Tag Archives: Play

Florida Keys Sunset Kayaking
Florida, Florida Keys, Play, Trip Ideas

Sunset Kayaking in the Florida Keys

Leave a comment

 

An evening paddle in the Lower Florida Keys promises sensational sunset viewing and an opportunity to get up close with nature. You won’t find a more prime spot than on the tranquil water flowing under the No Name Key bridge, a few strokes from Big Pine Key Adventures’ launch at the Old Wooden Bridge Fish Camp on Big Pine Key. Choose a red, yellow or blue kayak, strap on a vest and push off into the shallow waters on the edge of Boggie Channel. From here, you can go east toward the Atlantic Ocean or west into the Gulf of Mexico. You can also paddle across the channel to No Name Key’s shore for a close up look at the red mangrove’s prop roots and water fowl foraging at dusk.

More experienced kayakers can explore on their own with a self-guided kayak chart that’s provided. Those looking for a tour can join Capt. Bill Keogh, his dog Scupper and fellow kayakers for the sunset paddle. A naturalist guide and professional photographer, Keogh has been paddling these waters for more than two decades. He can answer all your questions about the long-legged egrets and great white herons that frequent the Florida Keys and the majestic ospreys soaring above, as well as the sea grass waving below and the fish flitting through it. And if the sunset tour leaves you eager to travel more of the waterways, Big Pine Kayak Adventures also offers kayak fishing and backcountry tours.

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

Leave a comment

 

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.

 

Dominica, Trafalgar Falls
Caribbean, Dominica, Play, Trip Ideas

Caribbean Cascades: Trafalgar Falls, Dominica

Leave a comment

 

Dominica’s towering peaks harvest abundant rainfall from clouds that form when easterly trade winds contact the slopes. This precipitation creates an abundance of tumbling streams and waterfalls, and the island boasts more than a dozen significant cataracts in all. Trafalgar Falls is a favorite, not only for scenic charm, but also accessibility. Located within the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an easy 10-minute walk from a parking area. The path winds through lush foliage and beds of giant ferns to a viewing platform overlooking the falls. There are two drops. The upper fall, nicknamed “The Father,” plunges down a boulder-strewn ravine where warm sulfur waters bubble up to create natural hot pools in the waterway below. Just a few yards farther along, the waters take a second and even more dramatic plunge over the lower falls, known as “The Mother.”

An aquamarine pool at the base of this drop is a favorite with swimmers who make the scramble down from the viewing area over a collection of giant boulders. As one of Dominica’s leading attractions, Trafalgar Falls is a favorite day trip for cruise ship passengers. If you are staying on island, you might want to visit later in the afternoon, after the shuttle buses have packed up. By then, there’s a good chance you’ll have the falls and the hot pools to yourself, and if you linger till dusk, the fireflies come out to light the jungle.

Grand Cayman North Sound
Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Play, Trip Ideas

Best Caribbean Islands for Water Sports

Leave a comment

 

Which destinations have the best water sports will likely remain a subject of endless debate among aficionados of diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding and fishing. Every island has something to offer. Some provide the best conditions for one sport, but may not be well suited to another. And then there are the islands that deliver a bit of everything, from wind and waves to calm, clear shores, along with the necessary infrastructure to support these aquatic pursuits. If you are looking to sample a broad range of on- the-water adventures, here are the islands that deliver on multiple fronts.

Grand Cayman

It’s hard for one island to please everyone looking to get wet and have fun. Divers want clear water and calm seas. Sailors want wind; big game fishermen need access to deep water. If there is one island in the Caribbean that can please the widest variety of water-sports enthusiasts, it is Grand Cayman. World famous for its precipitous underwater walls, it remains one of the prime diving destinations in the Caribbean. But that’s just the beginning. The expansive bay known as North Sound is an aquatic playground. Kayakers cruise the mangrove-fringed corners, while fly fishermen tempt tarpon and bonefish on nearby flats. Day sailors zip across the breezy yet protected waters of the sound, while closer to the wave-washed northern edge, windsurfers and kiteboarders carve and hop in the chop. From marinas daily fishing expeditions depart into the blue waters beyond, while the Seven Mile Beach, on the island’s western leeward shore, is perfect for flat water pursuits such as stand-up paddleboarding, glass-bottom boat tours and waterski runs.

