Caribbean – Page 12

7 Fun Things to do in Barbados

By freem32@cogeco.ca Caribbean, Caving, Gardens, Great House, Look-Out Points, Nature, Old Forts, Plantation, Rum, Sea Cave, Tourist Attractions

Attractions and Things to do in Barbados include Gardens, Nature, Rum, Caves, Historical Sites, Monkeys, Great Views & more

Gorgeous Gardens, Nature, Caves, Rum, East Coast Views & more…

You’ll find that Barbados is a unique Caribbean island. Not only is it the most easterly island in the Caribbean, Barbados is also distinct from it’s closest neighbours St. Lucia and St. Vincent for another reason. Barbados is a coral-based island, significantly different than the volcanic islands nearby. While best known for its English heritage and white sandy beaches, Barbados is home to gorgeous gardens, great rum, amazing tropical views and more. The island has plenty to offer sight-seeing travelers if you know where to look… Our personal favourite “things to do” in Barbados include:

Strolling Through a Beautiful Barbados Garden

Barbados may have more landscaped and manicured gardens than any other island in the Caribbean. Horticulturists and flower lovers alike will enjoy:

Hunte’s Gardens – A spectacular tropical garden situated on the grounds of a historic plantation in the heart of the island
The Flower Forest Garden – A 53 acre Nature Reserve in the Scotland District, displaying rare and exotic tropical blooms and foliage
Andromeda Botanical Gardens – A manicured landscape near Barbados’ beautiful east coast, featuring a variety of plants from around the world
Orchid World – A large garden near the middle of the island, with thousands of orchids on display!

For more information, along with tour operators who can get you smelling the flowers, click on our Things to do in Barbados – Land Excursions page

Sampling Some of the World’s Best – Barbados Rum

Barbados is generally considered the birthplace of rum, having produced the golden liquid for over 350 years. The distinctive quality of Barbados rum is likely due to the island’s unique coral make-up, providing clean water and excellent sugar cane.

Founded in 1703, Mount Gay rum is world-renowned as being “the rum that invented rum”. Mount Gay offers tours of their historic distillery in St. Lucy county as well as a number of other rum tasting tours and workshops at their Bridgetown Visitor Centre. For a first-hand account, check out our Mount Gay Historic Distillery Experience Tour blog post.

In the latter half of the 20th century, Foursquare Distillery consolidated a number of the island’s rum producers at a centuries-old sugar plantation in the south end of the island. The distillery is now one of Barbados’ most environmentally friendly, where visitors are welcome to wander the grounds of the Foursquare Rum Distillery and Heritage Park. Self-guided tours of the factory and museums are available, as is the warm and inviting tasting room.

On the grounds of another centuries-old sugar plantation, St. Nicholas Abbey is home to a Jacobean mansion, Gardens, a Heritage Railway, as well as a relatively young ‘micro-distillery’. Guided tours include the rum distillery operation. For a more colourful and complete review of the plantation, check out our St. Nicholas Abbey blog post.

Appreciating Barbados’ Natural Areas

Once tourists venture from the popular west coast of Barbados and head inland, they’ll discover a number of options for leisurely strolls through forested areas, where the flora and fauna of the island can be enjoyed. Some of the best spots for nature include:

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve – An old-growth mahogany forest is the setting for viewing a variety of animals including turtles, green monkeys and small deer. The Reserve is also home to bird and iguana sanctuaries as well as the Grenade Hall Signal Station – A forested area with interesting artefacts and hiking trails.
Welchman Hall Gully – A unique sunken cave system complete with a large variety of exotic tropical plants and trees. The Gully is also home to a large troop of wild green monkeys
PEG Farm and Nature Reserve – The farm offers an Eco Tour that highlights agricultural and natural sites on the property, including breathtaking views of the rugged east coast from Hackleton’s cliff
Coco Hill Forest – A lush and hilly 53-acre rainforest and farm with hiking trails amid tropical flora and scenic look-outs of the east coast and Atlantic Ocean.

For more information, along with tour operators who can get you out in nature, check out our Things to do in Barbados – Land Excursions page

For a more detailed and colourful review of Welchman Hall Gully, check out our personal experience with our Welchman Hall Gully blog post.

Exploring Amazing and Diverse Barbados Caves

The island’s coral and limestone geology have resulted in large natural caverns with stalactites, stalagmites and flow-stones as well as incredible underground streams. Barbados is home to a couple of amazing and diverse caves.

Opened in the early 1980s, Harrison’s Cave is absolutely stunning. The cave system has more than a mile (2km) of tunnels, as well as streams and deep pools of water. The Great Hall is a massive cavern, almost 50 feet (15m) tall. You can enjoy a guided tour of the cave by comfortable Electric Tram, or by foot (Walk-In Cave Tour). You can even join an Eco-Adventure Tour that includes a hike to the cave prior to exploring the cave system on foot.

