CAYMAN ISLANDS WEBSITE - http://www.caymanislands.ky/
MAP OF GRAND CAYMAN - http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/Cayman.htm - this site offers several maps of locations on Grand Cayman including Seven Mile Beach and a dive site map
MAP OF GEORGETOWN - http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/cy/gtmap.shtml (see drop down options under ‘Maps’ on left side of page for more maps)
Grand Cayman is the largest and most populated island in the Cayman Islands and its capital, George Town, is the main cruise ship port. It is a British Crown Colony and is one of the more expensive islands you will visit. It has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean due to being the offshore banking center of the Caribbean. The Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD) costs $1.25 US for every Cayman dollar however American currency is generally accepted, as are major credit cards.
George Town is a tendering port which means that your ship will anchor offshore and ferry in passengers on smaller tender boats. Factor this element into your plans for the day as waiting in line and tendering to and from the island will eat into your ‘fun’ time on the island. There are two docks in George Town – North and South. If there is a lot of wind, this port could be cancelled as tendering is dangerous in high winds.
TRANSPORTATION
Taxis - There are always lots of taxis available near the pier areas. Cab fare from the pier to Seven Mile Beach will cost around $4/pp. Since there are several drop off points for this beach, the cost varies depending on where you get dropped off ie: Royal Palms $4, Beach Club $4, Public beach $5, Sea Grape Beach $5, Courtyard Marriott $6, Cemetery Beach $6.
City Bus – for the more adventurous, you can take advantage of the local bus system. The ‘buses’ are actually large vans and are much cheaper than cabs, if you are looking to save some money. The bus depot is located on Edward St, next to the library and across from the Hero's Square Fountain - a 5 minute walk from the pier. The average cost is around $2.50 US per person each way. Fares are usually in Cayman Island currency but drivers will accept US dollars so carry small bills and change to avoid having to get change in CI currency. Generally, fare tables are displayed in the window but you can also ask the driver the cost as you are getting into the bus. Wherever you get dropped off, just return to that same spot, on the opposite side of the road and hail a bus heading back to George Town by waving when the driver toots his horn.
Taxi license plates have red numbers on a white background. A bus has white numbers on a blue background and buses that go to the beach have a yellow circle with #1 or #2 WB on the windshield. Any bus marked WB will pass by West Bay Beach and Seven Mile Beach. Upon boarding, tell the driver where you want to get off. Buses to the beach run every 15 minutes, buses to Bodden Town every 30 minutes and to the East End or North Side run every hour.
Signs located on the front and back of buses will identify routes:
George Town to West Bay - Route 1 (yellow) and Route 2 (lime green)
George Town to Bodden Town - Route 3 (blue)
George Town to East End - Route 4 (purple)
George Town to East End and North Side - Route 5 (red)
North Side to West Bay - Route 6 (dark green)
George Town local - Route 7 (dark green with white numbers)
George Town to Hutland (in North Side) - Route 8 (orange)
SHOPPING
There are lots of duty free shops on the island. The three main spots to check out if you are interested in shopping are: Cardinal Avenue; Galleria Plaza (located on West Bay Road) and the Governor’s Square Mall.
INTERNET
You'll find options at Galleria Plaza on West Bay Road. Also, there is free internet at The English Bakery which is a yellow building with a red roof right in front of Capt. Bryan's stingray excursion‘s office… just a few blocks from the tender area. For yet another option, take a right at the North Terminal dock to find an internet location on Cardinal Avenue behind Columbian Emeralds (25 cents/minute).
ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTS
Stingray City – located in the middle of the North Sound, this is an amazing spot where the sting rays have been congregating for many years. They have been fed by tourists for many years and are very tame. Standing in about three feet of water, you get the opportunity to interact with the rays. Your tour operator may give you the chance to hold a ray or feed them squid out of your hand!! Hold the squid in your fist and the ray will suck it out of your hand. Make sure to tuck in your thumb or they will suck that in too!! There are many tour operations that offer excursions to Stingray City. See ‘Tour Operations” for options.
Blow Holes – located near the eastern end of the island, the blow holes are geysers created by the water pressure in underwater caverns which spray high into the air and create a dramatic roaring noise.
Dolphin Encounters - there are two dolphin encounter operations on Grand Cayman.
Dolphin Discovery (http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/grand-cayman/cayman-location-overview.asp)- located in West Bay, across from the turtle farm and Dolphin Cove (http://www.dolphincove.ky/ ) - located near the west end of the island on the edge of North Sound. Both give you several packages to choose from where you can swim with and play with the dolphins. The Dolphin Cove operation tends to get more positive reviews overall however, there are many concerns about dolphin encounters in general…especially where the dolphins are in captivity and may not be taken care of properly. This is just something to be aware of when selecting these excursions.
The Cayman Islands National Museum - http://www.museum.ky/Content/16.htm - operating hours are 9am – 5pm Mon – Fri and 9am – 1pm Sat. Located opposite the George Town Harbour on the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive. Offers a gift shop, a theater, and a café. I cannot locate any information on entrance fees on their website but one of the discussion boards indicates entrance costs $5 for adult and $3.15 for children, but I am not sure how current this information is.
Boatswain’s Beach (formerly Cayman Turtle Farm) - http://www.boatswainsbeach.ky/ - Located in West Bay, this is a marine park and research facility with an eye on conservation of the endangered green sea turtle as well as breeding of turtles for commercial use. You can see turtles in every stage of development and can try some turtle dishes as well as snorkel with sea turtles in their lagoon. Per their website “This 23 acre park features a reef lagoon in which guests can snorkel, a predator tank, a free flight aviary, a woodland nature trail and a zero entry fresh water rock pool, complete with waterfall provide guests with hours of entertainment”. You can purchase tickets for the turtle farm portion of the park only ($30US adult/$20US child) or tickets for access to the entire park ($45US adult/$25US child).
Hell – this is a small seaside village located on the northwest side of the island. The village gets its name from the craggy black rock formations that give it an ominous and ‘hellish’ appearance. There is a gift shop and a post office where you can send a postcard home with the postmark from Hell.
Pedro St. James "Castle" – http://www.pedrostjames.ky/ - located near Bodden Town, this is the oldest stone structure in the Caymans and is now a historic site and museum. The Pedro St. James "Castle" is considered the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. It has lovely grounds which are ideal for a quiet stroll and some beautiful photo opportunities. You can also get a panoramic view from the Great Pedro Bluff. Entrance fee is $10US.
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park – http://www.botanic-park.ky/ - this is a 60-acre park that offers some beautifully landscaped gardens, a wide variety of unique flowers and is home to the Cayman Blue Iguana. The park is located a good distance from town and is quite a drive to get to so it usually isn’t crawling with crowds. You should rent a taxi and arrange for it to either wait for you or come back at a specific time to pick you up. Entrance fee $10US.
Mastic Trail - http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/info/mastic.html - Guided tours will take you through the 2 mile long Mastic Trail. The walk normally takes 2 ½ - 3 hrs and winds through a variety of habitats.
Wreck of the Cali – for an interesting (and free) snorkel, head north of the cruise terminal where you will find Divers Down and the Wreck of the Cali which is about a 4 minute walk. The wreck is in shallow water (20 ft) offshore and located just past a floating raft where you can catch your breath, if needed. A good tip is to look for where the excursion boats are stopped and then wait until they leave so you won’t be in the middle of a crowd.
