Tag Archives: St. Croix

Caribbean, Plan, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. Croix: 10 Reasons To Go

June 16, 2014

1 Coral Wonderland

One of the Caribbean’s finest coral gardens lies just offshore of St. Croix. Buck Island Reef National Monument is a protected underwater park that’s part of the U.S. National Park Service. The 176-acre island is fringed by a 704-acre reef system rich with elkhorn coral groves that form interlacing channels and sun-dappled grottoes alive with colorful tropical fish and waving sea fans. Interpretive plaques identify the various types of coral, the marine habitats and the fish that swim by. Directional arrows lead the way through the coral maze. Topside, the sandy shores of Turtle Beach double as a nesting area for hawksbill turtles and a rookery for frigates and brown pelicans. Hike the nature trail to the crest of the hill for panoramic water views, then back to the sandy shores and throw down a towel for some time in the sun.

2 The Way It Was

Take a trip back in time at the seven-acre waterfront of Christiansted’s National Historic Site, which still resembles a Danish seaside town of the 18th or 19th century. Here, a collection of five sun-dipped historic buildings remain intact and ready for inspection. Fort Christiansvaern guards the harbor, complete with dungeons, ramparts and cannons. The nearby Scale House once regulated trade and collected duties for the crown, while the namesake spire of the Steeple Building guided mariners into port. Both are open for self-guided tours. Also not to be missed are the Danish Custom House and the Danish West India & Guinea Company Warehouse, which now doubles as a courthouse and post office.

3 Sunset and All That Jazz

Sunset views and jazz come together on the third Friday of each month in the seaside town of Frederiksted on the island’s southwest coast. Rebuilt after a massive fire in 1878, the town shows off its Victorian architecture with gingerbread-laced front porches wrapped in purple bougainvillea. Gather up your friends and family, some blankets and lawn chairs and find your spot at Frederiksted Beach just north of the pier. Local and international jazz musicians begin playing at 5:30 p.m. and continue on until sunset.

4 Footsteps of Columbus

Columbus landed at Salt River in 1493 while looking for freshwater deposits, and instead found the not-so-friendly Caribe Indians. Today Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is explored by a different type of adventurer; kayakers paddle around mangrove forests and over coral reefs that are home to many rare and endangered species. If you are lucky, you might spot a hawksbill turtle or the roseate terns that roost here. Take a moonlight guided tour and watch the water light up with bioluminescence.

5 A Reason to Party

In addition to the island’s annual winter Carnival, The town of Christiansted blocks the streets four times a year for Jump Up, a cultural festival that’s a celebration of food, dance and music. Mocko Jumbies, traditional stilt dancers that ward off evil, parade through the streets while shops and restaurants stay open late. Vendors set up stalls along the boardwalk and sell local cuisine, artwork and jewelry while the music of the steel drum lingers in the background.

6 No Passport and Duty-Free

Direct flights from the East Coast and no passport or visa requirements for U.S. citizens make a quick weekend getaway easy. Pack light and add to your collection of tropical wear while you are there. U.S. citizens can bring back up $1,600 in duty-free goods without paying an import tariff, and locally made items like artwork, jewelry and clothing are also free of sales tax. Both Cruzan Rum and Captain Morgan’s Rum are island-made, so plan on stocking up the liquor cabinet as well.

7 Grass Roots

St. Croix embraces its agricultural roots with an annual fair and mango festival. The island, once known as the breadbasket of the region, is seeing a rebound in small-plot and organic farming. Nestled into the rainforest on the island’s northwest corner, the Ridge to Reef Farm practices sustainable agriculture and provides the local community with healthful produce. Weekly tours, overnight working stays and volunteer programs are offered for those seeking to learn about farm life on a tropical island or maybe spend a few days working in the fields.

8 Wine and Dine, Island Style

An island of foodies, St. Croix has its fair share of celebrated chefs and varied cuisines. The culture harbors a widespread fascination with food: its history, preparation and presentation. And drink is not far behind. First launched in the year 2000, the St. Croix Wine and Food Experience has grown into a top-rated international food festival that attracts globetrotting epicureans. During the week-long event, held every April, celebrity chefs host intimate Cork & Fork dinners paired with wines in private homes. Other highlights include wine tastings from credentialed sommeliers, chef competitions, sunset barbecues and progressive dinners in Christiansted’s old town. The signature event is Taste of St. Croix, a night of sampling that brings together the culinary offerings of more than 50 island restaurants, chefs, farms and caterers.

