To read our reviews of popular tours and excursions in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe (coming soon), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and more… just click HERE
Now that the weather is showing signs of winter in many parts of the world, you might be starting to think about a nice warm Caribbean vacation. Nothing beats the winter blues like feeling the warmth of the sun above you and the sand beneath your feet. That said, it’s also great to get the muscles moving, the heart pumping and the mind blown by experiencing the natural wonders that the Caribbean has to offer. Take a peek at the underwater world below the surface of the Caribbean Sea or hike through a lush green rainforest to awaken the senses – This is nature’s best medicine. Of course, a round of golf or a warm relaxing day at sea would also fill the prescription for what the travel doctor ordered! If you’re thinking of heading south to escape the cold and dark of winter for a week or two, here are our thoughts on the best of the less busy/touristy Caribbean adventure destinations to visit in early 2024.
For this article, we’re highlighting the Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature by enjoying snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf, highlighting a few of the more ‘unspoiled’ Caribbean Islands where you can truly immerse yourself in the culture and activities of the land.
Located just north of South America’s Venezuelan coast, Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Famous for its pink flamingos and salt mounds, the small Dutch island is more than just a “diver’s paradise”. This Caribbean Island is also a great place to experience snorkeling, watersports, cycling and surprisingly good hiking as well!
With healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the best islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling and diving! Bonaire and its small offshore island Klein Bonaire are encircled by reefs providing homes for an amazing biodiversity of colourful fish, corals, sponges, and more. You can slip into the warm Caribbean Sea from shore and swim out to a nearby reef, or take a short boat ride to Bonaire’s Marine Park to experience some of the best snorkel & dive spots in the Caribbean. Explore shallow coral reefs, steep underwater cliffs as well as underwater caves. Bonaire also happens to be one of the best Freediving locations in the world.
For more details on the dozens of snorkel sites or diving at any of the over eighty dive sites in Bonaire, as well as contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling and/or our Bonaire Scuba Diving pages.
With its near-constant trade winds, year-round warm air and water temperatures, Bonaire is one of the best places in the Caribbean to enjoy water sports as well. The flat southwest coast of the island seems to be made for kiteboarding and kitesurfing, while the mangroves and waterways of Lac Bay on the southeast side of the island are ideal for kayaking and windsurfing. Spending an adventurous day on the sea is a great way to experience the Caribbean, and Bonaire definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to watersports options that satisfy everyone’s needs!
For more tips on watersports options in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Bonaire Water Sports page.
With over a hundred kilometres of cycling trails, Bonaire is also one of the best Caribbean destinations for bicycle riding. Explore Bonaire by bike to experience jaw-dropping views of the island and picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea. The island has road courses that include amazing scenic coastline routes, as well as off-road trails in desert-like terrain. If you’re looking to travel at a slower pace, the hiking trails of Bonaire offer surprisingly good opportunities for some easy relaxing walks as well as a couple of intermediate–difficult outings. Perhaps the best Bonaire hiking can be found in Washington-Slagbaai National Park at the north end of the island.
For more details on biking and hiking in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators, hiking guides, and places to rent bikes, check out our Bonaire Cycling and/or our Bonaire Hiking pages.
For a complete listing of things to do in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Bonaire Vacation Ideas and Things to Do in Bonaire pages.
The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts & Nevis”, is a two-island nation in the northern Caribbean, located southeast of Puerto Rico and just west of Antigua & Barbuda. The island of St. Kitts and its smaller sister island of Nevis are only 2 miles (3km) apart, conveniently connected via ferries and water taxis. Among many awesome attractions, Saint Kitts is home to Brimstone Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the last railway in the Caribbean. Nevis may be best known for its sandy beaches and Georgian-style buildings in the charming capital of Charlestown. That said, a St Kitts & Nevis vacation has plenty to offer travelers seeking action on land and sea.
As the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range, St. Kitts & Nevis are covered with rolling green folds of volcanic peaks separated by lush valleys. With more than a quarter of the islands being conserved via National Parklands, such as the Central Forest Reserve, St. Kitts & Nevis are a great place for Caribbean hiking! The islands offer a variety of easy relaxing nature walks, some decent intermediate hikes as well as some very challenging climbs – No adventurous trip to Saint Kitts is complete without hiking up the island’s highest peak Mount Liamuiga, or the shorter but steeper Nevis Peak. Combined, the sister islands have about a dozen trails to explore.
For more information and tips on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Hiking pages.
