Tag: Tour Operators

No comments

Snorkel Bonaire – Discover a Wondrous Underwater World

  By , , ,
Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Bonaire Snorkeling – See the Amazing Life that Lives Below the Waves…

Bonaire is a small island in the southern Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles, a mere 25 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast. The island is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Safe from hurricanes, Bonaire has a truly amazing climate, relatively warm and dry for most of the year. Famous for it’s pink flamingos and renowned coral reefs, the island is a dream-come-true for adventurers looking for snorkeling, scuba diving and water sports.

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

With it’s healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the top 3 islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling! Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, a small island less than 1/2 mile (1km) from the main island’s western coast, are encircled by coral reefs providing an amazing biodiversity of oceanic life including colourful fish, coral, sponge and more. Bonaire snorkeling can be enjoyed right off the beach at a number of spots on Bonaire’s western shores and of course there are also several boat operators who can take you to plenty of other locations in Bonaire’s Marine Park and elsewhere around the island.

Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and visit shallow corals on the edge of steep underwater cliffs – Visibility is great as you can clearly see through more than fifty feet (15m) of Bonaire’s clear blue sea. There are plenty of unique and stunning underwater wonders to explore – An underwater world below the waves awaits you. Bonaire snorkeling is an adventure that you just can’t experience on land… If you know where to go – Here’s a few of our favourite spots:

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites off Klein Bonaire

Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling sites off the shores of Klein Bonaire – Here’s a few samples:

  • Leonora’s Reef offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges / plumes, along with seahorses, fire worms and snails along with fish including groupers, damselfish, butterfly-fish, angelfish, snappers and trunk-fish. Great for beginners!
  • Carl’s Hill is beach accessible and with views starting in about 20 feet of water, it’s a great place to see a wide variety of marine life such as sponges, gorgonians and coral along with fish, including barracudas, bar jacks and schools of blue tang
  • Jerry’s Reef is a deep site that offers views of a large variety of sponges as well as corals, anemones and plumes along with turtles, rays and reef sharks as well as fish including parrotfish and puffers. A great location for beginners and underwater photography.
  • Munk’s Haven is a cool underwater plateau that starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges, along with shrimp, turtles and fish including groupers, wrasse and many more
  • Sharon’s Serenity’s views start about 20 feet deep and provides experienced swimmers views of seaplumes, a large variety of coral along with hawksbill and green turtles along with fish including groupers, damselfish, doctorfish, parrotfish and barracuda.  A great location for underwater photography
Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

My first experience snorkeling just off-shore from Klein Bonaire absolutely blew my mind! I have snorkeled in the Caribbean before, however I hadn’t seen anything like this before. After a short boat ride over to the south side of the Klein Bonaire, I stepped off the boat and stuck my face in the calm warm water and literally yelled through my snorkel – Holy S###… We were over a reef so full of life I didn’t know where to look first. Once I settled down, I saw a variety of coral along with colourful tubes and plumes, as well as amazing fish species that I had never seen before. The sand and coral bottom just disappeared over an underwater cliff, and as I was peering into the abyss, a green turtle swam out of the deep towards us. At the second spot we snorkeled at, near the east end of the island, the current was quite a bit stronger. We just drifted with a large school of fish – very invigorating!

For more information on snorkeling Klein Bonaire, including boat operators to get you over there, check out our Klein Bonaire Snorkeling page

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites North of Kralendijk

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire's Washington-Slagbaai National Park


There are 4 designated places to experience Bonaire snorkeling off the islands’ north-west shores from within Washington-Slagbaai National Park. Bise Morto and Boka Slagbaai are both accessed from nearby beaches and offer the prospect of spotting rays, eels, as well as whales and the occasional shark.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling spots on the west coast, south of the Park and north of Bonaire’s capital, Kralendijk. Here’s a few, just to whet your appetite for taking a look ‘below the surface’.

  • 1000 Steps is beach accessible and relatively shallow, offering views of turtles and rays along with a wide variety of fish including parrotfish, angelfish and doctorfish. Further offshore you can see a variety of corals and sponges along with durgeons, filefish and large night sergeants and angelfish
  • Kalli’s Reef starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a variety of marine life including turtles and seahorse
  • Andrea / Pali Coco is fairly shallow and offers views of corals / anamones as well as seahorses and parrotfish. Great for beginners!
  • La Marchaca / Habitat is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts at 20 feet and features a ship-wreck in 50 feet of water
  • Front Porch / Eden Beach is accessible right off the beach! The fun starts in as little as 15 feet of water with views of a large variety of fish as well as a sunken upside tugboat further offshore. Great for beginners!
  • Something Special / Kralendijk Marina has a sandy bottom and is shore accessible! This is a great drift snorkel that starts around 20 feet deep and offers close to a hundred varieties of fish. Great for beginners!