9 Get Hooked

St. Croix is noted for its jewelry arts, and nothing says a visit to the island like a hook bracelet. This Cruzan icon was originally designed by Sonja Hough more than 40 years ago and has since been duplicated by many. You can find examples cast in gold or silver, with or without stones. Whatever the form, the message is all about love. Wear it with the open end of the hook pointed up toward your heart to signify you are taken. With the open end of the hook worn down, away from your heart, the message is that you are unattached or single.

10 Turtle Watch

The peninsula of Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is the longest and most pristine stretch of beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This beach is the largest leatherback turtle nesting site in the U.S. and remains off limits to humans from May to September. The site is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, which does allow human visitation on Saturday and Sunday during off-nesting months. This refuge is also a prime location for bird-watching, so be sure to pack a pair of binoculars and be on the lookout for brown pelicans, black- necked stilts and yellow warblers.

Jost Van Dyke Foxys, biggest parties in the caribbean

Bahamas, Bahamas-New Providence, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Central America, Honduras, Play, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Biggest Parties in the Caribbean

May 19, 2014

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

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

Carnival on Trinidad

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

Sunjam on Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

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

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

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

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

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

Junkanoo on Nassau, Bahamas

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

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

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

Belize, Bonaire, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Curacao, St. Lucia, Stay, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Caribbean Snorkel Resorts

May 2, 2014

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One of the great joys of snorkeling tropical waters is freedom. No complex or heavy dive gear to manage, no worries about running out of air or monitoring bottom time, just the tranquility of hovering over a sun-dapple reef. It’s even better when done on your own schedule by wading right out from a resort beach, with no boat to catch and a refreshing shower and beach chair awaiting your return. Here are some of the best beachfront resorts in the Caribbean that provide immediate access to great snorkeling.

Aerial view of Grand Cayman’s northern barrier reef. The outside is safe for snorkeling only in calm seas; the sheltered inner side offers more consistent conditions. Photo: Cayman Island Tourism

The Retreat at Rum Point, Grand Cayman

It’s less than eight miles from Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach to Rum Point as the crow flies, but you’ll have to drive all the way around on the island’s coastal highway or take a ferry across North Sound to get there. This relative isolation means fewer swimmers on the palm-fringed beach and a chance to explore the coral-strewn shallows inside the island’s northern barrier reef. The resort is a collection of rental condominiums that provide spectacular water views. Full kitchens save on dining out, but if the adjacent Wreck Bar saps the cook’s culinary ambitions, then head next door to the Rum Point Club for a meal.

The Retreat at Rum Point sits along 1,200 feet of white sand beach where you might enjoy a beachside massage or a nap in a hammock under the shade. Photo: Rum Point

Fantasy Island Beach Resort, Roatan

The island of Roatan is ringed by magnificent coral reefs. But getting to many of these sites will require a boat ride. The best place to begin a snorkel from shore is at the Fantasy Island Beach Resort. Beginning just to the east of the resort beach is French Key Reef, which is an area of sheltered and protected coral reefs that rise close to the surface. A couple of minutes of finning across the sand bottom brings you to coral gardens filled with an abundance of tropical fish. As an alternative to swimming, resort guests can opt for a guided boat trip. Fantasy Island is a mid-sized resort set on a small private island just off Roatan’s southern shore in the popular Coxen Hole area. All-inclusive packages are available, and the resort is popular with divers and watersports enthusiasts.

This dock at the western edge of the Fantasy Island beach is the ideal starting point for a snorkeling exploration of the sheltered lagoon surrounding French Cay Reef. Photo: Fantasy Island

Tranquility Bay Resort, Belize

Situated on a remote beach on Ambergris Caye, 10 miles north of San Pedro and accessible only by boat, Tranquility Bay is a throwback in time. Traditional, colorful cottages are positioned just yards from the water, and inside you’ll find a surprisingly modern décor and amenities. From the beach it’s a short swim to the inner edge of Belize’s magnificent barrier reef. The resort is secluded and simple, but if clean sand and clear water trump nightlife and spa services, there are few places that can compare.

Tranquility Bay is the ideal spot to unplug, relax and explore nature. In addition to underwater activities, there are Mayan sites to explore on the mainland. Photo: Tranquility Bay

The Buccaneer Hotel, St. Croix

This landmark property delivers enticing views of the coral-strewn shallows that sit between Mermaid Beach and blue water. Fin east along the rocky coast towards Shoy Point and look under the ledges to discover fish and lobster lurking in the shadows. Those wanting more can catch a boat from the resort dock to Buck Island. Ashore, the Buccaneer remains one of St. Croix’s favorite resorts, providing a complete vacation experience that can include golf, tennis, spa treatments and live music.

