Experience a different kind of Caribbean Island in 2024 – Part II

Our Top 5 List of less-visited Caribbean Destinations 2024 - The best for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports & golf include Grenada and the Guadeloupe Islands

The remainder of our Top 5 ‘less visited’ unspoiled Caribbean Destinations for 2024!

As we were saying in part I of this article… With the cold winds and shorter days of winter starting to rear its ugly head in many parts of the world, you’re probably thinking about a nice warm Caribbean vacation this winter. We suggest you travel to somewhere warm and exciting – A less-touristy place with amazing natural wonders to experience, like an underwater world full of life, or a hike through lush green rainforest with amazing tropical views! If you missed part I of our thoughts on the best ‘off the beaten path’ Caribbean adventure destinations to visit in early 2024, you can find it here – Experience a different kind of Caribbean Island in 2024 – Part I.

Part II of this article highlights a couple more relatively unspoiled Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature by enjoying snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, and water sports – Places you can really immerse yourself in the culture and natural beauty of the land.


Grenada is one of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Grenada - Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports
One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Grenada - Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports



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 is a great Caribbean destination for hiking, fishing, snorkeling and diving as well as a wide variety of water sports!

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Grenada - Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

With Marine Parks protecting several areas of the ocean, including the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Grenada is a top Caribbean Island destination 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. There are 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 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.

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Grenada - Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports


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 blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, 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.

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Grenada - Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

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 water sports options in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Grenada Water Sports page.

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Grenada - Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

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 with spectacular views. While the most iconic hike in Grenada, with its impressive view of 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, and 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 great 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 and our Things-To-Do in Grenada page.

One of the Best Caribbean Destinations to visit in 2024 is the Guadeloupe Islands

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Guadeloupe - The Guadeloupe Islands are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

Located south of Antigua & Barbuda and just north of Dominica, the Guadeloupe archipelago consists of more than a dozen islands/islets – The two largest, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are 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 on the French island as well!

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Guadeloupe - The Guadeloupe Islands are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

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 one of the tallest in the Caribbean! A couple of other popular trails include the Chute du Carbet and the Cascade aux Ecrevisses, both ending at the foot of rewarding waterfalls! With over a hundred trails across the Guadeloupe archipelago, these islands have to be considered one of the top hiking spots in the Caribbean.

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Guadeloupe - The Guadeloupe Islands are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

According to some accounts, Jacques Cousteau, the famous scuba diving innovator and oceanographer mentioned that he was very impressed with Guadeloupe’s underwater world – The Guadeloupe Islands returned the compliment by naming a Marine Reserve, encompassing two small islets (pictured above), in his honour.

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Guadeloupe - The Guadeloupe Islands are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

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 about a dozen 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 visiting shipwrecks, and spotting turtles, rays, and even whales, along with a wide variety of fish. For another fascinating example of underwater geothermal activity (similar to Dominica) 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.

One of the Top 5 unspoiled Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 is Guadeloupe - The Guadeloupe Islands are great for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports

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 the archipelago.

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.

Well, thanks for reading our list of some of the ‘lesser known’, and different kind of Caribbean Island to visit in 2024 for some of the best snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. We hope you liked our assessment, and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!

While our article covers some of the best ‘unspoiled’ Caribbean Islands, that does not take anything away from other amazing and less-visited islands that can also provide enjoyable Caribbean adventures – Some of our other favourites include Montserrat, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tobago, the Cayman Islands’ Lil Cayman and Cayman Brac, as well as St. Eustatius.

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.

A Taste of Snorkeling in Grenada

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach for large elkhorn coral


One activity I always look forward to when visiting the islands is slipping into the warm Caribbean Sea to explore an underwater world we just can’t experience on land, or in most northern waters either for that matter. Well, our recent trip to Grenada was no different – I was looking forward to exploring their beach-accessible coral reefs as well as boating to the world’s first underwater sculpture park. In fact, with Marine Parks protecting several snorkeling hot spots around the island, Grenada may be one of the best Caribbean snorkeling destinations.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park for Brain coral

Once we arrived on the island and got settled, it wasn’t long before we were looking to enjoy some Grenada snorkeling experiences for ourselves. So, we headed out to visit a few hot spots along the southwest coast of Grenada – The Spice Island of the Caribbean did not disappoint. We discovered that Grenada’s reefs are home to amazing colourful tropical fish and thriving marine life! Here’s our ‘review’ of what we found at a few of Grenada’s most popular snorkeling spots.