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores north of Kralendijk, including tour / boat operators to get you outfitted, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – North of Kralendijk page

The Best Bonaire Snorkeling Sites South of Kralendijk

There’s a handful of places to snorkel Bonaire’s West Coast, just south of Kralendijk. Eighteen Palms is accessible right off the beach and at 30 feet deep the views often include sting-rays and eagle-rays. A little further south at North Belnem, you should be able to swim with schools of blue tang – Great fun for beginners!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Another half dozen snorkeling spots are just south of the Slave Huts, almost all of them beach accessible. Here’s a small taste…

  • Tori’s Reef is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts around 20 feet deep and offers views of coral, a large variety of fish as well as eels
  • Pink Beach is relatively shallow and is also beach accessible! Experienced swimmers can view rays as well as bone-fish
  • Margate Bay is beach accessible and has a limestone and sand bottom. Snorkeling starts around 25 feet deep and offers views of a variety of corals as well as turtles and rays along with fish including snapper (black margate), doctorfish, parrotfish, angelfish, trumpet-fish, grunt, butterfly-fish and barracuda
  • Sweet Dreams is a fairly remote and quiet spot offering experienced swimmers views of corals, sea fans and anemones as well as turtles and rays along with fish including doctorfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors and barracuda

There’s also a couple of spots for strong swimmers to snorkel on the island’s west coast in the Mangroves of Lac Bay. The reward for venturing in these rougher waters include seeing great coral as well as some large fish.

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores south of Kralendijk, including boat / tour operators to get you out there, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – South of Kralendijk page

For those of you who want to go deeper and stay under water longer, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snooba (Air Hose Snorkeling) is also available on the island. For more information regarding Tours and Boat Operators to help you snorkel and snooba, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling page

Get out there and have some fun!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

ACT Staff

If you’re planning a visit to the island and you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience both on land and in/on the water, take a look at our Bonaire Adventures page

If you’re looking to explore the island at a more relaxing pace, check out our recommended Bonaire Attractions

For an overview of the beautiful island of Bonaire, click on our Bonaire Vacations page

No comments

Hike, Snorkel, Bike and Kayak in St. Lucia

  By , , , , , , , , , ,
Active things to do in St. Lucia include Hiking the Gros Piton

6 Things to do in St. Lucia – A Top Caribbean Destination for Adventure

Saint Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s ‘Windward’ islands. Found near the southern end of the Caribbean islands chain, St. Lucia is just south of Martinique with Barbados to its east.  Saint Lucia is a mountainous island covered in green rain-forest and home to the iconic Gros and Petit Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  A very popular Caribbean vacation destination traditionally focused on romantic getaways, there are plenty of adventurous things to do in St. Lucia.  Our favourite active vacation activities include:

Saint Lucia Hiking on a Diverse Assortment of Trails

There are a variety of trails on the island, offering something for everyone – From short nature walks to intermediate hikes along with a couple of challenging hikes.  While no hiking trip to Saint Lucia is complete without climbing the majestic Gros Piton, the island has about half a dozen mountains above 1,500 feet (500m) tall, the tallest being Mount Gimie at just over 3,000 feet (950m). You should know that a Saint Lucia Forestry Department day-pass, along with a local guide, is officially required to hike on the island.

The best hiking trails in the south end of St. Lucia include:

Active things to do in St. Lucia include Hiking Morne / Mount Gimie

Mount/Morne Gimie Trail in the Edmund Forest Reserve – Plan a full day for this fairly challenging hike covering 5-6 miles (8-10km) of occasionally extreme up and down terrain, as well as a waterfall. This diverse trail will reward you with amazing views along the way, including a really unique perspective of the island from the top

For more information, including hiking guides to show you the way, check out our Hike St. Lucia – Mount/Morne Gimie page

While we’re talking about it…  The Edmund Forest Reserve is the final destination for a couple of ‘cross-country’ trails of note.  The Des Cartiers to Edmund Trail is an approximately 5 mile (8km) long easy-to-intermediate level hike, while the Barre D’Isle to Edmund Trail is a more challenging 10 mile (16km) hike venturing across a nice ridge requiring 4-6 hours to complete.

Gros Piton Trail – This challenging hike consists of a pretty much constant climb to get to the top.  While less than 3 miles (4.4km) round trip, it can take anywhere from 3-6 hours to complete.  Once you catch your breath, amazing Caribbean sea views await.

For a more detailed review of the hike, click on our Hike St. Lucia – Gros Piton page

Active things to do in St. Lucia include Hiking Enbas Saut Falls

Enbas Saut Falls Trail – This is an intermediate level hike with lots of rustic wooden/natural stairs to first descend, then climb on the return journey.  Depending on your starting point, the hike can cover over 5 miles (9km), requiring 3-4 hours to get to and from the fun and amazing cascading waterfalls.

