjoyed by the many divers who pose for underwater selfies.

Grand Cayman Underwater Sculpture

The bronze statue of Amphitrite sits on a shallow reef off the west coast of Grand Cayman Island. It is one of two submerged sculptures created by Canadian artist Simon Morris. Photo: Cathy Church/Cayman Islands Department of Tourism

Three years after Amphitrite arrived, a second iconic bronze figure appeared on a reef eight miles to the north. The Guardian of the Reef, also created by Morris, is a 13-foot-tall creation that is half seahorse, half mythological warrior. The work was commissioned by the owners of Divetech Resort, and placed on a popular dive site a short swim from their dive shop.

Art Goes Underwater In Grenada

Grenada’s Molinere Bay became the world’s underwater art gallery when British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor – http://www.underwatersculpture.com/ – placed a collection of contemporary sculptures among the coral heads in 2006. The exhibition was instrumental in the creation of a marine protected area along the island’s southwestern coast. Each sculpture is strategically placed to enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding reefs, and fabricated from environmentally friendly materials that encourage corals and other marine life to overgrow and transform the statues over time.

Grenada Underwater Sculpture

The Ring of Children is a signature element of Grenada’s Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park. This exhibition was created in 2006 by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Photo: Orlando Romain/ Grenada Tourism Authority

The original exhibition was expanded with additional works by Taylor and Grenadian sculptor Rene Froehlich, and now includes some 65 figures and still-life tableaus. The Molinere Bay Sculpture Park can be reached with a short swim from shore, or by a ten-minute boat ride from St. Georges and the resorts of Grand Anse. The works can be enjoyed from the surface, and are shallow enough to allow most swimmers to duck down for a closer look.

Mexico’s Underwater Museum

Three years after opening the world’s first underwater sculpture park in Grenada, sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor turned his talents to an even more ambitious project in the waters of Cancun, Mexico. The Museo Subacuatico de Arte is located in a national marine park just off the shores of Isla Mujeres, where it can be viewed by swimmers, divers and passengers in glass bottom boats.

Mexico Underwater Sculpture Gardener

The sculpture known as The Gardener is adorned with corals rescued after tropical storms or damage by human activity. Sculptures and photography: Jason deCaires Taylor

The exhibition is described as an interaction between art and environmental science, as the exhibits 500-plus life-size sculptures are made from specialized materials used to promote coral life. The Museum is divided into two galleries called Salon Manchones and Salon Nizuc. The first is located in 25 feet of water and suited for viewing by both divers and snorkelers, while the second gallery is positioned at a depth of just 12 feet, with sculptures rising to within six feet of the surface. It is reserved for snorkelers. Snorkelers and swimmers can reach the exhibits from shore or boat tours from Isla Mujeres or Cancun.

Bigger in the Bahamas

The world’s largest underwater sculpture comes with a message, and a mission. Ocean Atlas is a 60-ton, 18-foot-high depiction of a young Bahamian girl who appears to be holding up the ocean, much like the mythological Titan Atlas shouldered the burden of the heavens. The work is intended both as a reminder of the environmental threats oceans face, and a message of how human interactions with nature can be positive and sustainable.

Bahamas Nassau Atlas Coral Reef Sculpture Garden

Ocean Atlas is the world’s largest underwater sculpture, and the centerpiece of the Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden, located in the waters of New Providence Island, Bahamas. Photo: BREEF

The sculpture is made from sustainable PH-neutral materials, and surrounded by a collection of structures known as reef balls that will attract fish life and promote coral growth, eventually transforming the site into a living reef. More sculptures are planned for the site, which is shallow enough to be enjoyed by snorkelers. The Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden can be reached by a short boat ride from the south coast of New Providence Island, and has already become a favorite with cruise ship passengers and guests staying at the resorts of Nassau and Paradise Island. Check out more photos here: https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/worlds-largest-underwater-sculpture- unveiled-in-bahamas-144457/#/slideshow/144457-2/5

St Lucia Jade Mountain
Cancun, Caribbean, Grenada, Mexico, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St. Lucia, Stay, Trip Ideas

Best Private Pools in the Caribbean

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Resort pools can be spectacular. Unique designs, water features like fountains, waterfalls and cascades are all designed to wow, and infinity edges that meld into the ocean are breathtaking. But there’s nothing like your own private pool to jump in whenever you have the desire. The private pools at these Caribbean resorts offer up a bit more space than the typical plunge pool allowing you room to splash, kick and immerse in any way your heart desires.