Located at the northern tip of Barbados, Animal Flower Cave is a natural sea cave with large underground ‘windows’ that are open to the Atlantic ocean! The cave is named after the ‘anemone’ creature that resides in some of the caverns’ pools. Other subterranean pools are deep enough for swimming! Above ground, there is a restaurant perched on the edge of the cliffs with spectacular views of the rugged northern coastline and ocean. For a more complete and colourful review, check out our Animal Flower Cave blog post.

For more information on Barbados Caves, including a list of local tour operators who can get you underground, click on our Barbados Caving page

Savouring Barbados East Coast Views

Tourists staying on the west coast will be enthralled with the contrasting rugged east coast. Hotspots and attractions include: Cherry Tree Hill – The second-highest point on Barbados providing breathtaking views of the island’s ‘Scottish Highlands’ hills and ridges as well as the rough east coast shoreline; Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill – This Barbados National Trust site features the last remaining 18th-century windmill in the Caribbean! Bathsheba – A quiet seaside village with a boulder-strewn, coral-filled beach; St. John’s Parish Church – Rebuilt in the 19th-century this remarkable Gothic church, with a famous resident, provides picturesque views of the east coast.

For more information, along with tour operators for travelling the east coast, click on our Things to do in Barbados – Land Excursions page.

Visiting Historic Bridgetown Landmarks

The capital of Barbados is home to an 18th-century British military structure known as the Garrison, a Unesco World Heritage Site as well as its interesting Garrison Tunnels. The town also features other historical buildings such as the country’s Parliament Buildings, a number of museums as well as George Washington House.

For more information, along with tour operators who will show you around town, check out our Things to do in Barbados – Land Excursions page.

Step Back In Time on a Barbados Plantation

Can you imagine what it would have been like to live in a Caribbean “great-house” back in the day? Well, there’s a couple of places in Barbados that will transport you back in time: St. Nicholas Abbey – A plantation featuring a rare 17th-century Jacobian Great House, a newly restored/built Heritage Railway system as well as a working rum distillery. Tours include a short film from the 1930s, a train ride around the plantation to Cherry Tree Hill, as well as a sampling of rum; Sunbury Plantation Great House – A stunning 17th century restored Caribbean home featuring a large ‘fully set’ dining room, local prints and more…

For more information, along with tour operators who will get you to these historical landmarks, click on our Things to do in Barbados – Land Excursions page.

For a more detailed and colourful review of St. Nicholas Abbey plantation, take a look at our St. Nicholas Abbey Blog post.

Finally, I should also mention that Barbados holds a variety of exciting events throughout the year including the Crop-Over Festival, various music festivals, a food & rum festival, a film festival and more – For the complete schedule, check out our Barbados Festivals and Events page.

Enjoy!

ACT Staff

Also, check out our Sights of Barbados video collage on YouTube! Want to see more? Watch our Barbados Beaches & Coastlines video on YouTube!

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

For more information on this amazingly diverse island, take a look at our Barbados Vacations page

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An Epic Hiking ‘Fail’ in Martinique

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Hiking, Nature, Rum

Martinique Hiking on the rarely used / un-maintained Piton Lacroix trail was a great adventure that sadly ended in failure. Now with a map, we'll do it next time

You can find Martinique comfortably located between Dominica and St. Lucia, pretty much in the middle of the southern Caribbean. As an “over-seas region” of France and the 3rd largest of the Windward Islands, Martinique is a unique Caribbean destination, and that holds true for its hiking trails. The island offers a variety of easy relaxing walks as well as some very challenging and mountainous hikes. Although we were only there for the day as part of a cruise stop, we were feeling ambitious and decided to attempt hiking one of the tallest peaks on the island – Piton Lacroix, which stands majestically at 3,870 feet (1,180m) above sea-level.

We rented a car in Fort-de-France, then headed north-west along the coast towards Le-Morne Vert. We were amazed to discover that the main roads on Martinique are large, well maintained multi-lane highways. It was a nice scenic drive, filled with gorgeous coastal views on one side, and green mountainous rainforest views on the other! Just past Bellefontaine, we headed inland towards the town of Saint Maurice. Driving on these narrow, winding roads, we got lost a few times before ending up at the east end of a road called Canton Suisse.

At this point, I’ll mention that sometimes things just don’t work out as planned… While there are over 3 dozen marked trails on Martinique, unbeknownst to me at the time, this wasn’t one of them. Not one of my best ideas – However, it was an adventure, none the less!

We parked the car on the side of the road near an old farmhouse and walked up a steep paved road which turned into a dirt/grass track before ending-up at a partly plowed farmer’s field. As we walked, we passed goats and cows wandering around. As we seemed to have startled them, I don’t think they were used to many visitors. At the edge of the field, we could see a series of forested mountains in the background to the east. From this vantage point, we also had beautiful views to the north/west of the island, towards Saint Maurice, Le Morne Vert as well as the Caribbean Sea.