For more info, including hiking guides to make it happen, check out Hike St. Lucia – Enbas Saut Falls

The best hikes in the north part of Saint Lucia include the Intermediate level Piton Flore Trail and the interesting Barre D’Isle Ridge / Mount La Combe Area Trails.  On the east side of island, the Eastern Nature Trail is a fairly easy, but somewhat long trail that takes you along the remote eastern coastline of St. Lucia.

One of the funnest things to do in Saint Lucia, find more information about the trails on the island, including hiking guides who will help you get the most out of your day, click on St. Lucia Hiking

St. Lucia Snorkeling – With or without a Boat!

One of the better islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling, Saint Lucia offers half a dozen locations along the west coast of the island to explore clear blue waters full of diverse coral and colourful fish.  Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and snorkel right off the beach – A unique underwater world you just can’t experience on land.  One of the most enjoyable things to do in Saint Lucia, the best snorkeling sites in Saint Lucia include:

Active things to do in St. Lucia include Snorkeling right off the beach

Saline Point – This small bay has a sand bottom and is protected from the wind. A reef runs parallel to the beach where plenty of fish can be seen.

Smugglers’ Cove – This large protected bay features underwater ridges which are home to a variety of crustaceans and fish. A great place for beginners…

Anse Cochon – Another large bay well protected from the wind and waves. This spot has a nice reef for exploring coral boulders along with fish, turtles, eels and more. A great location for beginners as well as more experienced snorkelers looking for underwater photography and night dives.

Anse Chastanet – This shallow reef is teeming with a rich diversity of marine life including fish and turtles. This is one of the best snorkeling sites and a favourite spot for underwater photography on the island.

Coral Gardens / Gros Piton – The island’s longest and one of it’s most popular reefs. There’s plenty of coral to explore along with a variety of fish and eels.

For those who want longer and deeper underwater exploring time, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snuba (Mask and mouthpiece with air-tube) and Sea Trek (Full face ‘helmet’ with air-tube) tours are available.

For more information on visiting the island’s underwater world, check out our St. Lucia Snorkeling page

Golf in a Warm Tropical Setting in Saint Lucia

Looking for one of the more relaxing things to do in Saint Lucia? There are two golf courses on the island, an 18 hole / par 71 and a 9 hole / par 33.  The St. Lucia Golf Club is an 18-hole course that plays to 6,685 yards with great views of the island and the Caribbean Sea.  Close to the capital Castries, the Sandals Regency La Toc resort has a 9-hole course that plays to 3,141 yards.

For more information, click on our St. Lucia Golf page

Saint Lucia Diving – Explore a Unique Underwater World

One of the better islands in the Caribbean for scuba diving, Saint Lucia offers a variety of dive sites along the western coast of the island.  There are close to two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, Saint Lucia is a great place to get started – there is a dive school on the island and a number of hotels on the island offer diving PADI certification as well.  Some of the best dive sites off Saint Lucia’s coast include:

Smugglers’ Cove – This large bay is well protected from the wind and with a maximum depth around 40 feet (12m), this a great place for beginners. Underwater ridges are home to a variety of crustaceans and tropical fish.

Pigeon Island / Pigeon Point – This popular dive site includes a mixed terrain of sand, coral and boulders with a depth varying from 15 to 60 feet (5m – 18m). A variety of tropical fish, along with rays, barracuda, eels, lobster and even seahorse can be found here. A good dive site for underwater photography and night dives.

Bone Yard – A World War II era wreck can be found in about 40 feet (12m) of water. A variety of marine life, including tropical fish and lobster live in the area.

Active things to do in St. Lucia include Scuba Diving

Anse La Raye Wall – This fairly deep dive site features volcanic boulders and a coral wall with a depth varying from 60 to 110 feet (18m – 34m). The wall is home to a variety of marine life, including corals and tropical fish, along with rays. A good site for wall diving and drift dives.  

Lesleen M Wreck – A cargo vessel was sunk here for an artificial reef in about 65 feet (20m) of water on a sandy bottom. A variety of marine life, including reef fish, eels and lobster can be found here. This a good dive site for beginners.

Daini Koyomaru Wreck – A dredger sits on its side a mile offshore, making an artificial reef in about 244 feet (75m) of water. A variety of marine life, including tropical fish and barracuda call this place home. This deep dive site is for advanced divers only.

Fairyland – This deep dive site features boulders and coral walls with a depth varying from 40 to 200 feet (12m – 61m). A variety of corals and sponges are the main attraction, although turtles can be found here as well. This a good site for drift diving.

Superman’s Flight – In the shadow of the Petit Piton, this deep wall dive can take you to a depth of 1500 feet (460m). An assortment of corals, gorgonians and sponges, along with tropical fish and turtles can be found here. A good dive site for drift diving and deep diving.