Bicycling is another great way to explore St. Kitts & Nevis while getting some fresh air and exercise at the same time. Both islands offer mountain biking as well as some cane field and scenic road routes. For avid cyclists, you can compete against the island’s best, in an around-the-island cycle in Nevis. Alternatively, take your time to better enjoy the gorgeous views of the island, Caribbean Sea, and neighbouring islands, while being challenged by the mountainous terrain encountered on portions of the route.
For more details on cycling and MTBing in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators and places to rent bikes, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Cycling page.
Meanwhile, just offshore from St. Kitts & Nevis, you can find some good snorkeling and diving spots to explore an underwater world of rocky reefs and wrecks. St. Kitts offers more than half a dozen locations to snorkel along the west coast of the island, with perhaps the best being the oddly named Shitten Bay, typically accessed via boat. The shallow turquoise water is crystal clear, and the sandy seagrass-covered bottom and rocky shoreline are home to a wide variety of tropical fish, corals and other marine life. Several others can be accessed directly from the beach. For the more adventurous scuba divers, there are over two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore around the sister islands – Something for divers of all skills to enjoy.
For more tips and details on snorkeling or diving in St. Kitts & Nevis, as well as contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Snorkeling and/or our St. Kitts & Nevis Scuba Diving pages.
For a relaxing day on the links, St. Kitts has a couple of gorgeous 18-hole / par 71 golf courses, and Nevis has one as well. The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is home to a course with several holes overlooking the Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean. Kittitian Hill – Irie Fields is a unique course set among Belle Mont farm’s crops and fruit trees with spectacular ocean views featuring St. Barth’s in the background. The Four Seasons Golf Club on Nevis features a Robert Trent Jones II designed course. For more information, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Golf page.
For those looking for the ‘salt life’, you can experience fishing in the turquoise blue waters of St. Kitts & Nevis with the mountainous island featuring Mount Liamuiga shrouded in mist as a picturesque backdrop. Out at sea, you could catch barracuda, kingfish, marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, while the reefs offer snapper, grouper, grunt and more! There’s plenty of deep sea and sport fishing as well as reef fishing to be found around the sister islands.
For more details on fishing in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Fishing page.
Surrounded by a diversity of wind conditions and shorelines, there’s also plenty of water sports to enjoy while visiting St. Kitts & Nevis. On the windier Atlantic Ocean side of St. Kitts, the southeast coastline may be the best place for surfing, windsurfing, kite-surfing and even fly-boarding and parasailing, while the southwest coastlines of both islands are ideal for kayaking and SUP while taking in the breathtaking views of the sister islands. Also, on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts, the popular Timothy Bay and South Friar’s Bay are hotspots for jet skiing, banana boat rides and much, much more!
For more information on watersports options in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops, and places to rent gear, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Water Sports page.
For more ideas for things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacation Ideas and Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis pages.
Not to be confused with the touristy Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth of Dominica is located north of Saint Lucia, between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is the youngest island in the region with geothermal activity you can experience for yourself by hiking to the second-largest hot spring in the world, aptly named Boiling Lake. Besides being one of, if not the best, Caribbean Island destinations for hiking, the “Nature Island” also offers incredible canyoning, snorkeling, diving, and fishing adventures… All just waiting for you to discover!
Dominica is famous for its wild mountainous landscape and plentiful rivers and waterfalls. The tallest peak on the island is Morne Diablotins, which at 4,747 feet (1,447 m) above sea level, makes it the ninth tallest in the Caribbean. For unique hiking adventures, Dominica has a challenging trail to the aforementioned Boiling Lake, which is literally ‘bubbling’, as well as an untamed river trail to the gorgeous Victoria Falls. There are literally dozens of hiking trails on the island throughout an extensive natural park system including Cabrits National Park, the Northern Forest Reserve, the Central Forest Reserve, as well as Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dominica is also home to the Waitukubuli National Trail – 115 miles (184 km) of trails weaving back and forth across the length of the island. For the more adventurous, Dominica is also home to a burgeoning canyoning scene with several natural waterfall playgrounds just begging to be climbed and rappeled – You just need to know which canyons and gorges they’re in!
For more information and tips on hiking in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Dominica Hiking pages.
