Snorkeling

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

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

Best off the beaten track Caribbean Destinations 2024 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports & golf include Bonaire, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Dominica

Our Top 5 list of ‘less visited’ unspoiled Caribbean Destinations for 2024!

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.

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

Best off the beaten track Caribbean Destinations 2024 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling, diving, hiking, and watersports includes Bonaire

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.

One of the Best Caribbean Island Destinations in 2024 is St. Kitts & Nevis

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.

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

Best off the beaten track Caribbean Destinations 2024 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, and watersports includes Dominica

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!

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Barbados Snorkeling – Carlisle Bay and Holetown

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Boat Cruise, Caribbean, Kayaking, Nature, Snorkelling, Stingrays, Tourist Attractions, Water Sports

Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown

Swim with Turtles, Snorkel a Shipwreck and More!

Always on the lookout for fun and active “things to do” while on our Caribbean vacations, one constant theme kept popping up throughout my research on Barbados – swimming with turtles and snorkeling over shipwrecks. With all those white sand beaches and close-to-shore reefs along the south-west and west coast, I was really looking forward to getting into the water and exploring the marine seascapes! So, here’s what we did…

Carlisle Bay – Swim with Turtles and Snorkel a Shipwreck

Carlisle Bay is about a mile (2km) south of Bridgetown, and about 4 miles (7km) north of where we were staying. We donned our bathing suits and reef-friendly sunscreen, grabbed our snorkel masks and hopped on a local bus for the 15-minute ride. Carlisle Bay has some of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, and I must say, it is a beautiful sight. Like all beaches in Barbados, Brownes Beach, Pebbles Beach and Bayshore Beach are “public” beaches. This means that anyone can just lay down a towel and stake a claim to a piece of sand, regardless of the hotel or bar/restaurant you happen to be in front of (or is it behind?). Anyways, the gorgeous white sand beaches of Carlisle Bay stretch for about a mile (2km) along the shimmering blue sea that beckoned us in for a swim and snorkel. The beaches are just about perfect – with no stones or pebbles and there’s no sea-weed in the water. The only potential downside is that it was fairly busy by Caribbean island standards. But… understandable considering what the area offers.

Beach chair and umbrella rentals are available all along the beach. There’s even a couple of facilities that feature a bar, restaurant and bathrooms – Harbour Lights and the Boatyard Club also conveniently turn into nightclubs for continuing the party when the sun goes down. We ended up near Bayshore Beach which has public washrooms (Lockers are available – just bring your own lock). Vendors in the parking lot offer everything from water to large home-cooked meals. Later in the day, I had what I think was the largest, tastiest meat patty I’ve ever had, outside of Jamaica.

Enough of the logistics – It’s time we got in the water!

We started at an area that at first seemed devoid of life. No coral, just a sand bottom 15-20 feet below… then, I saw something moving down there… There were several stingrays cruising along the seafloor. Apparently, these creatures are fairly new to this spot, although it’s easy to understand why they’re here. Like other marine animals in the area, they’re here for the food. Local boat/tour operators drop fish scraps into the water to attract turtles – The Crowd Favourite. There were several boatloads of people occupying the same space, so when a turtle was spotted, everyone converged on the area. Even with several legs thrashing around, we managed to see a couple of the fascinating reptiles. It was really fun to watch a turtle, enveloped in a swarm of “entourage” fish, swim up for an easy meal. After surfacing for some air, it gracefully descended, mysteriously disappearing into the depths.

Next stop – The shipwreck. Strong swimmers can access this spot right from the beach. Fortunately, there were fewer people here and were more spread out. Snorkeling over the shipwreck was incredible – It absolutely blew me away as I’ve never seen so many fish congregating in one area like that. The top of the ship is less than 15 feet (4.5m) from the surface, so clearly visible by snorkelers. The top and sides of the wreck were covered in corals, sponges and sea fans, however I was really fascinated by the large variety of tropical fish. I viewed the ship from stern to bow and back again – I just couldn’t get enough. Along with schools of sergeant-majors, the trumpetfish, blue-tang and angelfish really stood out to me. I watched as a snorkeler dived down to the surface of the ship and even into one of the openings – Hhmnn… I’ll need to try that next time! This may be as close to a scuba diving experience as I’ll ever get.