For more detailed info on dive sites, boat operators and how you can enjoy one of the more adventurous things to do in Saint Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Diving page

Saint Lucia Cycling and Mountain Biking

Active things to do in St. Lucia include Mountain Biking and Cycling

Mountain biking in St. Lucia is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while gazing across jaw-dropping views of the mountainous island and Caribbean sea. There’s different terrain and trail styles to explore on St. Lucia, including some man-made courses and several nature trails that lead to waterfalls – It doesn’t get much better than this!  Some local resorts also offer Mountain Biking lessons on trails made specifically for different experience levels.

You can take a leisurely Fat Bike tour around a town, through the rain-forest, or even on a beach! Other MTB tours take you on rain-forest trails that lead to gorgeous waterfalls, where you can relax and soak-in the beauty of your natural surroundings.  Talking about nature… There’s even an organized tour in one of the island’s protected coastal areas.

Of course, you can also find cycling tours and  bicycle rentals for taking on St. Lucia’s mountainous roads.

For more information on one of the funnest things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators and bike rental shops who will get you outfitted, check out our St. Lucia Cycling & Biking page

Saint Lucia Kayaking – Enjoy the Island From the Tops of the Waves

Active things to do in St. Lucia include Kayaking the coast and bays

There’s nothing like exploring St. Lucia’s waterways and shorelines by kayak. Floating around on your single or tandem kayak, you can see the island from a unique perspective and it’s the perfect speed for sightseeing.  Kayaking is something that can be enjoyed by anyone, enabling the whole family to get up close and personal with nature. You can find active or relaxing routes for vigorous or gentle paddling, it’s up to you.

There’s a number of kayak tours available in the Marigot Bay area, either along the coastline, or up a river to explore the island’s interior.  Some kayak tours include short town visits with a locally prepared lunch, while others combine a relaxing fishing or bird watching experience.  Kayaking is also available in the Soufriere area, below the towering Pitons, bringing new meaning to the peaks that are measured in ‘above sea level’.  For a unique nature experience, kayaking is also available in the remote Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area.  For the avid paddler, there are even multi-day kayak packages available ensuring an amazing and rewarding vacation experience!

For more information about one of the more adventurous things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators who will get you on the water, click on our St. Lucia Water Sports page

Have Fun!

ACT Staff

If you’re looking for more of a relaxing vacation, take a look at our St. Lucia Attractions blog

For an overview of the beautiful island of St. Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page

No comments

6 St. Lucia Attractions You Don’t Want to Miss

  By , ,

Things to Do in Saint Lucia – Get Muddy, Explore Nature & Relax on a Sunset Sail


You’ll find Saint Lucia in the southern Caribbean, just south of Martinique, with Barbados to its east. St. Lucia is a mountainous island covered in lush green rain-forest and is home to the distinctive and easily recognizable Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  A very popular Caribbean vacation destination known for romantic getaways, there’s also plenty of things to do in Saint Lucia for active travelers – If you know where to look….  You can enjoy time outdoors with a walk through a botanical gardens or on a nature trail.  Thrill seekers can zip-line through the rain-forest or motor through the jungle on an ATV or Dune Buggy.

Our personal favourites include:

Saint Lucia Nature – Explore and Enjoy!

Things to do in Saint Lucia include exploring Nature on the Tet Paul Trail

Saint Lucia is a gorgeous island, full of nature’s wonders…

The Tet Paul Nature Trail is a “must do” on the island. The hour long guided tour can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and physical ability.  You will be treated with amazing views of the Pitons, as well as the south coast of the island. Your guide will also share his knowledge of local plant life on display there.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include exploring Nature

For another quiet day in nature, journey to the remote east side of the island to experience Mamiku Botanical Gardens which offers a variety of forest and plantation tours that feature birds, humming birds and butterflies along with flowers and plant life, including medicinal herbs.

The Millet bird Sanctuary is located just outside of Roseau and provides birdwatchers with a 2-mile loop trail through a rich jungle environment that is home to 30 species of birds.

If you’re really serious about nature, take a scenic boat ride over to the Fregate Islands Nature Reserve, an important nesting site for the amazing Frigate bird, or to the Maria Islands Nature Reserve – Home to two endemic species found nowhere else in the world: the Kouwès grass snake and the Zandoli tè ground lizard.