Dominica is also protecting its natural underwater world with the Soufriere-Scott’s Head Marine Reserve and the Cabrits Marine Reserve. Several sheltered bays along the Caribbean coast with close-to-shore reefs make Dominica a great Caribbean Island for snorkeling – An ideal destination for spotting tropical fish, large fish as well as rays and turtles. There’s also the unique snorkeling spot known as Champagne Reef, where Dominica’s volcanic activity can be experienced underwater as you swim through air bubbles seeping through volcanic fumaroles on the seabed while you explore the corals and fish in the area – A snorkeling spot not to be missed!
The island is also a nearly undiscovered mecca for scuba diving with shallow coral reefs, pinnacles, and steep drop-off cliffs with incredible caves and pass-throughs. There are dozens of dive sites to choose from along the west coast of Dominica, with a variety of options appropriate for divers with various skill levels. The reefs and walls are covered with colourful corals, tubes, fans, sponges and a wide assortment of marine life including fish, eels, seahorses, shrimp, and more. Free-divers looking for a new place to explore will love the underwater crater in Soufriere Bay, which can be easily accessed via the fixed freediving platform.
Unsurprisingly, Dominica’s healthy reef systems and deep waters also make it a great destination for Caribbean fishing. Sports fishermen dream about the big marlin, sailfish, yellowfin skipjack, tarpon, wahoo, dorado, and mackerel you can catch in the waters of Dominica. As an added bonus, you might be fortunate enough to see dolphins and whales swimming alongside your boat as you journey to and from the island’s fishing hot spots!
For more details and ideas for things to do in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Dominica Vacation Ideas page.
Well, that’s Part I of our list of some of the ‘lesser known’ Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 for some of the best snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. For more of our unspoiled top picks for 2024, check out our Experience a Different Kind of Caribbean Island in 2024 – Part II blog post!
ACT Staff
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined in the opening paragraphs.
We hope you liked our assessment, and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
It was an enjoyable drive to Victoria Falls along the south-east coast of Dominica. Near the town of Delices, we followed the signs from the main road that led us down a dangerously steep narrow pathway carved into the side of a ridge. Thankfully it’s a short drive down to the local family ‘Rastarant’ (yes, a Rasta Restaurant), where one of the local Rasta guides came out to greet us.
We had heard that this was not so much a traditional hike, as an adventurous walk alongside and ‘in’ a shallow, fast-flowing river. That said, as we had never done a ‘river trail’ before, so we didn’t really know what to expect. Well, it wasn’t your typical Dominica hiking experience – It’s more of an adventure!
It was an enjoyable, but relatively short hike from the rastarant to the White River. The setting, with the eerily grey-blue mineral-rich water below us, was stunningly beautiful. Following our guide, we waded into and crossed the river to join another trail on the other side. After a short hike, we were back into the water just upstream from where we crossed. From here on, we spent most of the time walking in the river, against the current. It was fairly slow going, picking our way slowly across the rocks.
In some sections, the water flowed fairly strong, and in other areas we had to crawl over truck-sized boulders in the water. Some of the rocks were much more slippery than they looked. Unfortunately, we both slipped a couple of times. Personally, I had put too much face in technology, specifically the water shoes I was wearing, as Mother Nature gave me some tough love. We collected a few ‘souvenir’ scrapes and bruises along the way, nothing too serious – This was definitely a small price to pay for the rewarding sight that awaited us.
Wow, this was really a unique Dominica hiking experience – Our journey to the falls reminded me of stories I’ve read about the early French and English explorers travelling west in what is today Canada – via waterways as there were no roads and few trails to walk. Except here, we didn’t need canoes for our short trip. Oh, and the air and water temperature was really nice and warm 🙂
After a while, we knew we were getting close, as we could hear the roar of the waterfall getting closer and closer. Eventually, we turned a corner in the river and we could see the breathtaking Victoria waterfalls and the large blue-grey pool that it poured into. Being at the bottom of the spectacular 165 feet (50m) tall waterfalls was a truly humbling experience. The scene was like something out of a movie as we just stood in awe – You could just feel the power… Everything, from rocks to trees and shrubs, within hundreds of feet of the surrounding area was soaked from the falls’ mist.
Well, at this point I thought I would simply wade into the pool and get real up-close and personal, maybe even stick my head under and have a shower. Huh! There’s just no way… As I tried to approach the falls, the tremendously strong spray from the water crashing into the pool felt like needles… no more like nails, being shot at me. I couldn’t even get close – What power. A totally mind-blowing experience!
It was the same way back, although it seemed much easier in this direction. Perhaps it was as simple as walking with the current instead of against it, or perhaps it was now having the knowledge of what to expect. Either way, we made it back to the car fairly quickly, although I really didn’t want to leave this secluded paradise! What a unique Dominica hiking experience.