Molinière / Beauséjour Marine Protected Area

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Flamingo Bay


A local tour operator boat picked us up right from the beach at our resort, and along with a handful of others, we motored north to explore the Molinière Bay – Beauséjour Marine Protected Area.  First, we snorkeled over a nice healthy reef before experiencing the famous Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park. Although the day was overcast with limited visibility, we still managed to see a wide variety of corals and other sea life, including a range of fish such as angel fish, parrot fish, butterfly fish, sergeant majors, blue-headed wrasse, as well as a wide variety of striped and dark coloured fish.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park for Blue Chromis and grunts

Our snorkeling tour began with a 20-minute boat ride up Grenada’s southwest coast, slowing as we cruised into Flamingo Bay – Named after the Flamingo Tongue Snail, not the large pink bird found elsewhere in the Caribbean. The water was a bit choppy and the sky grey, so I lowered my expectations as I slipped into the cool water. Regardless of the cloudy water, this place is awesome – So much to explore and see. Our guide pointed us to a healthy coral reef that followed the shoreline along the south end of the Bay, so off I went to explore…

The rocky coral on the ocean floor of the bay is pretty much carpeted with life. The depth of the water varied from about 20 feet (6m) to just a few feet as I snorkelled closer to shore, which I did fairly often following small schools of fish. The amazing reef structure is covered with a colourful assortment of sea whips, a variety of hard corals along with plenty of whimsical sea fans.  As I slowly floated over the reef, I came across a wide variety of fish of all shapes, sizes and colours. There were colourful blue fish as well as fast-moving schools of small, long, and skinny yellow/grey fish along with small groups of split-tail black-spotted grey fish – Likely tangs, chromis, as well as juvenile grunts, jacks and more. I especially enjoyed snorkelling over a nice wide gully between the shore and the main reef – The edges of which are just filled with marine life to examine and admire.

At one point our guide dove down to show us some Flamingo Snails on the back of a sea fan, then he gently borrowed a white sea urchin from its coral home, temporarily bringing it near the surface. While it was still in the water he placed the urchin on the palm of my hand – wow, the spikey little creature gently sucked my skin attempting to ground himself I assume.  That was a first – and an enjoyable unique experience! Flamingo Bay is definitely a good snorkeling spot – If the warm and penetrating sun was out, I could have explored there for hours…


FYI – The next cove is another snorkelling hot spot called Dragon Bay. I understand that this bay is home to interesting volcanic rock formations and some of the best-conserved coral reefs in Grenada – I hear the area is brimming with marine life including colourful fish, octopus, eels, lobsters and even seahorses!

Anyway, after about half an hour or so of exploring the reef of Flamingo Bay, we climbed back aboard the boat and motored south for a few minutes before reaching the Sculpture Park.

Grenada’s Underwater Sculpture Park, completed in 2006, was designed by world-renowned British Sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor. The park’s displays rest on the ocean floor ranging in ocean depths between approximately 15 to 30 feet (5-9m) of water. Popular statues include the Vicissitudes (a ring of children holding hands) and the Lost Correspondent (a man sitting at a desk with a typewriter).  When we arrived at the site, there was a much larger boat already there so there was over a dozen of us in the water at the same time, however, there are plenty of displays spread across a fairly large area of the sea floor, so it didn’t feel crowded at all.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park
Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park


With my fingers already shriveled from the previous swim, I re-entered the water and followed our guide who swam from one underwater display to another, taking time to describe what we were looking at below the surface. Before entering the water, he had told us that the displays are living art, which I understood better once I saw the cement statues in various stages of transformation – Slowly but surely being taken over by corals and algae. The statues are being claimed by nature, as it should be, as this is their home, and we are just visiting. To my amazement, the statues are located on the sandy ocean floor, in gaps between large coral structures. Unfortunately, the water was quite murky the day we were there so visibility (and photo quality) was poor. That said, I found one of the smaller rings of children very interesting, although I was really impressed with the ‘lost correspondent’, a lone figure slaving away at his typewriter – If you think you have busy days at work, this guy is seriously underwater…  literally drowning in his work (bad dad joke, I know). Sorry for not providing a photo of it, however, it is in deep water and the visibility was poor. I also liked what Americans might see as the aqua-man version of ‘touchdown Jesus’, a statue of a large man with his arms outstretched open above his head. A unique experience for sure!

