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Top 6 Grand Cayman Adventures

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Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

These Awesome Activities Will Keep You Coming Back For More

A British Territory in the Western Caribbean, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are peaks of the massive underwater Cayman Ridge. The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba, between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Jamaica.

If you’re looking for adventure in the Caribbean, look no further than the Cayman Islands. Surrounded by protective reefs and deep plunging walls, the Cayman Islands deep blue sea offers some of the best Caribbean diving, snorkeling, fishing and water sports imaginable. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to know that there’s plenty of action on the island itself as well! We think you’ll enjoy our recommended Grand Cayman adventures below…

Dive the Best Sites in the Caribbean

It’s more than just a cliché – The Cayman Islands are truly a Diver’s Paradise! The islands are nicely positioned out on their own in the Caribbean Sea and that translates into a relatively clean ocean with amazing visibility as well as healthy coral reefs alive with marine life. With the Cayman Islands’ 365 named dive sites, there are places for the beginner diver, advanced diver and everything in between! You can experience shore dives, boat dives as well as night dives. Grand Cayman diving offers scuba enthusiasts opportunities for epic wall dives, as well as shallow and mid-depth wreck and reef dives. Aquatic life around the island is vibrant, with fascinating corals, sponges and tubes along with colourful tropical fish of all sizes. Grand Cayman is also home to turtles, rays, sharks, eels along with lobsters, crabs, shrimp and more.

Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

The ‘West Coast’ of Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites, including spectacular walls, canyons and swim-through arches and tunnels. There’s also shallow reefs with plenty of coral and marine life. Of course there’s the famous 251 foot, 5 deck USS Kittiwake wreck to explore as well!

In Grand Cayman’s North Sound area there are over 40 dive sites including the Cayman Barrier Reef with its gorgeous aquatic gardens, a deeper version of Stingray City as well as the epic North Wall – plunging steeply thousands of feet into the deep blue abyss! You’ll enjoy the wide variety of marine life off this side of the island.

Amazingly, Grand Cayman’s more remote and less visited ‘East End’ is home to over 50 dive sites – That means un-populated dives along the east wall in pristine coral canyons and valleys in the company of plenty of large tarpon! Then there’s Grand Cayman’s ‘South Side’ – Over 30 dive sites can be found on the oft-forgotten end of the island. Explore colourful coral mini walls full of fingers, tunnels and arches along with plenty of juvenile fish.

For more information on Grand Cayman’s dive sites, plus a listing of dive centres and boat operators, click on our Grand Cayman Diving page

Snorkeling at it’s Best

Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

With several vibrant coral reefs all around Grand Cayman, it’s a great place to explore an underwater world in calm seas with amazing visibility. You can slip into the warm Caribbean Sea from a local beach, or take a short boat ride to some of the best Grand Cayman snorkeling spots a little further from shore. There are sunken ships and wrecks that sit in as little as 20 feet of clear blue water.

Of course, no trip to Grand Cayman is complete without visiting Stingray City. While it’s not exactly snorkeling, it’s a unique experience to swim with and even hold a gentle stingray! Want to see what it’s really like? Check out our Grand Cayman Stingray City video on YouTube!

Grand Cayman’s ‘North Sound Marine Park’ is home to some incredible snorkeling sites, including a large barrier reef and a number of lush gardens. You’ll be able to see fascinating corals, sponges and sea fans as well as tropical fish, rays, eels and even conch and lobster. Besides Stingray City, there’s also Starfish Point, a beach area where the sandy bottom, in just a few feet of water, is home to… you guessed it, Red Cushion Starfish!

The popular West Coast of Grand Cayman also has a number of awesome snorkeling sites, including the Kittiwake Shipwreck, a former US Navy vessel. The depth of the ship ranges from 15 feet (5m) to 60 feet (18m), so you’ll be able to see the deck topography and partway down the smokestack.

Grand Cayman offers a fantastic opportunity to explore an underwater world full of diverse tropical fish and marine life that you just can’t experience on land.

For more information on Grand Cayman’s snorkeling sites, plus a listing of tour/boat operators to get you out there, click on our Grand Cayman Snorkeling page

Have Fun ON the Water Too

Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

Grand Cayman is blessed with one shoreline having a long beautiful beach with calm waters, one with a magical bio-luminescence bay and mangrove forest, and yet another coastline with a significant source of wind. So it’s easy to see why Grand Cayman is considered one of the best places to enjoy Caribbean water-sports. Whether you want to stand-up paddleboard in the calm waters off Seven Mile Beach or in the protected waters of North Sound, or you want to windsurf in the stronger winds along the East end of the island, there’s something for everyone.