St. Croix, best caribbean snorkel resorts

A short swim from the beach at St. Croix’s Buccaneer resort leads snorkelers to a series of coral-covered rock ledges that attract a variety of tropical fish. Photo: The Buccaneer Hotel

Fiesta Americana, Cozumel

Fish and coral are abundant off Cozumel’s west coast, but many sites lack easy beach entries, and to the north of the island, prevailing currents may pull snorkelers away from land. For an easier snorkeling experience, head south to the Fiesta Americana. This all-inclusive property overlooks a colorful stretch of shallow reef just to the north of Chankanaab National Park. There are easy entry and exit points for snorkelers, and milder currents move you southward towards the park. This upscale all-inclusive property is family-friendly, with a pair of pools, a playground and children’s activities.

In addition to the awesome snorkeling at the Fiesta Americana, there’s a private beach with plenty of beach lounges, umbrellas, over-the-water beds, and hammocks. Photo: Fiesta Americana

Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia

Some of the best coral reefs lie off the southwest coast of St. Lucia in the shadow of the landmark Pitons. They are within an easy swim from the beach at the Anse Chastanet Resort. This protected coral habitat is a favorite with divers and snorkelers, who can wade into the shallows to discover a profusion of sea life mere yards from shore. The resort provides snorkeling equipment for self-guided explorations, or you can book a boat trip with a guide to nearby reefs. The resort itself is the stuff of tropical fantasy, with rooms hiding in the palms, and a short climb up the green hill delivers sweeping views of the Caribbean.

The beach at Anse Chastanet provides wade-in access to the island’s finest coral reef, which begins in shallow water just 15 yards from shore. Photo: Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia

Plaza Resort, Bonaire

Bonaire’s entire west coast is flanked by one of the finest coastal reef structures in the Caribbean. But only a handful of the island’s resorts are also favored by sandy beaches. Of these, the Plaza provides the best combination of amenities and water access. The reef is just a short swim from the water’s edge, and an on-site dive shop has rental gear or replacement equipment. Ashore, the all-inclusive resort features a collection of low-rise buildings overlooking the channels of a lagoon and marina. Highlights of a stay include open-air seating at the waterfront restaurant and a weekly beach barbecue that is a favorite island tradition.

At Plaza Bonaire, a walk to the beach from your room invites snorkeling on a whim or the dive shop organizes snorkeling trips around the island. Photo: Plaza Beach

Sunscape Curacao Resort, Curacao

Six restaurants, six bars, water sports, a spa, first-class fitness center, daily entertainment and a casino—all for one price. Well, not the casino. But if larger all-inclusive resorts are your thing, the Sunscape is the finest on Curacao. When it’s time to submerge, novices can find fish without having to venture beyond the sheltering breakwater. More advanced snorkelers can head outside the breakwater to find vibrant patches of coral on a reef that drops from the jetty rocks to depths of 10 feet, then continues a gradual slope out toward deep water.

From the beach at Sunscape Curacao Resort, novice snorkelers will enjoy calm conditions inside the rock jetty, while the more accomplished can explore the outer slope. Photo: Sunscape Curacao

Bahamas, Bahamas-Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas-New Providence, Bahamas-Out Islands, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Plan, Trip Ideas, U.S. Virgin Islands

See the Sea: 5 Prime Caribbean Snorkeling Destinations

April 28, 2014

Bahamas

Exploring the shallows in the Pelican Cays Land & Sea Park on the Bahamian island of Great Abaco. Photo: Walt Stearns

The 700-plus islands and rocky outcroppings of the Bahamas offer innumerable snorkeling opportunities. Some require small aircraft transfers, and many more can be reached only by liveaboard dive charters or private boats. The primary resort islands—Grand Bahama and New Providence—offer numerous guided encounters that include everything from family-friendly fish-watching excursions to adrenal-packed shark feeds. Visitors who range into the Out Islands can often find an interesting patch of coral by simply wading out from the beach, and a bit more swimming may bring them to a fringing reef on the edge of blue water. One of the best places to enjoy snorkeling freedom is on the northern end of less-visited Andros Island, with a stay at Small Hope Bay Lodge. The family-owned property has been a favorite of fishermen, divers and solitude seekers for more than 50 years, but its amenities have kept up with the times. The resort offers both guided and DIY snorkel adventures, including trips to the fascinating blue holes that dot the island’s wooded interior.