Cayman Windsurfing, Best Caribbean Islands for Water Sports

A windsurfer skims across clear waters along the north coast of Grand Cayman Island. An offshore reef beyond the sandy shallows provides a buffer from large offshore swells. Photo: Cayman Windsurfing

Cozumel

It was Jacques Cousteau who kicked off the Caribbean diving craze with his 1961 declaration that Cozumel was one of the best diving destinations on Earth. And he was right. The island, which sits at the northern end of the massive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, is blessed with a magical combination of clear water, spectacular reefs and abundant marine life. Along the island’s sheltered western shore, a sloping bottom leads to enormous reefs towering up off the sand. The structures are washed by a steady north-flowing current that delivers a stream of nutrients that leave the filter-feeding creatures of the reef—corals, sponges, and gorgonians—very, very happy. It also keeps the ocean clear, and this was the place where divers first spoke of “gin clear” water. It’s so clear that light that usually fades to dusky blue at 60 feet is still clear and bright at 100 feet or more. In the deep blue waters beyond, there’s also excellent fishing, and each spring sees an international cast of anglers arrive to do battle with plentiful populations of high-flying sailfish. Angling action also extends to the reef and into the mangroves where feisty bonefish play hide and seek with your fly all day long. When conditions are right, explorers can hop a speedboat for a run to the island’s wild east side, or remain on the sheltered west and discover the shoreline in a kayak, or launch a catamaran into the mellow breezes that grace western beaches.

Cozumel Underwater

A school of yellow grunts congregate over a shallow reef off the island of Cozumel. Steady currents wash sites such as this, nurturing coral and sponge growth. Photo: Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock

Dominican Republic

Good diving and snorkeling can be found in the Dominican Republic, especially in the south around Catalina Island, but the real water-sports action is on the north coast at Cabarete. This is a world mecca for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Strong and consistent winds blow into the bay, while an offshore barrier reef breaks up the prevailing swells and creates surfable and jumpable breakers for the more advanced, as well as sheltered nearshore areas for beginners. Kiting is best just northwest of Cabarete, and scores of operators are eager to hook you up with gear, lessons, advice, whatever you need. There are dive sites nearby, including some awesome pinnacles, but the wind, waves and runoff limit the appeal. Around the corner and down the coast to the south at Punta Cana you’ll find superb deep-sea fishing. The area faces right into the Mona Passage between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, with deep water not far offshore. Blue marlin run year round, peaking in the summer months, and you can chase white marlin, mahimahi, tuna and sailfish too.

Dominican Republic Kiteboarding

Steady easterly trade winds power a fleet of kiteboarders at popular Cabarete Beach. Located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, this site has become a mecca for the sport. Photo: iStock

Bahamas, Exumas Staniel Cay pigs
Bahamas, Bahamas-Out Islands, Caribbean, Play, Trip Ideas

Swimming With Pigs in the Bahamas

Leave a comment

 

There’s no better way to explore the Bahamian Out Islands known as the Exuma Cays than by boat. This string of small islands, reefs and sandbars stretches some 120 miles through the central Bahamas. Midway down the archipelago is the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a resort and marina that can serve as a launching point for a unique wildlife encounter. Get your camera ready because the selfies are too funny.

During my visit to Staniel Cay, the staff set us up with a Boston Whaler launch and a waterproof map with directions to where the wild things are: in this case, pigs, nurse sharks and iguanas. You don’t need to whistle, call or brandish tempting foodstuffs to get the wild pigs of Big Major Cay to approach. All you need to do is anchor a boat within swimming range of the beach. The pigs are fast. The six of us on this day trip haven’t even fully removed our lens caps or entered the water before the animals are a couple of yards away. And they’re huge. You don’t have to bend over to rub a hand across their hides—each stands roughly 3 feet tall.

Local lore has it that these pigs, or rather, their pig parents, have been living on this beach since World War II, when enterprising islanders stashed them here for safekeeping. A bacon reserve, if you will. Only, whoever left them here never claimed them post amnesty. Instead, they’ve run, well, hog wild, subsisting on forage and the kindness of picnic-toting tourists. Which explains why they’re not big on personal space. I near one for a picture and it raises its donut-size snout to inspect my face. It bowls into me, making me step back to keep from getting a soaking. Every time I reach down for a pat, it hefts its snout against my palm, presumably sniffing for crumbs. This one definitely thinks I’m holding out.

