Author: freem32@cogeco.ca

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6+ Things To Do on Your Next Trip to Grenada

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Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

Chocolate & Spice, and Everything Nice about Grenada

Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique are the most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands – About 100 miles (165km) north of Trinidad & Tobago and the South American coast. The mountainous main island of Grenada is known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg and other seasonings, although it’s also becoming a mecca for chocolate lovers as well. Grenada may be one of the Caribbean’s ‘best-kept secrets’ offering unspoiled natural beauty and a wide variety of attractions to please travellers from all over. There are plenty of things to do in Grenada if you know where to look… Our personal favourites include:

Savour Grenada’s Chocolate Estates & Factories

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

The makers of fine chocolate in Grenada are proud of their organic locally grown cocoa as well as their ethical fair-trade production methods. Tourists will of course also appreciate the delicious chocolate products being made by the five chocolate companies on the island. We’re talking about organic pure dark chocolate bars, chocolate bars subtly flavoured with nutmeg, ginger or Caribbean sea-salt as well as cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, chocolate butter spread and a variety of chocolate drinks. Yum!

While cocoa was introduced to Grenada centuries ago, the last couple of decades has seen the rise of a successful chocolate ‘tree-to-bar’ movement on the island. Grenada’s high-quality chocolate is recognized by the International Cocoa Organization, which has listed Grenada as one of only 10 countries in the world to produce ‘100% fine and flavour cocoa’.

If you are a chocoholic, then you will love a tour of a local farm and see for yourself how the island’s cocoa is cultivated, processed and transformed into edible delights.  Most tours offer tasty samples and of course they all end with an opportunity to buy a variety of Grenada chocolate delicacies from their gift stores. Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate; The Diamond (Jouvay) Chocolate Factory; The Grenada Chocolate Company; Belmont Estate Plantation; and Tri-Island Chocolate are all doing it right.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you tasting some fine chocolate, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.

Immerse Yourself in Grenada’s Spice Culture

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

Known as the ‘spice island of the Caribbean’, it’s only natural for visitors to Grenada to want to know more about the island’s spice heritage and culture. It is fascinating to watch a local guide open the fruit of the nutmeg tree to reveal the mace-wrapped seed, which most of us will only recognize once its ground into powder.  The Douglaston Spice Estate demonstrates the old-fashioned way of processing spices (and cocoa), however unfortunately there was a fire on the estate in 2020 and the current operational status of the estate is unknown. That said, the Gouyave Nutmeg Station is a popular tourist attraction to see how the island’s vast quantities of nutmeg are sorted and packaged for export. You can also learn more about Grenada’s spice trade on a tour of the West India Spices facility. Of course, delicious nutmeg and other spices and related products can be purchased at these locations as well as the De La Grenade Nutmeg Garden.  De La Grenade features a 2-acre spice, flowering plant and fruit tree garden located next to their industrious Processing Facility where you can purchase a wide range of local Grenadian fruit and spice products.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you ‘spicy’, click on the following link to go to our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.

Sample the Local Rums of Grenada

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and Rum Distilleries

Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery (AKA Grenada Distiller Ltd) is the self-proclaimed ‘largest and best-known distillery in Grenada’. The distillery has been in operation for over 80 years and offers guided tours of their historical site. Hear about the history of the distillery as well as the rum-making process, then the short tour ends in the Hospitality Center where a range of Clarke’s Court rums can be sampled and purchased.

The Westerhall Estate has also been blending and bottling quality rums for decades. Westerhall Estate offers tours of the estate grounds and a small museum where you can learn about the history and future of the estate and distillery. Complete the tour with rum tasting and shopping for your favourite Westerhall rums.

Dating back to the 18th century, River Antoine Estate is the oldest distillery in Grenada and is proudly home to one of the Caribbean’s oldest functioning watermills.  The small boutique distillery still makes rum with traditional methods – It’s something to see!  The distillery offers short tours accompanied by stories of historical rum-making along with some rum tasting.  Rum purchases are also available on-site.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you some rum, check out our Grenada Rum page.

Explore the Cultural & Heritage Landmarks of Grenada’s Capital St. George’s

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a Sulphur spring/mud bath

Fort George, Fort Frederick, and Fort Matthew are excellent examples of strategically positioned 18th-century bastion-style forts.  Besides the historical majesty of Grenada’s oldest structures, the locations of these forts provide spectacular views of the town, harbour, and the Caribbean Sea as well as inland to the island itself.

The 340 foot (100m) long Sendall Tunnel, connecting Fort George with the rest of the city, is another attractive and impressive historical site. For more history of Grenada, check out the National Museum’s display of local pictures and other artifacts.