Although the visibility was low, I particularly appreciated the statues recreating the island’s Amerindian Petroglyphs – The haunting faces of long-gone indigenous peoples staring back at me from the depths. The photo below does not do them justice. While I was excited to see the sculptures that I had heard/read so much about, I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of large fish swimming around. Once in a while we swam through a few handfuls of golf-ball sized jellyfish that irritated some folks in our group, although I didn’t feel anything.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park

As we motored back to our resort, my eyes were continuously scanning the coastline of this beautiful Caribbean Island. There was one beach that stood out to me, as it appeared to have a large shallow reef not far from shore – One of our guides said it was Morne Rouge Beach, also called BBC Beach, and that indeed, it is another great place to snorkel.

While we enjoyed the day of snorkelling immensely, we found the water a bit chillier than some of our other Caribbean snorkelling experiences. I kept thinking how much more we would have enjoyed the excursion on a sunny day with less wind and calmer seas. I imagine that it would have been more comfortable with much better visibility with sunlight illuminating the statues. Oh well, this experience simply makes me want to come back for more 😉

Magazine Beach

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach


We were fortunate enough to be staying at a resort right on Magazine Beach, which I had heard was another good spot for snorkeling on the southwest coast. I ventured into the waters a couple of times to explore the area for myself. While the beach is located on the Caribbean side of Grenada, it is pretty far south, so the Atlantic Ocean mixes with the Caribbean Sea a little, making it a bit rough – Nothing overly challenging, but I chose to wear a lifejacket to make my experience more relaxed and comfortable.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park for Puffer fish and Cow fish

One day I snorkelled it was quite windy, so the water was a bit wavy with a slight undertow. Anyways, Magazine Beach is actually split into two beaches, separated by a small rocky cliff that juts out into the Caribbean Sea. I entered the water near the north end of the north beach and drift-snorkeled south – A fun and enjoyable experience. The first thing I noticed when I stuck my face in the water were the patches of green plant life everywhere, some portions precariously clinging to the sea floor and other clumps swaying back and forth in the sea as the waves rolled onto and out from the beach. Even as I swam into deeper waters further from shore, I noticed that fish of all sizes, along with marine vegetation, were also captive of the ocean current, gently going with the flow so-to-speak – It seemed to me that the sea fans were literally waving to me the entire time I was looking down there. About a hundred feet (30m) from shore I came across a large healthy coral reef system that ran parallel to the shore for hundreds of feet. This is where I floated around exploring the abundant marine life Grenada has to offer.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park


As I drifted along with the current, I encountered many large sea fans and a wide variety of coral, including some massive elkhorn coral that looked like 10-foot (3m) wide flowers. The reef contained a number of really interesting gullies, ranging in depth from about 5 to 15 feet (2-5m). These rocky channels were home to tons of different fish – Lots of small juvenile fish along with several large fish trying to hide, darting from under one ledge to another.


Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park for Elkhorn coral


I swam over several incredible puffer fish (or perhaps cow fish?), the most I‘ve ever come across in one area. I saw some amazing Blue fish, perhaps tang or chromis swimming among a school of other fish. I also saw a half-purple and half-yellow fish and a fish that was black on top and white/silver underneath – I don’t recall seeing fish like this before. I was also happy to see plenty of my favourite fish – There were several decent-sized parrotfish of various types and colours, including the rainbow variety. Closer to shore, I snorkelled right over a line of squid floating with the current (photo below). WoW, that was incredible – Seeing squid like this just doesn’t get old! I was floating around out there for a fairly long time, although I could spend hours more exploring this reef system!