We’re surrounded by three pigs—one a downy pink, and the others spotted with patches of chocolate brown and black. Their hair is wiry and sparse, like petting a hairbrush. I’m not sure which is more amusing: how physical the pigs are in trying to get to know us, or how unsuccessful my friends are in trying to take selfies with these animals. They have an in-your-face energy, nosing too far into the frame.

And the beach! This is easily one of the most stunning patches of white sand in the Caribbean—the kind the Exumas are known for—and it’s the playground of pigs. From this spot, we motor north to Compass Cay Marina. Under the dock is a school of dozens of nurse sharks. They make me happy; I’ve toted along snorkel gear. It’s unreal to swim among so many sharks in just 12 feet of water.

Before the day ends, the last stop for animal viewing is Bitter Guana Cay. Here, the northern Bahamian rock iguanas appear in packs. They waddle through the sand, hefting big bellies, so clearly they’re doing well. To snap their pictures, we stay low to the ground and approach slowly to avoid spooking them. Unlike with the pigs, these tiny Godzillas make it much harder to score a selfie. So instead, we settle in and simply watch the wildlife watching us.

Utila, Honduras
Central America, Honduras, Play, Trip Ideas

Into The Blue: Best Snorkel Sites in Honduras

Leave a comment

 

In the Caribbean waters just off the Honduran coast lies the start of the world’s second-longest barrier reef. Sitting atop the outer edge of this reef is a collection of tropical islands ringed by coral gardens that teem with fish life. Scuba divers have long known about these underwater marvels and consider the Honduran Bay Islands to be one of the prime diving destinations in the hemisphere. The deeper edges of the island drop-offs may be reserved for divers, but snorkelers aren’t slighted either. Many of these same reefs begin near the shore and close to the surface. These are the places where you can best experience Honduras’ underwater riches with mask and snorkel.

Honduras Fish, Best Snorkel Sites in Honduras

A school of colorful creale fish swarm a formation of thin leaf lettuce coral. This is typical of what snorkelers will discover on the shallow reefs of the Bay Islands. Photo: John A. Anderson/Shutterstock

Guanaja

The easternmost member of the Bay Islands group, Guanaja is also the least developed. Most around-island travel happens by water taxi rather than road, and the primary settlement, Bonica Town, is a community perched on a tiny dollop of land in the center of a lagoon. Shoreside resorts tend to be small family-run affairs, and several of these properties sit beachside, making it possible to wade out and discover patch reefs and schooling fish in the clear waters. A string of small cays on the island’s south side is just a short distance from the edge of underwater cliffs that rise to within 15 feet of the surface. A quick boat ride or a long swim brings snorkelers to these underwater walls, where they can watch reef fish flit across the colorful shallows, or glide out over the edge of the deeper blue abyss to look for passing eagle rays and possibly dolphin. For an escape from the ordinary, head to tiny Half Moon Cay and the intimate resort known as Graham’s Place, which occupies a palm-covered slice of beach, with the barrier reef just a stone’s throw away.

Honduras Underwater

This group of pillar coral, found on a shallow reef in Honduras’ Bay Islands, resembles hands emerging from the sea floor. The fuzzy surfaces are actually coral polyps feeding. Photo: Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock

Roatán

Roatán, the largest of the Bay Islands, has long been a magnet for the backpacking crowd, but it’s also home to several upscale beach resorts. Because the island is almost entirely ringed by coral reefs, finding a suitable snorkel site is mainly a matter of gaining beach access. The easiest place to do so is at West Bay Beach, which as the name suggests, sits at the island’s western tip. The sandy shallows are favorites with turtles, while a 200-foot swim takes you to a coral wall on the edge of the deep. Nearby Half Moon Bay is another popular spot for shore entries and home to beachfront restaurants where you can savor fresh seafood and a cold cerveza afterwards. Sign up for a boat trip and you’ll open up a whole new realm of possibilities, including sites such as the Valley of the Kings, where vertical walls drop hundreds of feet from the reef top, or secluded Pigeon Cay, where groves of elkhorn coral sit just off a white sand beach. Several resorts along the island’s southern coast overlook nearby shallow reefs. One of the best is Fantasy Island Beach Resort, which occupies a small wooded island connected by a causeway, with a private beach delivering great snorkeling and a marina close by for boat trips.