Royal Isabela, Puerto Rico

At first glance, you might think you were in Scotland or Ireland when you survey the rolling green hills that cascade down to blue water. But you are in one of Puerto Rico’s finest resorts, where a collection of luxurious casitas sits terraced along the cliff tops overlooking the Atlantic. The hotel is set within a 1,800-acre golf course community, so there is plenty of open space to immerse yourself in the natural surroundings. Each of the 20 casitas has a private pool and terrace to take in the outdoors and view the starlight nights.

Puerto Rico Isabela Royal Pool

The casitas of Puerto Rico’s Royal Isabela resort sit on a wooded hillside overlooking a magnificent golf course and the Atlantic Ocean. Each includes a private deck and pool. Photo: Joann Dost/Royal Isabela

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St Lucia

This collection of British colonial-styled cottages and villas are tucked away in a glade of tropical foliage on slopes near the base of the Pitons. Over the years the property has changed names and received upgrades, but the villas still stair step up the hillside, each with its own pool hidden from the next, but with views of the Pitons. Here your private outdoor space has a covered area to retreat from the sun and take an afternoon nap between dips in your pool. Call for a ride or take a stroll down the hillside to the sugar white sand beach, experience the tasting menu at the Great House and succumb to a tropical treatment at the Rain Forest Spa.

St Lucia Sugar Beach Luxury Villa With Pool

Cottages at St. Lucia’s Sugar Beach resort open to expansive private terraces that include a pool, sun lounges, al fresco dining nook and a sheltered cabana ideal for afternoon naps. Photo: Sugar Beach/Viceroy

Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Situated among the canals and cenotes of the Riviera Maya, the Banyan Tree is all about water. The resort’s front entrance is a giant lily pond. Dining and lobby areas open to additional waterways and ponds. Suites are either adjacent to the canals and channels or overlooking the waterway that carries guests to and from the beach via launches. Here you’ll find villas with complete privacy where you can float the afternoon away in your private pool while the fragrance of frangipani fills the air. When a need arises, attentive service is just a call a way.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba Private Pools

Water dominates at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba, where suites set in lush natural foliage offer private pools and terraces. Boats carry guests to the beach via a central canal. Photo: Debbie Snow

Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada

Much more than rooms, the Royal Collection Pool Suites at Spice Island are sanctuaries from the outside world. A private door leads to your walled terrace where day beds, an outdoor dining area and a private pool awaits. These pools are large enough to do some serious splashing about, and maybe swim a few strokes. The suites are also exceptionally large, covering up to 1,500 square feet including living room and private cedar saunas. Once you are ready to face the world, Grand Anse Beach, the longest stretch on the island, is just outside your door.

Grenada Spice Island Pool Villa

Spice Island Beach Resort offers three types of private pool suites. Shown here is the Royal Collection Pool Suite, which features the largest water feature. Photo: Spice Island Beach Resort

Le Toiny, St. Barts

Hotel Le Toiny is located on the uncrowded southeastern corner of St. Barts. This boutique property offers 14 villa suites tucked into a 42-acre hillside garden overlooking Anse de Toiny beach. Each villa provides dramatic and direct ocean views and has its own private pool, which is heated during winter months. Inside the one-bedroom villas the coastal theme continues with a décor in beige and white, accented with warm brown that brings in the palette of the hillside and the beaches below. Simplicity and sophistication blend easily, and guests are pampered accordingly. When it comes time to socialize, head to the oyster shell bar overlooking the half moon shaped pool to share an appetizer and sip champagne.

Le Toiny Hotel Pool Villa St Bart

The one-bedroom villas at Le Toiny open onto private terraces set high above one of the best beaches in St. Barts. The adjacent private pools can be heated for comfort. Photo: Le Toiny

Sandals LaSource, Grenada

When ensconced in your elevated private sanctuary, you may never want to leave. The one bedroom Skypool Villa not only offers private butler service but also a personal mobile phone to summon everything from meals and snacks, to floats for the pool and buckets of ice with cold champagne. Your pool offers up enough space to kick to the end and when you want to take relaxation to another level, there is a private Jacuzzi to slip into when the moment arises. Eventually, you may want to leave your retreat to head down to Gin Beach. This pink stretch of sand is one of the best in the Caribbean.