Did I mention that we were kind of winging it? Well… as we were at the forest edge, I assumed that the trail must start here somewhere, however there was no marked trailhead of any sort. I walked the edge of the field/forest trying to find some hint of a trail. I never really found anything that resembled a well-used trail but eventually, after about 10-15 minutes of searching, we headed up-hill on what appeared to be a path of some sort. In the back of mind, I was wondering if this was a wild animal path, as I have been known to veer off man-made trails, accidentally following deer paths and the like – I guess we would find out

From the start, the going was tough, not just because the trail was barely visible, but because the path was extremely steep and muddy – we were slipping and sliding all over the place. After what seemed like an hour or more, the trail finally looked a bit more discernible, albeit strewn with fallen trees and rocks. This was a true rain-forest hike adventure, as the forest was very dense and dark in most sections, with only the occasional rays of sun peeking through the heavy canopy. Pretty cool!

While at this stage of the hike I was starting to gain confidence that this may be an actual trail, we had consumed a fair amount of time for a couple of reasons. One because there were a number of steep and muddy sections that we had to carefully pick-our-way up and around, but also because the trail to this point was not obvious so we couldn’t motor along like we typically would. When you lack confidence, you lack in conviction (and speed).

When we had made it to some high ground where we could see where we were, the hike became a little more intimidating. It appeared as though we had just hiked to the top of a small ridge of sorts, and now were probably less than halfway to the peak of Piton Lacroix. We were about 2,526 feet (770m) above sea-level at this point and we could see that the trail descended into a gulley and we could only assume that it took a seriously steep ascent of Piton Lacroix which we could see across the valley. It was already afternoon, and with an estimated 3 more hours traversing another couple thousand feet (700m) of elevation change to complete the hike and return, we decided it wasn’t do-able with our time constraints, so we turned back.

We were covered in mud, tired and disappointed that we didn’t reach the peak, however it was an experience to have got this far. We found out later, once I found a proper map of Martinique’s trails, that while this is an actual trail, it is not maintained and rarely used.

While we didn’t have the time to complete this hike, we realized that we didn’t have to head back to the port right away. After getting back to the car, we drove a little further north before heading back to the coast. As a result, we stumbled across the town of Le Carbet and found a beautiful quiet beach. What a find! We wandered around for a while, appreciating the cool breeze off the Caribbean Sea. When we were leaving town we also noticed a boutique rum distillery, so we stopped in for a visit. While most Caribbean islands make their own rum, Martinique could be considered the rum capital of the world with its more than 10 distilleries and even more rum brands. For more information, check out our Martinique Rhum page. Anyways, we had a good afternoon as we found some nice areas of Martinique to visit.

Before we got back on the cruise ship, I managed to grab a nice detailed Martinique Hiking Trail Map – Next time, we will be much better prepared! Reference our Circuit de la Caravelle blog post for proof of that.

ACT Staff

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

For an overview of this French Caribbean Island Paradise, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Martinique Adventures blog for more great ideas! (coming soon)

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the island, by checking out our Things to Do in Martinique blog (coming soon)

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Top 7 Barbados Adventures to get your heart pumping

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Kayaking, Look-Out Points, Mountain Biking, Nature, sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Tourist Attractions, Water Sports

Fun & Adventurous things to do in Barbados include Snorkeling, Diving, Sailing & Water-Sports (Surf, SUP, Windsurf, etc...) galore! Plus Hiking, Biking & great Golf!

Bajan Sailing, Snorkeling, Diving, Water-Sports, Fishing, Hiking & Biking

Barbados is the most easterly island in the Caribbean and its coral origins differ from it’s volcanic neighbours to the west, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The island is shaped like a foot, with a length of about 21 miles (34 km) and a width of 14 miles (23 km) at the widest point in the south. While best known for its English heritage, white sandy beaches and great rum, Barbados has plenty to offer travelers seeking action, both in the sea and on land.

If you’re looking for adventure while vacationing in the Caribbean, it’s always great fun to get off the resort and really explore the island. With its protective reefs off the west and south coasts, Barbados offers some great sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and a whole lot of water-sports! On land, you can enjoy caving as well as hiking and biking. Take a look at our recommended activities that will make you feel alive in Barbados – Enjoy!

Barbados Sail and Snorkel Adventures

With such a rich sailing tradition in Barbados, it’s no surprise that getting out on the ocean, combined with snorkeling a couple of unique hotspots, is the number one active tourist activity on the island. It’s always a fun and interesting perspective to experience an island from the sea. In Barbados, that means near-constant winds and calm Caribbean waters along the island’s west coast. Local catamaran operators offer a variety of luxurious sailing adventures, most involving delicious meals and free-flowing rum beverages – It doesn’t get much better than that! Actually, it does… The ship’s crew knows exactly where to drop anchor, inviting you to swim with turtles and snorkel over a shallow shipwreck in Carlisle Bay. This adventure is really the highlight of any trip to Barbados!

Then again, you don’t need a boat to partake in Barbados snorkeling. There’s plenty of gorgeous beaches with easy access to shallow artificial reefs close to shore! The west and south-west coasts have some great snorkeling spots, including two marine sanctuaries, Folkestone Marine Park near Holetown and Carlisle Bay Marine Park just south of the island’s capital, Bridgetown. When visiting Barbados, it’s a real treat to explore a shipwreck covered with colourful coral, fans and sponges that is frequented by a variety of tropical fish.