Roatan, Half Moon Bay ,Honduras

A view of Roatán Island’s Half Moon Bay and West End town. Snorkelers can enter from beach or docks and swim across grass beds to a coral reef at the outer edge of the bay. Photo: Devon Stephens/iStock

Utila

If you’ve found your way to Utila, it’s probably either to drop off the radar or to go scuba diving and snorkeling. If you are staying at one of several resorts along the south shore, you can swim right out from the beach and explore a range of shallow sand flats and patch reefs, or continue a bit farther to the edge of the drop-off. It’s also possible to gain access to prime sites at points along Chepes Beach, or near the Blue Bayou Beach House. If you opt for a boat trip, you can spend a day at idyllic Water Cay or gain access to the north shore, where oceanic fish patrol the underwater walls, and there is the promise, but no guarantee, of meeting up with a whale shark. Encounters with these massive yet harmless behemoths are limited to surface swims, so snorkelers actually have an advantage over scuba divers in these cases. The premier property on the island’s south shore is the Laguna Beach Resort, which is built on an isolated spit of land, with waterfront bungalows overlooking the lagoon and a prime snorkel reef just out front.

Utila, Honduras

The only development on Utila Island is along the south-central coastline, where a single beachfront settlement and several small resorts overlook sandy shallows. Photo: Dennis Sabo/Shutterstock

best horseback riding in the caribbean
Bahamas, Bahamas-Grand Bahama Island, Barbados, Bermuda, Caribbean, Jamaica, Nevis, Play, Puerto Rico, Trip Ideas

Horseback Riding in the Caribbean

Leave a comment

 

It’s one of those images that come easily when you daydream: galloping along a palm- fringed tropical beach astride a spirited horse, and perhaps plunging into the surf to wash away any hint of the worldly cares you left behind. A number of locations throughout the Caribbean can turn this dream into reality. You’ll find a range of adventures suitable for riders of all skill levels, from first-timer to equine expert. We have selected six rides that provide not only the best scenery and most magnificent beaches, but also the best overall vacation experience.

Bahamas

No crowds and more beach time. That’s the promise at Trikk Pony Stables on Grand Bahama Island. This family-owned business is located on the island’s south-central coast, where unspoiled and unsettled beaches stretch for miles. Tours follow a short trail that leads through pine forest and scrub right onto a powder-sand beach. The next hour is spent along the shoreline either dry, splashing or soaking wet, according to the rider’s preference, as the horses are up for anything. As an option, a beachfront picnic can be added at the end of the ride, and the company also offers sunset excursions that are limited to four riders or less. The stables provide pickup service from a number of hotels in the Freeport area. Two of our favorites are the Pelican Bay at Lucaya and the Grand Lucayan.

Grand Bahama Island Horseback Riding, Horseback riding in the caribbean

Grand Bahama has miles of undeveloped white beaches to explore. Operators such as Trikk Pony allow riders to splash in the shallows or guide their mounts deeper for a swim. Photo: Grand Bahama Island

Bermuda

For a break from taxi and moped, head to Spicelands Equestrian Centre in Bermuda’s Warwick Parish. Rides begin along the Railway Trail, which follows the right of way of the short-lived rail line that once ran from Somerset to St. George’s. The route then moves to the south shore and across a series of scenic beaches, dunes and coves en route to serendipitously named Horseshoe Bay. Bermuda law allows horses to splash and swim on the beaches at any time during the months from November to March, but only before 8:30 a.m. the other months of the year, so those wanting a summertime swim will need to book the earliest ride of the day. Spicelands is a full-service equestrian center, offering lessons and additional trail riding options. The most convenient hotel to the stables is The Fairmont Southampton, which is less than two miles away.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is horse county and home to the genteel-gated Paso Fino breed. Numerous trail rides are offered in the forests and fields across the island. The one that best brings surf and sand into the equation takes place on the beaches near the town of Isabela, on the island’s northwest coast. Tropical Trail Rides provides a two-hour circuit that begins with a visit to Shacks Beach, allows a bit of time to dismount and swim or explore by foot while horses and backsides take a break. The route then moves inland, climbing the bluffs and passing through an almond tree forest on the way home. Both morning and afternoon rides are offered, and the latter often takes in a sunset view. There are a handful of modest beachfront hotels near Isabela, but most vacationers staying in this part of the coast will look towards nearby Rincon, and more charming properties such as the Dos Angeles del Mar Guesthouse.