Cheeseburger Reef – about a 5 minute walk from Divers Down near the Burger King. A good (free) snorkel.
BEACHES
All the beaches on the Cayman Islands are public beaches and free to access. Many hotels/restaurants offer use of sun loungers and their facilities but there will usually be a fee for these services (rental fee, day pass fee or you will be expected to purchase food/drinks).
Seven Mile Beach - located at the west end of the island, this is the most popular beach on the island and will be very crowded, especially if several ships are in port. The ride will take you between 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi. See info under ‘Transportation’ for cab fares, bus routes and costs. You can rent loungers at many of the hotels lining the beach and there are also water sports available at some locations. Many of the beaches below form part of Seven Mile Beach. The snorkeling is not the best along this stretch of coast as it is smooth, white sand with very little coral to attract fish.
Cemetery Beach – located at the far north end of Seven Mile Beach, Cemetery Beach is very quiet and a pretty good snorkel spot to enjoy. Any minibus with the letters WB will go right past this area. Fare $6pp. You get dropped off pretty much in the middle of a neighborhood and you walk down a sandy path beside the cemetery in order to access the beach. The beach is on the backside of the cemetery and there are generally very few people as there are no amenities available so take same food with you. There is a reef offshore with lots of coral and fish to be seen. There is a grocery store about a 10 minute walk away if you want to grab a few snacks.
Royal Palms – located near the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, this section of beach is so named as it is located in front of the Royal Palms Resort. It is a short 5 minute ride from the pier (see ‘Transportation’ for fare details) and tends to be quite crowded when cruise ships are in port. The Royal Palms has lockers, showers, bathrooms and lounge chairs ($7 rental) and umbrella rentals are provided on the beach. Some visitors have complained that there is loud music so this may not be the spot if you are looking for peace and quiet. If you are looking for a party atmosphere, then head here for some fun in the sun.
Sea Grape Beach - Sea Grape is also along Seven Mile Beach but is a quieter and sandier beach section than Royal Palms. There is a small bar/grill for drinks and snacks.
Rum Point Beach/Cayman Kai – located at the farthest point in the North Sound, this beach is quite a distance from port and probably involves the most effort and expense to get to. Rum Point is a refuge that extends along part of the coast and boasts a barrier reef area, to the right of the pier, where you can enjoy a good snorkel. The Cayman Kai resort is located farther along the same stretch of beach. It is at least a 40 minute ride from downtown depending on traffic. Taxi fare would be quite expensive so your best options would either be to rent a car or select an excursion that includes this stop. Since many tour companies feature this stop, it can get very crowded!! There are hammocks set up along the beach and the Wreck Bar is nearby if you get hungry or thirsty but food and drinks are pricey, so be prepared for some ‘sticker shock’. NOTE: if you use US $, you will receive change in CI currency. There are facilities, lockers, showers and some water sport rentals available as well. If you want to get away from the crowds, head away from the pier area and walk down the beach to the left toward the Kaibo Beach Club until you get near the houses where it is quieter.
Smith Cove Beach - small, quiet beach located south of the cruise terminal (almost 2 miles) on South Sound Road, just past the Grand Old House. Good snorkel spot. No concessions, chairs or umbrellas but does have washrooms, picnic tables and a shower to rinse off.
Governor’s Beach – part of Seven Mile Beach located near Governor’s Mall, beside the Westin, in front of the governor’s house.
TOUR OPERATORS
Since the Caymans Islands are known for their excellent diving and snorkeling options, there is an abundance of tour operators to choose from. Grand Cayman has easy access to reefs, wrecks, and walls, which can be reached directly from shore. The average water temperature in the Caymans is 82 F and the visibility is excellent. The map link at the top of this article will give you an overview of the various dive sites around Grand Cayman.
If you want to get additional details on some of the best shore dive/snorkel sites, click on the link to read about 10 great shore dives: http://www.sportdiver.com/article/Bonus-Coverage/Grand-Caymans-10-Great-Shore-Dives
Most tour operators will offer a variety of snorkel and dive excursions. Most will use power boats or cabin-type cruisers for their excursions although some use catamarans or sailboats. There is no way that I could cover all of the tour operators so I have summarized the ones that receive the most exposure and better reviews on the discussion boards.
Nativeway Water Sports - http://www.nativewaywatersports.com/ – this operation offers a wide variety of snorkel and sting ray tours. No deposit is required. We have personally been on an excursion with this outfit back in 2005 and would recommend them highly. We were on a boat with only about 14 people. When we saw the ship’s excursion boats pulling up with 50-60 people on board, we knew we had a more appealing set-up!! The company also gets excellent reviews on the discussion boards.
Eden Rock Diving Centre – http://www.edenrockdive.com/ - is about a five minute walk from the South Terminal at 124 South Church Street. Exit the terminal and turn right. Don’t stop at the first Eden Rock sign as it is actually located outside the Paradise Bar and Grill...walk past the sign to the two storey blue building. Eden Rock offers a reasonably good snorkel about 100 yards offshore. The shore snorkel is free (unless you rent gear) but they also have snorkel and dive excursions available as well. They have snorkel gear rentals (see their site for pricing), lockers ($5 rental, $5 refundable deposit) and bathrooms. You can rent loungers, if you wish, but this is not really a great beach spot. There seems to be some controversy about inflatable snorkel vests. Eden Rock insists that you wear one as they say they are legally required on Grand Cayman however, it is difficult to confirm if this is actually law or just a requirement of Eden Rock??? If you don’t have your own, you may have to rent one for $6.
Red Sail Sports - http://www.redsailcayman.com/en/about/index.html - this operation has locations at several of the major resorts on Grand Cayman. It offers a wide range of excursions including scuba diving, snorkeling, catamarans, etc. Red Sail contracts excursions for Disney and Royal Caribbean ships so won’t likely book directly with you if you are on one of those lines.
Atlantis Submarine - http://www.atlantisadventures.com/grandcayman/atlantis-submarine-tour/ - is a 50-foot long submarine that carries passengers 65 to 100 feet below the surface for a close-up look at the Cayman Wall. Tour lasts about 1-1/2 hours. Price: $84US adult, $59US child.
Captain Marvin’s – http://www.captainmarvins.com/ - Small groups. Good reviews.
Moby Dick Tours – http://www.mobydicktours.com/ - small groups. Good reviews.
Captain Bryan’s - http://captainbryans.com/ - offers a variety of excursion. It appears that Captain Bryan does most of his bookings through Island Marketing (see below for website). He gets very positive reviews from past visitors and uses a catamaran.
Island Marketing - http://grandcaymancruiseexcursions.com/ - Island Marketing is a booking agent, not a tour operator. They offer a wide variety of tours but subcontract to local operators for their tours. Island Marketing has a good reputation but keep in mind that your experience will all depend on the actual tour operator providing the excursion.
You definitely will have a hard time choosing what to do on this beautiful island!!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
MAP - http://www.tcimall.tc/grandturk/map.htm
GRAND TURK TOURIST INFO - http://tcimall.tc/grandturk/index.htm
Grand Turk is a small island that is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands which are located just below the Bahamas chain of islands. Grand Turk is only 6 miles long and 1 mile wide and its main town, Cockburn Town, is very small. You can take a tour around the entire island in just a couple of hours, including stops.
Cruise ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center near the southern tip of the island. There isn’t a lot of development on this island and not a lot to be seen, however it is a beautiful, tropical island with gorgeous white sand beaches and clear, turquoise water. Since there are not a lot of tour operators, many of them are contracted to the cruise lines when ships are in port. Not all outfits are contracted to the same lines so there is always an opportunity to make your own arrangements.