For the more adventurous, take a trip to the Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve (Rainforest Adventures) for amazing views and a few thrills, from riding their aerial tram or zip-line. They also have rain-forest trails to explore. Enjoy some of the more fun and active things to do in Saint Lucia…

For more information check out our Things to do in St. Lucia – Land Excursions page

Visit St. Lucia’s Waterfalls, Mud Baths and more…

Things to do in Saint Lucia include mud baths, sulphur springs and waterfalls

Of course, your trip to St. Lucia is not complete without seeing the multitude of things to do in Soufriere – The most popular attractions include the sulphur springs, therapeutic mud-baths and mineral water pools, along with enjoying a refreshing shower under one of the island’s many waterfalls.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include mud baths, sulphur springs and waterfalls

Coined ‘the only drive-in volcano in the world’, Saint Lucia’s sulphur springs feature small boiling and steaming mud and water holes near the top of the volcano.  Once you’ve seen (and smelled 😉 that area, it’s time to get more interactive – Take a warm mud bath, then rinse off in a nearby mountain fed stream of water – Choose from a number of waterfalls in the area including the Sapphire, Toraille and Latille waterfalls.

Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens provide a guided tour of their gardens and colourful waterfalls, along with an opportunity to relax in their Mineral Baths.

A number of Island Tours include a combination of the sulphur springs, Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls along with other island attractions such as a banana plantation, an estate plantation, a beach stop and a local Lunch.  Zip-lining, horseback riding and ATV tours are also available.

For more info on some of the more popular things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators who will help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things to do in Saint Lucia – Land Excursions page

Saint Lucia Sight-Seaing by Boat Tour 😉

Things to do in Saint Lucia include sail the coast to see dolphins and whales as well as Marigot Bay

For a unique perspective of St. Lucia, cruise down the west coast in a boat to check out Marigot Bay, the ‘tunnel of love’ and the majestic Pitons.  You can take a speedboat, a cruiser, or sailboat, both catamarans and mono-hull yachts are available.  You can even journey by glass bottom boat or pirate galleon.

It’s an amazing sight when cruising alongside dolphins and whales – Yes that’s a thing.  You can also relax and feel the caribbean sea breeze in your face when you it’s sail under the power of the wind – What a great feeling!

Of course it wouldn’t be St. Lucia without a romantic sunset cruise.

For a change of view, you can reach the Soufriere attractions via the water, and boat tours usually include a beach BBQ or Plantation lunch. You can also find party boats and pirate themed tours for the kid in all of us 🙂

For more details, including boat/tour operators who will help you get the most out of your day on the sea, check out our Things to do in Saint Lucia – Ocean Excursions page

Re-live St. Lucia’s Colourful History

Wander around historic Fort Rodney & Signal Peak in beautiful Pigeon Island National Park, and recall how this strategically important island changed hands between the French and the English more than a dozen times over a three hundred year span.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include a visit to Rodney Bay National Park and Pigeon Island

Located on the north-west tip of Saint Lucia, near Gros Islet, remains of the old stone fort are perched on a peak that juts out into the ocean.  Feel the warm breeze while you take in spectacular panoramic views of the island and Caribbean sea.  When you’re ready, travel to nearby Rodney bay where you’ll enjoy having lunch at a restaurant on Reduit Beach. Great relaxing things to do in Saint Lucia for sure…

For more information on the island, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page

Saint Lucia Rum – Sample Some Excellent Stuff!

Located in the west coast town of Roseau, 20 minutes from the capital Castries, you can find the island’s only official rum producer.  Perhaps not that well-known, St. Lucia Distillers produce some of the best rum in the Caribbean, winning dozens of awards from various spirits competitions around the world.  They produce over ten different rums, including varieties of white, flavoured, spiced and aged spirits, as well as rum based liqueurs/cremes. Their aged and spiced rums are excellent, including some great premium sipping rums.  You can visit the St. Lucia Distillers retail store front, which includes a rum sampling room and they offer factory tours as well. Its worth the trip to Roseau to check out these fine Saint Lucian rums.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include a visit to the St. Lucia Distillers for rum tasting

For more information, including tour operators who can get you there and back safely, click on our St. Lucia Rum page

Enjoy Saint Lucia’s SOLEIL Summer Festival

There’s a number of festivals on the island, pretty much year round.  There’s culinary events during the Food & Rum Festival, the St. Lucia ‘Carnival’ and plenty of outstanding music festivals.  St. Lucia’s Jazz Festival culminates with a concert on majestic Pigeon Island, while the Roots and Soul Festival features reggae, conscious hip-hop, Afro-punk and R&B music. You can also experience Saint Lucia’s rich cultural, ethnic and artistic heritage during the island’s Arts and Heritage Festival.  Oh, did I mention…  St. Lucia celebrates Chocolate Heritage Month every August, with a number of local events, including chocolate based meals and beverages – Yum!

For more information, check out our St. Lucia’s Festivals and Events Calendar page

Enjoy!

ACT Staff

Want to see an overview collage of things to do in St. Lucia? Check out our Saint Lucia Sights & Attractions video on YouTube!