Now that I know where the hotspots are, the next time I’m in Barbados I’ll try to get to Carlisle Bay before 9am, rent a kayak and check out these locations before the crowds arrive.

Want to see more? Check out our Barbados Snorkeling with Turtles and Rays, and Barbados Snorkeling over Shipwrecks videos on YouTube!

Folkstone & Holetown – Rock Pile Reefs

A couple of days later we got on another bus and ventured further up the west coast to check out Folkstone Marine Park. Snorkelers can explore a large area of shallow sea here, protected by buoys and rope fence. From the beach, we could see several scattered rows of reefs close to shore – So exciting! Unfortunately, the water was rough that day, with waves breaking right over the reefs, so the beach was closed to snorkelers. We were there on a Sunday, so the Information Centre / Museum (lockers available) was also closed. Disappointed but not defeated, we wandered south along the beach looking for somewhere else to get into the water…

Just north of Holetown, I could see a dark shape in the water really close to shore, so I assumed it was a reef and a potential place to snorkel. The warm salty water was easy to float in, even with the small waves that day. Here’s where things got a little interesting… As I neared the “reef”, I was surprised to see that it was actually a meticulously stacked/assembled rock-pile. It was as if a Giant played a game of Granite Tetris undersea… I assume that all the reefs along Barbados’ west coast are like this. Unlike most of its neighbouring islands, Barbados is a coral island, so I was expecting lots of natural coral at the bottom of the sea – Well, this was a learning experience.

Regardless of their composition, these rock barriers provide a sanctuary for sea-life. This little reef had several different fish swimming around it, so I was motivated to check-out the larger reef at the north end of Holetown – Wow, I’m sure glad I did! Just a few feet from shore I disturbed a flounder and then I found the rock-pile area full of life. I saw a variety of fish species on the east side of the reef so I rounded the south end to see what was on the other side. Well, I was in for a treat – I almost immediately encountered a large school of Blue Chromis (I think). So cool!

I was told that further offshore from Holetown beach there’s a sunken barge resting in 20 feet (6m) of water that is home to plenty of colourful fish and other marine life including turtles. Locals offered boat rides to get to the spot.

Based on my experience with the beach at Holetown, I suspect that snorkeling up at Folkestone would be outstanding. I imagine that I could have spent hours just floating around examining the reefs and their marine life in their entirety. Unfinished business – Well, now I have an excuse for coming back to Barbados 😊

Want to see more? Check out our Barbados Snorkeling – From Holetown video on YouTube!

Other Barbados West Coast / South-West Coast Beaches

There are more than a dozen beaches along the west coast of the island and several of them are good for a little snorkeling… I understand that the beaches at Alleynes Bay, Paynes Bay and Batts Rock are good spots.

On our last day in Barbados, we went for a walk along the Richard Haynes Boardwalk and came across a couple of spots that looked like they might be good for snorkeling. This half-mile (1km) long wooden walkway straddles the beachfront between Hasting’s Coconut Court Beach Hotel and Rockley Beach. Even if there’s no snorkeling, you can always relax in the tidal pools that are created on calm sea days!

ACT Staff

For more information on snorkeling in Barbados, including a list of tour operators who will get you to the hot spots, check out our Barbados Snorkeling page

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

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

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

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Snorkel Martinique – A Sampling of Southern Martinique Hotspots

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Nature, Snorkelling, Tourist Attractions

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese, Anse Dufour & Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

Martinique Snorkeling – You’ll like what you see beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea

One of the most anticipated and thrilling things for me to do when vacationing in the Caribbean is to get into the ocean and explore the island’s underwater world. Snorkeling is not something that I can really do at home, so it’s a real treat, especially when I come across a fish or some type of marine life that I have never seen before – Truly exciting!