For more information, along with tour operators who can get you out on the water, check out our Barbados Sailing and Barbados Snorkeling pages.

For more colourful and detailed reviews from our own personal experiences visiting the island, take a look at our A Beautiful Day for Barbados Sailing and Snorkeling Carlisle Bay & Holetown blog posts.

Barbados Water Sports Experience

For the more adventurous and athletic type, you’ll be happy to hear that Barbados is one of the top 3 Caribbean islands for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and windsurfing! Barbados enjoys near-constant trade winds, with multiple coastlines experiencing a variety of wave conditions on any given day. Combined with the island’s amazing white sandy beaches and year-round warm weather, fun at the beach is hard to beat in Barbados!

There are over two dozen good surf spots all around the island, with the southwest coast being ideal for beginners, while intermediate and expert surfers will love the south coast – Barbados real surfing scene. That said, world-class surfing swells can be found at the famous Soup Bowl, on the island’s east coast near Bathsheba. SUP is popular with tourists of all kinds all along the west and southwest coasts. Things really get exciting when the waves pick up – SUP surfing anyone? The south coast also has reliable moderate to strong cross-shore winds making the area a hotbed of windsurfing and kitesurfing. Wow!

Want to see more? Check out our Barbados’ Surfing & SUP video collage on YouTube!

Barbados’ rugged and beautiful north and northwest coasts, coupled with regularly calm waters along the west coast, make it a great place to kayak. Glass-bottom kayaks are available that allow non-snorkelers to enjoy the incredible underwater sites. For those with a need for (mechanical) speed, you can find boat operators offering waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and more. There are also jet ski rentals as well as Jetblading (hydro jetpacking) lessons available on the island.

For more information, along with water sports operators who offer surfing, SUP as well as water sports gear rentals, check out our Barbados Water-Sports page.

Barbados Scuba Diving Action

While no surprise to those in the know… Barbados is a great Caribbean scuba diving destination. The island has over twenty dive sites, easily accessed by a short 10-20 minute boat ride. With water temperatures in the high-70s to mid-80s (25-29c) along with good visibility down to 70 feet deep, you’re sure to enjoy a dive in Barbados. There are 10 shipwrecks to explore along with plenty of tropical fish, corals, sponges and sea fans to enjoy. You could also swim with exciting sea creatures like turtles, rays, eels and even seahorses!

The most popular dive sites are located off the protected west and south(west) coasts of the island, including the Carlisle Bay Marine Park. Divers will enjoy calm waters and an abundance of marine life when exploring the shallow (30 – 60 feet) fringing reefs of the west coast. Of course, the highlight of anyone’s dive trip will be the incredible wreck of the Stavronikita – A 365-foot long freighter resting in water 25 to 130 feet deep. Carlisle Bay Marine Park features half a dozen shipwrecks that litter the sandy seafloor. A great site for beginner divers and underwater photographers alike.

The south(west) coast offers diverse ecosystems across a variety of fringe, bank as well as barrier reefs. There are over a dozen great dive sites, including one featuring the broken remains of a 170-foot long shipwreck in just 55 feet of water. A great area for some amazing drift dives, plus deep divers will enjoy plunging down double-sided barrier reefs south of the island. The typically rough waters of the north and east coast can be dived as well, however ocean conditions have to be just right.

For more information, along with boat operators and dive centres who can get you in the deep, check out our Barbados Diving pages.

Barbados Golf

One of the best golf destinations in the Caribbean, Barbados offers half a dozen links to choose from. The island’s 18-hole, Par 72 golf courses include:

Barbados Golf Club – Located at the southern end of Barbados in Christ Church, the Ron Kirby designed course features gently rolling hills, wide-open fairways and two strategically placed water hazards
Apes Hill Club – Located about halfway up the west coast, the environmentally-conscious course was certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary
Sandy Lane “Country Club” – Located centrally near the west coast, is a Tom Fazio designed course featuring several water hazards, combined with relaxing views of the Caribbean Sea
Sandy Lane “Green Monkey” – The hotel-guest exclusive course is also a Tom Fazio creation, making great use of a former limestone quarry
Royal Westmoreland – Located centrally near the west coast, the private Robert Trent Jones Jr designed course offers a spectacular tropical setting to its guests, along with a limited number of offsite golfers.

The Rockley Golf & Country Club located near the south-west coast of Barbados in Christ Church, offers an 18-Hole / Par 70 experience on a relatively flat parkland course consisting of 9 holes with alternate tees. Sandy Lane also has the “Old Nine” Par 36 course with tree-lined fairways and small greens. There’s also an 18-Hole “standard mini-putt” course, Barbados Mini Golf, located in the west / centre area of the island.

For more information, along with links (pun intended) to the courses themselves, check out our Barbados Golf page.