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

For an overview of this beautiful island, take a look at our St. Lucia Vacations page

No comments

The Top 6 Adventures in St. Kitts & Nevis

  By , , , , , , , ,

Active Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis – From the Tops of Volcanoes to Underwater Shipwrecks

The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts” or “SKN”, is a two island nation of the Caribbean Lesser Antilles’ Leeward Islands. Saint Kitts and Nevis islands are actually the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range, covered with rolling green folds of volcanic peaks and lush valleys – More than a quarter of the islands are conserved via National Park lands!  Regular ferry service connects the islands of Saint Kitts with Nevis – They’re only a couple of miles (3 km) apart. The sister islands are just a few miles from its closest neighbours, Sint Eustatius to the north-west, Barbuda and Antigua to the East and Montserrat to the south.

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis include snorkeling, diving, hiking, biking and enjoying water sports

While many tourists spend their time ‘Limin’, relaxing on the beach with a local lime flavoured rum beverage, others see the amazing adventure opportunities the mountainous islands have to offer…  Our personal favourite active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis include…

St. Kitts & Nevis Hiking – Get on some Amazing Trails

There are a variety of hiking trails on each island, offering something for everyone – From short nature walks, to intermediate hikes, along with challenging volcano hikes on each island. Combined, Saint Kitts and Nevis have half a dozen mountainous peaks above 1,500 feet (500m), along with numerous other great areas to hike.

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis include hiking Mount Liamuiga

No adventurous trip to Saint Kitts is complete without hiking up Mount Liamuiga volcano, the island’s highest peak which stands 3,792 feet (1,156 m) above sea level. This is a fairly challenging hike. It’s only 5 miles (8km) or so round trip, however it usually takes 4–6 hours to hike to the peak and back due to it’s rooty terrain and steep sections.  A great Caribbean ‘bucket list’ hike for sure!

A number of excellent hiking trails can be found on the west side of Saint Kitts.  Good mountainous trails on the island include Dos D’ane Pond Hike (The Mansion Source Trail) on Verchilds Mountain and the Radio Tower Hike a little further south.

Other great hikes on the island of St. Kitts can be found in the Central Forest Reserve National Park.  Trails include the “Valley of Giants” Rainforest Hike and the Peter Manning Trail Hike.

That said, the nice Phillips Rainforest Hike is reached from the east side of the island, and the epic Southern Peninsula hiking trail is found, not surprisingly at the south end of St. Kitts – This is a unique ‘dry scrub-brush’ trail with access to empty beaches and is full of mesmerizing ocean views.

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis include snorkeling, diving, hiking, biking and enjoying water sports

Nevis Peak dominates the landscape on the small island of Nevis and it is the most challenging and popular hike on the island.  The trail is only a couple of miles in length, however the hike will take 4-5 hours to complete due to it’s steepness – But why rush to get back down when you’ll be spoiled with the spectacular views from the top (You might be able to see Montserrat and Antigua on a clear day).

There are other relatively short hikes on Nevis as well, such as the Golden Rock Nature Trail, the Devil’s Copper Waterfall Trail, the Source Trail and the Sulphur Springs Hike.  With Nevis’ natural beauty, there’re all sure to please.

For more information on one of the funnest things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including hiking guides who will get you on the trail, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Hiking page

Saint Kitts and Nevis Snorkeling – Enjoy Bays, Reefs and more…

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis include snorkeling

Saint Kitts and Nevis offer a number of locations to explore it’s underwater world. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and snorkel right off the beach, or take a short boat ride to some nearby reefs and a shipwreck that lie in clear waters. Explore a new world full of diverse coral, sponges and tropical fish, as well as colourful sea fans and even sea turtles and rays.

The best snorkeling sites around Saint Kitts are along the west coast of the islands and include shallow spots like White House Bay and Green Point Reef as well as slightly deeper spots like Ballest Bay, Shitten Bay (no that’s not a spelling mistake) and Turtle Bar Reef. There’s even a shipwreck in less than 25 feet (8m) of water that can be viewed while snorkeling.

For those who want to enjoy longer / deeper under water journeys, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snuba (Mask and mouthpiece with air-tube) tours are available as well!

Nevis offers similar snorkeling spots, including Booby Island and Herberts.

For more information on one of the better things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including tour / boat operators who will get you in the water, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Snorkeling page

St. Kitts and Nevis Water Sports – Plenty of Options

One of the best ways to really experience the Caribbean is by getting on the beach and into / onto the water. St. Kitts offers an assortment of thrilling water sports activities, both motorized and human powered, while Nevis gives you some more laid back options to appreciate the islands’ coastline.

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis include water sports Adventures like Kayaking, SUP, kitesurfing, Parasailing and more

The most popular spot for water sport action in the island of St. Kitts can be found on the beaches around the southern peninsula. You can kayak, SUP (Paddle Board) and surf along the gorgeous coast line, or if you’re looking for more of an adrenaline rush, try flyboarding, Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing, Parasailing, Wakeboarding / Tubing and jet-skiing.  Small sail boats are also available cruise up and down the coast on.

