Caribbean

Scuba Diving In Bonaire

Scuba Diving in Bonaire is one of the attractions that you absolutely can’t miss. The beautiful waters of the Caribbean Sea invite you to test your scuba diving abilities and take them to new levels. You have a tremendous opportunity to see exquisite coral reef, tropical fish, and other amazing aspects of the deep blue sea. Bonaire is usually noted as one of the top destinations in the world for scuba diving. The entire culture of Bonaire is dedicated to this distinction. You’ll always see plenty of shops in Kralendijk the capital and tourist events centered on scuba diving in Bonaire, so take part in this thrilling local activity today.

One of the best places to go scuba diving is the Bonaire Marine Park. There are more than 70 available dive sites. How do you know which one to choose? The beautiful aspect of a diving trip in Bonaire is that you can’t go wrong no matter which diving sites you choose. Scuba diving in Bonaire will completely shift the way you view life and recreation. You get close encounters with countless species of fish and coral reef. You’ll be taught safe diving practices by talented and helpful staff members when you choose a company to help you.

Klein is another great diving spot. The fantastic beaches provide the perfect backdrop for your thrilling scuba diving adventures. This is a popular spot for dives due to the incredibly clear waters found here. You can also find spiny lobsters and turtles during your dives. You won’t believe the constant availability of unique sea creatures that greet you during your fun times in the water. The boat trips drop you off at the beginning of the day and pick you up at the end so that you can enjoy a full day of exciting diving action before returning to your Bonaire Diving Resort.

If you still need more time to go scuba diving, why not try Bari Reef? This location provides divers with that familiar feeling that they think of when they picture scuba diving. This place is just like an aquarium that you can go into for your viewing pleasures. The stunning reef elegantly floats beneath the water in its natural surroundings. The colors around you will catch your eyes and never let them go until you get out of the water. Your senses will pick up on all the amazing little movements of creatures under the sea. Come to Bonaire for an amazing scuba diving experience today.

Filed Under: Bonaire, Caribbean, featured, Kralendijk, Scuba Diving

Kralendijk, Bonaire

Kralendijk is the capital of the Dutch Antilles island of Bonaire. It is a historic town that was a center of slave trading in the Caribbean. There was a Dutch fort built in Kralendijk in 1639 to protect the harbor from pirates.

Bonaire was an island that saw a lot of fighting during World War II. There was an internment camp there that held both Dutch and German prisoners. Of all the islands controlled by the Dutch during the war, none had more causalities than Bonaire. The internment camp was turned into a luxury hotel after the war, and the hotel is still a popular residence for tourists to this day.

People come to Kralendijk today to enjoy the lovely weather and beautiful waters of this Caribbean island paradise. The water is crystal-clear, which makes it a perfect place to go snorkeling and scuba diving. The waters are teeming with marine life, so visitors will have the chance to see tropical fish, seals, sting rays, sharks, sea turtles and much more.

The waves are fairly gentle on the island, so it is a great place to go swimming. The water is very warm, so many visitors like coming to Kralendijk in the winter months to enjoy it. The island has some of the most beautiful white, sandy beaches in the world. The island is completely ringed by gorgeous beaches, so it is very easy for tourists to find a secluded beach to enjoy all by themselves.

The temperature is pleasant all year on this tropical island. It never gets too hot due to the pleasing trade winds that constantly blow. Visitors can lounge on the beach and sip tropical drinks without worrying about getting overheated.

Visitors also enjoy checking out the historic attractions that the island has to offer. The fort that was built in 1637, Fort Oranje, is open for tourists to explore. The walls of this stout fort are impressive. Guests will enjoy seeing the antique, enormous cannons that are still in place on the fort’s walls. There is also a stone lighthouse at the fort that is a quite a sight.

There are also a number of historic churches to explore in Kralendijk. There are a few museums that showcase the military and slave-trading history if the island. Visitors will also enjoy some amazing cuisines in Kralendijk. There are a number of tasty restaurants that serve up the most delicious food imaginable.

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Filed Under: Bonaire, Caribbean, featured, Kralendijk

Whale Sharks

Residing in a world apart from our own, marine life has always been quite intriguing to us land-dwellers. All of the many sizes, shapes and colors of the different species of fish have been of great interest to us from the beginning of time. Whale Sharks are the largest existing fish and have been the object of fascination to thousands of divers all over the world, though many divers spend their entire lives trying to find one.

