We all have different reasons for visiting the Caribbean, whether it’s about finding that great jerk chicken, or searching for a deserted beach. But sometimes we are just looking for a little thrill — even if we’re just visiting an island for the day. So we put together a list of our top 10 Caribbean adventures to check out this year — including zip lining, whale watching, and more. Do you have a top Caribbean adventure we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments section.
Swimming with dolphins and stingrays in Grand Cayman
You may have swum with dolphins. You may have swum with stingrays. But have you every done both in the same day? Island Routes’ Dolphin Encounter & Stingray Combo lets you begin your day swimming with dolphins before heading to the Stingray City sandbar to schmooze with the local ray population.
For more info, click here
Mounting biking in Tobago
This is the way to experience Tobago the way it was meant to be experienced. It’s not just about the island’s beaches — it’s about the oldest protected natural park in the Western Hemisphere, where there are more birds per square mile than any place in the world.
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12 Metre Challenge – St Maarten
St Maarten’s 12 Metre Challenge offers the experience of a mini-America’s Cup in an afternoon. A great team-building exercise, you get put on a boat with a group of people you’ve never met and try to sail together. They teach you, and by the end of the day you actually hold a real race. The whole family can do it.
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River tubing in Jamaica
Chukka Caribbean’s river tubing safaris are a terrific way to see Jamaica’s beautiful rivers — whether you’re just lazily floating or flying down rapids. And when you’re not watching the flora change around you, it’s an unmatched view of the sky.
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Kayaking and snorkeling in Bonaire’s mangroves
The mangrove forest of Lac Bay in Bonaire is one of the best-preserved in the Caribbean, and the Bonaire’s Mangrove Information Center lets you kayak through it (or take a tour on a solar boat). Once you’ve kayaked and negotiated your way through the branches of the forest, you can get out and snorkel, watching everything from baby rays to upside-down jellyfish.
For more info, click here
Whale watching in Dominica
With all of the spectacular views within Dominica, it may be hard to imagine the need to get on a boat and head out to sea. But Dominica is unique in the world in that it has a year-round Sperm Whale population (and several other resident species). And the Anchorage Hotel Whale Watch and Dive Center has been doing these trips for more than two decades.
For more info, click here
The Original Canopy Tour in Puerto Rico
Want to channel your inner Tarzan? Puerto Rico’s “The Original Canopy Tour” gives you the chance to swing through the treetops of the rainforests near Guaynabo, on an intricate system of cables and pulleys through which you’ll move between 10 and 70 feet above the ground — think of it as a multi-dimensional zip line.
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Paddleboarding the back country of Turks and Caicos
The water in the Turks and Caicos archipelago is incredible, and the fascinating back-country of the islands has stayed mostly under the radar. Big Blue Unlimited’s paddleboarding tours give you the chance to really appreciate the TCI’s ecosystem, whether you’re just learning how to do stand-up paddleboarding or are already a pro.
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Powerboat adventures in Nassau
You might call it the ultimate day trip. Whether you’ve just arrived in port in Nassau, or are staying for a week, Powerboat Adventures offers an incredible afternoon. You’ll take a high-speed boat for one hour to the empty Exuma cays to Allan’s Cay and then the private island called Ship Channel Cay — precisely the empty beach you were looking for.
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Loterie Farm in St Martin
Loterie Farm is sort of a one-stop shop for ecotourism. But the farm, which is almost 300 years old, stands out for its combination zipline-obstacle course called “Flyzone,” where you’ll glide on a cable system through mahogany and mango trees. (Watch out for the monkeys)
For more info, click here