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park for Squid


FYI – A little further south along this shoreline is the public accessible Aquarium Beach, which is essentially an extension of the same reef system as Magazine Beach. I understand there’s a restaurant with facilities on that beach.

While we’re on the subject, there are plenty of other good places to snorkel in Grenada as well. They include:

The popular Grand Anse Beach, which is also located on the south-west coast of the island. This snorkeling spot is nicely protected from the wind and the beautiful beach provides easy access to an artificial reef of ‘pyramids’ that are home to tropical fish and other marine life. A few minutes away is Morne Rouge Beach, also called BBC Beach. This beach-accessible snorkeling spot is less crowded than Grand Anse Beach and on a good day, features clear calm water – Excellent for snorkelling.

Levera Beach, situated within Levera National Park, is located at the northeast corner of Grenada. When the Atlantic Ocean is calm you can swim to coral reefs and seagrasses right from the beach – Places to explore that are alive with marine life. Bathway Beach is practically right next door to the park, and also offers a white sand beach with a coral reef close to shore. You can find public facilities at Bathway Beach.

La Sagesse Beach is located along the southeast coast of the island. This beautiful bay is home to a couple of small coral reefs and when the Atlantic Ocean is calm the water is clear, offering great snorkelling. Then there is nearby Hog Island – Apparently, it is possible for snorkelers to reach a multitude of shipwrecks in the Marine Protected Area there.

Active Caribbean Travel snorkels Magazine Beach, Flamingo Bay and Grenada's Underwater Sculpture Park for Angel fish and Butterfly fish


And let’s not forget about snorkeling Carriacou’s Marine Protected Areas including L’Esterre Bay, home to Paradise Beach and Sandy Island. Grenada’s sister island is also where you will find a couple of other remote and beautiful areas to snorkel – Anse La Roche Beach and Tyrell Bay Beach. Apparently, you can also drift snorkel the coral reefs around White Island and Saline Island in the sea between Carriacou and the main island of Grenada.


For more information on snorkeling in Grenada, including a list of tour operators who will get you into the water, check out our Grenada Snorkeling page

If you’re looking for other ‘active’ things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our Grenada Adventures blog for some great ideas!

For an overview of the beautiful islands of Grenada, take a look at our Grenada Vacations page

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

The best adventures Martinique has to offer

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

The French Island of Martinique is located just north of St. Lucia in the Caribbean’s Windward Islands. While best known for its many rhum distilleries and French-Caribbean fusion of food and culture, the island has an amazingly diverse terrain and natural environment making it ideal for active vacations. Martinique’s northern rainforests are great for mountainous hiking and canyoning, while the protected bays on the island’s southwest Caribbean coast are ideal for snorkeling. Martinique also has a number of wetlands and shallows along its coastline ideal for kayaking, while the Atlantic side of the island is a great place for surfing, kite-surfing and more.

Find some of the Caribbean’s best hiking, snorkeling, and watersports in Martinique!

A Martinique vacation has plenty to offer travelers seeking action on both land and sea – Take a look at our favourite activities below that are guaranteed to make you feel alive!

Hike Diverse Trails in Martinique

Hiking is a great way to appreciate Martinique’s varied landscape and natural beauty, providing the opportunity to appreciate amazing panoramic views of the island and the Caribbean Sea from hill-top look-outs or coastal trails. One of the “Top 3” islands for Caribbean hiking, Martinique offers a variety of challenging volcano/mountain trails, sun-drenched coastal trails and even a trail through a wild river gorge. The island has over 30 hiking trails, most of which are well-marked and maintained.

Most of Martinique’s hiking trails are located in the northern half of the island where half a dozen peaks reach more than 2,300 feet (700m) above sea level. None is more exciting than the iconic Montagne (Mount) Pelee which has four different paths to reach the top. When not shrouded in mist and fog, this peak provides the most amazing views of the island and Caribbean Sea. Perhaps the most popular trail up the semi-active volcano is the 2-mile (4km) long L’aileron route – For a colourful, first-hand account of hiking this trail, check out our Mount Pelée – L’aileron Trail blog post.