It is safe to say that our Victoria Falls hike made memories that will last a lifetime. The hike in terms of distance was fairly short, however there was so much to ‘take in’ – Travelling upstream in a wild rocky river and standing in the pool of this mighty waterfall – Time was ‘standing still’. An epic tropical nature experience for sure!
ACT Staff
* Please note that this review was done prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017 – The trail conditions/characteristics may have changed as the island recovered *
For the Victoria Falls Trail details, along with more information on traveling to Dominica, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
Dominica Hiking – Victoria Falls
For information on the Caribbean’s Nature Island, check out our Dominica Vacations page
For an overview of what the Caribbean has to offer intrepid vacationers, take a look at our Active Caribbean Travel home page
Now that winter is underway in many parts of the world, folks might be looking for a reprieve from the cold and snow with a warm and sunny Caribbean vacation. After a couple of years of travel restrictions, it’s time to get your blood pumping and your mind blown by experiencing the natural wonders of the Caribbean Islands. Swim in the warm Caribbean Sea and take a peak below to witness an alien world or discover waterfalls along trails through a lush green rainforest. This is nature’s best medicine to awaken your senses. Of course, a round of golf or a warm relaxing day fishing or kayaking will also make you feel warm and alive! If you’re thinking of heading south for a warm-weather vacation, check out our recommendations for the best Caribbean adventure destinations for winter/spring 2023.
For this article, we’re highlighting the Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature to enjoy snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. With the Euro the lowest it’s been for several years, we also gave the French Caribbean an extra, well-deserved look. If you missed part one of this article, we covered the beautiful and exciting Caribbean Island destinations of the Cayman Islands, Martinique and Bonaire – You can access Part 1 by clicking here. As for the rest of our list, here we go…
Barbados sits alone as the most easterly island in the southern Caribbean. The unique coral-based island may be best known for its beautiful white sand beaches and cute ‘moke’ vehicles, however it is also one of the best Caribbean Island destinations to enjoy watersports, snorkeling, diving, golf and rum!
With its unique position in the Caribbean, Barbados enjoys near-constant trade winds while its various coastlines experience a variety of wave conditions. Combine that with amazing white sand beaches and year-round warm weather and you get one of the top 3 best Caribbean Islands for water sports! With a couple dozen hotspots around the island, surfing is king in Barbados. The southwest coast is ideal for beginners while the south coast’s consistent year-round waves and numerous local surf shops make it the home to the real surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing scene. That said, world-class surfing swells are found on the east coast of Barbados at the famous Soup Bowl. Stand-Up-Paddleboarding and SUP surfing is popular all along the southwest and west coasts of the island while the best Barbados kayaking spots include the rugged and beautiful north and northwest coasts, as well as along the calm west coast. For those with a need for speed, you can also find jet ski rentals and boat operators offering waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and more.
For more tips on watersports options in Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Barbados Water Sports page.
With its gorgeous beaches and easy access to shallow artificial reefs close to shore, Barbados is also a great place to get in the sea to snorkel. While there are a variety of beach-accessible snorkel spots all along the west and southwest coasts of Barbados, a couple of the best locations might be the two marine sanctuaries, Folkestone Marine Park and Carlisle Bay Marine Park. There are several shipwrecks, plenty of colourful coral, fans and sponges as well as tropical fish and other marine life to observe. That said, the island’s main attraction is probably the friendly Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles, regularly spotted in Carlisle Bay. While perhaps not well known outside of the scuba diving community, Barbados is also a great Caribbean diving destination. The island has over twenty dive sites, featuring a variety of coral reef structures including gently sloping fringe reefs, bank reefs as well as deep double-sided barrier reefs. There are several shipwrecks to explore, including the 360-foot freighter Stavronikita, widely considered to be one of the most impressive wrecks in the Caribbean.
For more details on exploring the underwater world of Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators, dive shops and boat operators who can get you in the sea, check out our Barbados Snorkeling and/or our Barbados Scuba Diving pages.