Grenada Sandals Private Pool

The Skypool Villas at Grenada’s Sandals LaSource include not only a large private pool, but also an adjacent hot tub. Guests have a direct number to a personal butler. Photo: Sandals

Jade Mountain Resort, St. Lucia

Your private pool becomes an extension of your suite, as the fourth wall of each room at Jade Mountain is omitted to provide cinematic-quality views of the Pitons and Caribbean. Right before your eyes the morning golden sky lights up the mountain range, and come sunset the pink and blue fill the sky and light bounces off the hillside and reflects in the sea. Small wonder many honeymooners start their life journey with a stay here. Each villa has a unique color scheme and design, but full living room, bedroom and pool open to the splendid scenery. With no phones, no television and absolute no distractions, this resort knows how to provide sanctuary to guests seeking ultimate seclusion.

St Lucia Jade Mountain Private Pool

Hillside rooms at Jade Mountain Resort are left open to the elements, ushering in sea breezes and grand views of the coast and the iconic Piton peaks. Private pools perch on the edge to heighten the drama. Photo: Jade Mountain

Carriacou
Caribbean, Grenada, Plan, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Snapshots: Carriacou

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Carriacou is a “just right” island. There are no high-rise hotels or mega resorts overshadowing the beaches, just quaint guesthouses tucked into the green hills. Instead of swarming cruise ship crowds, the waterfront is a casual mix of local fishermen and visiting yachtsmen. It’s been called the friendliest island in the Caribbean, where laid-back locals welcome the off- the-beaten-path travelers who arrive by private boat, small plane or a ferry from Grenada.

This 13-square mile dollop of green provides scenic hikes that lead to hilltop vistas, or down to a stunning collection of white, golden and black sand beaches. Snorkel-worthy coral reefs lie just beyond the turquoise shallows, along with a smattering of tiny offshore islands and sandbars perfect for beach combing getaways.

Carriacou is also known for its rum shops, with more than 100 small taverns scattered through neighborhoods and villages. Most concoct their own house blends from a potent stock known as Jack Iron. The afternoon toddy is a long-standing island tradition, which may help explain why everyone seems so relaxed and friendly.

Caribbean, Grenada, Play, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Cascades: Au Coin Falls, Grenada

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The island of Grenada is home to several scenic waterfalls that are staples on the tour bus route. The most popular of these is Concord Falls, where passengers can disembark and descend a short set of stairs to take in a classic jungle-clad cataract that spills into a cool pool. This site is also referred to as the Lower Falls, because it is actually just one of three waterfalls that interrupt the river’s path as it flows down from the green highlands. For those willing to do some walking, there is an upstream option that offers a more private view.

The hike to Au Coin Falls begins with a ramble though the grounds of a former nutmeg plantation. The route crosses back and forth over the stream in a series of fords and collapsed stone bridges. The going can be a bit muddy in places, requiring sturdy shoes, but the route is not especially strenuous. Fast walkers can make the trip in a half hour, while a more leisurely pace still gets you there in under an hour.

Local guides will offer their services at the start of the trail, but the route is sufficiently obvious for those who want to go it on their own. Au Coin is a tall waterfall that emerges from an enveloping wall of greenery to spill into an alluring pool. You’ll have to resist the temptation to jump in, however, as this body of water is upstream of a local village’s water supply. Take in the view, and save the swim for your return to the Lower Falls.

Cayman Brac Hiking
Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Nevis, Play, Puerto Rico, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Caribbean’s Ten Top Hikes

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When you are vacationing in the Caribbean, you’re already far outside your everyday, so why not take the next step-or several hundred of them-to widen your island experience with a hike. Tread these natural sanctuaries for encounters with local birds and wildlife, lush rainforests and sweeping panoramas of paradise. We’ve hiked the duds and the winners to give you a list of the Caribbean’s best trails—from breezy to push-the-limits challenging —winding past waterfalls, rivers, beaches, tide pools and so much more.

The Bubbly Pool Hike, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

From Foxy’s Taboo, a popular bar and party spot on Great Harbour, the bartenders can steer you to the start of this 15- minute, super easy walk to the island’s rock-walled soaking spot. You’ll end at a pool with crashing waves sending spray overhead and a surge of bubbles up into the basin where you’re standing.