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

There are a couple of note-worthy trails in the north/west of the island, one of which is a 1.5 mile (2km) forested trail with an easy 755 feet (230m) vertical that follows a river to the Cascade Couleuvre, the tallest waterfall on the island. For a more colorful, personal account of hiking this trail, check out our Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre Trail blog post.

There are over a dozen trails in the Parc Naturel Regional De La Martinique, located in the north-east of Martinique, including Les Gorges de la Falaise, a short but unique hike along and in a river at the bottom of a steep gorge. You’ll be rewarded at the end of this hike with a refreshing waterfall and pool.
In the north-west area of the island, the Pitons du Carbet is home to more than half a dozen trails, offering a variety of nice relaxing walks as well as some more challenging mountainous (volcano) hikes with amazing panoramic views of the island and the Caribbean Sea.

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

There are several hiking trails along the East Coast of Martinique, including the awesome Circuit de la Caravelle Loop Trail that provides amazing views of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a 5-mile (8km) loop with 650 feet (200m) in elevation change located within the Presqu’Île de la Caravelle Nature Reserve. For a more colourful review, check out our personal hiking experience by clicking on our Circuit-de-la Caravelle Trail blog post.

Not to be left out, there are over half a dozen trails at the southern end of the island, including a steep 1.5 mile (2km) hike up a 1,300 (400m) vertical to the top of Morne Larcher that offers spectacular panoramic views of the island and Caribbean sea. There is also a very popular and less challenging route to the top of Morne Gommier that also rewards hikers with impressive views.

There are even a couple of coastal trails backpackers or long-distance hikers would love. The Sentier Littoral Nord Atlantique is a 28-mile (45km) long trail along the northeast coast of Martinique, while the Trace des Caps trail is a 21-mile (34km) long hike along the southeast shores of Martinique.

For a more complete list of Martinique hiking trails, along with some hiking guides to get you on the trail, check out our Martinique Hiking page.

FYI – For the more adventurous, there are plenty of opportunities for canyoning in Martinique as well!

Snorkel the clear shallow waters of Martinique

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

What makes Martinique a great place for snorkeling is that many of the best reefs are located in the shallow waters of protected bays that can be easily reached by simply swimming off a gorgeous beach.
While there are several snorkeling sites on the northwest coast of Martinique, perhaps the remote Anse Couleuvre is the best. You can reach the rocky reef found off the north end of the beach by boat or with a short hike from the Cascade Couleuvre trailhead.

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

That said, the most popular Martinique snorkeling spots are in the Les Anses-d’Arlet and Trois Ilets areas along the southwest coast. The white sand beach at Plage de l’Anse Mitan in Pointe du Bout offers a rocky reef alive with fish and other sea life. Perhaps the two best and most popular snorkeling spots on the island are near Les Anses-d’Arlet. The quieter Anse Noire is home to a wide variety of marine life and its long pier offers a great way to get in and out of the water away from shore. Well known for its green sea turtles, Anse Dufour has a gorgeous white sand beach and plenty of amenities, with plenty of viewable sea life among the rocky reefs that border both sides of the protected bay.

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

There are several more good snorkeling sites along the southern shores of Martinique. Anse Figuier, located in Sainte Luce, is beach-accessible and has shallow calm water above a nice sandy bottom that is ideal for beginners. For a more remote quiet spot for snorkelling, Pointe Borgnèse at the Bay du Marin, is home to a wide variety of tropical fish and marine life.

For a more colourful first-hand account of snorkeling in Martinique, check out our Snorkeling Martinique blog post.

For more detailed information on Martinique’s snorkeling sites, along with a list of tour/boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, click on our Martinique Snorkeling page.

FYI – For the true lovers of the deep, there’s plenty of amazing scuba diving off the shores of Martinique as well!

Enjoy a round of golf in Martinique

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

The island’s only golf course is located less than half an hour from the capital, Fort-de-France. The picturesque golf course, Golf des Trois-Îlets, is a 5,812 meter 18-hole / par 71 golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. While the first 9 holes may seem fairly easy, beware of the challenging back 9. Even if you’re having an off day on the course, you can still enjoy the spectacular views of Fort-De-France Bay.