Grand Turk is a great spot for diving and snorkeling. Several hundred feet offshore is a large vertical wall that is very popular with divers as it drops 7,000 feet - straight down. Near the cruise center beach, the drop-off is marked with buoys but it may not be marked at other beaches along the coast. When all you see is dark water below you…you’ve gone past the drop off : - ) There was a hurricane that hit the island a couple of years ago so that has affected some of the beach areas and sea life as well however, things appear to be getting back to normal now.
SIGHTS
There are not a lot of things to see but here are a few items that may be of interest:
Grand Turk Cruise Center - http://www.grandturkcc.com/ - the center is located right at the end of the pier when disembarking your ship (see website for map of shops, etc). There are tons of shops and the popular Margaritaville, which offers a bar, pool (free) and a Flow Rider to learn to surf (for a cost). There is lots of loud music and activity near the pool and this is where a lot of cruisers tend to stop and hang out for the day. There is also a beach that is in view upon docking. It is free to use the beach and chairs.
Lighthouse – http://www.tcmuseum.org/landmarks/grand_turk_lighthouse - the lighthouse is located on the northeast end of the island.
Mercury Spacecraft Replica - One of the island’s claims to fame is that, in 1962, John Glenn’s Mercury spacecraft landed in the waters to the south of the island. There is a replica of the spacecraft just outside of the airport.
Museum - http://www.tcmuseum.org/ - the museum is located in an historic building on Front Street in Cockburn Town. Open Mon – Sat 9am – 1pm. A cab ride will take 5 minutes to get there. There is no entrance fee, but a donation is much appreciated. There is also a gift shop on site and a few local vendor stalls across the road.
Conch ‘cemetery’ – exit the cruise center and turn to the right. On your way to White Sands Beach, you will come across an area that is covered with ‘dead’ conch shells (nothing living in them) which provides a unique photo opportunity.
Conch World – this is a conch farming operation that gives tours to educate visitors about conch. You can generally arrange for a tour through the ship or make your way there on your own. It is about a 20 minute drive and the cost is $15 per person for the entrance fee and a tour. Some think this is quite costly for what you get….others have really enjoyed the tour.
Jack’s Shack- http://www.jacksshack.tc/Home.php - this is a very popular bar that is located down the beach to the left from the cruise center, on the deck of the Oasis Dive Shop. Walk down the pier on disembarking, take a left coming off the pier and walk down the beach until you see the Oasis Dive Shop flag. The beach area is spacious and offers a great snorkel opportunity. Spotty, a spotted eagle ray with a 7 foot wing span, can often be spotted in the water offshore. The Shack has about 20 lounge chairs that can be rented for $5 each and you can also rent snorkel equipment, if you haven’t brought your own. It also offers a volleyball net, wireless internet and lockers to store your valuables while on the beach. This spot gets lots of great reviews as it is quieter than the cruise center beach and pool and rumor has it that they have some very tasty jerk chicken on the menu.
Flamingos – at times, wild flamingos can be seen around the salt pond area.
Gibbs Cay – this is a small island off the coast of Grand Turk where you can enjoy some time swimming with sting rays and doing some snorkeling. You can book an excursion through the ship or make arrangements with one of the tour operations on the island.
BEACHES
All of the beaches on Grand Turk are gorgeous white sand and turquoise water. The better beaches are on the west coast where the water is much calmer. I don’t think you can go wrong no matter which beach you choose! Keep in mind that most beaches have rocky areas upon entering the water so step carefully when crossing the rocks. There is a good snorkel spot right beside the government pier where lots of fish congregate. Other beaches tend to have some fish to see but not much coral. You need to swim out a bit to have a better snorkel.
Pillory Beach – this beach is located farther away from the cruise center and takes a taxi ride (approx $7 per person) to get there. Bohio Resort is located on this beach so there are bathroom facilities and a beach bar nearby. The snorkeling seems to get varied reviews. Some say it is great and they saw tons of fish, others say it wasn’t good at all. I would say the weather and the spot you choose to snorkel likely has some bearing on your experience.
SNORKEL/DIVE OPERATORS
Oasis Dive Shop - http://www.oasisdivers.com/ – this outfit is contracted with some cruise lines when ships are in port. They are located within walking distance of the cruise terminal and do offer a snorkel area, free of charge, near their operation (see Jack’s Shack for more info).
Blue Water Divers – http://www.grandturkscuba.com/ – This is one of the best reviewed outfits on the Grand Turk discussion boards. It is a 15 min cab ride from pier (approx $10 per person including tip) and they offer several dive and snorkel excursion options.
Bohio Dive Resort - http://www.bohioresort.com/ – located on Pillory Beach which is a 10 minute cab ride ($7 per person) from the pier. Bohio Dive offers a good selection of dive and snorkel excursions.
OTHER TOUR OPERATORS
Nathan’s Golf Cart Rentals – offers golf cart rentals to tour the island. It is located just outside the terminal gates and rentals cost $80 a day for up to 4 people on a cart. There is a limited supply (about 10 carts) so it is best to make your reservations in advance as there may not be availability if you wait until you arrive on the island. Email them at ‘nathanandlinda@tciway.tc'. One item to remember is that they ask you to return the cart with the same level of gas in the tank.
Chukka Caribbean - http://www.chukkacaribbean.com/turks&caicos.php - this tour outfit operates on several Caribbean islands, including Grand Turk. Their tour offerings include horseback riding (includes a ride in the water), dune buggy excursions and jeep safaris.
Island Tours – you can arrange for an island tour with just about any taxi outside of the cruise center area. An island tour will run you about $25 per person.
MORE INFO AND PHOTOS
If you want to take the time to scroll through a Grand Turk visitor’s very detailed review with lots of great pictures of the island, click on this link to a Cruise Critic discussion thread : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1225407&page=8
You can be as quiet or active as you want to be on Grand Turk. Enjoy a good snorkel or just relax on a white sand beach or by the pool!!
GRAND TURK TOURIST INFO - http://tcimall.tc/grandturk/index.htm
Grand Turk is a small island that is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands which are located just below the Bahamas chain of islands. Grand Turk is only 6 miles long and 1 mile wide and its main town, Cockburn Town, is very small. You can take a tour around the entire island in just a couple of hours, including stops.
Cruise ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center near the southern tip of the island. There isn’t a lot of development on this island and not a lot to be seen, however it is a beautiful, tropical island with gorgeous white sand beaches and clear, turquoise water. Since there are not a lot of tour operators, many of them are contracted to the cruise lines when ships are in port. Not all outfits are contracted to the same lines so there is always an opportunity to make your own arrangements.
Grand Turk is a great spot for diving and snorkeling. Several hundred feet offshore is a large vertical wall that is very popular with divers as it drops 7,000 feet - straight down. Near the cruise center beach, the drop-off is marked with buoys but it may not be marked at other beaches along the coast. When all you see is dark water below you…you’ve gone past the drop off : - ) There was a hurricane that hit the island a couple of years ago so that has affected some of the beach areas and sea life as well however, things appear to be getting back to normal now.
