Places for active stuff in Caribbean
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Only 5 min drive away from the airport lies this long but narrow beach. It’s very deserted, but the strong breeze makes the beach a favourite for wind and kite surfers. However, the water is rarely too rough for a dip. No matter what, you will pretty much have most of the beach to yourself.
You know a place is a diver's paradise when you see more people in wetsuits than in bikinis. Thanks to a strong vision from the government and other enthusiasts, as early as 1979 the entire coast of Bonaire was registered as a national marine park. Boats and fishermen follow strict regulation and people have to pay a nature fee (like a park entrance fee) to enjoy anything water-related. As a result of these efforts, Bonaire's coral reefs are in better condition than most places in the Caribbean, and the island is one of the world's top spots for shore diving. Most visitors come to Bonaire to dive and the locals are ready to welcome them just for that. In fact, Bonaire has probably exhausted all the possibilities of puns and clever names for shops, schools, and hotel names with the words dive, scuba or other dive-related words. Driving along the west coast, yellow rocks can be seen on the side of the road. These rocks indicate most of the 90+ named diving sites on Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, the little sister island. Snorkelling is also amazing, as the reef usually starts mere metres from the shore.
Swimming Titou Gorge is a great adventure. You swim upstream through the dark and narrow gorge with the green jungle high above. That alone is worth the trip, but there is more. Then you reach a small waterfall, which can scaled by climbing it on the right hand side. Once passed it, you enter the base of the second waterfall which is bigger. There the current is strong and like a whirlpool – it will throw you around like you were in a big washing machine. From there you return the same way as you got in. The gorge starts at a pool, next to where the trail for Boiling Lake starts. Lifewest (highly recommended) and guides can be rented there.
The Waitukubuli National Trail is a 185 km (115 miles) trekking trail which travers Dominica from north to south in 14 steps, each doable in a day. Most sections can be done individually, so if you don't want to do the whole trail, you just pick whatever sections you want. The trail takes in the main sights in Dominica and goes through local villages, farm lands, rainforest, and the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Dominica's only UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trail is well marked with signs and blue and yellow ribbons.
Once voted one of the 10 best beached in the Caribbean. Though we don't necessary agree with that, Rincón Beach is certainly pretty, particularly its location. Nested in a crescent shaped, with nearly 3 km of white sand on a backdrop of rows and rows of palms – and without any development for kilometers. You can drive all the way to the beach (if the road is not flooded), and on the way you will get nice panoramic views of it.
The charming town of Jacmel on the Caribbean coast is as tranquil as you get it in Haiti. Though it's only three hours drive from chaotic Port-au-Prince, the people's attitude is more friendly and... well, Caribbean. As an old port town it still has some fine old buildings with iron balconies, but unfortunately those were also affected by the earthquake. The local market, which is called the Iron Market just like the one in Port-au-Prince, is a wonderful mess with easy-going people. But it's the many small art and craft shops, that Jacmel is famous for, and which bring life back to some of the old dilapidated trader warehouses. Unfortunately, not everything is cute in Jacmel, the town beach – though long - is awful dirty, but luckily Jacmel is surrounded by other and more appealing beaches, not to mention the Blue Pools (Bassins Bleu).
Saba Island is one of the world’s top dive destinations but don’t be fooled into thinking Saba is only for dive fanatics. This dormant volcanic island with a tiny population of around 1,500 has plenty on offer for everyone and if hiking is your thing you will be in heaven! A "must do" for the adventurous is the hike to the island's peak appropriately named Mount Scenery. At just under 900 m above sea level, this steep but not overly challenging trek takes around two hours depending on starting point and rewards you with rainforest vegetation inside the volcanic crater and amazing views to the neighbouring islands Saint Kitts and Saint Eustatius. After a hard day of hiking you can unwind at one of the luxurious retreats, villas or eco friendly retreats and enjoy some well earnt pampering!
Saba Island is often listed as one of the top 10 dive destinations in the world and for good reason. The water visibility, underwater vegetation, marine life and topography of dive sites make this one of the best places to blow some bubbles. An annual flock of cinematographers set up camp for the peak dive season between December to March which is also when Humpback Whales inhabit the area during annual migration. Saba is probably most famed for it's group of pinnacles which tower towards the surface from the deeps of the ocean floor. These massive underwater monoliths are home to so much marine life, also attracting those of the predatory kind so don't forget your underwater camera!
The capital of St. Lucia is lovely located at the bottom of an expansive bay, where the big cruise ships are anchored. It's a very low key place with some nice colonial buildings. Beside the many souvenirs stalls aimed at the cruise ship tourists at the central market, the city hasn't been tarted up for profit. It's just a chilled Caribbean city with some welcoming people without too much to offer besides wandering the streets. For magnificent panoramic views over the city and the cruise ships, drive up the hill of Morne Fortune, where the final battle over St. Lucia between the French and British took place.
Dennery is another wonderful fishing village with houses in every pastel colour. The beach isn't pretty, but rocky and covered in seaweed with rough waters as Dennery lies out to the Atlantic Ocean. The small fish market is interesting if fishermen have come in with their catch. Otherwise, the unproportional large cathedral is another landmark worth having a look at. Else just walk around and have a chat with the friendly and curious folks.
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