For the shop-o-holic in your group, take a walk around St. George’s Market Square to get your fill of spices, crafts, and souvenirs. The hustle and bustle of this local fruit & vegetable market is a popular attraction for new visitors to Grenada.

There are also a number of churches to view in St. George’s.  They include the iconic 19th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral, which features a large gothic tower, as well as the Methodist Church, which is the oldest surviving chapel on the island. Unfortunately, restorations of the Anglican and Presbyterian 19th-century churches, from 2004’s hurricane Ivan, have yet to be completed as of 2020.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking St. George’s, visit our Things to Do in Grenada page.

Relax at a Colourful Grenada Garden

There are over half a dozen gardens in Grenada where you can enjoy a nice leisurely stroll.

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a Sulphur spring/mud bath

The Tower Estate Garden features a historical ‘Great House’ set among fruit, spice and wood trees alongside an amazing 2-acre floral garden. They offer house tours, garden tours, organic farm tours, afternoon tea, and Sunday brunch. Jessamine Eden Tropical Botanical Garden covers an amazing 60 acres that include rivers and trails to explore. The colonial Sunnyside Gardens is home to flowers, mahogany, palm and fruit trees as well as koi ponds, and some red-foot tortoises. Guided tours of Laura Herb & Spice Gardens ensure you get the most out of viewing their herbs, spices, fruit trees, other plants and vegetables. A gift shop and relaxing gazebo are also on-site.

Other Grenada gardens include: St. Rose Nursery & Garden features orchids, shrubs and herbs; Hyde Park Tropical Garden offers stunning views of the south end of the island; Smithy’s Garden includes an ‘old’ garden of fruit trees, and ornamental plants, as well as a ‘new’ garden that is home to a variety of rainforest plants; and Palm Tree Gardens’ two acres display a wide variety of palm trees, flowers and is also home to some red-footed tortoises.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking through the aromatic nurseries, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.

Embrace Natural Grenada

Grenada is blessed with diverse natural beauty and there is no better place to experience that than in one of the island’s parks or other natural settings.

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

Located in the mountainous central highlands of Grenada, Grand Etang Lake and National Park is the island’s famous tropical rain forest, best known for its iconic Crater Lake, and several nearby waterfalls.  The island’s most popular nature destination contains a variety of ecological subsystems of flora and fauna including large trees, ferns, colourful flowers and birds, along with frogs, lizards and a few small mammals. If you are lucky, you might even see a Mona monkey living in the wild.

Located in the northeast corner of Grenada, Levera National Park covers 450 acres, including a mangrove wetland called Levera Pond. This Ramsar site features a Boardwalk with an observation tower, making it an ideal location for birding and just relaxing in nature. The Park also contains a long coastline with a great beach and nearby hills which offer spectacular views of a number of small offshore islands. Overlooking Levera Pond with spectacular views of Ronde Island, Carriacou and perhaps even the Grenadines on a clear day, is the hilltop known as the Welcome Stone – Somewhat tricky to get there, but the views provide ample reward.


Located nearby, is the River Sallee Sulphur Springs, which is home to 6 natural springs and warm mud baths. Tourists are welcome to relax in some of the inviting sulphur bath/mud holes.  Situated just south of the centre of the island, the Clabony Sulphur Springs is a waist-deep natural spring-fed pond filled with clear warm water.

Situated near the south end of the island, the Morne Gazo Nature Reserve is an eco-tourism ‘birding’ site with rainforest walking trails and features a hilltop observation area with an amazing panoramic view of the east coast and the Atlantic Ocean. Also located in the southern end of Grenada is the Mount Hartman National Park / Dove Sanctuary which features a unique environment not found anywhere else on the island. The combination of dry forest woodlands and mangroves makes it an ideal location for ‘birding’ and is home to the last remaining endemic Grenada Doves.

The most popular natural area in Carriacou is the High North Nature Reserve / National Park.  From the highest peak on the island, you can relish spectacular panoramic views of Carriacou, Grenada, and the nearby Grenadine Islands surrounded by the sparkling blue sea.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you in nature, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page. For the more adventurous, you may also be interested in our Grenada Hiking pages.

Consider other Popular Grenada Tourist Attractions

Situated at the north tip of Grenada is the historical site of Carib’s Leap (AKA Leapers Hill), where the last of the island’s indigenous people jumped to their death to avoid being captured by French soldiers. The spot is also a great location for sensational views of the sea and nearby offshore islands. Then there is the town of Gouyave which hosts a weekly fish fry. Street vendors offer all sorts of fish meals, accompanied by music and entertainment. Meanwhile, over on Carriacou, an important and popular attraction is the Windward Boatyard located on the northeast coast of the island.  Here you can immerse into the culture and soul of Carriacou by visiting the location where traditional boat making has been carried on for generations.