SIGHTS
There are not a lot of things to see but here are a few items that may be of interest:
Grand Turk Cruise Center - http://www.grandturkcc.com/ - the center is located right at the end of the pier when disembarking your ship (see website for map of shops, etc). There are tons of shops and the popular Margaritaville, which offers a bar, pool (free) and a Flow Rider to learn to surf (for a cost). There is lots of loud music and activity near the pool and this is where a lot of cruisers tend to stop and hang out for the day. There is also a beach that is in view upon docking. It is free to use the beach and chairs.
Lighthouse – http://www.tcmuseum.org/landmarks/grand_turk_lighthouse - the lighthouse is located on the northeast end of the island.
Mercury Spacecraft Replica - One of the island’s claims to fame is that, in 1962, John Glenn’s Mercury spacecraft landed in the waters to the south of the island. There is a replica of the spacecraft just outside of the airport.
Museum - http://www.tcmuseum.org/ - the museum is located in an historic building on Front Street in Cockburn Town. Open Mon – Sat 9am – 1pm. A cab ride will take 5 minutes to get there. There is no entrance fee, but a donation is much appreciated. There is also a gift shop on site and a few local vendor stalls across the road.
Conch ‘cemetery’ – exit the cruise center and turn to the right. On your way to White Sands Beach, you will come across an area that is covered with ‘dead’ conch shells (nothing living in them) which provides a unique photo opportunity.
Conch World – this is a conch farming operation that gives tours to educate visitors about conch. You can generally arrange for a tour through the ship or make your way there on your own. It is about a 20 minute drive and the cost is $15 per person for the entrance fee and a tour. Some think this is quite costly for what you get….others have really enjoyed the tour.
Jack’s Shack- http://www.jacksshack.tc/Home.php - this is a very popular bar that is located down the beach to the left from the cruise center, on the deck of the Oasis Dive Shop. Walk down the pier on disembarking, take a left coming off the pier and walk down the beach until you see the Oasis Dive Shop flag. The beach area is spacious and offers a great snorkel opportunity. Spotty, a spotted eagle ray with a 7 foot wing span, can often be spotted in the water offshore. The Shack has about 20 lounge chairs that can be rented for $5 each and you can also rent snorkel equipment, if you haven’t brought your own. It also offers a volleyball net, wireless internet and lockers to store your valuables while on the beach. This spot gets lots of great reviews as it is quieter than the cruise center beach and pool and rumor has it that they have some very tasty jerk chicken on the menu.
Flamingos – at times, wild flamingos can be seen around the salt pond area.
Gibbs Cay – this is a small island off the coast of Grand Turk where you can enjoy some time swimming with sting rays and doing some snorkeling. You can book an excursion through the ship or make arrangements with one of the tour operations on the island.
BEACHES
All of the beaches on Grand Turk are gorgeous white sand and turquoise water. The better beaches are on the west coast where the water is much calmer. I don’t think you can go wrong no matter which beach you choose! Keep in mind that most beaches have rocky areas upon entering the water so step carefully when crossing the rocks. There is a good snorkel spot right beside the government pier where lots of fish congregate. Other beaches tend to have some fish to see but not much coral. You need to swim out a bit to have a better snorkel.
Governor’s Beach – is just a 10 minute walk or a very short cab ride ($3 per person) from the cruise center. When you exit the cruise center, turn left and walk along the road until you see the small sign for Governor’s Beach, turn left and walk toward the water until you see the larger sign for Governor’s Beach. There are bathroom facilities and a snack shack with loungers available. You may also be able to reach this beach by walking along the sand to the left of the pier where the ship is docked.
White Sands Beach – is located at the southern tip of the island and not a very long walk from the cruise center. You can reach it by exiting the cruise center and turning right onto the road or you can go through the duty free shop at the end of the pier and immediately turn right. Just past the cruise terminal buildings, there is a walkway that runs behind the cruise terminal beach. You will come to a small pier that is used for shore excursions, walk past the pier and past the fence which will allow you to walk along the shoreline around the southern tip of the island. This route is definitely ‘off the beaten path’ so you may choose to go along the paved road instead. You will come across the conch ‘cemetery’ on your way. The beach can have some very big waves as it is on the south coast, which is not as protected as the west coast beaches. There are no amenities and not likely to be very many people so if you are looking for your own private beach to enjoy, take your towels, snacks and some water and enjoy!!
Pillory Beach – this beach is located farther away from the cruise center and takes a taxi ride (approx $7 per person) to get there. Bohio Resort is located on this beach so there are bathroom facilities and a beach bar nearby. The snorkeling seems to get varied reviews. Some say it is great and they saw tons of fish, others say it wasn’t good at all. I would say the weather and the spot you choose to snorkel likely has some bearing on your experience.
SNORKEL/DIVE OPERATORS
Oasis Dive Shop - http://www.oasisdivers.com/ – this outfit is contracted with some cruise lines when ships are in port. They are located within walking distance of the cruise terminal and do offer a snorkel area, free of charge, near their operation (see Jack’s Shack for more info).
Blue Water Divers – http://www.grandturkscuba.com/ – This is one of the best reviewed outfits on the Grand Turk discussion boards. It is a 15 min cab ride from pier (approx $10 per person including tip) and they offer several dive and snorkel excursion options.
Bohio Dive Resort - http://www.bohioresort.com/ – located on Pillory Beach which is a 10 minute cab ride ($7 per person) from the pier. Bohio Dive offers a good selection of dive and snorkel excursions.
OTHER TOUR OPERATORS
Nathan’s Golf Cart Rentals – offers golf cart rentals to tour the island. It is located just outside the terminal gates and rentals cost $80 a day for up to 4 people on a cart. There is a limited supply (about 10 carts) so it is best to make your reservations in advance as there may not be availability if you wait until you arrive on the island. Email them at ‘nathanandlinda@tciway.tc'. One item to remember is that they ask you to return the cart with the same level of gas in the tank.
Chukka Caribbean - http://www.chukkacaribbean.com/turks&caicos.php - this tour outfit operates on several Caribbean islands, including Grand Turk. Their tour offerings include horseback riding (includes a ride in the water), dune buggy excursions and jeep safaris.
Island Tours – you can arrange for an island tour with just about any taxi outside of the cruise center area. An island tour will run you about $25 per person.
MORE INFO AND PHOTOS
If you want to take the time to scroll through a Grand Turk visitor’s very detailed review with lots of great pictures of the island, click on this link to a Cruise Critic discussion thread : http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1225407&page=8
You can be as quiet or active as you want to be on Grand Turk. Enjoy a good snorkel or just relax on a white sand beach or by the pool!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Roatan, Honduras
(this map is actually on one of the resort websites but it is the most detailed map of Roatan that I could find).
Be aware that ship’s time vs Roatan time can become an issue so pay close attention to ensure that you get back to the ship in time. Leave your watch on ship’s time so there is no confusion.
There are two cruise ship piers on Roatan: Coxen Hole (the original pier) and the new cruise center, Mahogany Bay.
Mahogany Bay Cruise Center – http://www.mahoganybaycc.com/
Mahogany Bay is a new two-berth cruise terminal built by Carnival for Carnival-owned lines such as Carnival, Princess, Holland America, and Costa. One problem that has arisen with the new pier is that if the weather is windy and/or wavy, there can be difficulties docking so sometimes ships are redirected to the older pier at Coxen Hole. The cruise center has the usual offerings such as restaurants, snack bars and a wide variety of shops.