For more information about golf on the island, check out our Martinique Golf page.

Enjoy the best of Martinique Water Sports

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

One of the most fun ways to experience the Caribbean is by getting on the water. With precious mangrove forests, several protected bays, and areas that get plenty of those famous Caribbean tradewinds, Martinique is a great Caribbean Island for watersports.

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

Well protected within the bay of Fort-de-France, the mangroves of Génipa Nature Reserve are made to be explored by kayak, as are the calm shallow waters on the Atlantic side in Robert’s Bay and Francois Bay. Back along the Caribbean coast, the protected bays and beaches of Les Anses d’Arlet and Anse à l’Ane are ideal for Stand-Up-Paddleboarding, ocean kayaking and a wide variety of fun and exciting motorized watersports like waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing – There are even jet ski and sea scooter rentals as well as flyboard available.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic side of Martinique is a happening scene for surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers. The town of Tartane on the north side of Presqu’ile du la Caravelle is home to several surf schools as well as great surf beaches like the gorgeous Anse l’Etang and Anse Bonneville, aptly known as Plage des Surfeurs (Surfer’s Beach). These are great places for Caribbean surfing, for both beginners and experienced tube-riders alike. For the more adventurous, Martinique’s southeast coast is home to a few beaches ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

Adventurous vacations in Martinique include great Caribbean hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, & golf, plus water-sports like kayaking, windsurfing & kitesurfing

For more information, along with local tour operators and surf shops who offer surfing, SUP as well as watersports gear rentals, check out our Martinique Water-Sports page.

Enjoy the adventure(s) of your choice in Martinique!

ACT Staff

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 post

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

Sail into a gourmet feast with Epic Tours Bonaire

We went for the sail & snorkel, we’ll return for the culinary delight!

We had been enjoying some snorkeling, hiking and a variety of attractions in Bonaire for about a week when we thought it was time to elevate our vacation with a pleasant sailing experience. While there are several boat operators and excursions to choose from, we went with Epic Tours Bonaire and their “Brunch & Snorkel Catamaran Tour”. We are glad that we did – While we went for the sail and snorkel, we’ll be back for the gourmet brunch!

Our morning excursion started at the “Bonaire Nautico Marina” in Kralendijk, where we were welcomed aboard the “Fly Away” catamaran by Epic Tour’s friendly crew. We left the dock at a decent time, ensuring that we would be the first of the day to snorkel off famous Klein Bonaire, Bonaire’s flat, scrub-brush covered little off-islet. There were about a dozen of us on board, giving us plenty of room to move around the catamaran to obtain a variety of views of the islands and the Caribbean Sea. That said, we eventually settled on a great, padded bench in front of the main cabin, although I occasionally moved to one of the seats at the very front of either end of the catamaran hulls to get closer to the water. One couple lounged on the catamaran’s netting in front of us while another couple settled in with the captain. A large family sat behind the main cabin on a horseshoe-shaped couch. As we got underway one of the crew members offered us beverages while the other was busy in the main cabin preparing brunch.

Once we left the port area, the captain let loose the headsail, allowing the catamaran to be powered by the wind. While it’s always nice and breezy in Bonaire, this morning the wind was blowing hard, churning up the water between the main island and Klein Bonaire a bit more than usual. That said, the ride was super smooth, so we barely noticed the choppy waves beneath us. We moved at a decent pace but were in no hurry. We weren’t on the sea for long before we were greeted by the sight of dozens of incredible flying fish jumping out of the water in front of the boat – The amazing, sea creatures glided for dozens of feet before returning to the water (photo below). What a surprising, wonderful sight that was, especially as we hadn’t even seen a single winged fish on our last trip to Barbados, an island known for flying fish! There was some relaxing music playing at a low volume, giving the journey a nice tranquil vibe. After a relaxing steady cruise, we arrived at our first snorkel stop, on the north side of Klein Bonaire.



