We love a lazy beach day as much as anyone else but we also recognize that there’s so much more to do in our favorite part of the world than just soaking up the sun and sipping a rummy cocktail. So if you’re looking to tear yourself away from the shore and go in search of some eye-opening, calorie-burning or adrenalin-pumping adventure, you can find it in the Caribbean. Now now we’re sharing our favorite places to find it. Here are the Caribbean’s best destinations for adventure. CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon has the scoop.
Dominica Lush and unspoiled, the Nature Island loves up to its name with a plethora of outdoor diversions. Go kayaking in calm coves; bike rugged terrain; swim in a waterfall; snorkel Champagne Reef. And then there is the island’s party piece: the 184-mile-long Waitukubuli Trail, the Caribbean’s longest hiking trail. It all adds up to this: Dominica is the Caribbean’s best adventure destination.
Dominican Republic Boredom is impossibility in the Dominican Rep, which boasts active adventures that range from tame to terrifying. Soar above the cane fields on the Caribbean’s only hot air balloon excursion; scramble up waterfalls; perfect your kiteboarding skills, or just keep it classic with windsurfing lessons. That’s along with a number of top-shelf adventure parks, from Cap Cana’s Scape Park to Puerto Plata’s 27 Charcos.
Puerto Rico Our only issue with this Caribbean commonwealth: So much to do, so little time! On our adventure agenda: Exploring the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory (where parts of the Bond movie “GoldenEye” were shot); surf camp in Rincon; and hiking the Caribbean rainforest at El Yunque. And shopping the Caribbean’s largest mall in San Juan counts as an adventure, too, right?
Tobago Trinidad’s little sister is big on adventurous options, including wading in the crystalline waters of Nylon Pool; enjoying the cascade at Argyle Falls; and diving at Angel Reef or Black Jack Hole. Birders will find fine watching in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest legally protected rainforest in the region.
Aruba The Happy Island is also one of the most adventure-filled, with so many water sports opportunities, including wreck diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, hiking and sailing. It’s enough make active travelers want to go Dutch (Caribbean).
Bimini The closest Bahamian island (well, technically three islands) to the United States is a sport fisherman’s dream with both deep-sea and flats fishing galore. Bonefishing is the big draw here, but why not be ambitious and go for the Grand Slam, catching permit, bonefish and tarpon in one day?
Bonaire This small Dutch Caribbean island is big on adventure, with a host of options from world-class diving and snorkeling to windsurfing to the wonderfully rugged Washington Slagbaai National Park.
Guadeloupe Visiting this French-Caribbean archipelago is like getting five destinations for the price of one – each with a different set of adventurous options. Have a Crusoe-esque experience on a day trip to Ilet du Gosier; drink your way through the rum distilleries of Marie-Galante; or hike to the Carbet Waterfalls on Basse-Terre. Whatever you choose, c’est magnifique!
Jamaica The land of wood and water is also the land of activity and adventure. Climbing the 600-feet-tall cascades at Dunn’s River is a must, as is a leisurely raft ride along either the Rio Grande or Martha Brae river. Discover the Blue Mountains on an overnight hike to the peak or a downhill bicycle tour, or just take a bus to Bob Marley’s pastoral birthplace and feel alright.
Martinique Whether you’re hiking the imposing volcano Mont Pelee, exploring the Domaine D’Emeraude nature park or surfing the swells in Tartane, this French Caribbean gem has a bit of adventure for everyone. And it doesn’t hurt that there are 11 rhum distilleries for the perfect conclusion to the day.
St. Lucia Hiking Gros Piton, the larger of the island’s iconic volcanic domes, is a no-brainer (and we’re in training as we type). But we’ve got our eye on softer adventure, too. How about an aerial tram ride above the rainforest canopy? Perhaps a sunset cruise to the volcanoes’ base or a leisurely snorkel in the waters that surround them? Whether you like your adventure soft or strenuous, St.Lucia has something to suit.