Puerto Rico Horseback Riding

In addition to the beach rides staged on Puerto Rico’s west coast, a number of operators offer rainforest and mountain trail rides at points across the island. Photo: Carabali Rainforest Park

Barbados

Location is everything, and this certainly holds true for Ocean Echo Stables, which is located in the small town of Newcastle, on Barbados’ wilder eastern coast. Far removed from the resort zones to the west, riders have miles of wooded trails, fields and surf- washed beaches to explore, with trade winds sweeping in from the east to provide refreshment. A range of rides for all levels is offered, starting with an hour-long excursion to Bath Beach that is suitable for novices. Experienced riders can also opt for two- and three-hour trail rides that venture farther up the coast along trails, beaches and cart roads, with vistas that include the looming backdrop of a thousand-foot-tall sea cliff. For those looking to stay nearby, The Atlantis Hotel offers a unique alternative to the island’s typical west coast beachfront lodging.

Jamaica

Horses and seawater mix at several locations along Jamaica’s northern shore, and a number of rides begin within an easy drive from resorts in the Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Montego Bay and Negril areas. One of the island’s favorite and original ride-and-swims takes place about 20 miles east of Montego Bay. The adventure starts on backcountry trails that lead through the farming village of Pumpkin Bottom and the remains of an 18th century sugar plantation, then emerge on to Sandy Bay, where riders who are up for getting wet can swim their mounts out into the clear waters. This swimming tradition actually began when trainers at the nearby Chukka Blue Polo Club would take the ponies for a cool down in the water following a workout session. The club also provided the inspiration for the outfitter, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, which hosts the rides. If you want to stay fairly close to the ponies, but away from the crowds, an excellent option is the Round Hill Hotel and Villas.

Jamaica Horseback Riding

Riders cross a remote beach on Jamaica’s north coast. The island’s landscape provides routes that follow wooded paths, open meadow and, of course, the shore. Photo: Julian Love/Jamaica Tourist Board

Nevis

Nevis is an ideal island for escaping the crowds and discovering the simpler, friendlier side of the Caribbean. And so it’s fitting that the island’s premier stables is equally accommodating, providing horseback adventures for everyone. Children as young as six are welcome to join the beachfront rides organized by Nevis Equestrian Center, with routes that can be tailored to the capabilities and interests of the group. The most popular tour takes riders past historic sites that include forts, churches, sugar mills and once- grand estates, then to a quiet beach, followed by a climb to the highlands to admire the view. Sunset beach rides and more extensive cross-island rides are also offered. The stables are located on the west coast, quite near to Nevis’ premier resort property, the Four Seasons Nevis.

Hawaii Snorkeling
Hawaii, Hawaii-Big Island, Play, Trip Ideas

Into the Blue: Favorite Snorkel Sites on the Island of Hawaii

Leave a comment

 

If you are on the island of Hawaii and want to don mask and fins for a bit of fish watching, your best bet is to head west. The island’s central-west coast sits in the wind shadow of two towering volcanoes–Mauna Lao and Mauna Kea, so there’s no river runoff to cloud the water and the shore is also sheltered from the prevailing swells that wash the eastern side. With much of the coast covered in lava rock, entry points can be a bit more demanding than on sandy beaches. But there are a number of popular and very scenic reefs that can be reached safely and easily from shore, or by tour boat. Here are four of our favorites.

Kahaluu Beach Park

Located just south of the town of Kailua-Kona, this waterfront park provides not only great snorkeling, but also convenient access. The parking area is close to an entry point where snorkelers can wade in from a sandy area rather than over sharp rocks, and there are lifeguards on duty. The park also provides showers, bathrooms and picnic pavilions. The cove is surrounded by rocky shallows, and there are usually large numbers of tropical species to be seen. Depths are generally less than 10 feet, which means there is more color to the reefs when sunlight penetrates and more chance of getting up close to the sea life.

Kahaluu Beach Park, Favorite Snorkel Sites on the Island of Hawaii

When seas are calm, snorkelers can discover snorkel-worthy sites along many Big Island beaches with rock outcroppings. Corals grow on these hard surfaces, attracting fish life. Photo: iStock

Honaunau Bay

Some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii can be found in the waters of Honaunau Bay, adjacent to Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. Snorkeling is not allowed in the park itself, but just to the north, there is an access point where two flat rock ledges provide safe entry into the clear waters of the bay. These rocks give the site its local nickname “two-steps,” and it is also referred to as the Place of Refuge. Whatever it’s called, this site is not to be missed, as its coral formations and rocks hold a wealth of tropical fish, sea turtles and the chance of a swim-by from spinner dolphin. The site is popular, but there is usually ample parking. Several tour operators also offer water access aboard smaller, raft-life vessels.