The beaches along the west coast of Nevis can be enjoyed by kayak and SUP (Paddle Board) and jet-skiis are also available.

For more information on some of the more adventurous things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including tour operators who will get you outfitted, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Water Sports page

Mountain Bike & Cycle the Sister Islands

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis includes Mountain Biking and Cycling Adventures

Mountain biking in the Caribbean is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while exploring the islands – Getting great views of the Caribbean sea and neighbouring islands is an added bonus. St. Kitts offers some cane field and road routes, while Nevis has a number of terrain options and trail styles to choose from. There’s something for everyone on the sister islands.

The best places to cycle on the island of Saint Kitts includes some cane fields and roads around the capital Basseterre and through the southern peninsula.

For the MTB and Cycling enthusiast, Nevis is the place to be!  You can ride off-road on plantation trails and old road beds, including some nice down-hill trails.  On the road, there are short, medium and long routes to cycle, including hilly and ‘around the island’ circuits.

For more information, including guides and tour operators who will get you on the saddle, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Biking page

Dive the Reefs and Wrecks of Saint Kitts & Nevis

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis includes Scuba Diving Adventures

One of the better areas in the Caribbean for diving, Saint Kitts and Nevis offer a variety of dive sites in both the Atlantic and Caribbean seas around the islands – There are over two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore. There’s something for divers of all skills to enjoy. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, Saint Kitts is a great place to get started – there is a dive school on the island that offers diving PADI courses and certification.

There are over 20 dive sites off the coast of St. Kitts alone, including four wrecks to explore.  If you’re looking for drift diving, wall diving or underwater photography, you’ll find here – There’s even a couple of sites with volcanic vents on the sea floor!  Full of sea life, you’re sure to find a variety of fish, corals, sponges & urchins along with rays, turtles, eels, octopus, lobsters and the occasional shark & seahorse.

There are another handful of dive sites off the coast of Nevis as well.

For more information on one of the more adventurous things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including boat operators who will get you in the water, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Diving page

Saint Kitts and Nevis Golf

Believe it or not, there are two 18 hole / par 71 golf courses on St. Kitts and one on Nevis.

Active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis includes Golf

The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is just outside St. Kitts’ capital Basseterre. This magnificent course is situated on 125 acres and includes two holes overlooking the Caribbean Sea as well as three holes on the Atlantic Ocean.

Kittitian Hill’s Irie Fields is located at the north end of St. Kitts. This uniquely natural course is set among Belle Mont farm’s crops and fruit trees and offers spectacular ocean views across to St. Barths.

On Nevis, the Four Seasons Golf Club is located on the west side of the island just outside the capital Charlestown.  This attractive course was designed by Robert Trent Jones II.

For more information on one of the more relaxing yet active things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Golf page

Have Fun!

ACT Staff

For a more relaxing vacation in St. Kitts & Nevis, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Attractions blog

For an overview of the beautiful sister islands, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

No comments

The Best Hiking in Saint Lucia – The Gros Piton & More…

  By , , ,

ST. Lucia Hiking – Rain-Forest Trails, Waterfalls and Epic Views Await You

I suspect that most people think of the Caribbean as a place to relax on the beach with a tropical rum punch in hand… and while that’s a great idea, when I think of the Caribbean, I paint a mental picture of hiking through a lush rain-forest, passing a beautiful waterfall along the way up a green volcanic mountain, enjoying eye-popping views of the Caribbean Sea as a reward! On Saint Lucia, you can easily make this vision come true.

Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails
St. Lucia’s Mount Gimie in the Background

You’ll find Saint Lucia in the southern Caribbean’s ‘Windward’ islands, just south of Martinique and west of Barbados. When exploring St. Lucia, you’ll find a mountainous island covered in lush green rain-forest, with the distinctive and easily recognizable Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very popular Caribbean destination known for romantic getaways, St. Lucia also has plenty to offer adventurous travelers looking for a hiking-filled vacation – If you know where to look…

Saint Lucia hiking offers a variety of trails on the island, offering something for everyone – From short nature walks to intermediate hikes along with a couple of challenging hikes. While no hiking trip to Saint Lucia is complete without climbing the majestic Gros Piton, the island’s highest peak is Mount Gimie at just over 3,000 feet (950m) above sea level. Our favourite trails on the island include:

The Best St. Lucia Hiking Trails on the south end of the island include:

Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - Mount Gimie

Mount/Morne Gimie Trail in the Edmund Forest Reserve – Plan a full day for this fun and challenging hike covering 5-6 miles (8-10km) of amazing tropical terrain. For those looking for a remote and challenging rain-forest hike on St. Lucia, this is the one to do. While the trail meanders up and down across a mountain ridge and valley, the absolute vertical from start to finish is just under 2,000 feet (600m). You’ll experience a range of trail conditions on this hike, including a couple of amazingly steep sections, where you will need to climb natural ladders of tree roots. You’ll see amazing plant life in this moist rain-forest, and you’ll even be able to go for a dip at the bottom of a waterfall. Of course, the views of the island at various stops along the trail are spectacular, including a very unique perspective of the Pitons from the island’s interior.