ACT Staff

For a more complete review of Grenada Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things To Do in Grenada page.

If you’re looking for something more active that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our recommended Grenada Adventures blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Grenada Vacations page

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Snorkel Bonaire – Discover a Wondrous Underwater World

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Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Bonaire Snorkeling – See the Amazing Life that Lives Below the Waves…

Bonaire is a small island in the southern Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles, a mere 25 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast. The island is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Safe from hurricanes, Bonaire has a truly amazing climate, relatively warm and dry for most of the year. Famous for it’s pink flamingos and renowned coral reefs, the island is a dream-come-true for adventurers looking for snorkeling, scuba diving and water sports.

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

With it’s healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the top 3 islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling! Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, a small island less than 1/2 mile (1km) from the main island’s western coast, are encircled by coral reefs providing an amazing biodiversity of oceanic life including colourful fish, coral, sponge and more. Bonaire snorkeling can be enjoyed right off the beach at a number of spots on Bonaire’s western shores and of course there are also several boat operators who can take you to plenty of other locations in Bonaire’s Marine Park and elsewhere around the island.

Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and visit shallow corals on the edge of steep underwater cliffs – Visibility is great as you can clearly see through more than fifty feet (15m) of Bonaire’s clear blue sea. There are plenty of unique and stunning underwater wonders to explore – An underwater world below the waves awaits you. Bonaire snorkeling is an adventure that you just can’t experience on land… If you know where to go – Here’s a few of our favourite spots:

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites off Klein Bonaire

Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling sites off the shores of Klein Bonaire – Here’s a few samples:

  • Leonora’s Reef offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges / plumes, along with seahorses, fire worms and snails along with fish including groupers, damselfish, butterfly-fish, angelfish, snappers and trunk-fish. Great for beginners!
  • Carl’s Hill is beach accessible and with views starting in about 20 feet of water, it’s a great place to see a wide variety of marine life such as sponges, gorgonians and coral along with fish, including barracudas, bar jacks and schools of blue tang
  • Jerry’s Reef is a deep site that offers views of a large variety of sponges as well as corals, anemones and plumes along with turtles, rays and reef sharks as well as fish including parrotfish and puffers. A great location for beginners and underwater photography.
  • Munk’s Haven is a cool underwater plateau that starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges, along with shrimp, turtles and fish including groupers, wrasse and many more
  • Sharon’s Serenity’s views start about 20 feet deep and provides experienced swimmers views of seaplumes, a large variety of coral along with hawksbill and green turtles along with fish including groupers, damselfish, doctorfish, parrotfish and barracuda.  A great location for underwater photography
Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

My first experience snorkeling just off-shore from Klein Bonaire absolutely blew my mind! I have snorkeled in the Caribbean before, however I hadn’t seen anything like this before. After a short boat ride over to the south side of the Klein Bonaire, I stepped off the boat and stuck my face in the calm warm water and literally yelled through my snorkel – Holy S###… We were over a reef so full of life I didn’t know where to look first. Once I settled down, I saw a variety of coral along with colourful tubes and plumes, as well as amazing fish species that I had never seen before. The sand and coral bottom just disappeared over an underwater cliff, and as I was peering into the abyss, a green turtle swam out of the deep towards us. At the second spot we snorkeled at, near the east end of the island, the current was quite a bit stronger. We just drifted with a large school of fish – very invigorating!

For more information on snorkeling Klein Bonaire, including boat operators to get you over there, check out our Klein Bonaire Snorkeling page

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites North of Kralendijk

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire's Washington-Slagbaai National Park


There are 4 designated places to experience Bonaire snorkeling off the islands’ north-west shores from within Washington-Slagbaai National Park. Bise Morto and Boka Slagbaai are both accessed from nearby beaches and offer the prospect of spotting rays, eels, as well as whales and the occasional shark.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling spots on the west coast, south of the Park and north of Bonaire’s capital, Kralendijk. Here’s a few, just to whet your appetite for taking a look ‘below the surface’.

  • 1000 Steps is beach accessible and relatively shallow, offering views of turtles and rays along with a wide variety of fish including parrotfish, angelfish and doctorfish. Further offshore you can see a variety of corals and sponges along with durgeons, filefish and large night sergeants and angelfish
  • Kalli’s Reef starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a variety of marine life including turtles and seahorse
  • Andrea / Pali Coco is fairly shallow and offers views of corals / anamones as well as seahorses and parrotfish. Great for beginners!
  • La Marchaca / Habitat is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts at 20 feet and features a ship-wreck in 50 feet of water
  • Front Porch / Eden Beach is accessible right off the beach! The fun starts in as little as 15 feet of water with views of a large variety of fish as well as a sunken upside tugboat further offshore. Great for beginners!
  • Something Special / Kralendijk Marina has a sandy bottom and is shore accessible! This is a great drift snorkel that starts around 20 feet deep and offers close to a hundred varieties of fish. Great for beginners!