Hawaii Snorkeling

The reefs and coastal waters of Hawaii are home to more than a thousand species of fish. Some are found throughout the Pacific, but more than 300 are native only to these islands. Photo: iStock

Kealakekua Bay

The waters of the Kealakekua Bay Marine Reserve are rich in fish life and colorful corals, and there are extensive shallow areas suitable for snorkeling. But if you are planning to wade into this marine preserve from shore, you’d better pack some sturdy shoes and extra drinking water, because reaching the entry point requires a hike of 45 minutes or more across loose lava rocks. A better option is to come by boat. Several tour companies are licensed to lead kayak tours into the reserve, and more provide half-day and full-day snorkeling and water-sports cruises aboard power launches and sailing catamarans. To enjoy some personal water space, book with one of the smaller operators, lest you find yourself in the water with 50 other swimmers.

An overhead view of Kealakekua Bay.

An overhead view of Kealakekua Bay. Reaching this rocky shore by foot requires a difficult hike, but fortunately, a number of tour operators provide boat charters. Photo: iStock

Mauna Kea Bay

The beach at Mauna Kea Bay is often cited as one of Hawaii’s most scenic. It is certainly one of the most serene. Public access is regulated by the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, which allows just 25 non-guest cars in the parking lot each day. The reward for arriving early is a spot on this quiet beach and a chance to snorkel in its sparkling waters. When swells are not present, the gently sloping sand shallows are ideal for youngsters just getting their sea legs. More serious fish watchers can follow the rocky shoreline out to the point beyond the hotel, where corals grow among the lava rocks, and fish flit in the sunlight.

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is one of the most beautiful snorkeling beaches in Hawaii. Come early to secure one of the limited number of parking spaces that guarantee beach access. Photo: Stephan Hoerold/iStock

 

 

 

Florida Keys Seaplane
Florida, Florida Keys, Key West, Play, Trip Ideas

Florida Keys Seaplane Adventures

1 Comment

 

Once you view the Florida Keys from the window of a seaplane, it’s easy to believe that’s how the beauty of the tropical archipelago is truly meant to be appreciated. Taking in the palm tree-covered islands, the bridges that connect them and the emerald water that surrounds them from about 500 feet up is enough to impart a sensory overload of jaw- dropping scenery. Throw in a pillow-soft landing on the water and a picnic lunch on one of the uninhabited islands and you have a travel experience that will stand out in your mind forever.

Florida Keys Aerial, Florida Keys Seaplane Adventures

More than 1,700 islands make up the Florida Keys, including uninhabited spits of land and mangroves that look like fuzzy green puzzle pieces from the air. Photo: Robert Zehetmayer/iStock

Julie Ann Floyd and Nikali Pontecorvo of Key West Seaplanes (keywestseaplanes.com) help make these kinds of memories for guests every day. The duo owns and operates three luxury seaplanes in which they take travelers on island adventures throughout the Keys and beyond. “We’re taking seaplane travel to the next level,” says Floyd, “where everything is nice and comfortable.” One of their newest seaplanes, customized with extra-long wing tips and power modifications to the engine make for a smoother and safer ride, was named grand champion at the Sun-N-Fun air show in 2012, and the latest addition to the fleet was built to the same specifications.

Flights they offer range from 30-minute aerial tours of Key West, where you’ll get an amazing overview of the island and see sights like the Southernmost Point, Fort Zachary Taylor and Christmas Tree Island, to day-long island-hopping tours of the Keys. The amphibious planes can land at uninhabited islands for the ultimate private getaway or pull up at a dock for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Little Palm Island or the Moorings resorts, or anywhere in Islamorada, Key Largo and Ocean Reef, among other destinations. “When you come in by seaplane,” Floyd adds, “people know you’ve arrived.” Along the way you’ll buzz by iconic Keys landmarks like the Seven Mile Bridge and the Alligator Reef Lighthouse from a perspective few ever encounter. Passengers even spot dolphins, sea turtles and other sea life in the crystal-clear water below.

Want to go on a more international trip? No problem (as long as you have a passport). Key West Seaplanes picks up travelers in any city or any suitable body of water in the Keys or mainland Florida, and can head out for day trips to the Bahamas, including destinations like Bimini, Nassau, Freeport and Paradise Island. However long your flight or where your destination, the views alone will help make it the flight of a lifetime.