Lighthouse Footpath, Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Start at either end of this trail for a 90-minute walk each way past nesting grounds of brown boobies. If you make the lighthouse at the island’s easternmost point your halfway mark, pack a lunch to enjoy while sitting on limestone cliffs overlooking breaking waves. Free printed guides are available: Ask at the front desk of Brac Reef Beach Resort, or see the pamphlet in your guesthouse to arrange your hike.

The Signal Hill Tour, Antigua

Antigua’s shortest and easiest hike starts at Wallings Dam, found at the end of Fig Tree Drive. From there, it’s about an hour—if you don’t stop—to the top of Signal Hill, which rewards finishers with a 360-degree island view. If you’d like to learn more about local history and wildlife, join a tour company like Footsteps Rainforest Hiking Tours.

The Annaly Bay Tide Pool Hike, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

You won’t need fins for the tide pools at the end of this hike, but do pack a snorkel mask so you can take a cool dip and see the juvenile fish nesting in the shallows. Start this moderate, 2-mile hike behind Carambola Beach Resort and Spa. The parking-lot attendant can point you to the trailhead. It’s a fairly straightforward trail that climbs the bluffs overlooking the island’s north shore. You’ll surely stop several times to snap photos, so the uphill stretches won’t feel too strenuous.

El Toro Hike, Puerto Rico

Most visitors to El Yunque National Forest stick to the roadside pullovers immediately adjacent to waterfalls and other attractions. El Toro Trail sees few visitors despite being a moderate, well-marked 2.2-mile journey to the forest’s highest point. Wear long pants and shoes you don’t mind getting caked in mud. As for the vista, allow time to sit and enjoy the clouds rolling in.

The Sandy Cruz Trail, Saba

A visit to Saba, a satellite island of St. Maarten, is all about the cloud forest. Wait for a day when the fog has subsided around Mount Scenery, then set off on this hike. Before you go, grab a trail map from The Trail Shop at the foot of the mountain—the attendants will also keep tabs on your return. This moderate hike is the best pick for those who want to see a diversity of flora and fauna. The trail winds past banana tree groves and dense cloud forest dotted with a rainbow of orchids, and opens up to a vista overlooking the island’s airport runway, one of the world’s shortest and most adrenaline inducing.

Victoria Falls Hike, Dominica

Lose the hiking boots in favor of Tevas or similar water-ready shoes as you’ll wade across a river several times. The path can be tricky to keep track of on your own, so it’s a good idea to hire a guide for the day. Jenner Robinson of JennTours is a good pick. He’s from Dominica and has a knack for pointing out the birds of the canopy. As for the 45-minute climb, the incline isn’t too great; the challenge is staying stable atop wet rocks. But the reward is lovely. You’ll likely be the only ones admiring the 165-foot cascade of Victoria Falls.

Mount Qua Qua Trail, Grenada

Grenada is a wonderland for hikers and birders alike. The rainforest around Grand Etang Lake—what’s become of the former volcano—is home to mona monkeys, broad-winged hawks, Lesser Antillean swifts and tons of tiny frogs. A moderate pick is the Mount Qua Qua Trail, a 90-minute cruise past the lake, the elfin mountain forests and a host of canopy critters.

The Quill, St. Eustatius

It’s the jungle-covered volcanic cone that dominates the skyline from points across this small island, and it’s a gorgeous hike. The 50-minute uphill jaunt known as the Quill Trail is Statia’s most popular hike as it offers direct access to an overlook of the crater bowl. If you want to keep going, you can connect to the Crater Trail for a 90-minute circuit of the volcano’s rainforest-covered inner crater. Boven National Park also maps six other trails, all great for spying fauna like red-bellied racer snakes, Antillean iguanas, hummingbirds and more.

Nevis Peak Hike, Nevis

Steep and slippery, this hike is one worth doing with a guide, such as Lynell Liburd of Sunrise Tours. The 3,000-foot incline takes two hours to scale and two hours to pick your way down—and none of the locals call it hiking. It’s more about finding footing and grabbing hold of roots to gain ground. If it’s a clear day, you score a view of the island’s Atlantic side. Otherwise, it’s just a really satisfying workout.