Whale Sharks are majestic creatures. These gentle giants swim with their enormous mouths open, gulping down plankton, small fish, squid and crustaceans along their way. They can open their mouths to up to five feet wide. They are the largest fish in the oceans and only a few whales are larger than them. They are cold blooded creatures and they breathe through their gills. Whale sharks can weigh over nine tons and grow up to 40 feet long. Amazingly, their skin can be over 4 inches thick! These fish have a two colored pattern of light spots and lines on a dark brown dorsal surface.

Whale sharks can be found all over the world. Popular destinations for travelers to dive with whale Sharks can be found in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, and Western Australia are a few countries divers go to find them. But they are easily spotted all over Central America. Cancun, Mexico, Belize and Honduras are just a few of the hot spots for spotting whale sharks.

Utila Island, off of Honduras, has been called the whale shark capital of the Carribean. Whale sharks have been seen there all year long. Though they can be spotted throughout the year, the best times to try to find them are March through April and August through September. A whale shark sighting usually involves finding just one, but it is possible to see five or more whale sharks in the waters around Utila.

Belize is one of the most popular spots in the Americas for whale shark sightings. Gladden Spit, located in the Belize Barrier Reef, is located 26 miles off the coast of Placencia. There are lots of whale sharks in this area during April and May, when schools of cubera snapper fish are actively spawning. Gladden Spit is a protected area. Rangers allow only six tour-operated boats at a time, making the experience much more intimate.

An important habitat for the whale shark is in the Gulf of Mexico. The major oil spill that resulted from the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon platform in 2010 in the Gulf still poses a critical threat to the whale sharks that reside in the region.

Whale sharks are harmless to humans. They are quite friendly and will often interact. They are very large creatures but are quite docile and serene. They will even allow swimmers to catch a ride with them, though this is discouraged by scientists, conservationists and researchers. Younger whale sharks can be especially playful.

It's vital for any diver lucky enough to encounter one of these animals to always treat them with respect. Whale sharks are an endangered species and it's imperative to their survival that they not be mishandled or harmed.

Filed Under: Animals, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, featured, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, South Pacific, Thailand

Providenciales,Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands continue to grow in popularity as a premier travel destination. Providenciales is the tourism capital of the island nation, and is a big draw to visitors from around the world. With its gorgeous beaches, year-round warm climate, and rich history, Providenciales has become one of the most frequented destinations in the Caribbean.

“Provo,” the nickname used by city locals, has surged in both popularity and population since the mid 1960’s. Prior to that time, there were only around 500 residents in the city, and no wheeled streetcars existed. Its prominence in the tourism world came to be with the opening of Club Med in 1984.

Indigenous to the island, the water and the beach are the biggest draws. Grace Bay Beach, a 12-mile stretch of pristine coastline, is where you will find Club Med as well as a large majority of the city’s hotels and condominiums exist. It's been rated the best beach in the world for the last several years by leading travel resources like Conde Nast Travel and TripAdvisor. While many visitors go to enjoy time at the popular beach, other water sports such as fishing, boating, and kayaking are equally popular. There vendors available onsite that provide rentals for many of these water sports.

With the rapid development of Provo, it possesses all the modern luxuries that many seek when traveling. Lodging options in the city range from budget-friendly to upscale opulence. There are all inclusive hotels such as Club Med, standard hotels, as well as condominiums, beachfront vacation homes, and villas. Restaurants featuring local cuisine and influences from around the world are plentiful. There is also duty-free shopping available, a local grocery store, and a shopping mall.

Golfing has become a very popular activity in Provo. Many of the golf courses in the city are world-class courses that offer golfing for novices, advanced, and professional golfers. A few are located on the grounds of resorts or luxury hotels and are open to the public; some even have ocean views.

The culture of the island city is one that reflects the worldwide influences of the Caribbean. The structures are colorful and open-aired in architectural influence. Its year-round warm climate is attractive for travel anytime of the year. The combination of British, Indian, and African influences is what makes the culture there distinctive.

Filed Under: Caribbean, featured, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Antigua

Antigua, a lush green covered Island in the eastern Caribbean surrounded by the clearest turquoise waters found lapping upon 365 white and pink soft sand beaches. Antigua was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World and was given the name Antigua after a church in Spain; Antigua is the largest Island in the British Leewards. To the north are the neighboring Island countries of Nevis, St Kitts, St. Barts and St. Martin, to the south will find the islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe.

Antigua with its rocky coast, many beaches, inlets and coves is mainly made up of low lying coral and limestone, providing for some spectacular beaches and safe harbors. Covering a mere 108 sq. miles Antigua ranges in length from 14 miles to 11 miles wide and a high point of 1319 feet on Boggy Peak.