There are a number of good snorkeling spots in Martinique, mostly along the Western and Southern Coastlines, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sample a few of them. We first started with Pointe Borgnèse, a spot not too far from where we were staying in Sainte-Anne. It was a great spot to get my feet wet (pun intended), before heading further out to the more well-known area of Les Anses-d’Arlet to experience the popular Anse Dufour and its neighbour Anse Noire.

Snorkel Pointe Borgnese

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

If you’re not paying attention or if you’re driving too fast, which you can actually do on Martinique’s amazing road system, you could easily miss the parking lot for the beach at Pointe Borgnese. I actually drove right by it on the N5 highway, wondering ‘was that it?’, before turning around to discover ‘yes, this is the place’. There is a small clearing of sorts just off the side of the highway which might be able to accommodate 10 or so cars. It was quiet the day we visited, so we easily found a place to park. After gathering our beach/snorkel stuff together we journeyed about 5-10 minutes down the remains of a steep old rock-and-concrete road through the forest. Eventually, we popped out onto one of the beaches in the area. There is only about 10-15 feet of sand between the sea and the treeline making it an interesting and quaint beach. Further to the east, there are a couple more stretches of sandy beach, each separated from one other by piles of rocks and boulders that spill out from the forest. That said, there is a path through the forest about 25 feet from the shoreline that provides access to each of the near-private sandy patches. Openings in the forest also provide great places to escape the midday sun or occasional showers if need be. The area is pretty cool, although more reminiscent of beaches found around a lake in North America or Europe – Not what I was expecting to find in the Caribbean.

I first ventured into the inviting Caribbean Sea near the main beach. The water was not overly warm, but I wasn’t there for a bath so I stuck my face and snorkel mask into the water to take a look at what was below the surface. Other than the odd juvenile fish, there was very little marine life among the mix of seagrass, rocks, and otherwise sandy ocean floor. I had heard that the best place to snorkel is along the point itself, so once we found the trail through the forest, we gathered up our stuff and headed eastward about as far as we could go. Finding a new place to put our stuff on a small beach, I ventured back into the water.

Again, there wasn’t much of interest until I swam really close to the coastline that makes up the west side of Borgnese Point. Ahhhh, finally, more signs of underwater life. I first encountered several small schools of fish, and after settling in, I carefully studied the ocean floor. I immediately saw a couple of sea cucumbers – One critter was about a foot in length and had a skinny white body covered in what looked like short thorns. The other sea cucumber was dark in colour and really big, over 2 feet long and close to a foot in diameter. Wow – That was pretty cool. I also saw a wide variety of fish, including a couple of my favorites, little bluehead wrasse and multi-hued red parrotfish. I saw a bizarre-looking reddish-orange squirrelfish as well as some amazing purplish-blue and yellow fish, which I suspect were damselfish. I also saw some sergeant majors, along with several light brown colored fish with horizontal stripes along with several silver fish with yellow stripes running from tail to head – some sort of grunts or chums I assume.

I found plenty of marine life close to shore about halfway between the beach and the tip of the point. Lifting my head out of the water to get my bearings, I noticed a plastic bottle hanging in a tree right at the water’s edge – Hhmnnn, I wondered if it is a marker of some sort. Sure enough, about 20 feet from the rugged shore right in front of that tree there is a large rock covered in vegetation and swarming with fish. So many different types of fish I lost count. The area was also home to lots of yellow tubes and brain corals, all in less than 10 feet of water – A great place to just float around and admire the beauty of the natural underwater world!

What a great start to our Martinique snorkeling adventures… A few days later we would head out to the southeast coast of the island to hit the real hot spots for Martinique snorkeling.

Snorkel Anse Dufour

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Dufour. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

After a fairly long drive from Sainte-Anne to Les Anses-d’Arlet, we eventually pulled off the D7 road towards Anse Dufour where we were surprised to see a large number of cars lining the side of the road. Undaunted, we drove to the end of the road and totally lucked out as somebody pulled out of the tiny parking lot at the end of the road just as we arrived. We’ll take that thank you very much. From there, it is just a short walk down a steep access road to the beach. As advertised, Anse Dufour is a wonderful light brown sandy beach with clean and convenient facilities (toilets) available. Although we arrived at a decent time in the morning, the small beach was already quite busy. That said, it was easy to find a spot to put down our towels and bags.