One of the top 3 best golf destinations in the Caribbean, Barbados offers half a dozen links to choose from. They include: The Barbados Golf Club, an 18-hole / Par 72 golf course measuring 6,805 yards that was re-designed/built in 2000 by Ron Kirby to feature gently rolling hills and wide-open fairways; The Sandy Lane Golf Club, which offers 3 courses along with a driving range – The club’s 18-hole / Par 72 course measuring 7,060 yards was designed by Tom Fazio with several water hazards and relaxing views of the Caribbean Sea; The environmentally friendly Apes Hill Club is an 18-Hole / Par-72 championship course that plays to 7,150 yards (Professional Tees) or just over 5,000 yards (Front Tees); The Royal Westmoreland course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr designed 18-hole / Par 72 golf course measuring 7,045 yards with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and features multiple bunkers as well as a ravine hazard; and the Rockley Golf & Country Club is a flat parkland course consisting of 9 holes with alternate tees for an 18-Hole / Par 70 experience measuring 5,610 yards.
For more info on playing golf in Barbados, check out our Barbados Golf page.
Barbados’ reefs and deep-sea trenches make it an ideal Caribbean fishing destination as well. While big game fish are plentiful in the south and west coast seas during the winter months, Barbados’ inner and outer reefs on both coasts offer year-round fishing options. If it’s game fish you’re after, there are plenty of Blue Marlin, Wahoo (kingfish), and Sailfish to pull in from the deep, with most of the island’s fishing hotspots just a few miles from shore. Barbados fishing can satisfy the desires of true fishing enthusiasts as well as folks just looking for a day at sea with friends and family. If you’re looking for some competitive fishing, you’re welcome to participate in the annual Barbados International Fishing Tournament that takes place every April.
For more tips on fishing in Barbados, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our Barbados Fishing page.
We would be remiss in not also mentioning that Barbados has been producing rum for over 350 years and is generally considered the birthplace of the famous golden elixir. Barbados is justifiably known for some of the best rum in the world, perhaps owing to the island’s unique coral make-up, as compared to the volcanic composition of other Caribbean islands. Your trip to Barbados will be complete once you visit the enjoyable Mount Gay and/or Foursquare Rum Distilleries. For more details on the rums of Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators who can get you on a distillery tour, check out our Barbados Rum page.
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Barbados Vacation Ideas page.
The most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands, Grenada is a tri-island nation that includes the main island of Grenada along with Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger and vanilla, Grenada and the other islands are also a great Caribbean destination for hiking, fishing, snorkeling and diving as well as a variety of water sports!
With Marine Parks protecting several areas of the ocean, including the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Grenada is a top Caribbean Island for snorkeling. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea from a handful of the islands’ white sandy beaches or take a short boat ride for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore dozens of underwater statues and healthy coral reefs alive with colourful tropical fish and amazing marine life. Similarly, with over 30 dive sites, Grenada is also a top Caribbean scuba diving destination. The island has dive sites featuring reefs, wrecks and underwater gardens in a variety of depths, offering something for everyone. If it’s shipwrecks you’re after, Grenada has more divable wrecks than any other Caribbean island, including the Titanic of the Caribbean, the ‘Bianca C’. Then there is the diving gem that is Carriacou, known as the ‘Island of Reefs’, where you can enjoy an additional 20 dive sites in the less-visited cooler waters of the Grenadines.
For more details on exploring Grenada’s underwater world, including contact info for local tour operators, dive shops and boat operators who can get you in the water, check out our Grenada Snorkeling and/or our Grenada Scuba Diving pages.
Grenada’s reefs, shoals and deep water close to shore also make it one of the best places in the southern Caribbean for catching a wide variety of fish. This includes plenty of deep-sea sport fish like sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin and even the occasional tuna. If you’re interested in a few days of competitive fishing, you’re welcome to join hundreds of like-minded anglers for a week of fun at the Spice Island Billfish Tournament, held every January. For more details on fishing in Grenada, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our Grenada Fishing page.
For even more amazing outdoor experiences on the water, Grenada’s protected bays and mangroves along with Carriacou’s quiet beaches provide the perfect setting for a relaxing day kayaking or Stand-Up-Paddleboarding. More adventurous kayakers can challenge the waves by journeying around an offshore island or two. That said, river tubing through a rainforest down Grenada’s Balthazar River is a must for new visitors to the island! For more tips on watersports options in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Grenada Water Sports page.
Meanwhile, back on dry land, adventurers can explore the island’s mountainous terrain to experience first-hand why Grenada is also considered one of the best Caribbean destinations for hiking. Avid hikers can enjoy trails through rainforests that feature waterfalls and their accompanying pools, as well as strenuous mountain climbs for spectacular views. While the most iconic hike in Grenada, with its impressive view of a Crater Lake, is probably the Mount Qua Qua trail in Grand Etang Lake and National Park, mountain hikers will also enjoy the tallest peak on the island, Mount St. Catherine which stands 2,760 feet (840m) above sea level. There are plenty of other hiking trails to choose from in Grenada, including some dry scrubland trails in the south of the island. Not to be outdone, Carriacou also has a number of trails worth exploring as well.