Antigua has an English speaking population of 61,000 people with the highest concentration (31,000 people) being found on the north western end of the Island in the capital of St. Johns.

Antigua was discovered in 1493 by Columbus, yet it was not till 1632 that Sir Christopher Codrington an Englishman made the first European settlement on the Island of Antigua. For many years to follow, Antigua became a important sugar colony to Great Britain and became a gateway to the Caribbean. In 1784 Admiral Horatio Nelson was sent to Antigua to secure England’s presence on the island as well as in the Caribbean. Today, English Harbor and the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park is a historic reminder of Britain’s presence on the Island.

With 365 beaches, it will take a traveler a long time to get bored on the Island of Antigua. The islands Caribbean side offers the majority of the calm and secluded white and pink beaches. Turquoise clear waters offer some of the most spectacular opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. Surfers tend to head to Galley Bay and the beaches close to St. Johns on the North West corner of Antigua, a little more populated yet the wave breaks are ideal during the winter months. The beaches along the southwest coast will find quite and less developed areas. Names like Darkwood, Fryes Bay, and Doigs Beach will reward you with spectacular beaches worth the short trip from English Harbor. National Park located on the eastern end of the island at Half Moon Bay as well as Long Bay at the far eastern end of the island provide fabulous reef protected beaches.

Antigua’s annual rainfall averages about 45 inches a year, with almost year round winds flowing off the cool Atlantic waters and north latitude of 17 degrees the island sees temperatures range from the mid 70’s during the winter months to a high in the mid 80’s during the summer

Filed Under: Antigua, Caribbean

Sosua, Dominican Republic

Sosua is located in the Dominican Republic, and is known for being both a historically rich and exciting destination. The area was established in the 1940s when the Dominican Government offered to accept Jewish immigrants from Europe, specifically from Germany and Austria. These Jewish refugees established the town of Sousa, and began a cheese and milk factory called Productos Sosua, which is still running and available for tours to this day. Today, the area is home to many expatriates from Germanic countries, as well as Canadians, British, and Americans.

The city of Sousa is divided into three sections: El Batey, Sousa Abajo, and Los Charamicos. The latter two districts are home to local Dominicans, most of which work in the tourism industry and travel daily to the El Batey district. Los Charamicos is also known to be a nightlife capital, although most of the patrons are locals rather than expatriates or travelers. The El Batey district is home to most international residents and tourists, and was the initial settlement of European Jews in the 1940s. Most of the town’s tourism industry is based here, and nearly every hotel and hostel can be found in El Batey.

Tourism in Sousa as well as Holidays to Dominican Republic really began to take off in the 1980s, thanks in large part to it’s waterfront location and tropical climate. Visitors come to Sousa in order to enjoy the beautiful beaches and diving, as well as partake in a big industry for the town–the nightlife. There are many beachside bars, and the area of Pedro Clisante is known for it’s thriving expat community at night. Rum based drinks are of course the most popular, but locals beers are cheapest and just as delicious as their imported European counterparts.

The main beach is called Playa Sousa, and is over a kilometer long. Countless shacks run alongside the shore, each with a vendor selling items to tourists like drinks, snacks, or souvenirs. Beach supplies can also be rented, like lounge chairs, umbrellas, or snorkeling equipment. Snorkeling is a popular activity on Playa Sousa, thanks to a coral reef just beyond the shoreline. For a quieter and more tranquil beach-going experience, you can visit the Playa Alicia, another beach nearby. Fewer vendors means less local flavor, but it can be calmer and more relaxing if you need to decompress after a night of barhopping.

Sousa is a beautiful and vibrant town, and one that attracts many tourists annually. With a combination of Dominican heritage, early 20th century European history, stunning beaches, and an exciting nightlife, Sousa is the ideal destination for any traveler.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Dominican Republic, featured, La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samana, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Sosua

Havana Cuba

Havana, Cuba has an international reputation for being a city full of music, history, a sparkling night life and friendly people. Founded by the Spanish during the Age of Discovery, it was made a City by King Phillip II of Spain in 1592. It was a safe harbor for Spanish Galleons laden with gold and other treasure before departing for the Old World.

Because of attacks by pirates, corsairs and buccaneers, the Spanish Crown built fortresses for protection. All Spanish ships had to assemble in the Havana harbor and travel together to Spain so the Spanish Armada could protect them better. Several fortresses were built during this period and can still be seen today. This area is called Old Havana and contains many fascinating styles of architecture. Baroque and neoclassic are the main styles in Old Havana, and the government is in the process of restoring the area. Old Havana and its fortresses are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Havana is a city of contradictions with ration shops next to colonial palaces, classic American cars using Russian motors, and the music and energy of all night parties overpowering political sloganeering. The city has seen it all from a commercial port for goods from Latin America as well as slaves from Africa to the center of gambling for North American mafia. Havana has always been at the forefront of Latino culture with innovation including salsa, mambo, Cohiba cigars, Havana Club rum, mural painting and much more.