Great kayaking can be found all around the island and when the sun drops, you’re in for a real treat! Picture yourself gliding gently through the waters of the bio-luminescence bay near Rum Point, with your boat’s motion making the sea all around you glow an eerie blue – It’s a once in a lifetime experience for sure. Of course, if you have more of a need for speed, there’s kite-surfing, wakeboarding or parasailing – It’s an unbelievable feeling to fly hundreds of feet in the air enjoying birds-eye views of 7 Mile Beach, Georgetown and across to the North Sound. Grand Cayman also has jet skiing and even a unique floating water-park for kids of all ages to enjoy.

For more information on Grand Cayman’s water-sports options, including a list of tours and equipment rentals, check out our Grand Cayman Water Sports page

Go Fishing

Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

If you like to spend some time at sea, you’re in for a real treat at Grand Cayman! Thanks to miles of coral reefs located just a few hundred feet from the Island, there’s great opportunities for reef fishing and bottom fishing with plenty of Grouper, Snapper and Jacks to catch. You can also try Cayman Island fly-fishing, bone fishing and even tarpon fishing in Grand Cayman’s protected North Sound. If you’re looking for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the Caribbean, look no further than the Cayman Trench – Located roughly 10 miles (18km) from the shores of Grand Cayman, this abyss reaches depths of 20,000 feet (6,000m)! If it’s big game fish you’re after, there’s plenty of Blue Marlin, Wahoo (kingfish), Mahi-Mahi (dolphin), Tuna and Barracuda to challenge your skills.

For more Cayman Islands fishing information, including our list of boat operators to get you out there, click on our Grand Cayman Fishing page

That’s all great fun in and on the Caribbean Sea… Now, there’s also a couple of great opportunities for Caribbean adventure with your feet on/near dry land…

Explore the Island by Bike

Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

Cayman Island cycling is a great way to see Grand Cayman and the magnificent Caribbean Sea. There is a variety of cycling route options to choose from, including coastal loops and inland routes that both offer picturesque views of the surrounding areas. There’s a mixed-trail coastal loop just north of Seven Mile Beach, where you can visit attractions such as Hell, Barkers National Park and the Cayman Turtle Farm. There’s also Grand Cayman’s quieter East End – Where there is little traffic, making it an ideal location to enjoy relaxing scenic coastal road routes. Attractions in the area include Nature / Wilderness Reserves, the Wreck of the Ten Sails, a lighthouse as well as rocky blowholes and Lovers Wall. If you’re really looking for a more strenuous route, there’s also a challenging 50 mile (80km) route in the area as well.

For more Cayman Islands cycling information, including a list of cycling tours and bike rentals, check out our Grand Cayman Cycling page

Grand Cayman Adventures include the Caribbean's best diving & snorkeling, as well as awesome water-sports & fishing. On land there's great cycling & hiking too!

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots (or Good Walking Shoes)

Grand Cayman’s Mastic Reserve Trail makes for a fun half-day adventure as you journey on a rustic path through a variety of natural habitats including old-growth dry forest, black mangrove wetland, stands of Royal Palms and Silver Thatch Palms as well as abandoned agricultural land. Take it all in and you’re sure to appreciate the flowers, butterflies and birds, including parrots, west Indian woodpeckers as well as Caribbean doves, that you may encounter. You’ll likely also see lizards, frogs and large hermit crabs during the hike.

For more Cayman Islands hiking information, including a list of tours and guides to get you on the trail, click on our Grand Cayman Hiking page

Have Fun Out There!

ACT Staff

Once you’ve had your fill of action and want to slow-it-down a bit, check out our recommended Things To Do in the Cayman Islands blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands that make up the Caymans, click on our Cayman Islands Vacations page

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Cycling Nevis – A Fun Caribbean Excursion

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St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours, enjoying views of Nevis Peak, visiting old plantations, museums, and other attractions!

We just rode around a Caribbean Island!

The two-island nation of St. Kitts & Nevis is conveniently located southeast of the Virgin Islands, just west of Antigua & Barbuda. The mountainous islands are home to lush rainforest interiors and paved coastal roads that are ideal for an awesome Caribbean cycling experience. Nevis, the quieter of the two islands, is small enough to bike around in a few hours and offers stunning views of the island and the endless blue surrounding the island.