Belize

A lone French angelfish patrols a shallow reef in the waters near Ambergris Caye, Belize. Photo: Dennis Sabo/iStock

The green jungles and coastal swamps of Belize are flanked by the Western Hemisphere’s longest barrier reef. A number of low lying islands—known locally as cayes—punctuate these reefs, some of which are home to thatch-roofed eco huts offering a true out-island experience. If the Robinson Crusoe lifestyle isn’t for you, Ambergris Caye is your destination. Though no longer the sleepy fishing village it once was, Ambergris still manages to exude a small-town vibe, but with a first-class collection of beachfront resorts tossed into the mix. Finding a snorkel site can be as easy as finning out from the sand to one of the numerous patch reefs. A guide is usually needed for visits to signature sites such as Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, where regular feedings have attracted a resident population of gregarious rays and nurse sharks—relax, they won’t bite. When weather permits, the more adventurous can sign up for an all-day offshore excursion to Lighthouse Reef, home to the famous Blue Hole and the stellar shallow reefs of Half Moon Caye. Accommodations on Ambergris range from idyllic beachfront suites at low-key properties such as X’tah Ha to upscale resorts such as Coco Beach Resort or the fully-cloistered luxury retreat Matachica Resort & Spa, which are a boat ride away from the downtown.

British Virgin Islands

The Baths on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands provide a dramatic backdrop for snorkelers. Photo: Christian Wheatley/iStock

This group of islands has a number of sites where one could don mask and snorkel and explore the coral-encrusted rocks along the shores of the British Virgins, but most require a boat for access. This proves ideal for those who charter in this sailor’s paradise; land-based vacationers can book a trip through dive shops or tour companies scattered across the major islands. Perennial favorite destinations include the Indians, near Norman Island, and the Baths, Dogs and Prickly Pear Island on Virgin Gorda. For the best self-guided, wade-in snorkeling experience, travelers will have to make their way to the somewhat remote island of Anegada. In contrast to its mountainous green siblings to the south, Anegada is a low-lying coral isle covered in scrub, but blessed with one of the region’s finest beaches, Loblolly Bay. There, you can establish a beachhead at the Big Bamboo beach club before swimming out to discover Horseshoe Reef, home to an enchanting world of coral grottoes and shallow reefs. The Bamboo has cottages for rent in case you linger too long at the open-air bar and loose ambition. If the remote and somewhat rustic isn’t for you, day trips to Anegada can be staged from Virgin Gorda, where you can enjoy a more civilized stay at Little Dix Bay.

Grand Cayman

At Grand Cayman’s Stingray City, resident southern stingrays are conditioned to human interaction. Photo: Walt Stearns

Popular west-end snorkel sites such as Eden Rock and the Cali Wreck are best visited when the cruise ships aren’t in town, lest you find yourself awash in a sea of day-trippers. There’s no avoiding the crowds at much-publicized Stingray City, but it remains a must-do. If possible, book your boat ride with a smaller operator who doesn’t cater to the cruise ships; try to arrive at a slack or incoming tide for best water clarity. To find snorkeling solitude, head for Rum Point, where you can fin out from the palm-shaded beach for a self-guided tour of the north shore’s shallow fringing reefs. To escape the bustle of Seven Mile Beach, stay at the adjacent Retreat at Rum Point.

St. Croix

The coral reefs of St. Croix’s Buck Island Reef National Monument provide guided snorkel trails. Photo: U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

A snorkel trip to Buck Island is an almost mandatory aquatic pilgrimage for visitors to St. Croix. It’s been more than 50 years since this uninhabited island and its surrounding reefs were granted protective status as a national monument. The reefs have held up well to the ongoing stream of human traffic, thanks in part to the marked underwater snorkel trails that guide swimmers through the coral mazes. But Buck Island is far from the island’s only noteworthy snorkel venue. A short swim from any of several beaches along the island’s northeastern shore will lead to less-visited shallow reefs, and there are several waterfront resorts that sit just inshore of great snorkeling. East of Christiansted, the Tamarind Reef Resort offers upscale amenities and a beach that’s just a short swim away from an excellent and well-protected shallow reef that teems with fish life. Other properties within easily reach and lively reefs include The Buccaneer on Mermaid Beach, and, well to the west, the more secluded environs of The Palms at Pelican Cove.