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores north of Kralendijk, including tour / boat operators to get you outfitted, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – North of Kralendijk page

The Best Bonaire Snorkeling Sites South of Kralendijk

There’s a handful of places to snorkel Bonaire’s West Coast, just south of Kralendijk. Eighteen Palms is accessible right off the beach and at 30 feet deep the views often include sting-rays and eagle-rays. A little further south at North Belnem, you should be able to swim with schools of blue tang – Great fun for beginners!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Another half dozen snorkeling spots are just south of the Slave Huts, almost all of them beach accessible. Here’s a small taste…

  • Tori’s Reef is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts around 20 feet deep and offers views of coral, a large variety of fish as well as eels
  • Pink Beach is relatively shallow and is also beach accessible! Experienced swimmers can view rays as well as bone-fish
  • Margate Bay is beach accessible and has a limestone and sand bottom. Snorkeling starts around 25 feet deep and offers views of a variety of corals as well as turtles and rays along with fish including snapper (black margate), doctorfish, parrotfish, angelfish, trumpet-fish, grunt, butterfly-fish and barracuda
  • Sweet Dreams is a fairly remote and quiet spot offering experienced swimmers views of corals, sea fans and anemones as well as turtles and rays along with fish including doctorfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors and barracuda

There’s also a couple of spots for strong swimmers to snorkel on the island’s west coast in the Mangroves of Lac Bay. The reward for venturing in these rougher waters include seeing great coral as well as some large fish.

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores south of Kralendijk, including boat / tour operators to get you out there, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – South of Kralendijk page

For those of you who want to go deeper and stay under water longer, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snooba (Air Hose Snorkeling) is also available on the island. For more information regarding Tours and Boat Operators to help you snorkel and snooba, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling page

Get out there and have some fun!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

ACT Staff

If you’re planning a visit to the island and you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience both on land and in/on the water, take a look at our Bonaire Adventures page

If you’re looking to explore the island at a more relaxing pace, check out our recommended Bonaire Attractions

For an overview of the beautiful island of Bonaire, click on our Bonaire Vacations page

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A Caribbean Cruise – Never a Dull Moment

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9 Days, 6 Islands, 4 Great Caribbean Adventures during a Caribbean Cruise

I like Caribbean cruises for a number of reasons, most of all because it gets me out of the cold winter and into sunny weather… That said, like most of you I suspect, I always thought that the time restrictions of a cruise would prevent me from having any in-depth exciting island adventures… Well, our latest Caribbean cruise is proof that you can experience amazing outdoor adventures while on a cruise!

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel



If you’re like me, you want to get out there and live an active Caribbean life… by hiking lush green mountains, snorkeling warm blue waters, kayaking through mangroves, mountain biking in a tropical setting and more…  It’s possible to have that type of vacation – Take a look at our itinerary and diary briefs from a recent 10-day Caribbean cruise, and see for yourself what’s possible:

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking in Martinique




Day One: The Bahamas – We took it easy here, just wandered around on the island and beach at a leisurely pace. We really needed to get used to the sun and heat – Seriously, it’s been a long winter and we’re not used to getting an overdose of vitamin D like this.

Day Two: A Sea Day – Again, we took it easy, simply wandered around and explored the ship. We’re starting to get used to the heat and the brightness of the sun.

OK, so you’re probably starting to wonder when the excitement begins on this Caribbean cruise – Well, here we go…


Day Three: St. Thomas, USVI – Here’s where our outdoor activities began… We joined a local tour company for a 5-6 kilometre Kayak, Hike, and Snorkeling Adventure in a Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary.

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Kayaking, Hiking and Snorkeling in St. Thomas USVI
An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - St. Thomas USVI (Cas Cay Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary)


As the name implies, we kayaked through mangrove lagoons, hiked on a small Cay and snorkeled in its protected bay. We saw starfish, sea urchins and more in the shallow waters and along the shoreline. We also saw a few fish, a lobster and a Conch while snorkeling in the warm shallow waters.