Leanora’s Reef is located about a hundred feet or so from the shores of the small islet and is known for its corals, sponges and sea fans in about 30 feet of water, along with the fish and other marine life that call the reef home. One of Epic’s crew members suggested that we first snorkel east into the wind for a while, then drift snorkel back to the boat – Good advice that I followed. Although the water was a tad rough, the incredible underwater world of Klein Bonaire revealed itself as soon as I stuck my face in the water. For over half an hour I snorkelled back and forth between the amazing forest-like area close to shore and venturing out to deeper water where the reef plunges dramatically into the dark, deep Caribbean Sea.

It was a little overcast at the time, so the visibility wasn’t ideal, however, I saw a fascinating assortment of hard lumpy coral structures along with a variety of marine plant life that covered the ocean floor. I spotted plenty of Bonaire’s ever-present parrotfish in their amazing rainbow of colours ranging from white through red-orange to a spectacular variety of blues. I also noticed some blue tang, sergeant majors and a beautiful gold-tinged French angel fish swimming around between feedings on the algae/corals. I also saw a fascinating large multi-hued brown fish on the ocean floor I believe was a checkered puffer fish (photo below). Of course, there were dozens of other fish in a variety of sizes and colours.


Once I was content with my exploration of the underwater world at Leanora’s Reef, I came back on board for some rest and relaxation. While lying on the catamaran’s netting to dry off, I listening to the waves softly washing up on the shore of Klein Bonaire, along with the somehow satisfying creaking sounds of the ropes holding the catamaran in place as we gently bobbed on the Caribbean Sea.




I got up just in time to join my partner as brunch was being served. One of the gracious crew members brought plate after plate of delicious-looking food for us in what turned out to be our own private dining area. While I’m sure that the menu varies depending on what is locally fresh and available, our brunch started off with some plain yogurt sweetened with granola and blueberries, followed by a fresh fruit platter. Then I apprehensively tried the couscous salad – I’m not usually a fan, however to my astonishment, this pasta dish was moist, light and refreshing. We then proceeded to devour samples from the upscale charcuterie board that included nicely seasoned creamy egg salad, thinly sliced savoury beef that was marinated and cooked to perfection, some cheese and other sliced meats, as well as some unique fresh caper-rich bruschetta.

Oh, of course we sipped on samosas and freshly squeezed orange juice throughout the meal. Eventually, I got to try the desserts I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off… I wasn’t expecting much from the pancakes, although the fruit-based Dutch stroop syrup was another delectable stunner – thick and kind of molasses-like, with just the right amount of spice and sweetness. As a perfect finish to the meal, the cheesecake was creamy, light and sweet. It sounds like a lot of food, but when we were done, I wouldn’t say I was overly full, just very satisfied and happy!



Once we completed our feast and the crew cleared the dishes, we were under sail once again. This time we headed northeast to a lovely, remote snorkeling spot off the mainland of Bonaire called Andrea.



Thankfully, the water was much shallower, calmer and clearer for this snorkelling session. WoW, what a treat! This spot has more lumpy hard coral structures as well as some vertical elkhorn-like corals along with an amazing variety of fish – I saw more parrot fish, angel fish and tang, along with several freaky and cool trumpetfish, some grunts, a couple of four-eyed butterfly fish and I even noticed an eel slithering snake-like along the ocean floor.

That said, the highlight of this snorkel had to be seeing not one, but two different types of boxfish! The first one was a small black and white spotted trunkfish, while the second was a beautiful blue species I had never seen before – I believe it was a cowfish (video below). This stop beautifully re-enforces Bonaire’s reputation as one of, if not the top snorkelling destinations in the Caribbean!



Well, all good things must come to an end, so we sailed south back to port to wrap up our amazing sailing, snorkelling and foodie experience. Before the trip was over however, I managed to enjoy some friendly conversation with other passengers as well as the captain. While we may be from different countries, we can all appreciate what Bonaire and this sailing excursion had provided us.

Wow – what a morning – We had such a great time! While samosas, beer and wine were offered, this is no loud party boat. Epic Tours’ Brunch & Snorkel Catamaran Tour is a refined, yet laid back, sailing, snorkeling and culinary experience. This tour is ideal for mature couples and families of all ages. A relaxing easy-going way to spend a morning, and one that will satisfy snorkelers and serious foodies alike! Ahhhhh… Life is Good!