St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours with great views of the island and Caribbean Sea

While we’ve enjoyed many hiking and snorkelling excursions in the Caribbean, we have never gone for a bike ride before.  So, on our recent trip to Nevis we were excited to be heading out on our very first Caribbean cycling adventure, although unfortunately some things just don’t work out as planned. We were visiting Nevis for the day and had planned to go for a nice bike ride in the morning, followed by a unique rum experience in the afternoon. Problem is, the bike rental shop opened about 2 hours after we had hoped to have been on the road. As a result, we didn’t have much time to enjoy our cycling event before we had to get back in time for our scheduled rum tour.

Anyways, while we were getting our hybrid bicycles adjusted to our height, I talked with the shop owner to get some recommendations on where to bike. He repeatedly stated that the island is “tiny” and that we can’t get lost.  He suggested riding into Nevis’ capital Charlestown and exploring some backroads, but that sounded kind of boring, so we decided to heed his other idea… to undertake the much more strenuous and time-consuming ‘around the island’ route.  The shop owner told us that the record time for riding all the way around the island is less than sixty minutes, so we figured we could do it comfortably in a couple of hours. Well, we were about to find out the hard way that that was not a good assumption.

St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours on a combo of flat and hilling roads

We were advised to bike clockwise around the island, to avoid having to cycle uphill on a long stretch of road just south of Charlestown. So off we went under the midday heat. Starting from the Oualie Beach area we headed east along the main road. It was a nice leisurely ride along the north end of Nevis where we encountered many sheep (that look like goats) at the side of or just as often, on the road.  These critters displayed interesting behaviour.  While they barely moved when cars drove past, they seemed to be absolutely terrified when they saw us coming.  I don’t know why, but they nervously scurried into the bush whenever we approached – Perhaps they thought we were trying to round them up or something. Comforting views of St. Kitts across the channel started to fade as we passed Nevis’ Vance Amory airport and headed south down the east coast.

St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours on quiet safe roads

It was cool to see some monkeys scavenging around some fields, however we had to stay focused on our cycling as we were encountering a number of hills. We know Nevis is a mountainous island and had expected some hills, however they were starting to test us.  We stopped once in a while for a break and to observe a small wind farm as well as a small island way off in the distance. After riding for about 45 minutes or so, we passed the Nevis Raceway – I have to say, I was not expecting to find a dragstrip on this small Caribbean Island.  We didn’t see any race cars that day, although the cattle, donkeys and sheep were enjoying grazing on the fields surrounding the asphalt tracks.

Rounding the southeast corner of the island, the road headed inland and we encountered a beautiful green mountain landscape along with some much bigger and steeper hills to take on. Being we just left a snow-filled winter wonderland at home, we hadn’t ridden for a few months, so our biking muscles were a bit rusty and were starting to get fatigued.  We ended up dismounting and walking up two or three of the longer, steeper sections of road. We were falling way behind schedule and were stressing that we wouldn’t make it back in time for our scheduled pick-up.  While I’m sure it was less than an hour, it seemed like it took us forever to travel across the southern end of Nevis.

St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours, enjoying views of Nevis Peak, visiting old plantations, museums, and more!

The worst part of being so time-sensitive was that we were not taking the time to enjoy the local attractions and gorgeous Caribbean sights that this magnificent Caribbean Island had to offer. If we would have had more time, I would have liked to have checked out the Nevisian Heritage Village and one or two of the old plantations.  This would have also given us some much-needed rest breaks. Eventually, we rounded the southwest corner of Nevis and were elated to realize that we were finally seeing the Caribbean side of the island. About 2.5 miles (4km) or more outside of Charlestown the road was on a near-constant downhill, so we enjoyed the glide, which included a few steep sections that provided an exhilarating ride.  We were flying down the roads, braking to stay in control around the corners. We quickly reached the capital, but again we didn’t have the time to wander around the quaint town to take in the sights.

St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours. Donkeys, monkeys and sheep roam the streets.