For more information and tips on hiking in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Grenada Hiking pages.
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.
Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth of Dominica is located north of Saint Lucia, between Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is the youngest island in the region with geothermal activity you can experience for yourself by hiking to the second-largest hot spring in the world, aptly named Boiling Lake. Besides being one of the top 3 Caribbean Island destinations for hiking, the “Nature Island” also offers incredible canyoning, snorkeling, diving, and fishing adventures… just waiting to be discovered!
Dominica is famous for its wild mountainous landscape and plentiful rivers and waterfalls. The tallest peak on the island is Morne Diablotins, which at 4,747 feet (1,447 m) above sea level, makes it the ninth tallest in the Caribbean. For unique hiking adventures, Dominica has a challenging trail to the aforementioned Boiling Lake, which is literally ‘boiling’, as well as an untamed river trail to the gorgeous Victoria Falls. There are literally dozens of trails on the island throughout an extensive natural park system including Cabrits National Park, the Northern Forest Reserve, the Central Forest Reserve, as well as Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its ‘Natural’ beauty. Dominica is also home to the Waitukubuli National Trail – 115 miles (184 km) of trails weaving across the length of the island. For the more adventurous, Dominica also has a burgeoning canyoning scene with several natural waterpark playgrounds concealed in a number of canyons, gorges and waterfalls just begging to be climbed and rappeled!
For more information and tips on hiking in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Dominica Hiking pages.
Dominica is also protecting its natural underwater world with the Soufriere-Scott’s Head Marine Reserve and the Cabrits Marine Reserve, making it a great Caribbean Island for snorkeling. The island has several sheltered bays along the western side of the island with close-to-shore reefs that are ideal for spotting tropical fish, large fish as well as rays and turtles. While it may not match the rugged beauty of snorkeling in the calm waters off Scott’s Head beach, you should experience for yourself the unique snorkeling spot known as Champagne Reef where Dominica’s volcanic activity can be viewed underwater as air bubbles seep through volcanic fumaroles on the seabed while you explore the corals and fish in the area. Wow!
The island is also an undiscovered mecca for scuba diving with shallow coral reefs, pinnacles, and steep drop-off cliffs with incredible caves and pass-throughs. There are dozens of dive sites to choose from along the west coast of Dominica, with a variety of options appropriate for divers with various skill levels. The reefs and walls are covered with colourful corals, tubes, fans, sponges and a wide assortment of diverse marine life including fish, eels, seahorses, shrimp, and more. Freedivers looking for a new place to explore will love the underwater crater in Soufriere Bay, which can be easily accessed via the fixed freediving platform.
Unsurprisingly, Dominica’s healthy reef systems and deep waters, also make it a great destination for Caribbean fishing. Sports fisherman dream about the big marlin, sailfish, yellowfin skipjack, tarpon, wahoo, dorado and mackerel that you can catch in the waters of Dominica. As an added bonus, you might be fortunate enough to see dolphins and whales swimming alongside your boat as you journey to and from the island’s fishing hot spots!
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Dominica Vacation Ideas page.
Located south of Antigua & Barbuda, the Guadeloupe archipelago consists of more than a dozen islands/islets – The two largest, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are only separated by a small channel, making the two islands appear as the wings of a butterfly. The less busy and relatively uninhabited islands of Marie-Galante, Les Saintes Bay and La Désirade are the other major islands in the archipelago. The Guadeloupe Islands are recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve providing a gorgeous natural setting for all sorts of Caribbean adventures like hiking, snorkeling, diving as well as a variety of water sports. Of course, there’s plenty of rhum as well!
Basse-Terre is a mountainous lush green paradise for hikers. The healthy natural ecosystem of the Parc National de la Guadeloupe contains the largest rainforest of the Lesser Antilles and has well over 100 miles (160km) of hiking trails to explore. Several trails lead to the top of La Grande Soufrière volcano, which at 4,813 feet (1,467m) above sea level is the eighth tallest of all the Caribbean Islands! A couple of other popular trails include the Chute du Carbet and the Cascade aux Ecrevisses, both ending with rewarding waterfall cascades! With over a hundred trails across the Guadeloupe archipelago, these islands have to be in the top 3 hiking spots in the Caribbean.