If you choose not to venture out and about on the island, you can take a chair lift from the welcome centre to Mahogany Beach for the day. The price started out at $5pp for an all-day lift pass, but it appears that the price has been increasing quickly and now stands at $10pp. The beach offers free beach loungers and also has eight private cabanas for rent. The cost is $200 for 4 people and the cabanas have loungers outside and the interior is air-conditioned. There are snorkel rentals available, but past visitors haven’t been very impressed with the caliber of snorkeling off the man-made beach area. There are much better snorkel sites elsewhere on the island. You can rent a kayak for $20 for ½ hour (pricey) but you are restricted as to where you can go.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Cab fares on Roatan tend to be quite pricey so be prepared for some sticker shock. You may be able to negotiate better rates, especially if you have more than 2 people, but it all depends on finding a driver who is willing to negotiate. Walk down the line of cabs until you find one who will give you a better price.
For more adventurous (and frugal) travelers, there is a great summary of the local mini-bus transportation system at: http://www.roatanisland.net/cruiseship.htm
ATTRACTIONS
Santé Wellness Centre – http://www.santewellnesscenter.com/ - Owners, Angela and Leon, consistently get rave reviews from their guests. Angela is skilled in a wide variety of treatments and also gives private yoga classes. They offer a $45 day pass for visitors who don’t take a spa treatment. The day pass allows you to enjoy their facilities (beach/pool/ocean-front hot tub/hammocks), snorkeling, kayaking, and breakfast or lunch. The 20-minute cab ride from the pier costs around $15pp or $40 per cab – round trip. Get your cab driver to call to let them know you are on your way and they will meet you with a boat to take you on a 5 minute boat ride to the spa. Spa prices are less than half the price of ship’s spa offerings so this should be an all-day experience!! Facials start at $55, massages at $65 for an hour and they offer several spa packages for $135. It is total pampering and relaxation…in the Caribbean. What more can you ask for???
Spa Baan Suerté – http://www.spabaansuerte.com/ - this is another spa on the island but isn’t as frequently reviewed as Santé however any reviews I have read have been positive.
Maya Key - http://www.mayakeyroatan.com/en/index.html - is a private key located just a few minute’s ferry ride from the Coxen Hole pier area. It offers a beach, pool, snorkel center, gift shop, bar/restaurant, cultural exhibits, animal rescue/rehabilitation centre and shopping at Artisan’s Plaza. I believe the cost is $30pp for the day but I cannot get a response from them via their website. There are rumors that they have changed to only be accessible via ship’s tours when cruise ships are in town which means the price will likely be much higher.
Gumbalimba Park – http://www.gumbalimbapark.com/ - is an attraction where you can see monkeys, have birds sit on your shoulder, tour botanical gardens, learn about the island’s history and enjoy some food along with a beach and/or pool. It sounds like you can only book this excursion through the cruise lines when ships are in port but some people have toured the park with one of the island tour operations but there doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of solid information on this option.
Carambola Gardens - http://www.carambolagardens.com/ - these botanical gardens are located in Sandy Bay. You can hike through the trails in the garden. Admission is $6pp. This stop is also able to be included in an island tour through one of the tour guides listed under “Tours”.
Sherman Arch's Iguana Farm – http://www.roatanisland.net/iguana_farm.htm - Entrance fee $8pp. If you want to handle the iguanas, arrive in early afternoon, which is when they have their feeding time. This stop is also able to be included in an island tour through one of the tour guides listed under “Tours”.
Dolphin Encounter – http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/index.html - Anthony’s Key Resort is contracted to cruise lines when they are in port so you should book your excursion through the ship to enjoy this special encounter.
Sea Plane Tours - http://roatancruiseexcursions.com/SeaPlaneIslandTour.html - $130US for up to 2 passengers for a 20 minute island tour by air. $200US for 35 minute tour. $380US for 2 hour Deserted Island Tour (includes lunch). Planes operate out of the Fantasy Island Resort.
Horseback Riding - http://www.barriodorcasranch.com/ - click on ‘Cruise Ship Excursion Packages’ for available options. There are packages that include a beach stop at West Bay Beach and also one that includes a sail with Salty Dog Sea Charters (see more info under “Sailing/Charters” below).
ZIPLINING
There are several ziplining outfits on Roatan. I have outlined the most popular (and best-reviewed) below. Remember that ziplining is an ‘extreme’ excursion and you zipline at your own risk! For any of these operations, get there early so you get ahead of the cruise line excursions and crowds.
Clip ‘n Zip – http://www.clipnziproatan.com/en/index.html - is located within a 150-acre nature park just across the street from Mahogany Bay and a 10 minute ride from the Coxen Hole terminal. The cost is $45pp and they offer a $5 discount for cruise passengers arriving at Mahogany Bay. The cruise lines offer this excursion at almost twice the price. The course takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on crowd traffic. They have three zipline cables, instead of the usual two cables. You can make a reservation in advance or just show up on the day you dock, although you may have to wait for others who have reservations to go first. This outfit gets rave reviews from past visitors for their commitment to safety and the friendliness of their staff.
South Shore Canopy Tours – http://www.southshorecanopy.com/ – located near West Bay Beach, this course has two cables (main and safety) and 13 ziplines across the 3km course. The longest zipline measures 860 ft and the course takes between 45- 90 minutes to complete, depending on how many groups are on the course that day. You get some gorgeous views on your way down the course. My husband and I did this course in 2005 and it was one of the highlights of our cruise! The cost is $45pp and a cab will cost you about $20pp round trip. They also have a booth at the pier in front of The Thirsty Turtle. Past visitors give excellent reviews of this operation.
Island Marketing – http://roatancruiseexcursions.com/ - you can book many different tours and adventures through this well-known company. Their zipline tour costs $52US, which includes the zipline experience and then a stop at West Bay Beach (Foster’s) for some sun and fun.
SCUBA AND SNORKEL TOURS
Roatan is known as a great spot for scuba diving and snorkeling so there are many companies that offer dive and/or snorkel tours. Check out the websites below for pricing and additional information. This is not a comprehensive list, but they are the most commonly mentioned on the discussion boards and all get great reviews.
Subway Watersports - http://www.subwaywatersports.com/ - there are two locations: one at Turquoise Bay Resort and the other at Palmetto Bay Plantation.
Atlantic Sea Divers – http://atlanticseadivers.com/index.html - this is a new dive company located at Half Moon Resort. It is getting some great reviews for a new operation. They offer tank dives and snorkel tours.
Bananarama – http://www.bananaramadive.com/cruise-shippers/index.html - located on the popular West Bay Beach, this resort offers both dive and snorkel tours. The cab ride takes between 25-30 minutes and costs about $20pp round trip.
Sueno Del Mar Diving Resort - http://www.suenodelmar.com/cruise_packages.htm - located in West End Village, this resort has been around for many years and has a good reputation.
Upachaya Snorkel Tour – http://www.upachaya.com/ - gets fantastic reviews from past visitors. There is a maximum of 10 people per tour so book your spot in advance!
SAILING
Roatan Sailing & Catamaran Charters - https://sailroatan.com/ - $89pp for a 4 hour sail, including transportation to/from the pier.
Salty Dog Sea Charters - http://www.roatansailing.com/cruiseship-roatan.htm - sail with Captain Dusty - maximum of 8 people per sail. Pricing on website is not current so you will have to contact them for pricing.