Day Four: Martinique – Our adventure picked up speed here as we rented a car and drove to an east coast peninsula where we enjoyed a 6 kilometre hike and a visit to plantation ruins – all in a National Park. I will also mention that the temperature heated up here as well…

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Presqu'Île Caravelle National Park in Martinique
An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Presqu'Île Caravelle National Park in Martinique


The well-maintained and marked loop consisted of dry forest trails, coastal paths and mangrove tracks, with a constantly varying elevation. We had fantastic views from a number of observation points – We were repeatedly in awe of the spectacular rocky coastline with its multi-coloured blue water bays and inlets. From a lighthouse peak, we also had fantastic views of the mountainous island itself.


The 17th-century plantation ruins were very interesting, as we learned about colonial trading, slavery and more. We could see the stone remains of a Great-house along with close to 10 other buildings set magnificently on a hillside overlooking a beautiful bay.

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Presqu'Île Caravelle National Park in Martinique

We made it back to Fort De France in time for some shopping, looking for some European-influenced styles.

For more on Hiking in Martinique, click on our Martinique Hiking page

For more information about adventures on this great French island, check out our Martinique Vacations page


Day Five: Grenada – For me, this was the highlight adventure of our Caribbean cruise. I went with a local guide for this one – 10 kilometres of glorious rainforest hiking that began in a National Park at the centre of the island and ended near a quiet coastal village along the coast.

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Grand Etang National Park in Grenada
An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Grand Etang National Park in Grenada

The trail was (fortunately) dry and steep as we hiked the highest mountain peak in the area. We enjoyed amazing views of the Park’s lake and lodge / museum, as well as the island itself. We could see St. George’s, along with the east coast and the mountainous north. This is what Caribbean hiking is all about!

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Grand Etang National Park in Grenada

From the mountain peak, we headed way down into the jungle on a cross-island adventure. It was muddy and tough going as we journeyed up-and-down hills and valleys which included several rivers that we rock-hopped our way across. The second highlight of this hike was coming across a fairly remote, rarely-visited waterfall in the rainforest – A great place for a rest and to listen to the chirping of the birds.

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Hiking Grand Etang National Park in Grenada

We made it back to St. George’s in time to purchase some rum, vanilla as well as local spices – It is the ‘spice island’ after all!

For more hiking information, including hiking guides and tour operators who will get you on the best trails, click on our Grenada Hiking page

For more information about activities and tourist attractions on this amazing Windward island, check out our Grenada Vacations page


Day Six: Bonaire – Giving the legs a bit of a break, we joined a local boat / tour operator for an unforgettable snorkeling experience off the coast of a nearby island.

An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Snorkeling Klein Bonaire

We cruised to two different locations not far from shore for some “drift” snorkeling where we kind of floated along with the current. We just had to stick our masks in the water to unveil another / foreign world – We could easily see 20-30 feet deep, and my senses were on overload with the large variety of fish, coral, and sponges that were everywhere… We saw turtles as well – What an experience!
Time to wind it down now…

For a more colourful story on snorkeling in Bonaire check out our Bonaire’s Underwater World blog

For more Snorkeling info, including boat/tour operators who will get you to the best spots, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling page

For more information about adventures on this great Dutch island, check out our Bonaire Vacations page


An Epic Caribbean Cruise - Join the adventures with Active Caribbean Travel - Caving in Curacao


Day Seven: Curacao – Once again, we joined a local tour operator who took us on a general ‘island tour’. This tour included a visit to some Caves as well as the Distillery for the famous Blue Curacao liqueur. Of course, we still had plenty of time to wander around the clean town of Willemstad, with its pastel-coloured buildings and European-like look and feel.

  • Day Eight: Sea Day – Time to rest, relax and enjoy the food offered on this Caribbean cruise.
  • Day Nine: Sea Day – More time to rest and reflect upon the amazing adventures that we had enjoyed.


So, now you know… You can enjoy all the benefits of cruising, which includes meeting people, nightly entertainment and plenty of food that you don’t have to prepare or clean up after yourself, as well as being able to experience active outdoor adventures at each island stop!  While there are some limitations placed on each island visit for sure, with some careful planning you can experience some amazing, active, outdoor Caribbean activities while on a Caribbean cruise.


If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing in the Islands, click on our Caribbean Adventures page for more great ideas!