As the story goes, Jacques Cousteau, the famous scuba diving innovator and oceanographer was very impressed with Guadeloupe’s underwater world – The Guadeloupe Islands returned the compliment by naming a Marine Reserve in his honour. The Cousteau Marine Park at Pigeon Island, Basse-Terre is home to some of the best snorkeling and dive spots in Guadeloupe. While a boat or kayak is required to reach Pigeon Island as well as the shipwrecks and coral located in the shallows of the Grand-Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve, there are over 10 great snorkeling spots that can be accessed from beaches around Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre and Iles des Saintes. While snorkelers can appreciate colourful corals, sponges, sea fans, turtles and tropical fish, divers can explore over 20 sites that feature diverse coral gardens with underwater canyons, arches and swim-throughs, along with shipwrecks, turtles, rays, and even whales, along with a wide variety of fish. For another fascinating example of underwater geothermal activity check out the champagne dive at Bouillante, Basse-Terre. There are over a dozen dive shops across the Guadeloupe Islands ready to get you in the water.
Another great way to get exercise and explore nature in the Butterfly Islands is to kayak in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve lagoon. While exploring the reefs and mangroves you may be fortunate enough to spot a manatee swimming around or grazing on the seagrass. The Nature Reserve is also a great place to try Stand-Up Paddle-boarding. Meanwhile, on the east coast of Grande-Terre, surfers can find that perfect northeast swell to ride. While most kayak and SUP action takes place near Basse-Terre’s Malendure beach and the Pigeon Islands, there are places to rent SUP boards all over the islands, along with opportunities for the more adventurous to join a long-distance race paddling between islands.
Of course, the Guadeloupe Islands have a large selection of rhum distilleries to visit as well! Similar to its nearby neighbour Martinique, Guadeloupe produces “rhum agricole” from local sugar cane and is home to more than a handful of world-class distilleries in Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre and Marie-Galante. Most of Guadeloupe’s distilleries are open to the public, offering affordable plantation (habitation)/distillery tours, along with rhum tasting and storefronts to purchase the rhum(s) of your choice!
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Guadeloupe, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Guadeloupe Vacation Ideas page.
So that’s our view of the top Caribbean adventure destinations for 2023. While the above list may feature the very best Caribbean Islands for a combination of snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports and golf, that does not take anything away from other amazing islands that can also be enjoyed for Caribbean adventures. Some of our other favourites include Jamaica, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, The US Virgin Islands, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, as well as Trinidad & Tobago.
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined in the opening paragraphs.
We hope you liked our assessment and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
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ACT Staff
The Boiling Lake and Valley of Desolation trail is iconic Dominica hiking. We met our guide in the town of Laudat and feeling adventurous, our guide rode the spare tire on the back of our rented Jimny’s (small SUV) a short distance to a parking lot near the popular Titou Gorge attraction. We got to the actual trail-head by crossing a narrow pedestrian bridge overlooking the river that feeds the gorge. Some workers were below us, drilling into the earth, apparently testing the geothermic energy potential of the island.
Our hike started off in the shadow of Morne Macaque, a magnificent mountain that foreshadowed some of the terrain that we were heading into. The first hour or so went by at a leisurely pace – We enjoyed the lush rain-forest and it’s natural rocky trail. As we walked, our guide identified the various tree and plant species we encountered along the way. I was particularly fascinated by the giant tree trunks (Banyon, Chataignier or Burrwood trees perhaps?), fiddleheads and the large variety of ferns, lichens and tree stranglers. A great start to the hike!
Eventually, we came to a sign that read “You are now entering the Morne Trois Pitons National Park”. OK – Apparently the trail-head and the first section of the trail are outside of the park. The trail started to get a little steeper at this stage and it was muddy in spots. There were steps in some sections, made by small tree trunks stuck in the mud. Once we had reached the top of the hill, we descending steeply down to the Trois Piton river.
After the river crossing, the trail got steeper as our guide informed us that we would soon be entering the Montane (or Cloud) forest section of the hike. For the next hour or so, we crossed all sorts of different and beautiful terrain. The trail consisted of mostly natural paths, along with a number of wooden stairs built into the sides of the mountain. These really helped us get down and up the really steep sections. The engineers did a great job – I can’t imagine what it would be like without the stairs.