When the Chinese immigrants brought by the Spanish settlers gained their freedom, many of them settled in Havana. The Chinatown in Havana was the largest in Latin America. Today, the neighborhood is smaller but still vibrant with Chinese culture and a pedestrian-only street in its core with lots of restaurants and cultural decorations.

The greatest thing about Holidays to Cuba and Havana is its power to lure in the visitor to its vibrant, enchanting way of life. A guided tour will show the colonial monuments in Havana Vieja, and visitors can see a late-night cabaret show or walk along the Av de Maceo while the waves crash and spray over the sidewalk. There are also many museums including art and design museums as well as a cold war museum.

The Tropicana is the original club for cabaret shows and the show is well worth seeing. The music, costumes, dancers, hosts and setting are all authentic, professional and beautiful. It is an open air theater with drinks and snacks included in the price.

For visitors with a different kind of evening in mind, there is the Great Theater of Havana, built in 1837 and the home of the National Ballet of Cuba. There is also the Karl Marx Theater which is the venue for international and local artists and seats 5500.

All the contradictions of class and culture have been absorbed by the Cuban people to create a city like no other in the world. It doesn’t have spectacular natural scenery or monuments, but it has genuine atmosphere for a holiday truly out of the ordinary.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Cuba, featured, Havana

Montego Bay Jamaica

When asked to name an island in the Caribbean, most people would agree that Jamaica quickly comes to mind. With the help of Ian Flemming and Errol Flynn, the island has enjoyed fame for over 70 years. Regarded by many as the most inviting and attractive of the Caribbean Islands, Jamaica offers the perfect backdrop for a tropical dream vacation. Covered by lush green mountains, exotic flowers, cascading waterfalls, and golden beaches, the island offers something for everyone and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Jamaica’s second largest city is Montego Bay, which is set against the backdrop of low mountains and healthy green vegetation. Throughout history, the scenery Montego Bay offers has lured artists to the island who wish to capture its beauty on canvas.

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494, Montego Bay is believed to have acquired its name from an altered version of the Spanish term manteca–lard–as the bay was a port for many years from which ships set sail to take beef, leather and lard to other areas of the world. Jamaica was a Spanish Colony until 1565, when Oliver Cromwell’s army drove all Spaniards from the island. At the end of Cromwell’s rule, Montego Bay began functioning as a sugar port and continued this activity well into the 19th century. Declared a city by act of parliament in 1980, Montego Bay has still not obtained any type of autonomy, but rather is a part of St. James Parish. Currently, the city is famous for its Cornwall Regional Hospital–an expansive medical facility in the center of town. Tourism is the major trade in Montego Bay and the coastline of the city is peppered with resorts, hotels, and bed and breakfast facilities.

The average temperature in Montego Bay is 83 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 76 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the winter. The Atlantic Ocean’s trade winds make Montego Bay quite breezy, which many islanders find particularly pleasant in the heat of the summer. May is Jamaica’s rainiest month and rain is again experienced from August to the end of September. However, in Montego Bay, the showers during these months typically last a maximum of only two hours.

Unlike some vacation destinations, Montego Bay offers a vast array of choices regarding accommodations. One can choose from a full service resort, quaint bed and breakfast, luxury villa, or a standard inn or hotel with traditional amenities. In addition, a person can opt for an all-inclusive vacation which includes transportation, accommodations and food.

Visitors also have a wide variety of activities and attractions from which to choose while on the island. A person can easily spend a few days relaxing on the beach or in a hammock with a pina colada and a good book. Those who enjoy sports and physical activities can choose from horseback riding, golf, rafting, scuba diving or guided excursions to Jamaica’s beautiful and unspoiled inland. With its stunning landscape and its wide array of activities and attractions, anyone visiting Montego Bay, Jamaica can anticipate an exciting and memorable experience.

Filed Under: Caribbean, featured, Jamaica, Montego Bay

Ocho Rios Jamaica

Jamaica is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for a reason, and the town of Ocho Rios is one of the most popular among visitors to the island. This picturesque town on the northern coast may be the location where Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World. The name means Eight Rivers in Spanish.