For more of what the Caribbean has to offer, check out our Active Caribbean Travel home page

ACT Staff

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Hiking through a “veil of vines” in St. Kitts

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Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

Discovering Vine-land in St. Kitts’ Central Forest Reserve


I’ve always wanted to hike in the St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park, on a trail other than Mount Liamuiga, but I wasn’t sure the so-called hikes offered by the local tour operators were going to be interesting enough for us. So, we rented a car and drove up the west coast of the island to the grounds of the once majestic Wingfield Estate, where I had heard a number of hiking trails originated. Once we got there, I talked to a vendor about hiking in the area and asked if there were any local guides we could hire. Within seconds he was on his phone trying to help us out. After a couple of unsuccessful calls, he was able to reach someone from Old Road Town who would take us on a hike.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

About half an hour later, a friendly fellow named Travis showed up and said he would be happy to take us into the jungle on what he called the “Bench Trail”.  As we would find out, after hiking for an hour or so there’s a rustic wooden bench on the hillside where folks usually rest having just climbed a relatively steep section of the trail, hence the name.  Our hike started with a casual walk along a dirt road behind Wingfield Estate that passed the remains of the recently abandoned Sky Safari Zipline.  It’s amazingly beautiful how quickly tropical nature reclaims ownership of the land when given the opportunity to do so.

We soon left the dirt road, following a narrow path into the jungle. The natural trail took us next to what appeared to be an old riverbank, although the river bed was a green carpet, with just a little trickle of water and the odd puddle. Travis explained that the water was dammed and captured in cisterns much higher up the mountain. This part of the trail follows small pipes that bring clean water down into the local houses and businesses in Old Road Town and the surrounding area.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

We stopped once in a while for Travis to show us various trees and plants bordering the trail. He explained that while some have edible fruit, others have leaves, bark, and roots that can be used for medicinal teas – Apparently curing everything from sore throats, indigestion, and stiff muscles to maybe even cancer. Other plants grow hard bright-coloured seeds that are used as decorative beads in traditional artwork. One tree Travis showed us was the massive locust tree, whose fruit is called ‘stinking toes’ due to their visual likeness and repugnant odour once cracked open. It was more appetizing when Travis pointed out the occasional cocoa tree with its distinctive large pods housing future chocolate.  Then he brought to our attention the stand of almond trees we were walking under. Pretty cool to see the trail littered with partially eaten almond husks.  Apparently, the local vervet (or green) monkeys eat the flesh between the husk and the pit, not realizing what they are missing – I’m sure they would really enjoy the protein-rich nut inside. 

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

I always enjoy seeing the large tropical gommier trees with their fascinating rock-hard-looking bark with patches of reddish flakes, and maybe even a little shocked to come across the spike-covered sandbox trees. While intriguing to look at – don’t touch these horrors of the forest! Another interesting fruit Travis showed us was the manciport or mammee apple, whose fruit is apparently nutritious and delicious! We also encountered several species of mango and other edible fruit trees in the rainforest, although the monkeys eat the fruit right before it fully ripens, so unfortunately there is rarely much left for human consumption.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

After about half an hour or so, we left the rainforest’s natural grocery store and pharmacy to head uphill. The trail twisted and turned around large trees constantly taking us higher. While a bit of a workout, it was relatively easy to hike although the incline did get steeper over time as the trail snaked up the mountainside. At Travis’ urging, we stopped a few times to sniff the air.  Yes, I smelled the odour of animals nearby.  While we figured correctly that goats roam the area, Travis suggested that there was something else afoot. He showed us marks on trees where the bark was clearly worn, as well as areas of earth that had been dug up near the roots.  Apparently, these are the signs of feral pigs scratching themselves and rooting for food respectively. As the uphill hike continued, we kept hearing rustling noises above us in the trees.  We were hoping to see monkeys, however, the sounds inevitably turned out to be doves.  This situation repeated itself over and over again – The sight and sounds of startled doves taking flight.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

After another half hour or so, we were quite sweaty and breathing a little hard as we arrived at “the bench”.  We grabbed a seat, although we didn’t rest for too long.  After peering through a gap in the rainforest canopy, we could see that we were on the edge of a gully, or what they call a ghaut in St. Kitts. Peering down into the ghaut, it was clear that we had traveled a fair distance, although it was clear that the trail continued much further as we could see a series of ropes tied from tree to tree. Travis told us he had never gone past the bench before, so he wasn’t sure where it went or for how long. We pushed on to take a look, but there was no end in sight.  While the trail is fairly steep in this section, I didn’t need to use the ropes, although they are a good safety precaution for sure. With blue/white blazes on the trees, it appears as though this is a major trail of some sort. I believe that we were on the Old Military Trail that crosses the island from Old Road Town to Phillips Village.  I further believe that if we had continued for another half hour or so, we would have found the spur trail to Dos D’Ane Pond. 

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.


We had set out today to just go for a nice little rainforest hike, so we were satisfied at this point to head back. It was great to discover that Travis was taking us back on a slightly different route, as loop trails provide the opportunity to experience as much diverse terrain and flora as possible. As an exciting change of pace, the first part of this new trail included an unanticipated plunge down the hillside.  We pretty much rappelled a short section of trail to quickly reach the gully floor.