Key West Aerial

An aerial view of Key West with the Florida Keys in the distance. Key West is just 90 miles from Cuba. Photo: Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau

Aruba underwater
Aruba, Bonaire, Caribbean, Curacao, Play, Trip Ideas

The ABCs of Snorkeling

Leave a comment

 

The Caribbean’s ABC Islands-Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao-lack the lush greenery of the windward chain, and instead offer arid interiors where cacti thrive. This is not only good news for sun worshipers, who seldom have to dodge rain clouds, but also for snorkelers, who will find coastal waters unsullied by runoff from rivers and streams. Combine this clarity with underwater topographies that place coral reefs close to shore, and you have the makings of ideal snorkel destinations.

Aruba

If you just fin out from a resort along Palm Beach, you might not think Aruba has much to offer the snorkeler. Finding the island’s more scenic reefs and clearest water will require a bit of travel, either by car or boat. On the island’s northwest corner, the calm waters just offshore of Arashi Beach and Boca Catalina hold colorful schools of fish and are a favorite destination for tour boats. The shores are accessible by rental car or taxi, though reaching the reefs from shore requires one to negotiate coral rubble and rocks in the shallows. Adjacent Malmok Beach offers similar conditions and fewer people. South of the hotel zone, Renaissance Island provides guests of the namesake resort with access to a private island for snorkeling and sunning. Also worth checking out is De Palm Island, which offers an all- inclusive day at their beach club that includes the use of snorkeling gear, instruction and a lunch buffet. Driving or taxiing towards San Nicolas will yield more sites that are accessible from shore, including Savant Beach, and sheltered Baby Beach, a favorite with families and novices. A stay at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino gives first-timers a protected cove to hone their skills, along with exclusive access to the resort’s private island.

Aruba Snorkeling, the ABCs of Snorkeling

Favorite destinations for snorkel excursions by boat or from the beach are the reefs off Arashi Beach and the California Lighthouse on Aruba’s calm northwest corner. Photo: Aruba Tourist Authority

Bonaire

This quiet island’s nickname is “Diver’s Paradise,” but the same clear waters and nearshore reefs scuba enthusiasts crave are also ideal for snorkeling. Along Bonaire’s sheltered western shore, the reefs begin mere feet from land. Entries can be made directly from one of the waterfront resorts, or at any shoreside parking spot along the coast road where a painted yellow rock marks a dive or snorkeling site. Signature mid-island sites include Karpata and Thousand Steps, where coral growth encroaches on the ironshore. Some of the most colorful and extensive shallows are also found at sites south of the Salt Pier. A number of the dive resorts offer boat trips to more remote reefs to the north and around the desert island of Kline Bonaire. There are several diver-centric resorts perched on low bluffs just north of the town of Kralendijk where one can plunge in from a dockside ladder. If you want a more complete resort experience along with a sand beach, try Harbour Village or the Plaza Beach Resort.

Bonaire Snorkeling

Snorkelers at Bonaire’s Thousand Steps, a site where coral reefs begin just yards from shore and slope gently into the depths. There are actually only 65 stone stairs to descend. Photo: Walt Stearns

Curacao

Curacao’s southern coast creates shelter from the region’s prevailing trade winds, providing calm shallows that nurture colorful arrays of hard and soft corals. One of the island’s most popular snorkeling sites is Caracas Bay, where the remains of a small tugboat sit in shallow water near a coral garden, and the broken pilings of an old pier provide additional opportunities for fish watching. Several charter companies offer boat trips to this site, or you can create a self-guided tour by wading in from the shore. For more snorkeling adventures, rent a car and head to the central and western sections of the coast, which is punctuated by a number of snorkel-worthy bays. Many have beachfront eateries or parks where you can rinse off afterward and enjoy a libation. Stay at one of the waterfront resorts east of Willemstad, such as Sunscape Curacao Resort, Spa & Casino or the Royal Sea Aquarium, and you’ll have walking access to the Curacao Sea Aquarium and the island’s favorite sandy strand, Mambo Beach.

Curacao Caracas Bay snorkeling

The tugboat wreck sits in the shallow waters of Curacao’s Caracas Bay. This is one of the island’s signature snorkel sites, accessible either by boat or from the shore. Photo: Curacao Tourist Board

 COMPARE RATES FOR THESE HOTELS