TOURS
Bodden Tours – http://www.boddentours.com/ - owned by Victor Bodden, this tour operation gets great reviews from past visitors. Victor offers a wide variety of tours that include an island tour, zipline tour, snorkel and fishing tours. The basic island tour has various upgrade options that allows you to personally select the stops that you want to make. The more people you have, the cheaper the tour cost per person. One of the popular options is Victor’s Monkey Business ($5pp) which offers a unique and up-close encounter with white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys. The operation has several guides with Tex, Hanno and Ali getting top reviews. You can specifically request one of them for your tour. Victor also has a kiosk at Coxen Hole pier, if you make a last minute decision to do this tour.
Theris Dixon - http://www.therisroatantours.com/ . Theris gets great reviews on the discussion boards for her friendliness and professionalism.
Island Marketing – http://roatancruiseexcursions.com/index.html - this outfit operates on many Caribbean islands. It acts as a ‘one stop shop’ and offers a wide range of tours which they subcontract to other tour companies (such as those mentioned above).
Rony’s Tours – http://ronystours.com/ - The cost for Rony’s island tour varies depending on how many people you have in your group. With four or more people, the price is $25pp. See the website for a detailed description of the tour.
BEACHES
NOTE - sand fleas can be an issue on the beaches in Roatan. Take bug spray and cover at least from feet to knees…more on your kids since they will likely be sitting in the sand. As long as you are protected, this should not cause any problems on your day in Roatan.
Celeste’s Island Cuisine is located just a few minute’s walk inland behind Bananarama Resort (look for signs) and gets high praise as a great place to have a fantastic lunch. Lunch offerings are a variety of baleadas which are small burritos with refried black beans and your choice of filling such as chicken, grouper, lobster, pork, etc. Lunch should run you between $7 and $9pp.
I have read about a water taxi that runs from West Bay Beach to West End Village for $3pp each way, but I haven’t found more details than that.
Half Moon Bay – located near West End Village, this is a much quieter and less crowded beach than West Bay. The beach is not as nice but the West End area includes lots of bars, restaurants and shops to explore. If you are a beach person, West Bay is probably more appealing but if you enjoy wandering through quaint shops and grabbing a quiet lunch, with a beach stop along the way, this spot is for you. FYI - The Argentinian Grill rents lounge chairs. Cab fare from Mahogany Bay runs around $20pp round trip as well. The cost would be less from Coxen Hole.
Sandy Bay Beach – is the longest beach on the island and is very quiet beach with not a lot of amenities. There are some bars/restaurants within walking distance.
RESORT DAY PASSES
FYI - If your ship gets in later in the day, and you aren’t the only ship in port, you may have some issues getting lounge chairs at the resorts.
Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort – http://www.infinitybay.com/en/index.html - located on West Bay Beach. Cab fare costs about $20pp round trip from Mahogany Bay, less from Coxen Hole. The ride takes around 30 minutes. $15pp for use of loungers, restrooms, outdoor showers and the pool.
Foster’s Resort – http://www.fostersroatan.com/shoreexcursion.html – there are two Foster’s Resorts, one at West Bay Beach and the other at West End. Most visitors tend to go to West Bay. A day pass costs $5pp plus an additional $7 to rent a lounger. You can also select a package that includes transportation, if you have more than 8 people in your group (see website for details). Cab fare costs about $20pp round trip from Mahogany Bay, less from Coxen Hole. The ride takes around 30 minutes.
Bananarama – http://www.bananaramadive.com/cruise-shippers/index.html - also located on West Bay Beach. $5 to rent a lounger. They also rent snorkel gear and kayaks (see website for details). Cab fare costs about $20pp round trip from Mahogany Bay, less from Coxen Hole. The ride takes around 30 minutes.
Mayan Princess – http://www.mayanprincess.com/ - located on West Bay Beach. A day pass costs $10 to use beach loungers, pool and facilities. This is one of the cheapest day passes but they limit the amount of passes they issue on a first come, first served basis. If your ship arrives later in the morning or there are several ships in port, you may have problems getting a pass. The best snorkel area is about a 5 minute walk down past the Infinity Bay Resort.
Turquoise Bay Resort - http://www.turquoisebayresort.com/ - located near French Harbor, quiet area, not a good snorkel off the beach but you can take a boat out to the reef to snorkel, great spot for kayaking. A day pass costs $25pp, including transportation to/from the resort.
Make the most of your day on this beautiful island!!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
St. Lucia, Lesser Antilles
ISLAND MAP - http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/sl/slmap.shtml
MAP OF CASTRIES - http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/sl/csmap.shtml
OFFICIAL WEBSITE - http://www.stlucianow.ca/?src=orgRedirection
St. Lucia is known for its lush and beautiful rainforest interior and natural delights. Most ships will dock in Castries, which is the capital. There are two different piers where your ship could dock – Pointe Seraphine (north pier) and La Place Carenage (south pier). They are right across the bay from each other. There is some shopping in Castries, but it is a bit of a walk to get there and not the caliber of shopping that you can find on other islands. There is a large duty-free complex as part of the Pointe Seraphine cruise terminal where you can hunt for crafts and souvenirs.
A visit to St. Lucia would not be complete without heading down the coast to the Soufrière area, where you will find most of the island’s natural attractions. The drive down the coast takes a little over an hour and the roads are often steep and twisty, so if you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to stop periodically to have a break or take medication/ginger in advance. You can also arrange a tour that will take you down the coast by boat so you don’t have to deal with the roads.
NOTE: A hurricane in the fall of 2010 had a major impact on the infrastructure in St. Lucia. There were landslides and some roads washed out as well as damage to many homes on the island. Things are starting to get back to normal on the island and main access roads have been repaired so you should not have much to worry about as most tour operations will avoid areas where problems still exist!
ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTS
Sulphur Springs Drive-in Volcano – also located near Soufrière, it is claimed to be the only ‘drive-in’ volcano in the world. You can actually drive into the crater created by a volcanic eruption thought to have occurred nearly 40,000 years ago. It is a dormant volcano and the main activity these days is the bubbling ‘muddy’ water in the crater area. The sulphur (rotten egg) smell can be particularly strong at times…so be prepared. On the plus side, it is said that breathing in the air helps with sinus problems. It is an interesting sight to see….and smell☺
Diamond Botanical Gardens - http://www.diamondstlucia.com/ - tour these beautiful gardens and learn about the local plants and flowers. There is a lovely waterfall here as well, but it is quite chilly so you won’t likely want to swim here. Outside of the gardens are some local snack wagons. Check out Big Mama’s stand and enjoy local treats like fish cakes, Johnny cakes and her stupendous BBQ chicken!!
Pigeon Island National Park – located to the north of Castries, Pigeon Island is full of history and activities for both children and adults. Open daily 9am – 5pm. The entrance fee is $5pp. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway so you don’t have to take a boat to get there. You can hike to the top of one of its peaks and enjoy the panoramic view. At the top of the smaller peak is Fort Rodney and your view includes the island of Martinique off in the distance. Signal Hill is the taller peak is a more strenuous climb. There is a small beach, a restaurant and an interpretation center/museum in the Park.
EXCURSION TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Aerial Tram Tours – see Rainforest Aerial Trams under “Tour Guides/Companies”. They also offer a zipline tour.
ATV Tours - http://www.atvstlucia.com/ or http://www.islandatvtours.com/
Bicycle Tours - http://www.bikestlucia.com/ - offers trail rides from novice to advanced trails in the jungle/rainforest at Anse Mamin, near Soufrière.
Diving/snorkeling – http://www.divefairhelen.com/ – offers scuba, snorkel and kayak tours.