If this sail, snorkel and brunch tour appeals to you, you can contact the friendly folks at Epic Tours directly by clicking on this link –> Epic Tours Bonaire

For an overview of this amazing Dutch Caribbean Island, take a look at our Bonaire Vacations page

For other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Bonaire blog

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

ACT Staff

Antigua’s Stingray City – An Interactive Experience

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

Swimming with Stingrays is Exciting and Captivating – Stingray City Antigua


Our adventure began with a Stingray City motorboat picking us up right on the beach next to our hotel. It was a nice scenic boat ride out to a man-made dock floating somewhere off the east coast of the island – This is Stingray City. I suspect that we were in or near Antigua’s North Sound Marine Park. What I know for sure is that we were a fair distance from shore – It seemed like we were more than a mile (>km) from the coast. Yet, it was amazing that the water was only waist deep and very calm. As with our other boating adventures in Antigua, the sea off the coast of the island was crystal clear and beautiful.

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


As soon as the boat was tied-up to the floating dock, we got out and watched the Caribbean’s Southern Stingrays swooping around under us. I’ll admit that the only reason I wasn’t too nervous was because I have been in the water with stingrays before. I recall the guide at my last encounter saying the stingrays weren’t comfortable around me, because they could sense my fear… This time was going to be different – I planned on relaxing and enjoying my experience at Stingray City in Antigua.

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


As we approached Stingray City, I was concerned to see a large ring of buoys in the water, however I soon realized that there were no nets attached to them. The buoys were there to mark the area that we were supposed to stay within, so the guides could easily keep track of us. That is, the people are corralled, while the Stingrays are free to come and go as they please. We were the second boat to arrive this morning, so there was only a handful of people there when we started out, however a couple other boats and more people were soon to join us.

Once I was in the water I quickly relaxed. I put on my mask and dropped to my knees in order to get a good look at the pre-historic creatures up-close and personal under the water. Wow – These guys are pretty big! Actually, the females are about 5 feet in diameter while the male of the species are about half the size. The females are very sociable as they slowly swim around and gently brushed up against our legs. I say swim, although watching their large round wing-like bodies rippling along or near the sea bottom, they appear to be flying underwater. Meanwhile the males swiftly dart around and through the crowd of people and female stingrays.


It was wild to touch the gentle giants as they effortlessly glided past us… They felt to me kind of like a mushroom – soft and almost furry, especially their underside. We were told that it’s OK to gently hold them, as long as we kept them in contact with the sea. The friendly Stingray City guides were in the water with us, and one-by one they helped us get face-to-face with a southern stingray. So, I spread out our arms fairly wide and softly held the ray in my hands – What an experience!



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

To think that these majestic animals, a distant cousin of the shark, have changed very little in the millions of years they’ve been on the planet, is just incredible. As land-based animals, stingrays look so foreign to us, yet they seem well designed to thrive in their equally alien underwater world.

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

After watching and interacting with the stingrays for a fair amount of time, I started to look around and explore more of the aquatic environment that we were visiting. I noticed several clumps of coral at the edge of buoys, so I snorkeled around in the shallow water and saw a number of different kinds of fish swimming around. I could never get tired of swimming and snorkeling in Antigua’s warm clear waters…

Eventually, our once in a life-time experience had to come to an end. We returned to our motorboat for a nice cruise along Antigua’s east coast. It’s great to get a different perspective of the island, viewing it from sea. The multiple shades of Antigua’s clear blue waters isn’t too hard on the eyes either. This boat ride took us to Stingray City’s land base, where we were to meet their sister company, Antigua Nature Tours, a little later in the day for more off-shore activities.

ACT Staff

Want to see more? Check out our Antigua’s Stingray City video on YouTube!

For more information about Stingray City, including material to help plan your own Antiguan adventure, you can contact the good folks directly by visiting their website (just click on the link) below:

Stingray City Antigua


For an overview of the “land of sun and sea”, feel free to check-out our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page.

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

For popular Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Antigua and Barbuda blog