 

Curacao, Willemstad
Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Caribbean, Curacao, Grenada, Plan, Puerto Rico, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Trip Ideas

7 Colorful Caribbean Harbors

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Caribbean harbors have an energy all their own. In contrast to the busy industrial ports of the world, they offer a more intimate take on nautical customs. Colorful cargoes and passengers arrive and depart on diminutive island freighters and vintage ferries. Historic waterfronts are filled with the energy of commerce, but also populated by the merely curious, who come to stroll the docks, ogle the yachts and see what treasures an incoming mail boat might disgorge. Here are seven of our favorites.

Carenage, Grenada
Caribbean, Grenada, Plan, Trip Ideas

Grenada: 10 Reasons to Go

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The Spice Island appeals to outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Grenada’s lush mountainous terrain and tropical wildlife attract the nature lover in all of us. For those preferring to remain at sea level, there are 300-year-old churches and colonial buildings to marvel at in St. George’s, while Fort Frederick and Fort George will surely please the ardent history buff.

1  Room with a View

Some say the best panoramic views of the picturesque harbor of St. George’s are seen from the jail, the hospital and the cemetery. No kidding. A hike or ride up any hillside road will offer a peek between the buildings, unveiling the scenic image of red roofs against the cool blue Caribbean Sea.

2  Hiking

One-sixth of Grenada is designated for parks and natural wildlife preserves. Hiking trails for all levels lead to six named waterfalls, cool streams, warm sulphur springs and crater lakes formed from extinct volcanoes, all are centrally located within the rainforest. Finding your way to many of these sites requires the services of a local guide.

3  Entry to the Tobago Cays

The Grenadines are a collection of 600 small islands located between Grenada and St. Vincent. The Tobago Cays, known as one of the prettiest places on earth, consists of five uninhabited islands that lie within the Grenadines. Sailors from around the world come to Grenada to charter boats or join day trips heading to these idyllic waters, which were designated as a wildlife preserve in 2006.

4  A Look Back

Movie buffs with a penchant for vintage films will appreciate the scenes from the 1957 screen play Island in the Sun, starring James Mason, Harry Belafonte and Joan Fontaine, when they visit Grenada. Much of the island still looks as it did decades ago.

5  Three Islands, One Nation

Grenada, the nation, is actually three islands. Big sister Grenada gets all the glory and has the posh resorts, the trendy restaurants and most of the visitors. For a step back in time visit Carriacou and tiny Petite Martinique. Board the Osprey Lines’ ferry for a beach day on Carriacou or head on to Petite Martinique to totally escape the modern world.

6  Spice Cabinet

The island’s air is redolent with the subtle scent of spices. This is your chance to stock your kitchen with a supply of nutmeg, mace, cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon before heading home. Packets, baskets and jars of spices are found at the market in St. George’s and at many roadside stands.

7  Wrecking Havoc

From cargo ships and fishing boats to navy minesweepers, a varied collection of shipwrecks ready for dive exploration lies at the bottom of the sea off Grenada and Carriacou. Scuba divers and snorkelers will also find an expansive array of reefs to enjoy off both islands and a selection of dive operators to help with arrangements. Advanced divers and those accustomed to currents have the opportunity for a day trip to Isle de Rhonde, a group of tiny volcanic islands between Grenada and Carriacou.

8  Charcoal Sands

Grenada is blessed with a lineup of gorgeous white sand beaches, and a handful of strands with glistening black grains. With a little exploration and a hike from the main road, you can find the secluded, stunning grey stretches of Petit Bacaye Beach and Black Bay Beach.

9  Festivals

While the main island of Grenada has its share of celebratory festivities, its little sister Carriacou hosts some of the most unique parties in the region. In August the Carriacou Regatta draws crowds, in March Carnival explodes on the island, and in April the Maroon Festival rocks music lovers. The Christmas season brings the Parang Festival, a celebration based on the past custom of strolling serenaders caroling from village to village. The concerts and dances are held indoors nowadays but the event is still a welcome holiday tradition.

10  The Big Lake

Lakes on Caribbean islands are unusual, and Grenada has two. Both Lake Antonine and Grande Etang Lake were formed by volcanic craters. The latter is a 36-acre pool in the midst of the rainforest of the Grand Etang National Park, where a hike around its rim takes you through lush flora and over crushed nutmeg husks. Trek in deeper among towering mahogany and giant gommier trees draped in rare orchids and bromeliads for a chance to see the broad-winged hawk, Antillean crested hummingbird and the mona monkey.