At this point, we found our second wind, and with the clock always on our mind we bore down and finished the final 5 miles (8km) or so in business-like fashion. In different circumstances, I would have really enjoyed cycling alongside a donkey that was scampering wild down the street, but at this point, I was just focused on finishing the ride. About half an hour later we made it back to our starting point, and fortunately, our afternoon ride was still there, even though we were more than an hour late – Thank goodness for ‘island time’…

In summary, we enjoyed the unique view of the mountainous interior, including the wonderous Nevis Peak and its surrounding rolling ridges.  We got an awesome workout, although we felt a little weak after cycling in the heat and humidity. FYI – The ‘around the island’ route is just over 19 miles (31km) long, with over 785 feet (240m) of vertical to climb along the southern stretch across Nevis. A route that avid cyclists would probably enjoy and may even consider a bucket list activity! In hindsight, we tried to do too much in too little time and hence failed to enjoy the experience.  It would have been better to have planned for 4-to-5 hours, including stops at various beaches, historical attractions, maybe even a restaurant or two along the way. Alternatively, we could have spent a couple of hours with a loop route at the north end of the island, or just ridden down to Charlestown and back.

ACT Staff

For more information on cycling in the Sister Islands, including a list of local tour operators and bike rental shops, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis MTB & Cycling page

If you’re looking for some other adventures that will raise your pulse rate a bit, check out the recommendations in our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog 

If you’re looking to slow-it-down a bit, maybe take a tour of the island to see some attractions, check out our recommendations for Things To Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

For an overview of the Sister Islands, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

St. Kitts & Nevis is great for Caribbean cycling. Cycle around Nevis in a few hours, enjoying views of Nevis Peak, visiting old plantations, museums, and more!
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Top 6 Attractions in Bonaire

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Fun Things to Do in Bonaire – Pink Flamingos, White Salt Mountains & So Much More

Discover what Bonaire has to offer. Dive / snorkel a reef, visit nature reserves and see parrots and flamingos or enjoy festivals, heritage sites, site-seeing tours and more.

Bonaire is a small island in the southern Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles, situated about 25 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast – The island is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Caribbean, Bonaire is safe from hurricanes and has a truly amazing climate, relatively warm and dry for most of the year. Famous for it’s pink flamingos and white mountains of salt, the island has plenty to offer sight-seeing travelers.  There are plenty of things to do in Bonaire if you know where to look…  Our Personal favourites include:

Explore Bonaire Nature in Washington-Slagbaai National Park

Things to do in Bonaire - Enjoy Bonaire Attractions like Washington-Slagbaai National Park

Washington-Slagbaai National Park covers close to 14 thousand acres at the northern tip of the island. Established in 1969, this was the first nature sanctuary in the Netherlands Antilles.  The Park is a protected area for sea turtles and birds – including parrots, flamingos and parakeets, as well as iguanas and many other reptiles.  Washington-Slagbaai is a land of contrasts, from it’s mostly desert terrain to a couple of RAMSAR recognized wetland areas.  A trip to the Park usually includes a visit to their museum and an off-road drive on one of the three main roads to explore what the park has to offer.  There’s a number of interesting sites to see, inland as well as along the coast.  Visit salt lakes, animal watering holes, a lighthouse, the island’s tallest hill and perhaps you’ll want to spend some time on a quiet beach.

FYI – For more nature outside of the Park, Bonaire Botanical Gardens offer guided tours of their desert plantation. The Garden is located on the north-east coast, just south-east of Washington-Slagbaai National Park.

For more information, along with tour operators who can get you in and around the park, check out our Things to do in Bonaire – Land Excursions page

Bonaire Bird Watching and Flamingo Viewing

Things to do in Bonaire - Enjoy Bonaire Attractions like Echo’s Dos Pos Conservation Centre or Goto Meer

A visit to Echo’s Dos Pos Conservation Centre at the north end of the island will give you the best opportunity to see some of Bonaire’s parrots.  Guided tours will take you through a dry forest environment, satisfying your bird watching desires with educational information as well as quiet time to observe the birds.

While you may get lucky and spot a flamingo on a drive around the island, the best place for you to view the large colourful birds is at Bonaire’s north end, at a saltwater lagoon observation area called Goto Meer.  It’s interesting to note that the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, located at the south end of the island, is not open to tourists.  That said, upwards of 10 thousand flamingos along with a large variety of other birds, can be viewed in the salt lake sanctuary with binoculars from the nearby road (EEG Boulevard) or even Pink Beach.

For more information on one of the more popular things to do in Bonaire, including tour operators who will help you see Bonaire’s iconic birds, click on our Things to do in Bonaire – Land Excursions page

Bonaire Sight Seeing – Main Towns & Attractions

Things to do in Bonaire - Enjoy Bonaire Attractions like walking around Kralendijk

On the west coast of the island you’ll find the capital of Bonaire, Kralendijk (pronounced ‘Kral-An-Didjk’). The quaint town-centre is full of colourful homes and buildings and there’s plenty of shopping on and around the main street Kaya Grandi.  For the history buff, Terramar Museum is in the center of town, featuring exhibits showcasing seven thousand years of Caribbean and Bonairean history.