Being higher up in the ghaut, there was a bit of a stream in this area, quite likely from recent rains.  Travis looked for crayfish but came up empty-handed. At this point, we crossed the shallow stream to encounter something out of a Jurassic Park or Tarzan movie.  There were vines of all sizes hanging everywhere. 

Pretty much a curtain or veil of vines. Travis explained how the vines grow out of the ground, climb up and tangle themselves around tree branches high in the sky, before reaching back to earth. He said the older ones secured to large trees are strong enough to hold the weight of an adult human, and Travis proved his point! OK, that was pretty cool!


Following the stream and eventually the dried-out riverbed, we eventually made our way back down to Wingfield Estate where Travis showed us soursop, calabash and pacay trees.  He explained that the spiky soursop is a tasty and nutritious fruit, while calabash fruit and pacay seed pods are not edible, they do make for fun musical (percussion) instruments.

Back at Wingfield Estate, we walked around the remains of the old stone structures.  A few hundred years ago, this was one of the most dominant plantations on the island – The place just oozes with history. In the mid 17th century, it is believed to have been one of the Caribbean’s first rum distilleries!

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park. The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

Now that’s what I call a good day!

For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

For an overview of the beautiful “Sister islands”, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog for more great ideas!

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the islands, by checking out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

ACT Staff

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Hiking, or Rather Climbing, Nevis Peak

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Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

A Hike That Took My Breath Away

One of the main reasons I had wanted to vacation in St. Kitts & Nevis (SKN) was to hike the stratovolcano known as Nevis Peak. While not the tallest mountain in the Caribbean, I heard that the trail is one of the steepest, perhaps comparable to St. Lucia’s Pitons which I enjoyed hiking, so I had to give it a go! Besides, the highest point on Nevis is more than 900 feet (275m) higher than the iconic Gros Piton…

We stayed in St. Kitts for our holiday, but whenever I had the chance, I glanced over at her sister island, paying special attention to the cloud cover on Nevis Peak. It was almost always shrouded in mist, however from what I observed it seemed to be cloud-free more often in the afternoon than the morning, so I decided to schedule the hike for the afternoon.

On the day of the hike, I took the public ferry from Basseterre, St. Kitts over to Nevis, landing in the island’s capital, Charlestown.  I got there early so I could wander around and visit the historic Bath House / Hot Springs as well as the Museum of Nevis History. When my meeting time came, I went back to the Charlestown waterfront road lined with flags from all over the world.  This is where I met Reggie Douglas of Nevis Adventure Tours, my private guide for the day. I was fortunate to have booked Reggie, who I understand from their website is a former SKN Sportsman of the Year and National as well as Eastern Caribbean Triathlon Champion.

Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!



It was a short drive from Charlestown, to the south side of the island to a place called Stoneyhill. We parked next to the Dunbar Mill, near the Hermitage Inn, although I believe the official trailhead is actually a couple of streets further east. Our hike started up a steep incline, on an old double-track concrete road.  Once we passed the last few houses skirting the Volcano, we followed a path into the forest. Although relatively short, this is a relaxing wooded section of the trail. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the last I was going to see of anything resembling level ground for the rest of the hike. Meanwhile, a couple of small dogs had run past us and were somewhere on the trail ahead – We could hear them yipping away, seemingly in a verbal war with a territorial monkey.  Once we reached the area, the dogs had vanished, but Reggie could see the monkey high up in a tree. While I could hear the little primate, now squawking at us, I couldn’t spot him/her hiding in the dense canopy above.

Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

Soon after that, we abruptly turned uphill and began the climb. I’ve done a fair amount of mountain hiking in my day, however I’ve never encountered a trail like this before.  There is not even the slightest notion of a switchback anywhere – The trail pretty much takes a straight-line path up the side of the volcano.

The path essentially consists of a series of near-vertical sections, each connected by a few feet of somewhat flat sections, only a couple of which lasted for more than a few steps. As for the plentiful near-vertical sections, I loved climbing up the natural ladders formed from tree roots and branches – What a rush! Thankfully, these areas also had ropes strung from tree to tree, providing additional help if needed. Looking for an authentic, wild hike, I didn’t use the ropes too often and Reggie made it easy by calmly identifying good places to grab and step as we made our way uphill. That said, there were a couple of perilous-looking verticals where I would have been foolish not to take advantage of the safety ropes.