Looking out at the water, the rocky shoreline to the right was crowded with snorkelers, and I was about to find out, for good reason. I waded out into the sea and immediately discovered a large turtle on the edge of the seagrass close to shore, almost oblivious to the crowd above him/her. With all the people splashing about along with a slight current the water was a bit murky, but it was still an amazingly easy opportunity to watch the pre-historic-looking creature munching on grass. After a couple of minutes, I turned and swam towards the black cliffs and trees that lined the north coastline of the bay.

I found an amazing diversity of fish and marine life close to the coastline. I saw different species of coral, with fire coral dominating the scene, along with white sea urchins, yellow tubes, as well as all sorts of algae and vegetation clinging to the rocks – great fish food I assume. The closer to the rugged coast I ventured, the more marine life I saw. There were plenty of large silver and yellow fish, some striped, others not. I assume they were grunts or jacks of some sort, although there could also have been some goatfish and/or yellowtail Snapper as well. I swam through several large schools of long shiny juvenile fish, herring perhaps. The star attractions for me though were the unique long and skinny trumpetfish, the hard-to-spot parrotfish, and the colourful yellowtail damselfish.

After a while, I thought I would explore the southern coastline of the bay. The water on the south side of the beach seemed a bit rougher, but it had some amazing marine life to observe as well. As soon as I entered the water I was greeted by a large school of long shiny juvenile fish – perhaps herring, jacks or goatfish. There were tons of algae and vegetation on the black rocks, as well as some yellow tubes and several species of coral. Along with plenty of sergeant majors, I encountered some beautiful bluehead wrasse, well-camouflaged green parrotfish, and some amazing juvenile French angelfish. Then there was the spectacular four-eye butterflyfish (bottom right in photo below). Always cool to spot them!

I was enjoying exploring the underwater world, however, when three tour boats full of snorkelers arrived in the little bay, I knew it was going to become too crowded for my liking. So, we packed up our stuff went back up to the road, and walked over to the neighbouring Anse Noire, just 5 minutes to the north.

Snorkel Anse Noire

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

To access Anse Noire we walked down a concrete walkway with steps to reach the black sand beach at the small bay. It is so close to Anse Dufour, but seems like a different world and I’m not just talking about the colour of the sand. It was relatively quiet, with very few people or buildings. Anse Noire does however have a solid long wooden pier that splits the small bay into two. We walked to the end of the pier and I climbed down a ladder to enter the water off to the north and swam towards the rugged wooded coastline. I was immediately greeted by a shoal of silver fish I assume were herring, nervously darting from side to side, although gracefully moving as one. Other than that, there wasn’t much of interest below the water surface until the sandy ocean floor started to rise up along the coastline. After a few small jellyfish floated underneath me, I realized that the sea bottom consisted of some small underwater ridges and troughs, providing all sorts of places for sea life to hide from predators and waves.

The water was probably about 10 feet deep here and was filled with a wide variety of diverse plants and fish. The undulating ocean floor is covered in clumps of vegetation, swaying back and forth with the ocean current, along with fire coral, yellow tubes as well as an abundance of white sea urchins. I must have also seen over a dozen species of fish – I recognized grey-yellow striped smallmouth grunts, my favourite bluehead wrasse as well as some well-camouflaged green-hued parrotfish (centre of the photo above).

I was thrilled to see some trumpetfish swimming horizontally, not just floating in their usual vertical position. I loved watching some black and yellow juvenile French angel fish, although the highlight of this snorkel had to be when I startled 2 large reef squid, forcing them to swim right underneath me – Now that was something special!

While the north coastline of Anse Dufour probably had just as many, if not more types of fish, snorkelling Anse Noire was more my thing. I was more relaxed in the near-solitude as I floated around without a care in the world. I had been slowly swimming along the northern coastline of the bay toward the beach, however, it was getting really rocky as I reached shallow water so I turned around and headed back to the pier where again I was met by a shoal of silver fish – Clearly, this is where they like to hang out.