Mangazina di Rei Museum is housed in the second oldest stone building on the island – It’s located in Rincon, at the north end of Bonaire. Tours are available of a local Monument along with the museum’s indoor / outdoor “historical & cultural” displays.  While you’re there… The Cadushy Distillery is also located in Rincon.  The distillery produces rum, vodka and whisky, however it’s main products are colourful local fruit based liqueurs – One dedicated to each of the Dutch Caribbean Islands.

For more information, along with tour operators who provide island tours, click on our Things to do in Bonaire page

Bonaire Sight Seeing – Island Attractions & Great Views

Things to do in Bonaire - Enjoy Bonaire Attractions like the Slave Huts and Obelisks

Seru Largu is an easily accessed look-out located on a 330 feet (100m) hill.  It’s not a huge hill, however as the island is predominantly flat, you’ll be treated with spectacular views of the island and Caribbean sea. The Look-out is located 4 miles (7km) north of Kralendijk. 

Bonaire’s Slave Huts & Obelisks mark the location where slave labour was used to collect and load salt on to old sailboats. The four Obelisks were used as navigational beacons for the incoming ships. This site is at the south-west end of the island near the salt ponds.

Bonaire’s first lighthouse, built in 1837, Willemstoren is located on the south-east tip of island.

For more info, along with tour operators who provide island tours, check out our Things to do in Bonaire – Land Excursions page

Enjoy Bonaire’s Roads and Trails…

Things to do in Bonaire - Enjoy Bonaire Attractions by Harley Davidson, ATV, Dune Buggy or horesback

Various tour operators on the island offer Quad/ATV or Dune Buggy based off-road excursions.  Have fun driving around the desert terrain, taking occasional breaks to explore a cave, view the island from a hill-top look out or check out one of the many attractions in the Bara di Karta region of Bonaire. 

Sad that you left your hog at home? You can get on a Harley Davidson for a few hours to explore the island in style – Either as part of a Motorbike Tour or Motorbike Rental.  Seriously!

If you’re looking for a more quiet and slower natural experience, try horseback riding on Bonaire – There are two great stables to choose from.

Check this out – For the really adventurous, give Land Yacht Sailing a try.  Think of a large go-cart, powered by the wind.  Yes, that’s a thing in Bonaire!

For more information, along with tour operators who will get you moving, click on our Things to do in Bonaire – Land Excursions page

Have Fun and Explore Bonaire by Sea

Things to do in Bonaire - Enjoy Bonaire from the sea via a glass bottom boat, a catamaran sailboat or motor boat.

There are also a number of ways for you to explore the island by sea.  You can take a Glass Bottom Boat tour to get a view of the island’s underwater beauty without getting wet.  Perhaps a private motor-boat or speedboat tour is more your speed.  There’s plenty of sea-faring options in Bonaire.

Larger motorboats and sailboats are available for a variety of ocean tours – Enjoy Dinner at Sea, a Sunset Cruise or perhaps a Party Boat cruise… There’s something for everyone!

For more information, along with boat operators who will get you on the Caribbean Sea, click on our Things to do in Bonaire – Ocean Excursions page

Enjoy!

ACT Staff

If you’re looking for more of a physical adventure, check out our Bonaire Adventure Activities blog

For more information on the amazingly diverse island, take a look at our Bonaire Vacations page

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A Delightful Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts

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Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish, sargent major, jacks, wrasse, trumpetfish, snake eel and more

A wicked fast catamaran and a beautiful bay full of life


Whenever we visit the Caribbean we try to get out for a day at sea.  Not only do we not sail and snorkel when at home, but there’s just something liberating about cruising alongside a lush tropical island surrounded by so much blue – from the water and sky. Sailing provides a rare “big picture” perspective of the island you’re visiting and snorkeling allows access to a world so refreshingly different than what we’re used to on land.