Reggie mentioned that sometimes he has to coach, or rather coax some of his clients to continue the climb when they were confronted with some of the more daunting sections. I had absolutely no second thoughts of carrying on, although after being on the trail for less than half an hour, I was breathing so hard, I just couldn’t catch my breath.  It was a tough uphill climb, but I also blame my struggle on having hiked and biked a substantial amount a few days prior to this strenuous hike.  Whatever it was, my heart was beating out of my chest so I asked Reggie, who as far as I could tell wasn’t even breathing hard, to take a short break. Excuses aside, after a 5-minute water break, we were underway again and I eventually found my groove.  I was still constantly breathing hard with an elevated heart rate, however I felt much more comfortable the rest of the way.

Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

After a while I started to acknowledge my surroundings, recognizing that we were in a rugged, nearly impenetrable jungle, filled with lush rainforest plants and tall trees reaching skyward in an attempt to find sunlight. For most of the climb, there were very few opportunities to see much through the thick green foliage, although Reggie let me know when we reached a couple of partial clearings that did offer a view of the island below. I savoured the spectacular scenery that these little ‘windows to the world’ offered.  Seeing the green island unfold below, transitioning to a stunning blue ocean that went on for as far as the eye can see, was something to behold!

View from Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

While I didn’t really think about it, and when I did I wasn’t perturbed in the least, I should point out that some people may consider this a dangerous trail. The potential for serious falls exists, although you wouldn’t roll down the mountainside too far before being unceremoniously stopped by a tree ;). Due to the nature of the trail, the opportunity to converse was limited, although I did enjoy hearing about Reggie’s cycling experiences in Europe, agreeing that the mountainous Alps are something special. We talked about some of the other trails on the island, as well as how humans would be better off if we were more in tune with the natural world. A lifestyle I value and strive towards these days – I wondered how we can make positive changes in North America to head in that direction…

Lichen and moss on Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!
Unique trail of Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!


As we got higher up the mountainside, Reggie pointed out the green moss and lichen that were now growing in much larger and richer clusters than they had a few hundred feet earlier.  The plants keep everything nice and moist up here – So cool to see! As we neared the top of the volcano, we climbed up some truly striking areas that appeared to be muddy gashes in the earth.  Not long after ascending one of the slippery zones, we suddenly popped into a little wooded area on fairly level ground, quickly reaching a small clearing in the rainforest. We had reached the top of the volcano! The mist from the clouds enveloped us, offering only fleeting glimpses of the island below. While we chilled, taking in the scenery, Reggie told me that people of all ages have climbed this peak, from pre-teens to a 72-year-old. WoW – Impressive!  While we were talking, a green/blue hummingbird darted around us, letting us know that we weren’t the only ones up there. Apparently, the highest spot in Nevis is another 100 meters or so from where we were standing. Reggie stated that that section of the trail hadn’t been cleared for the last couple of years and was only a few feet higher than where we were.

At the top of Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

Well, eventually we decided it was time for the return journey.  While there is another path down the other side of the volcano, it hadn’t been cleared for a while either, and it complicates logistics anyways.  So, we headed back down the same way we came. From my previous mountain hiking experience, I have come to learn that going down a mountain is usually harder than going up it, mostly because it puts a strain on different muscles (and joints).  That said, this trail provided a unique challenge.  For anyone who has climbed a tall ladder to get onto the roof of a house, you know what I’m talking about. From a psychological perspective, it’s totally different going up a ladder than it is staring down it. Not to belabour the point, down we went. Sometimes with our back/butt hugging the earth, and sometimes going backward, facing the ground – Whatever felt more natural at the time. Unlike the trip up the volcano, I made extensive use of the ropes on the way down.

Zebra butterflies on Nevis Peak Trail One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

The Nevis Peak experience wasn’t over yet though. When we got near the location where we had encountered the dogs and monkey, it was interesting to see a monkey turd proudly displayed on top of a trailside boulder.  I guess the animal was once again reminding us that they have made this area their home 😊. A much nicer surprise greeted us a few minutes later when we retraced our steps through the nice wooded area near the road. More than a dozen yellow and black striped insects, that Reggie identified as zebra butterflies, merrily fluttered around us – A soothing encounter to end the hike.

About three hours after we had started the hike, we were back at our starting point. To be clear, I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that this was more of a climb than a hike.  Although I didn’t get to revel in spectacular 360° views from the top of the island, scaling Nevis Peak was a blast. I had a great time with Reggie, so unassuming and authentic. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the mud completely out of my mesh hikers, but that’s a small price to pay for such an awesome experience! Another day in paradise.

For more information on Reggie’s tours and services, check out his website, Nevis Adventure Tours and Greenedge Bike Shop, or his facebook page.

For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

For an overview of the beautiful “Sister islands”, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog for more great ideas!

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the islands, by checking out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

ACT Staff