We then left the pier, walking to the right (facing the beach) so I could check out the south side of the bay. Wading into the water from the beach, there were some small waves as well as a bit of a current, but I wasn’t the only one to notice. I watched a skinny-legged starfish tumbling over and over on the sea floor before finally finding a resting place. I was once again greeted by a school of small fish, probably herring or juvenile goatfish. The combination of the current, the waves, and the mixed sun and cloud made for a fascinating dimple-patterned appearance on the sea floor.

Eventually, it was smooth snorkeling with plenty of good stuff to see along the rocky coastline. The deeper I got, the more interesting the underwater world became. The black cliff walls gave way to a rocky sea floor which in deeper water became littered with much larger rocks and boulders – where life was abundant. The boulders were covered in algae, vegetation as well as corals, and were clearly home to a wide variety of fish. I saw several different types of grunts, perhaps some yellowtail snapper along with plenty of sergeant majors.

Another plentiful fish I noticed was a grey/brown/reddish coloured fish with a split tail that had a black dot low on its side near its head – I believe they are brown chromis, which I am not sure I have ever seen (or noticed) before. Pretty cool. Of course, I never get tired of watching trumpetfish and green parrotfish, but I enjoyed a new experience when I encountered about a dozen baby squid all swimming together (away from me).

Looking for turtles, I swam the short distance from the southern coastline of the bay back to the pier. I scoured the sandy bottom, looking closely around all the patches of seagrass, but to no avail. Regardless, my fingertips were sufficiently shriveled, so I climbed back up onto the pier to dry, and we called it a day.

What a great day of snorkeling it was!

Grande Anses d’Arlet

Snorkel Martinique at Grand Anse D'Arlet. The best Caribbean snorkeling for colourful tropical fish & more

Although I had had enough snorkeling for one day, we also visited the beautiful Grande Anses d’Arlet for lunch, before heading back to Sainte-Anne. One of the most popular and best places to snorkel in Martinique this beautiful white sand beach offers a couple of great snorkel spots. A rocky reef can be found close to the beach just north of the pier – A great spot for beginners to safely snorkel. Apparently, there are plenty of colourful fish and lobsters in this area, along with the occasional turtle and ray a little further out in deeper water. The other good spot is at the north end of the beach along the rocky coastline where corals, sponges, fish, and eels can be spotted.

For more information on snorkeling in Martinique, click on our Martinique Snorkeling page

For an overview of the beautiful Island of Flowers, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page.

For more information on snorkeling the Caribbean Islands, check out our Caribbean Snorkeling page.

ACT Staff

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A Beautiful day for Barbados Sailing

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Boat Cruise, Caribbean, Nature, sailing, Snorkelling, Stingrays, Tourist Attractions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ACT Staff

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

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

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

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

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

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Top 7 Caribbean Islands to Visit in 2023 (part 1)

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Kayaking, Look-Out Points, Mountain Biking, Nature, Rum, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Stingrays, Volcano, Water Sports, Waterfalls

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports & golf are Grand Cayman, Martinique & Bonaire

Looking for a tropical warm vacation? Here’s our list of the best Caribbean Destinations for fun in the sun!

Now that winter is underway in many parts of the world, folks might be in need of a warm and sunny Caribbean vacation. Nothing beats the winter blues like feeling the sand beneath your feet while sipping on a tasty cold rum beverage. That said, after a couple of years of travel restrictions, it’s time to get the muscles moving, the heart pumping and the mind blown by experiencing the natural wonders that the Caribbean has to offer. Slip into the warm Caribbean Sea to peak below the waves at a colourful alien world 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 doctor ordered! If you’re thinking of heading south for a warm-weather vacation, here’s our thoughts on the best Caribbean adventure destinations to visit in early 2023.

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. With the Euro the lowest it’s been for several years, we also gave the French Caribbean an extra, and well deserved, look.

The Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 include Grand Cayman

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling and diving, includes Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands

Located south of Cuba, between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Jamaica, the British territory of the Cayman Islands is more than just about lazing on the sands of Seven Mile Beach – It is a great Caribbean destination to experience snorkeling, diving, fishing, and a wide variety of watersports, as well as golf!