Golf - You can arrange your own golf excursion or check the Serenity Tours website (see info under “Tour Guides/Companies”) as they offer a golf tour package as well.
St. Lucia Golf Resort and Country Club – http://www.stluciagolf.com/ - 18 holes - located in the Gros Islet area to the north of Castries.
Helicopter Tours - http://www.stluciahelicopters.com/
Horseback Riding – there are several outfits on St. Lucia. One of the best reviewed is Atlantic Shores which is located about an hour’s drive down the coast, near Soufrière (758 454 8668 or 758 484 9769). Trim’s National Riding Academy is located nearer to Castries in Cas-en-Bas (phone 758 450 8273 or 758 450 0637 (24 hr)). Both get good reviews from past visitors. Neither company currently has a website so contact them by phone to get pricing and tour options.
Kayak tours – http://www.divefairhelen.com/ and http://www.islandatvtours.com/ both offer kayak tours.
Whale Watching Tours – http://www.hackshaws.com/ or http://www.captmikes.com/
BEACHES
Having been to St. Lucia several times, I would say that this is not really one of the top beach stops for those who love Caribbean beaches. Since St. Lucia is a volcanic island, the sand on the beaches is not your typical soft, white sand. Some spots have brought in the sand to satisfy the tourist trade. All beaches on St. Lucia are public and free to access and public property runs up to the ‘high-water’ mark. As on other islands, there are often resorts along the beaches but be aware that you cannot use their loungers or facilities unless you buy a day pass. If you choose to take a cab to the beach, negotiate with your cab driver in advance for the fare and only pay on your return to the pier. Below, I have listed the beaches most often mentioned on the discussion boards:
Anse des Pitons aka ‘Jalousie Beach’ – see info under “Resort Day Passes” below.
Reduit Beach – one of the most popular beaches on the island, it is located about a 15-20 minute ride from the pier, depending on traffic. It is also sometimes referred to as Rodney Bay, which is the name of the resort area where it is located. Cab fare is estimated at about $25 each way for 4 people or a full van will run around $6pp each way. The beach is quite popular with cruisers so is often crowded, especially if there are several ships in port. There are several bars, restaurants, jet-ski rentals and banana boat rides, etc. Some reviewers have mentioned that the beach can be dirty at times, but we did not see any of that when we were there. Two lounge chairs and an umbrella will cost you about $15. There are lots of vendors on the beach so if that bothers you, I would recommend another stop. Spinnaker’s Restaurant, on the beach, gets good reviews if you want to grab something to eat.
Malabar Beach aka Rendezvous Beach – located to the north of Castries near the small airplane airport (you can see the planes landing from the pier area). It is one of the closer beaches to the pier and takes about 5-7 minute by cab. Cab fare should cost around $10 each way – total for the cab, not per person. You can also buy a day pass for the Rendezvous Resort located at this beach (see info under “Resort Day Passes” below).
Choc Beach – is another beach located close to the pier. It is about a 10 minute ride from Castries and will cost about $12 each way for a cab (total cost). You can also catch a local bus/van and pay between $1- $1.50 each way (see Local Bus info below). Choc is the beach that locals frequent on the weekends and it is very quiet throughout the week. There is only one beach bar (The Wharf) and not a lot of other amenities. The Wharf has some lounge chairs for rent ($10 for 2) but no umbrellas. You can pull your chair under a palm for shade. There have been some rumblings about safety on this beach but I have searched and can’t find any details on specific incidents. Many visitors have been there and had no problems, but it could be that a few have run into issues.
LOCAL BUS - If you are not intimidated by a little adventure, you can take a local bus (van) to Choc Beach and save a good amount of money as fares generally run around a couple of dollars, depending on your destination. From Pointe Seraphine, you will need to walk for about 5-7 minutes to find the bus stand next to the local electric company (LUCELEC). When you see a bus with the yellow sticker ‘Route 1A’, you will need to flag it down and let the driver know that you want to go to Choc Beach. If you opt to go to Reduit, the cost will be slightly higher. The bus stop at Choc is directly across from The Wharf and you can flag down a bus/van to return to port.
RESORT DAY PASSES
Sandals Resorts – there are three, adult only, Sandals resorts on the island however, the two I have listed are the most popular for day passes. They are:
Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa – http://www.sandals.com/main/lucia/lu-home.cfm - This resort is located 1.5 miles west of Castries and is about a 15 minute cab ride from the pier, due to traffic. Visitors have commented that this is the place to go for golf but not the beach. The surf is often very choppy and the beach at the Sandals Grande is better for sunning and swimming.
Ti Kaye Village - http://www.tikaye.com/dive-rates.php - this family resort is located at Anse Cochon (one of the best snorkel spots) about ¾ of the way down to Soufrière on the west coast. The day pass for Ti Kaye Village runs about $75pp for the day and includes boat transportation to and from the pier, lunch, 2 soft drinks/juice, use of their facilities and non-motorized water sports, as well as snorkel gear rental for the day. Be aware that if you go by car, the drive is about 45 minutes and the driveway into the resort is about one mile of very rough road.
Rendezvous Resort - http://www.theromanticholiday.com/Content/16.htm - this adult only boutique hotel/resort is located on Malabar Beach (aka Rendezvous Beach) about a 5-7 minute drive from the pier. Rendezvous offers a couple of different half-day passes. Their published rates are a ½ day pass from 8am-12pm which costs $40pp and includes drinks and use of the facilities and non-motorized water sports, but no lunch. There is another ½ day pass from 12pm – 6pm which costs $50 and includes lunch, drinks and use of the facilities and non-motorized water sports. I have seen reviews from people who were there from 10am-3pm so there may be some flexibility with the time frames, but you should clarify all of those details with the resort when you contact them. You should arrange for your day pass in advance. Serenity Tours also offers a package to Rendezvous as well.
Rex St. Lucian Resort – http://www.rexresorts.com/_caribbean/_stlucia/_stlucian/index.html - located on Reduit Beach, to the north of Castries. A day pass costs $59pp but make your arrangements in advance as they are not available all of the time.
Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa – http://www.baygardensbeachresort.com/ – also located on Reduit Beach. A day pass costs $50pp and includes a BBQ lunch and limited bar drinks.
Jalousie Beach Plantation - http://www.thejalousieplantation.com/ This resort is located at the south end of the island, past the town of Soufrière. The resort has brought in sand for the beach so it is definitely more appealing than some of the others. It takes a little over an hour to get there by cab, around 30 minutes by boat. A day pass costs $50pp adult ($35 for children) for use of amenities (except the pool), a lounger and $25 towards your food purchase. Your best bet for this spot is to visit as part of a tour so that you can also see some of the sights around Soufrière (ie: warm waterfall, drive-in volcano). We have been to Jalousie on 4 different occasions, but have never bought a day pass as you can access the beach for free. The resort no longer allows tour guides to pass through their resort to get to the beach so most tour operators have arranged for water taxis from the pier in Soufrière over to Jalousie Beach.
TOUR GUIDES/COMPANIES
Rainforest Aerial Trams – http://www.rainforestrams.com/stluciaintro.html
Located near Castries, this operation is open every day except Monday from October until April. If you plan to visit between May and September, you should contact the company to get details as they are open 4 days a week during that time period. The aerial trams take you through the rainforest in an open-air gondola. They also offer some bird watching hikes for the less adventurous. The popular Tranopy (tram and canopy) tour costs $85pp and the Adrenaline Zip Line costs $69pp. Go to the website and click on ‘Book Now’ to see a full list of tour pricings. You will need to scroll through the list to find the St. Lucia options. There are minimum age limits on some tours. This operation is also used by cruise line excursions so you should get there early to avoid the crowds.