While vacationing in Saint Kitts, we arranged to do a half-day sail and snorkel excursion with Leeward Islands Charters, and we’re glad we did.  When we arrived at Basseterre’s Port Zante Marina the morning of the tour, it was a little overcast and the wind was blowing – A great day for sailing. A representative from Leeward Islands Charters helped us get through port security before leading us to the boat we would be venturing out on. Ooooh, what a beauty!  The “Spirit of St. Kitts” as she’s called, is a large 78-foot catamaran with a sleek low profile – She looks fast just sitting in port.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran Spirit of St. Kitts

The friendly crew welcomed us on board, along with 2 other couples and a family of 5, for what would amount to a near-private sailing excursion on this spacious sea-faring vessel! With the 5 crew members in place and all the guests settled in the catamaran’s cockpit, we untied from the dock and were on our way. To the rhythmic and soothing sounds of reggae music, we left the port and headed south hugging the beautiful coastline of St. Kitts. The wind was fairly strong and the water was a bit choppy, although you wouldn’t know it because the ship remained steady and level.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise


We ventured to the front of the cat, taking a comfortable position on the trampoline/netting to take in the scenery. The mountainous interior of northern St. Kitts initially dominated the view and as we sailed, it became clear that there are very few low-lying areas of coastline with beaches along the western side of the island. Not to be outdone, the southeast peninsula offered equally picturesque views. We passed the beach at Frigate Bay with the famous “strip” of beach bars/restaurants as well as Timothy Hill, probably the best place on the island for spectacular southern views of rolling hills with Nevis as a spectacular backdrop.  We then sailed by the other beaches on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts along South Friar’s Bay.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay


We passed some mega-yachts anchored at Christophe Harbour before we slowed and reached our snorkeling destination called Shitten Bay.  What a crappy name (pun intended) for such a gorgeous location.  With 30 plus foot cliffs lining the coast, it’s easy to see why this snorkeling spot is only accessible by boat. Considered the best place to snorkel in St. Kitts, the protected bay is sheltered from wind and waves, allowing the water to be calm and clear – perfect for seeing what’s down there!

Fortunately for us, there was only one other sailboat there when we arrived, and its passengers were almost finished their snorkeling adventure. I was surprised to see how close to shore we ventured before we tied up to a buoy.  The view of the water was like something out of a Caribbean magazine.  You know, that inviting turquoise colour that you just don’t see at home. Peering over the side of the boat I could see the ocean floor about 15 feet down, covered with seagrass along with a row of rocks/boulders in shallower water closer to shore.  Oh, this is going to be awesome.  Not able to contain my excitement (or wait for the kids to get off the ladder), I grabbed some fins, donned my mask and jumped over the side. As St. Kitts & Nevis is not well known for its underwater world I wasn’t expecting too much, however, I was pleasantly surprised!

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see sargent major, jacks, and more

I was immediately greeted by a school of black & yellow striped sergeant majors along with a handful of large silver fish with a yellow strip down their backs that I believe were yellow jacks.  I slowly floated closer to shore leaving the seagrass heading for the boulders. That was a good move, as it quickly became apparent that this is where the sea life hangs out.  I was amazed to see such a wide variety of fish swimming among the rocks. I saw little silver fish, medium-sized brown fish, butterflyfish with their distinctive black dot near its tail fin and a mixture of awesome-looking blue fish that may have been chubbs, chromas and/or tang. I was mesmerized by a small black fish with fluorescent blue dots that appeared to be glowing – Incredible! I also saw some fun-looking bluehead wrasse as well as a number of unique yellow trumpetfish that I thought were cool.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see trumpetfish

I floated over the rocks slowing heading north where I eventually encountered a coral structure jutting out from the shore into deeper water. One of the many highlights for me was seeing a fascinating ribbon-like eel.  It was whitish with bi-coloured dots along its body. I couldn’t study it for long as it quickly left one hiding spot only to disappear again between two rocks. Perhaps it was a snake eel or a juvenile spotted moray. All I know was that was neat to see! I also saw a beautiful but deadly (and out-of-place) lionfish. I must have seen close to two dozen different species of fish in all. After a while, I started to pay more attention to everything in my new underwater world. I soon realized that there were several species of corals and other sea life down there as well. I saw fire coral, brain coral, a few different stick-like corals, as well as some vertical tubes, plenty of large purple fans as well as a variety of other plants I don’t know by name. 

Swimming back towards the boat I got pretty excited when I saw a decent sized puffer fish swimming along the grassy ocean floor.  I followed above it for a while, although I could tell I was making it nervous as it sped off to the safety of the rocks. Wow, that was special – Another great encounter

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish
Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish, sargent major, jacks, wrasse, trumpetfish, snake eel and more


When my time was up, I reluctantly got back on board the catamaran, being met by a crewmember who hosed me down with fresh water. Likely to protect the boat from saltwater, I enjoyed it nonetheless, and I got to rinse off my snorkel mask in the process. Once we were all back on board, we had a light (pre-packed) lunch, and then the drinks started to flow.  We sampled some of their grate rum punch – No that’s not a spelling mistake, I’m referring to the fresh nutmeg that was shaved on top 😉.  OK fine, and we more than just sampled the tasty Caribbean beverages – we may have had a few.