With several vibrant coral reefs surrounding Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, the islands offer some of the best spots in the Caribbean for snorkeling, diving as well as fishing! The west coast and large protected bay in Grand Cayman’s North Sound are great places to snorkel and dive. You can slip into the warm Caribbean sea from shore and swim out to a nearby reef, or take a short boat ride to some of the best snorkel & dive spots in the Caribbean. Snorkelers can enjoy shipwrecks sitting in as little as 20 feet of clear blue sea, while divers can also explore the deep plunging terrain of the underwater mountain range known as the Cayman Trench. There are plenty of caves, chutes, and swim-through tunnels to examine, making the Cayman Islands an epic destination for wall diving.

It’s also worth noting that a trip to Grand Cayman is incomplete without visiting Stingray City – A once in a lifetime experience to swim with and even gently hold a Stingray! If that’s not enough, Grand Cayman is also home to Starfish Point, a place with shallow waters with plenty of starfish.

For more tips on snorkeling in the Cayman Islands, including contact info for local tour/boat operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Cayman Islands Snorkeling page.

While some Caribbean Islands have a beach for every day of the year, the Caymans offer 365 different dive sites along with dozens of Dive Centers and Dive Boat Operators. For more details on diving in the Cayman Islands, including contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you in the water, check out our Cayman Islands Scuba Diving pages.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for fishing includes Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands

As for fishing, Grand Cayman‘s flats, reefs and stunningly deep waters of the Cayman Trench offer an amazing year-round variety of angling options. There’s something for everyone, from the true fishing enthusiast to folks just looking for a day at sea to bond with friends and family. Anglers can enjoy bottom fishing, reef fishing, fly-fishing as well as Cayman Island deep sea fishing. If it’s big game you’re after, there’s plenty of Blue Marlin, Wahoo (kingfish), Mahi-Mahi (dolphin), Tuna and Barracuda to pull in over the trench. The Cayman Islands are truly one of the best places for Caribbean fishing.

For more details on fishing in the Cayman Islands, including contact info for local and boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our Cayman Islands Fishing page.

With miles of beachfront and blessed with a mangrove forest ecosystem, as well as the natural wonder of a bio-luminescence bay, Grand Cayman is also a great place to enjoy Caribbean watersports. Stand-up paddle-boarding is popular in the calm waters of Seven Mile Beach and North Sound. Stronger winds can be found along the East end of the island near Gun Bay, making it ideal for windsurfing. Great kayaking can be found all around the island, although when the sun drops below the horizon, be sure to try the once-in-a-lifetime experience of kayaking in the bio-luminescence waters near Rum Point – Where the motion from the paddles and boats make the sea glow an eerie blue. For those with a need for speed, you can try jet skiing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding or parasailing as well.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for kayaking and watersports includes Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands

For more tips on watersports options in the Cayman Islands, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Cayman Islands Water Sports page.

Finally, if you yearn to hit the links on every Caribbean Island you visit, golf is available at two gorgeous courses 10 minutes north of Grand Cayman’s capital George Town. The North Sound Golf Club is an 18-hole / par 71 championship golf course that plays to 6,605 yards with great views of the bay. Minutes from Seven Mile Beach, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club offers a Greg Norman designed 9-hole / par 36 golf course that also provides a stunningly beautiful setting for a tropical round of golf. For more info on playing golf in the Cayman Islands, check out our Cayman Islands Golf page.

For a complete listing of things to do in the Cayman Islands, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Cayman Islands Vacation Ideas page.

One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Martinique

Martinique is located in the southern Caribbean between Dominica and St. Lucia. The French Caribbean’s “Island of Flowers” is a great tropical destination to experience snorkeling, hiking, a diverse variety of watersports, as well as rhum! The relatively low Euro makes it even more attractive right now to travelers from the Americas and UK.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling, hiking, watersports and rhum includes Martinique

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling includes Martinique

With easy-to-reach reefs and rocky areas close to shore, Martinique is a great place for Caribbean snorkeling. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea right off the beach along the northwest, southwest and south coasts of Martinique. Some beaches have warm black sand, others powdery white. Some are quiet and remote, others hopping with action. There are plenty of things to see beneath the surface of the sea, including underwater statues, tropical fish, and other incredible marine life, although sea turtles are sure to be the main attraction in Martinique. While the Anses-d’Arlet region is popular for spotting turtles, the Atlantic side has an underwater route to follow called the Le Francois snorkel trail.