Barbados Fishing Adventure

A great place for Caribbean fishing, Barbados has reefs and deep-sea locations only a few minutes from shore. If it’s big game fish you’re after, there’s plenty of Blue Marlin, Wahoo (Kingfish), Sailfish, Mahi-Mahi (Dolphin), Tuna and Barracuda out there… You can ‘reel one in’ off Barbados’s south and west coast in the winter and the inner and outer reefs on both coasts offer a variety of year-round fishing options.

You can also fish for Dorado, Jacks, Bonito, Barracuda and Snapper. Barbados fishing will satisfy true fishing enthusiasts as well as those just looking for a fun day at sea with friends and family. If you’re looking for real competitive fishing, you’re welcome to participate in the annual Barbados International Fishing Tournament in April.

For more information, along with boat operators to help you catch the big one, check out our Barbados Fishing page.

Barbados Hiking & Biking Action

A great way to explore the natural beauty of Barbados is by hiking and/or biking the island’s tropical forests and coastal trails. Panoramic views from the rugged north and east coasts can’t be beaten, while the southern coast offers views of unique wetlands as well as beautiful beaches combined with gorgeous blue seas. Barbados offers fairly easy hiking and biking routes, although there are some hilly and long trails that are more challenging. Some trails take you through gullies, cane fields and grasslands, while others allow you to visit historic districts and villages.

Most of Barbados’ hiking trails are found along the east coast. There are a number of hiking guides on the island who can help you find the right trail to meet you needs and desires. A sampling of a few of the more popular hiking trails include:

Bath to Bathsheba Railway Line Trail – An easy hike of just over 3.5 miles (6km) one-way, requiring 2-3 hours to complete. The east coast trail has some great views of the rugged coastline and the Atlantic Ocean.
Nature & Heritage Trail – An easy 3 hour round trip hike with views of the west coast from the Whim Gully, Speightstown and Heywoods Beach along with natural, cultural, and historical sites along the way.
Turner’s Hall Woods to Barclays Trail – An easy–to-intermediate 4 miles (7km) one-way hike that descends from a biodiversity-rich forest in the Scotland district and travels down to the east coast.
Bathsheba / Congor Rocks / Hackleton’s Cliff Loop Trail – An easy–to-intermediate 9 miles (13km) trail along the rugged coastline then inland through a forest with a crevice to traverse. You’ll be rewarded with outstanding views.

The island has plenty of safe road routes for cyclists, as well as a variety of off-road adventures to make any mountain biker happy. You can venture out on your own, or hire a guide who knows the island and can ensure a safe and enjoyable ride. There are even options for riding electric-assisted bikes or touring the island via a car/bike combo tour! Some of the best places for Barbados cycling include:

The east coastline from Hackelton’s Cliff to Codrington College has a variety of ‘sites to see’ including St John’s Parish Church and various plantations. This area provides a varied terrain with incredible views of the rugged eastern coastline.
The south coastline from Oistins to the Chancery Lane Swamp has numerous attractions such as the South Point Lighthouse and the Silver Sands district. A combination of road and off-road tracks in the area offer spectacular ocean views.
In the northwest, you can cycle from the coastal area near Harrison’s Point Lighthouse inland to Mount Gilboa. This hilly rural route traverses small villages as well as cotton and cane fields.

For more information, along with hiking and biking guides to help you get the most out of your day, check out our Barbados Hiking and Barbados Biking pages.

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 Barbados blog post

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

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Yearning for a Caribbean Vacation Sooner than Later?

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Family, Tourist Attractions

Covid-19 and the Caribbean

As global travel is slowly starting to re-emerge post Covid-19, the Caribbean Islands are doing their best to provide tourists with a safe vacation environment.

A Covid-19 Caribbean Tourism Task Force has been working since February to ensure member islands are ready to welcome guests back to a safe and healthy Caribbean. With leadership from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean Public Health Agency and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, over 400 industry stakeholders in the Caribbean have participated in a wide variety of sessions related to Covid-19 health & safety. Consistent with World Health Organization guidelines that we’re probably all familiar with by now, new guidelines covering operations, training and communication, have been rolled out to help businesses and workers re-establish confidence in the Caribbean tourism industry.

Caribbean tourism will be safe for both workers and vacationers with new protocols & procedures in-place focusing on re-organizing venues to accommodate physical distancing along with additional cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting regiments. These new protocols are being applied to businesses in the fields of Transportation, Accommodation (and Facilities), Food and Beverage as well as Entertainment and Recreation (Sites and Attractions). Inspections and certification of all businesses are being done prior to re-opening. For an example of physical distancing, hotel restaurants are restricting capacity and maximizing the use of outdoor venues over indoor settings wherever possible. Tables are spaced at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart and buffets are no longer self-serve, guests will be served by restaurant staff.