For a more colourful review, check out our personal, first-hand account of Hiking St. Lucia’s Tallest Peak

For more information on this trail, including hiking guides to show you the way, check out our St. Lucia Mount – Morne Gimie Hike page

While we’re talking about it… The Edmund Forest Reserve is home to one end of a couple of ‘cross-country’ trails of note. The Des Cartiers to Edmund Forest Trail is an approximately 5 mile (8km) long easy-to-intermediate level hike, while the Barre D’Isle to Edmund Forest Trail is a more challenging 10 mile (16km) Saint Lucia hike with a section of the trail venturing across a nice ridge.

Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - Gros Piton
The view south – Near the top of St. Lucia’s Gros Piton
Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - Gros Piton

Gros Piton Trail – An “adventurous” trip to St. Lucia is incomplete without hiking the iconic Gros Piton. This memorable St. Lucia hike consists of a fairly challenging climb to the peak, which is just over 2,500 feet (780m) tall. While this trail is under 3 miles (4.4km) round trip, it’s all uphill (on the way up that is ;), with some pretty steep sections. As expected, once you catch your breath, the views from the top, of the western and south part of the island, are sensational. While this is a somewhat short hike, in order to really enjoy it, you’ll require decent leg strength and cardio. FYI – The Petit Piton can also be hiked, however it is extremely steep and potentially dangerous in some areas.

For a more colourful review, check out our personal, first-hand account of Hiking St. Lucia’s Stair Climber of a Trail

For a more detailed review of this trail, along with a list of local guides to make it happen, click on our St. Lucia Gros Piton Hike page

Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - The Pitons from Mount Gimie
A unique view of the Pitons and Tet Paul, from part way up Mount Gimie
Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - EnBas Saut Falls
Enbas Saut Falls – The top cascade / pool

Enbas Saut Falls Trail – This is an intermediate level St. Lucia hike with lots of rustic wooden/natural stairs to first descend, then climb-back-up on the return journey. Depending on your starting point, the hike can cover over 5 miles (9km), requiring 3-4 hours to get to and from the fun and amazing cascading waterfalls.

Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - Enbas Saut Falls


For a more colourful review, check out our personal, first-hand account of Hiking a Stairway to Adventure

For more info, including hiking guides to show you the way, check out our St. Lucia Enbas Saut Falls Hike page



The Best Saint Lucia Hiking Trails elsewhere on the island include:

Further north in Saint Lucia, you’ll find a number of interesting rain-forest trails. The Union Nature Trail, a quick 10 minute drive east of Castries, provides a short and easy trail – Good for a much-needed visit to nature. The Intermediate level Piton Flore Trail, just south-east of Castries, is a hilly hike taking about 4 hours to complete. Other trails in the area include the Jacquot Trail and the Millet (Bird Sanctuary) Trails. Further south you’ll find the interesting and varied Barre D’Isle Ridge – Mount La Combe – Grande Ravine area trails.

For more information about hiking in the north end of St. Lucia, around Castries, including a list of guides who can get you on the trail, click on our St. Lucia Hiking page

The Eastern Nature Trail, not surprisingly found on the east side of island, is a fairly easy, but reasonably long St. Lucia hike along the remote eastern coastline of the island – Great for adventurers looking to get away from it all.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing walk on the the island, you can always enjoy an outing on Pigeon Island National Park or the highly recommended Tet Paul Nature Trail!

Saint Lucia Hiking includes Rain-Forest and Volcano trails - The Petit Piton from the Tet Paul Nature Trail
The Petit Piton from the Tet Paul Nature Trail

For more information about the trails on the island, including hiking guides who will help you get the most out of your day, click on our St. Lucia Hiking page

So… When you’ve had enough relaxation on the beach and have enjoyed indulging in a local chocolate based meal, you can go for a heart pumping adventurous hike up a piton or mountain or simply take a great leisurely stroll through the rain-forest… Whatever you choose to do, you’re sure to have a memorable hiking holiday in St. Lucia!

ACT Staff

If you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience on the island, take a look at our St. Lucia Adventures recommendations

When you’re not hiking, snorkeling or biking around the island, there’s plenty of other things to do on St. Lucia, including a visit to the Sulphur Springs, Mud Baths and associated Waterfalls. For more ideas for a fun and relaxing vacation, take a look at our St. Lucia Attractions blog

For an overview of the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page

Have fun!