For more tips on snorkeling in Martinique, including contact info for local tour/boat operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Martinique Snorkeling page.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for hiking includes Martinique

One of the best islands for Caribbean hiking, Martinique offers a variety of nice relaxing walks as well as some very challenging, mountainous volcano hikes. Martinique has dozens of well-marked and maintained trails all over the island. Hiking is a great way to explore the natural beauty of Martinique, with several hiking trails leading to amazing waterfalls or hilltops and ridges providing spectacular panoramic views. The mountainous north end of Martinique is home to the 10th tallest peak in the Caribbean, the iconic Montagne Pelee towers 4,583 feet (1,397m) above sea level.

For more tips on hiking in Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Martinique Hiking pages.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for kayaking and watersports includes Martinique

With precious mangrove forests, several protected bays as well as coastlines that get plenty of those famous Caribbean tradewinds, Martinique is also a great Caribbean island for watersports. Well protected from the ocean waves, the mangroves of Génipa are made to be explored by kayak, while the beautiful beaches of Les Anses d’Arlet are ideal for Stand-Up-Paddleboarding, kayaking and a variety of fun and exciting watersports like jet skiing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and more. Meanwhile, the Atlantic side of Martinique is ideal for surfers (and SUP). There are several surf schools and a variety of great beaches that can be surfed by beginners as well as experienced tube-riders. The southeast coast of Martinique has a couple of great spots for kitesurfing and windsurfing as well.

Spending the day on or near the sea is a great way to experience the Caribbean, and Martinique definitely provides a number of amazing water sports options. For more tips, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Martinique Water Sports page.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The many rhums of Martinique

While many of the Caribbean Islands produce Rum, Martinique could be considered the rum capital of the World with more than 10 distilleries and over a hundred different rhums produced. The island’s “Rhum Agricole” is made directly from sugar cane juice, not molasses like most other Caribbean rums. Most of Martinique’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 details on the rhums of Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators who can get to a distillery, check out our Martinique Rhum page.

For a complete listing of things to do in Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Martinique Vacation Ideas page.

One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Bonaire

Located just north of South America’s Venezuelan coast, Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Famous for its pink flamingos, the small island is a “diver’s paradise” as well as a great Caribbean Island for snorkeling and watersports, along with being a surprisingly good destination for cycling and hiking as well!

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for snorkeling & diving includes Bonaire

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 is 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 is also one of the best Freediving locations in the world.

For more details on snorkeling 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 in the water, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling and/or our Bonaire Scuba Diving pages.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for kayaking and watersports include Bonaire

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. The 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 the day on the sea is a great way to experience the Caribbean and Bonaire definitely provides a number of watersports options to satisfy everyone!

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.

Best Caribbean Destinations 2023 - The best Caribbean Islands for cycling include Bonaire

With over a hundred kilometres of cycling trails, Bonaire is one of the best Caribbean destinations for bicycle riding. Exploring Bonaire by bike provides you with jaw-dropping views of the island and picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea. There are road courses that include amazing scenic coastline routes, as well as off-road trails in desert-like terrain. The surprising hiking trails of Bonaire offer 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 gear, 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 page.

Don’t worry, there’s more to come… check out our Top 7 Caribbean Islands to Visit in 2023 (part 2) article.

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!

For more articles/blogs like this, join our newsletter, and feel free to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ our facebook page – Thanks!

ACT Staff

Tag: Snorkeling

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

Top 7 Caribbean Islands to Visit in 2023 (part 1)

Looking for a tropical warm vacation? Here’s our list of the best Caribbean Destinations for fun in the sun!

The Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 include Grand Cayman

One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Martinique

One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Bonaire

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