Caribbean Islands You Can Visit Now

As of July 20th 2020, the following Caribbean Destinations are welcoming tourist flights back to their fabulous islands. A summary of their Covid-19 situation is also shown:

	Total # of Covid-19 Cases	New Cases in the Past Week	Official Links for more information
Antigua & Barbuda	76	2	https://visitantiguabarbuda.com/travel-advisory/
Aruba	115	9	https://www.aruba.com/us/traveler-health-requirements
The Bahamas	153	42	https://www.bahamas.com/tourism-reopening https://www.bahamas.com/sites/default/files/articles/trrc_plan_public.pdf
Barbados	105	2	https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2020 https://www.onecaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/BTMI-TRAVEL-PROTOCOLS-060720.pdf
Curacao	28	3	https://www.curacao.com/en/questions/health-and-vaccinations/response-to-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
Dominica	18	0	http://dominicaupdate.com/ https://www.onecaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/TravelProtocols_port_Dominica.pdf
Grenada	23	0	https://online.fliphtml5.com/mxxb/pqce/#p=1 https://www.puregrenada.com/travel-advisory/
Jamaica	790	32	https://www.visitjamaica.com/travelauthorization/ https://www.tpdco.org/covid-19healthprotocols/ https://www.tpdco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Jamaica-Tourism-Covid-19-Resilience-Protocols_vFF.pdf
Saint Lucia	23	1	https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/ https://www.covid19response.lc/p/reopening-saint-lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines	50	15	https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.87/7f6.57f.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SVG-travel-protocols-air-entry-July-1-31.pdf
Turks & Caicos	81	9	https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/
US Virgin Islands	304	55	https://www.visitusvi.com/

Related Notes:

The above list is based on commercial airline arrivals. Different rules exist for private yacht access…
The Bahamas are currently only accepting visitors from Canada, the UK and EU
Aruba is currently only accepting visitors from Canada, the UK, USA and Europe
Bonaire is only allowing flights from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany
Jamaica is only allowing tourist movement along their “Resilient Corridor” – The coastline from Negril to Port Antonio
Puerto Rico is accepting international flights, however officially they are “postponing its official inbound tourism reopening in order to safeguard visitors and residents”
The Dominican Republic is also open to tourists, however they have experienced >50k Covid-19 cases in total, with >9k new cases in the past week

Other Things to Know

Again, consistent with the WHO Covid-19 guidelines, each island has implemented new protocols for tourists to follow before and during their visit to the Caribbean. All islands are requiring some form of Travel Authorization form to be completed prior to travelling. Most islands now require a valid Covid-19 PCR Test Report (with a ‘negative result’) to be provided to Island authorities upon arrival. Actually, some islands are currently requesting citizens of ‘High Risk’ Countries (and specific US States) to provide test results prior to travelling. Some island nations are allowing tests to be performed upon arrival, however if you are a citizen of a ‘High Risk’ Country/State you will be held at the airport until negative test results are obtained. In addition, Health Screening/Assessments, including temperature checks are being performed at most islands upon arrival. Proof of ‘Travel Insurance’ is also required now by many islands. Once on the island, physical distancing, mask-wearing, as well as increased personal hygiene regiments are mandatory in all public places. For watersports and beach activities where physical distancing requirements are met, face masks are not required.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE OFFICIAL CARIBBEAN ISLAND LINKS ABOVE TO DETERMINE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT EACH ISLAND CURRENTLY HAS IN EFFECT

Other considerations to be aware of as the Caribbean tourism gradually re-opens during the current Covid-19 situation: While most businesses on the above-listed islands have reopened, some off-resort restaurants are only open for takeaway and delivery service. Parks, attractions and tours are re-opening in phases as they are inspected and certified, therefore some may not be open at the time of your vacation. Some islands have also implemented evening curfews outside of resort properties.

You are advised to check into these details thoroughly before booking your trip…

Looking For a Recommendation?

Personally, if I was to travel now, I would choose a destination based on personal preference (reference Islands Overview and Caribbean Adventures for assistance), along with a look at each island’s latest Covid-19 numbers. Right now, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Curacao look appealing to me. I would stay at a small CTHAS (Caribbean Travel Health Assurance Stamp) approved resort, with individual cottages or villas and a large beach-front if possible. It is also prudent to have adequate Travel/Medical Insurance to cover a Covid-19 related incident while away from home. While I typically like to use local guides and/or small tour operators for excursions, right now I would only use certified ground transportation and well-established certified tour operators. I would also be booking reservations well in advance for just about everything, including Restaurants & Tours. Oh, and bring plenty of re-usable cloth face masks…

ACT Staff

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Top 5 Caribbean Islands to Visit – Winter/Spring 2022

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Boat Cruise, Caribbean, Caving, Chocolate, Covid-19, Cycling, Fishing, Gardens, Golf, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Nature, River Rafting/Tubing, Rum, sailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Stingrays, Tourist Attractions, Water Sports, Waterfalls

Falmouth Harbour Antigua from Active Caribbean Travel

Looking for a warm and sunny vacation this winter? Here’s our top picks…

Now that another winter has begun in many parts of the world, folks might be in need of a Caribbean vacation. Nothing beats the winter blues like feeling the sand beneath your feet, snorkelling in clear warm Caribbean waters or hiking through lush rainforest. If you’re thinking of heading south for a warm-weather vacation right now, here are our thoughts on the best Caribbean destinations to visit in the first few months of 2022.