The crew carefully motored out of the bay, then 3 if not 4 of the guys were needed to set the mainsail along with the jib.  Just like that, we were off, sailing toward Nevis at a nice brisk pace.

That said, once we hit the gap between the sister islands, we were really in for a treat. Now, with nothing blocking the wind, the cat shifted into high gear and we flew across the ocean at an exhilarating speed! While the water was quite choppy and the occasional crest sprayed over the front of the hull, the Spirit of St. Kitts remained flat and steady – Although I did need to grab something for balance, as I didn’t want to spill my drink. Sitting on the edge of the trampoline, I was captivated by the water rushing beneath the netting. For northerners (like me), it’s sort of like staring at a campfire…


What a marvelous experience – That may have been the fastest I’ve ever travelled under wind power.  I would say that I loved the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair, except one key element is missing for that to have happened – and it wasn’t for lack of wind!  Anyways, all good things must come to an end…  One of the crew asked me to sit down (to avoid getting hit in the head by the boom), as we were about to tack. The catamaran slowed and almost heaved to a stop as we bobbed and turned, then headed back up the coast towards Basseterre with more fantastic views of the island of Saint Kitts.

I can’t imagine a more enjoyable 4 hours in the Caribbean, although I don’t know what I loved more, the surprisingly good snorkeling or the fantastic sail. Thanks to the friendly and professional crew and the awesome boat from Leeward Islands Charters, we got both!


For more information about Leeward Islands Charters, including what they offer for you to experience your own St. Kitts and Nevis adventure, visit their website or facebook page (just click on a link below):

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish, sargent major, jacks, wrasse, trumpetfish, snake eel and more


For more material on sailing in the Caribbean, go to our Caribbean Sailing page.

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

For some great Tourist Attractions on the islands, check out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog post.

For more underwater action, maybe you’ll enjoy our St. Kitts & Nevis Snorkeling blog.

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

ACT Staff

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A Beautiful day for Barbados Sailing

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Active Caribbean Travel sets sail in Barbados. Barbados sailing along the west coast cruise plus swimming with turtles & snorkeling a shipwreck.

Feel the wind, move to reggae beats & look below the waves!

Barbados is a unique coral island in the Caribbean famous for its white-sand beaches, consistently warm weather and excellent rum.  A great way to tour the island and partake in some of the best of what Barbados has to offer is to sail and snorkel along the west coast. Sailing has a rich history in Barbados and with near constant trade-winds and calm Caribbean seas, a sailing excursion is a “must-do” tour when visiting the island. This may also be the best way for first-timers to reach the snorkeling hotspots in Carlisle Bay. It’s what we did!

After the Tour Operator collected us from our hotel, it was just a short mini-van ride to the marina at the north end of Carlisle Bay.  After a short walk in the drizzling rain, we boarded a catamaran for a snorkel, sail and lunch tour. We were joined by a couple of dozen people or so, although it never really felt crowded. The spacious vessel had a large covered cabin downstairs with a huge bar and bathrooms located off in both of the hulls.  There was plenty of room on deck, at the front half of the boat on and around the catamaran webbing, over the main cabin, as well as an area at the back of the boat.  After a brief introduction from the crew, we were on our way.

Active Caribbean Travel sets sail in Barbados. Barbados sailing along the west coast cruise plus swimming with turtles & snorkeling a shipwreck.

The tour started with a quick motor over to Carlisle Bay’s choicest spots – One known for swimming with turtles and the other over a shallow shipwreck.  A friendly member of the crew handed out some masks, fins and floatation vests and we entered the warm Caribbean Sea.  FYI – we have our own masks now – no more wondering where that mouthpiece had been last 😉.

Luckily the drizzle had subsided by the time we got to the snorkel spots. That said, the water seemed a little cloudy – I suspect more sunlight would have helped with visibility. At first, I didn’t see anything, however as my eyes adjusted to my new underwater environment, I saw something move…  There were several stingrays cruising along the seafloor looking for food scraps.  Unfortunately, there were several boatloads of people here at the same time as us, so when a turtle was eventually spotted, everyone converged on the area.  Regardless of the thrashing humans all around, we managed to see a couple of the fascinating reptiles. I think they were green turtles and not hawksbills, but I’m not sure.  It was really fun to watch a turtle, enveloped in a swarm of “entourage” fish, swim-up for an easy meal.  After surfacing for some air, they gracefully descended back into the mysterious blue depths. Wow – That was pretty cool!