We stopped a couple of times at clearings to take some pictures of the Caribbean sea, Roseau and the Western coastline. Eventually, we came to the top of Morne Nicholls, which has a nice flat area on top and some room to move around. Epic Dominica hiking! We took a break to have a snack and appreciate the magnificent views of the southern half of the island’s mountainous terrain. We also got a glimpse of the steam coming from Boiling lake – Hinting at what awaits us just a couple of valleys and ridges away. What an amazing feeling it is to see the island from this vantage point!
From there we traveled down some fairly steep gorges, between mountains. It was slow going as we picked our way over the rocks in what was reminiscent of a dried-out river bed. There were also sections of really muddy wooden stairs in some ‘near vertical’ areas – Not for the faint of heart for sure! It took us a half-hour or so to reach the aptly named “Valley of Desolation”… WOW – I felt like I was on another planet. It was totally surreal!
In sharp contrast to the lush green flora and terrain we had hiked to this point, this new area was wide open, barren and without vegetation. The ground was rocky and an eerie grey colour – Dotted with blues and greens, along with patches of orange-yellow-gold. It seemed like water was bubbling out of the ground, pretty much everywhere. Being we were on part of an active volcano, it shouldn’t have surprised us that the sulfur in the air was colouring the rocks rusty and the mineral-rich water was a rich grey. We were thankful for the constant breeze and gusts of wind that blew the nasty smell of sulfur away. This was a unique Dominica hiking experience for sure.
We had to be careful of where we stepped and what we touched as previously mentioned, water was actually boiling out of the ground. Apparently some folks bring eggs here to boil in the natural hot spots – Not sure I would eat that. Anyways, we found a stream that was not too hot and our guide dug into the bed and pulled up handfuls of warm grey mud that we applied to our faces – Some people pay good money to go to a spa for this type of treatment 🙂 The warm mud mask felt good, although it was at his time when I realized that wearing a white shirt into a volcanic area was not a good idea. The yellow stains I got on my shirt would turn out to be a “souvenir”, as it would later turn out to be un-cleanable, even with bleach. No big deal…
We left Desolation Valley and walked past a small waterfall and crossed another river. OK, we had been hiking now for a while, and after the thrill of the amazingly freaky volcanic water / mud bath area had subsided, we were ready for the main event – The Boiling Lake…
We hiked some more… Down another rocky trail followed by going up another ridge. We repeated this a couple more times, like a slow-motion roller-coaster ride, until we eventually reached a flat plateau that overlooks the lake. Again – This just didn’t seem real.
Another ‘unworldly’ site. At this one, we gazed at a tall thin stream of water falling dozens of feet into a 200 foot (60m) wide pool of grey water, which was yes – literally boiling in the centre. With steam rising off the surface of the water everywhere it looked like the world’s largest outdoor sauna. Our guide informed us that we were not in the volcano’s crater, but rather this was actually a flooded ‘fumerole’. Boiling Lake is fed by a couple of streams, whose water seeps deep down through cracks in the rocky ground, where it meets the volcanic lava which boils the water forcing it back up to the surface, where it continues to boil and evaporate. We just stood there for a while, trying to soak in and come to grips with what we were seeing.
After a rest break and lunch, we headed back down the same way we came. I gotta tell you, this hike “started to get old” when we reached the final stretch of the trail, especially the long wooden stair sections. My legs were a little wobbly and my hiking partner was having problems with her knees. It’s interesting how that same section of trail at the beginning of the hike was so enjoyable, yet on the way back we never thought it would end – Dominica hiking is not for the faint of heart (or stamina).
A few minutes later however and we were in for a treat. At the end of the hike, we reached a shallow section of Titou Gorge where we took off our hiking shoes and socks and waded into the refreshing shallow pool to cool our burning feet – very soothing and revitalizing!
Wow – What an ‘epic’ hike – A Caribbean bucket-list experience for sure! We really enjoyed the diversity of the trail – Sometimes we were on ridges and mountain tops with spectacular views, other times we were hiking between them in gorges, ruts and bizarre valleys… We experienced hot mineral springs and mud pools and of course saw a lake that was literally “boiling”. A once in a lifetime experience!
ACT Staff
* Please note that this review was done prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017 – The trail conditions/characteristics may have changed as the island recovered *
For the complete hiking report, hiking guides, as well as much more information on traveling to Dominica, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
Dominica Hiking – Boiling Lake & the Valley of Desolation Trail
For an overview of what the Caribbean has to offer intrepid vacationers, take a look at our Active Caribbean Travel home page