Unfortunately, it’s deja-vu all over again – with yet another Covid-19 wave that looks to peak sometime in January. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t travel. Based on readily available data, it might actually be safer to spend some time on certain Caribbean islands than it is to ‘go out’ in most American, Canadian, UK or European towns or cities. For this article, we looked at the Caribbean Islands that appear to be managing to keep the number of covid cases to a minimum. We also considered each island’s current covid related entry requirements to ensure a good balance of safety and convenience.

Below, you’ll find our rationale for choosing our top Caribbean destinations for winter 2022, along with a few ideas of what you can do on the island – Then you can decide what destination works best for you. We also listed a few other islands that just missed the cut, in case you need more options. Due to the timing of this most recent covid wave, it may be best to plan for a mid-February departure when covid cases should be on the decline again. Ideally, it may also be best to vacation in a small-to-medium-sized accommodation and to stay away from densely populated areas on the island of your choice. We hope you enjoy our review!

Antigua & Barbuda

Freeman Bay Antigua from Active Caribbean Travel

This latest covid wave doesn’t seem to have impacted Antigua & Barbuda much (yet?). As of the beginning of January, there are only a few active covid cases in Antigua & Barbuda. It’s also encouraging to know that well over half the local population is fully vaccinated. It’s reassuring to know that only fully vaccinated visitors can travel to the islands (Exception being children under 18 years old) as well.

Hike Antigua with Active Caribbean Travel

Antigua and Barbuda is open to tourists who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Upon arrival, travellers will need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test taken within 4 days of travel, complete a health declaration form, and undergo a brief health screening. If everything checks out ok, you’re good to go!

Once on the islands, you must stay in an official Antigua & Barbuda Certified accommodation and you’ll need to wear a mask in public places – This includes on hotel grounds as well as when touring around the island. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Antigua & Barbuda Entry Requirements page.

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Stingray City - Come swim with the Stingrays!

Now comes the fun part – What to do once you’re there… Antigua is known as the sailing capital of the English Caribbean and you can experience that first hand at English Harbour – Home to historic Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The islands are also famous for their excellent cuisine and amazing beaches, apparently one for each day of the year. Antigua and Barbuda also have wonderful mangroves and coral reefs, making the islands ideal for kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving. Of course there’s sailing and boating activities, as well as a variety of water sports. Unique experiences can be found at Antigua’s Stingray City as well as Barbuda’s caves. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to know that Antigua offers some pretty amazing hiking and golf as well!

For more ideas and details for things to do in Antigua and Barbuda, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you make the most of your vacation, check out our Antigua & Barbuda Vacation Ideas page.

Jamaica

Although this latest covid wave is just starting to be seen in Jamaica, as of the beginning of January, there are relatively few active covid cases per capita relative to other Caribbean Islands. Although the island’s overall vaccination rate is fairly low, people working in the tourism industry are supposed to be vaccinated and following strict protocols to keep everyone safe.

Active Caribbean Travel explores Jamaica's YS Falls

Jamaica is open to all tourists, however, visitors who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 must quarantine at their accommodation for 14 days immediately after arriving on the island. Prior to travelling to Jamaica, visitors must obtain JTB Travel Authorization, which includes providing results of a negative Covid-19 molecular test or Antigen test taken within 3 days of the travel date (Exception being children under 12 years old). Upon arrival, visitors will also undergo a brief health screening / risk assessment before being allowed to stay at an approved “resilient corridor” or Covid-19 compliant JTB licensed accommodation. FYI… JTB = Jamaican Tourism Board. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Jamaica Cares page.

Golf Jamaica with Active Caribbean Travel

As for what to do once you’re on the island, you’re in for a treat! Historically known as the “land of wood and water”, Jamaica is probably best known for its Reggae music & culture, white sand beaches, as well as its amazing rum and coffee. That said, a Jamaican vacation offers one of the best opportunities to enjoy waterfalls, river rafting and golf in a tropical setting. The island is rich with a beautiful and diverse landscape that includes the iconic Blue Mountain range, home to Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site great for hiking and coffee excursions. Just offshore, the island offers good snorkelling and fishing, while further inland the adventurous can experience some serious MTB and caving.

For more ideas and details for things to do in Jamaica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you make the most of your vacation, check out our Jamaica Vacation Ideas page.

Grenada

Throughout December the tri-island nation was our destination of choice for winter travel, however, impacts from this latest covid wave can already be seen in the early days of 2022. While covid cases are now on the rise in Grenada, they are still much lower per capita than most other islands in the Caribbean. While only a third of the local population is fully vaccinated, it’s reassuring to know that only fully vaccinated visitors can travel to the islands (Exception being children under 12 years old).

Hike Grenada with Active Caribbean Travel

Grenada is open to tourists who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Upon arrival, travellers will need to undergo a brief health screening and present a completed Health Declaration Form along with providing proof of a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test, taken within 3 days of travel. Once you’re on the islands, a curfew is in effect between midnight and 4am and you must wear a mask in public places on hotel grounds as well as when touring around the island. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit Grenada’s official Pure Safe Travels page.