Active Caribbean Travel sets sail in Barbados. Barbados sailing along the west coast cruise plus swimming with turtles & snorkeling a shipwreck.

We re-boarded the boat and motored a couple of hundred feet away, a little closer to shore this time, near the location of a sunken tugboat. Our guide led us to where the shipwreck was resting in about 15 feet of water.  Once I looked below the surface it was easy to spot. Snorkeling over the shipwreck was a lot of fun!  It was amazing to see so many fish congregating in one area like that. The top and sides of the wreck were covered in a variety of corals as well as sponges and sea fans, although it was the large variety of tropical fish that really got me excited.  I viewed the ship from stern to bow and back again – I just couldn’t get enough.  Along with schools of sergeant-majors, the trumpetfish, blue-tang and angelfish really stood out to me.


Active Caribbean Travel sets sail in Barbados. Barbados sailing along the west coast cruise plus swimming with turtles & snorkeling a shipwreck.

Somewhat reluctantly, I got back on the boat and dried off in the sun while the crew steered us out of the bay. They hoisted the sails and we were off for the sailing portion of the tour. We were really fortunate to be out on a windy day, as it’s just no fun having to motor around on a gorgeous sailboat. With both the mainsail and jib up harnessing the wind, we skimmed quickly across the beautiful Caribbean Sea. It was exhilarating sitting at the front of the boat, enjoying some decent speeds – I even lied down on the catamaran webbing, reveling in the water rushing below.  We sailed north along the west coast to the energetic yet relaxing sounds of beautiful reggae music – It doesn’t really get much better than this! I was thinking to myself, how do I make this moment last forever? Oh well, back to reality… Eventually, we came to a stop near Sandy Lane and maneuvered into position to anchor for lunch.

Active Caribbean Travel sets sail in Barbados. Barbados sailing along the west coast cruise plus swimming with turtles & snorkeling a shipwreck.


Did I mention that the boat had an open bar downstairs?  Well, it did and the friendly crew was doing their best to create a party atmosphere and ensure everyone was having fun. Personally, I thought the rum sour and rum punch I sampled were delicious! While sitting out in the warm sun viewing the beach-filled shoreline with a rum beverage in my hand I was thinking, This is a pretty great way to spend a day!



Active Caribbean Travel sets sail in Barbados. Barbados sailing along the west coast cruise plus swimming with turtles & snorkeling a shipwreck.

Before long, the crew let us know that the buffet lunch was there for the taking.  Having worked up an appetite after our swim and snorkeling, it was great to sample their offering of barbeque chicken, fish, baked potatoes, rice & peas (beans) and vegetables along with an assortment of salads. What a nice spread. We were moored there for a while, so after lunch we had time to just chill…  While some people went for a swim, others dived or flipped off the side of the catamaran. We just relaxed at the back of the boat making new friends.  I think the best place to be was at the back of the boat dangling our feet in the water enjoying the beautiful and calming blue sea…

Well, eventually we had to head back.  We motored/sailed south to the sound of contemporary / pop hits, which some would say is the easiest to dance to.  This particular crowd did not erupt into a congo line of dancers that we’ve seen on other party boats – That was fine with me.  The crew came around with one last treat of carrot cake – perhaps intended to help sober us up a bit.

Over-all this was a great sailing tour.  Even though it sprinkled rain a couple of times it didn’t dampen our spirit.  We enjoyed seeing the turtles and snorkeling over the wreck, chatting with folks and having a good time!  We were driven back to our hotel, where we still had a few hours of daylight left to enjoy

FYI – There are several catamaran tour operators in Barbados to choose from, even a monohull tour operator is available.  Most seem to do some variation of this west coast cruise. You can check out a number of them to find the one best suited for your needs.  Some other sailing excursions feature sunsets or dinner.

ACT Staff

For more information on sailing in Barbados, including a list of boat / tour operators, check out our Barbados Sailing page

For an overview of beautiful Barbados, take a look at our Barbados Vacations page

For an overview of great Tourist Attractions on the island, including tour operators who will take good care of you, check out our Things to Do in Barbados page

For more underwater adventures, maybe you’ll enjoy our Barbados Snorkeling blog

If you’re looking for more ‘active’ things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Barbados Adventures blog post for some great ideas!