Ocho Rios is less than two hours from Montego Bay by car and is located in Saint Ann’s parish. The town’s economy once resolved around fishing, but it now depends primarily on tourists and the cargo ships that take on sugar and limestone for shipment around the world.

Some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Jamaica can be found in and around Ocho Rios. The town may not have eight rivers, but it does have many beautiful waterfalls. Dunn’s River Falls is the most stunning, as water tumbles more than 600 feet down the cliff into the sea. It is easy to get up and down the cliff and guests regularly climb up on guided tours to see the coastline. Stepping stones allow visitors to shower in the cool river water.

The famously crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean are especially exquisite around the beaches of Ocho Rios, where tourists can often be found lounging in the sun. This town is famous for its swimming and diving. Many guests go to Ocho Rios specifically to go diving off the coast.

Dolphin Cove is another very popular attraction. Dolphin shows occur four times a day and guests can swim and interact with the dolphins. There are also nature hikes, a shark pool and a restaurant.

Fern Gully is another famous sight. This gorge stretches four miles from Ocho Rios up the central mountain to the interior and is filled with more than 500 kinds of ferns and other tropical foliage.

Cranbrook Flower Forest is a wonderful garden that often attracts tourists interested in hiking, fishing and bird watching. Guests can also swim and go horseback riding. Chukka Cove is a stable dedicated to horseback riding and bicycle riding. They offer mounts for riders of all experience levels and trails to both the beach and the mountains.

The town of Ocho Rios first became known to the wider world in 1962 after the premiere of the first James Bond movie, “Dr. No”. Tourists have been coming for Holidays to Jamaica ever since, and in recent years many resorts have been built and a deep water pier has been added to allow more cruise ships to dock. Six separate shopping centers have been built to handle the tourist traffic.

This has proven to be a mixed blessing, as on the one hand there is more development, and on the other more people can now experience the beauty of Ocho Rios and the surrounding area. There are still many smaller places to stay and it is easy for visitors to get away from the touristy areas and go experience the rich heritage and natural beauty of the island.

Filed Under: Caribbean, featured, Jamaica, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios

Punta Cana Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has emerged as a Caribbean hotspot. It’s affordable, and from many United States cities, a direct flight to paradise. This is a recent development. The country shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and while not as poor as its troubled neighbor, it too is poverty-stricken, and despite the influx of tourist money remains so. Along with tourism, the Dominican Republic is gaining momentum as a place to retire or maintain a second home. This, and the industries required to support the tourist trade, is having an increasingly positive effect on the local economy.

Spanish is the official language, but natives working in the tourist areas speak at least some English. Banks readily exchange U. S. dollars, Canadian dollars, British pounds, and Euros. Remember to spend your remaining Dominican pesos before leaving the island, as it’s difficult to convert them back home.

Since the 1970s, Punta Cana, nestled in the easternmost province of La Altagracia, has offered the best of the best. About one-third of the country’s total population of just under 330,000 live in La Altagracia, where the tropical climate, Caribbean and Atlantic beaches and resorts for every budget make it a top choice for vacationers. With average temperatures in the mid-eighties, Punta Cana is a year-round destination. Summers are more humid, but even then, gentle breezes constantly temper the heat. Most Punta Canal visitors stay in resorts, often opting for popular all-inclusive packages.

Once you have checked into your hotel there are endless possibilities to fill your days. You’ll find some of the Caribbean’s best beaches where shallow water allows safe swimming. When lolling on the beach gets old, try snorkeling, scuba diving, or go on a half or full day safari. Visit the horses, parrots, and exotic fish at Manati Park where you swim with gentle dolphins. Play blackjack at a casino, or play a round of golf at any of the 18 courses. Or go on an excursion to Alcazar de Colon, the palace of Christopher Columbus’s son, Diego. Your dining options are varied as well. Most hotels have multiple restaurants where you can enjoy local seafood. Raise a glass of mamahuana, the local favorite rum drink, in toast of a perfect vacation.

Those into recreational shopping will find numerous venues in which to indulge. The area boasts malls, boutiques, and the ubiquitous souvenir shops that appear on the landscape in any Caribbean resort. Locals on the beach or the street will aggressively try to entice you to buy their wares. A polite “no, thank you” will suffice. Know too that some shopkeepers inflate their sticker prices to leave negotiating room.

Because the peak tourist season runs from December through April, you will find bargains in both accommodations and airfare during the remainder of the year. No matter which season you choose for your Punta Cana getaway, it will be an experience hard to beat. Your ticket to paradise is waiting, so call your travel agent today. You’ll be glad you did.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Punta Cana