Snorkel Grenada with Active Caribbean Travel

As for what to do once you’re there… here’s just a taste of what you can enjoy on the island affectionately known as the “Spice Island”, due to its abundance of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger and vanilla. Grenada may be one of the Caribbean’s ‘best-kept secrets’, offering unspoiled natural beauty and a wide variety of attractions and activities sure to please everyone. The tropical paradise has dozens of uncrowded beaches and several accessible waterfalls and sulfur/hot springs. Grenada is home to Grand Etang National Park, a wilderness attraction complete with a crater lake. The islands also offer plenty of opportunities for snorkeling, water-sports, and more. While equally a ‘hiker’s paradise’ and a ‘diver’s wonderland’, a vacation on the tri-island nation is a great destination for travelers seeking action on both land and sea.

For more detailed ideas for things to do in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Grenada Vacation Ideas page.

Anguilla

Having opened to tourists later than many Caribbean islands, Anguilla never really experienced previous covid waves and throughout December has seen a gradual decrease of covid case counts. It’s encouraging to know that well over half the local population is fully vaccinated. It’s also reassuring to know that only fully vaccinated visitors can travel to the island (Exception being children under 18 years old).

Anguilla is open to tourists who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Prior to travelling to Anguilla, visitors must obtain Entry Permission, which includes providing results of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken two to five days prior to arrival, or a Rapid Antigen test taken no more than 48 hours prior to arrival. You will also take a RT-PCR test upon arrival and need to quarantine for approximately 24 hours while waiting for your test results. Guests staying on the island for more than 8 days may be also tested on day 4 of their visit (at no additional cost). For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Anguilla Entry Requirements page.

Once you’re on the island, you can enjoy spending time at more than two dozen beautiful beaches, then savour the local cuisine and maybe even revel in the island’s live music scene. There’s a great golf course in Antigua, as well as plenty of opportunities for sea-faring cruises, including some dedicated to awesome fishing excursions. The more adventurous can challenge themselves with water-sports activities as well as hiking and cycling in some truly magnificent natural tropical settings.

For more information about fun and adventurous Caribbean destinations, check out our website, ActiveCaribbeanTravel

Saint Lucia

Unfortunately, covid cases are now on the rise again in St. Lucia, although relatively few per capita compared to most other islands. While just over a quarter of the local population is fully vaccinated, it’s reassuring to know that only fully vaccinated visitors are free to explore the island.

Prior to departing for Saint Lucia, travellers will need to obtain Travel Authorization, providing proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 5 days of travel (Exception being children under 18 years old). St. Lucia is open to all tourists, however, visitors who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 must quarantine at their accommodation for 14 days after arriving on the island. That said, unvaccinated guests are permitted to participate in some certified activities, tours and excursions. Children aged 5-17 years accompanying fully vaccinated parents are exempt from quarantine once they test negative upon arrival. Once on the island, visitors are requested to wear a mask in public places – This includes on hotel grounds as well as when touring around the island. For more details and specifics of covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Saint Lucia – Safe Harbour page.

Saint Lucia's Hot Springs from Active Caribbean Travel

As for what to do once you’re there, Saint Lucia offers vacationers a wide variety of relaxing and adventurous activities ranging from sampling (and making your own) chocolate to hiking one of the iconic Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lone distillery on the island may be a pleasant surprise to some, as it is home to some of the Caribbean’s best rums. The mountainous green island is home to beautiful gardens, waterfalls and hot springs. Saint Lucia is also a great adventure destination for snorkeling/diving, fishing, water-sports and golf.

For a more detailed view of things to do in Saint Lucia, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Saint Lucia Vacation Ideas page.

FYI – St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, and Dominica almost made our list, and they are quite likely to be near the top of our Top 5-10 list once we re-evaluate in February. St. Kitts & Nevis has a decent vaccination rate and have done a good job of containing covid cases, however they were slightly higher per capita at the beginning of January than the other islands that made our top 5 list. That said, this is where we are personally vacationing in January. Barbados has a decent vaccination rate but has had a slightly higher number of covid cases per capita than our top 5 for some time, although they don’t seem to be spiking in January (yet?). Dominica managed to contain covid cases to a minimum throughout December, however their early January numbers are just a bit to ‘spikey’ for comfort – perhaps they will get it quickly under control. All that said, these (and other) islands may be ideal for spring travel – Stay Tuned!

Now, for our disclaimer… Please note that this article was written on January 4th, 2022. Covid-19 information can change pretty quickly, so we recommend you check covid case counts on your island of choice, right before booking your trip.

FYI – Some information for this article was derived from the following sources: graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps; and worldometers.com.

We hope you liked our assessment and it has motivated you to enjoy some time in the Caribbean!

Feel free to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ our facebook page for more articles/blogs like this…

ACT Staff

Tag: Caribbean

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Top 5 Caribbean Islands to Visit – Winter/Spring 2022

Looking for a warm and sunny vacation this winter? Here’s our top picks…

Antigua & Barbuda

Jamaica

Grenada

Anguilla

Saint Lucia

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