The following guides offer a variety of tours and, on a private tour, can customize your tour to include specific stops that you select. Some also offer tours that include day passes to various resorts on the island. All come with excellent reviews from past customers.
Spencer Ambrose - http://www.spencerambrose.com/
Bernard’s Island Tours - http://www.stluciataximan.com/default.asp?page=home
Frank’s Tours - http://www.stluciafrank.com/
MAP OF CASTRIES - http://www.caribbean-on-line.com/sl/csmap.shtml
OFFICIAL WEBSITE - http://www.stlucianow.ca/?src=orgRedirection
St. Lucia is known for its lush and beautiful rainforest interior and natural delights. Most ships will dock in Castries, which is the capital. There are two different piers where your ship could dock – Pointe Seraphine (north pier) and La Place Carenage (south pier). They are right across the bay from each other. There is some shopping in Castries, but it is a bit of a walk to get there and not the caliber of shopping that you can find on other islands. There is a large duty-free complex as part of the Pointe Seraphine cruise terminal where you can hunt for crafts and souvenirs.
A visit to St. Lucia would not be complete without heading down the coast to the Soufrière area, where you will find most of the island’s natural attractions. The drive down the coast takes a little over an hour and the roads are often steep and twisty, so if you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to stop periodically to have a break or take medication/ginger in advance. You can also arrange a tour that will take you down the coast by boat so you don’t have to deal with the roads.
If you travel anywhere by cab, some drivers will try to convince you not to go to a certain spot and tell you that they have a much better place. They may have arrangements with resorts where they will get a referral fee if they take someone there. Just be aware of this technique and, if you are set on going somewhere, be firm and insist that they take you where you want to go.
Crime is on the rise in the Caribbean and St. Lucia is experiencing this unfortunate element as well. Common sense practices apply here, as on other islands. Be aware of your surrounding, don’t wander around alone or in less populated areas, leave your jewelry on the ship, and take only the cash you will need for the day. Expensive cameras are always a draw for thieves, as well. They would be fine on an organized tour, but I would not wander around with the camera in town or at the beaches. I am not trying to scare or discourage visitors with these warnings as we have been to St. Lucia several times and have never encountered one problem. It is one of our favorite islands!!
NOTE: A hurricane in the fall of 2010 had a major impact on the infrastructure in St. Lucia. There were landslides and some roads washed out as well as damage to many homes on the island. Things are starting to get back to normal on the island and main access roads have been repaired so you should not have much to worry about as most tour operations will avoid areas where problems still exist!
The Pitons – St. Lucia is best known for the world-famous Pitons located near Soufrière on the southwest coast of the island. The twin peaks were formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. Gros Piton measures 2,619 ft high and Petit Piton comes in at 2,461 ft. If you are particularly energetic, you can hike up Gros Piton, but be prepared for a long and strenuous hike. There will be a fee for park access and for a guide to accompany you on your hike. Jalousie Plantation is located between the Pitons (see more info below). The snorkeling is great in the waters at the base of Petit Piton.
Warm waterfall/hot mineral pool – this is one of my favorite stops on the island. It contains a small waterfall and hot mineral pool reached by a short hike in the rainforest. The waterfall is warm and fed by both cold mountain water and hot volcanic water and makes for a delightful experience as you can swim in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. An even more enjoyable soak can be found a few feet away in the hot mineral pool aka “fountain of youth”. The minerals in the water and the heat combine to make you feel years younger. Your muscles and joints feel amazingly supple and your skin feels baby soft!! Note: the minerals in the water can fade bright colors in your swimsuit so wear something that you won’t be concerned about fading!!
EXCURSION TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Aerial Tram Tours – see Rainforest Aerial Trams under “Tour Guides/Companies”. They also offer a zipline tour.
ATV Tours - http://www.atvstlucia.com/ or http://www.islandatvtours.com/
Diving/snorkeling – http://www.divefairhelen.com/ – offers scuba, snorkel and kayak tours.
Golf - You can arrange your own golf excursion or check the Serenity Tours website (see info under “Tour Guides/Companies”) as they offer a golf tour package as well.
Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa – http://www.sandals.com/main/lucia/lu-home.cfm - 9 holes - it is about a 15 minute cab ride, to the southwest, from the pier. Visitors have commented that this is the place to go for golf, but not the beach. The surf is often very choppy and the beach at the Sandals Grande is better for sunning and swimming.
Helicopter Tours - http://www.stluciahelicopters.com/
Horseback Riding – there are several outfits on St. Lucia. One of the best reviewed is Atlantic Shores which is located about an hour’s drive down the coast, near Soufrière (758 454 8668 or 758 484 9769). Trim’s National Riding Academy is located nearer to Castries in Cas-en-Bas (phone 758 450 8273 or 758 450 0637 (24 hr)). Both get good reviews from past visitors. Neither company currently has a website so contact them by phone to get pricing and tour options.
Whale Watching Tours – http://www.hackshaws.com/ or http://www.captmikes.com/
Zipline/canopy tours – see Palm Services Treetop Canopy Tour and Adventure Course under “Tour Guides/Companies” below.
BEACHES
Having been to St. Lucia several times, I would say that this is not really one of the top beach stops for those who love Caribbean beaches. Since St. Lucia is a volcanic island, the sand on the beaches is not your typical soft, white sand. Some spots have brought in the sand to satisfy the tourist trade. All beaches on St. Lucia are public and free to access and public property runs up to the ‘high-water’ mark. As on other islands, there are often resorts along the beaches but be aware that you cannot use their loungers or facilities unless you buy a day pass. If you choose to take a cab to the beach, negotiate with your cab driver in advance for the fare and only pay on your return to the pier. Below, I have listed the beaches most often mentioned on the discussion boards:
Reduit Beach – one of the most popular beaches on the island, it is located about a 15-20 minute ride from the pier, depending on traffic. It is also sometimes referred to as Rodney Bay, which is the name of the resort area where it is located. Cab fare is estimated at about $25 each way for 4 people or a full van will run around $6pp each way. The beach is quite popular with cruisers so is often crowded, especially if there are several ships in port. There are several bars, restaurants, jet-ski rentals and banana boat rides, etc. Some reviewers have mentioned that the beach can be dirty at times, but we did not see any of that when we were there. Two lounge chairs and an umbrella will cost you about $15. There are lots of vendors on the beach so if that bothers you, I would recommend another stop. Spinnaker’s Restaurant, on the beach, gets good reviews if you want to grab something to eat.
Malabar Beach aka Rendezvous Beach – located to the north of Castries near the small airplane airport (you can see the planes landing from the pier area). It is one of the closer beaches to the pier and takes about 5-7 minute by cab. Cab fare should cost around $10 each way – total for the cab, not per person. You can also buy a day pass for the Rendezvous Resort located at this beach (see info under “Resort Day Passes” below).
Choc Beach – is another beach located close to the pier. It is about a 10 minute ride from Castries and will cost about $12 each way for a cab (total cost). You can also catch a local bus/van and pay between $1- $1.50 each way (see Local Bus info below). Choc is the beach that locals frequent on the weekends and it is very quiet throughout the week. There is only one beach bar (The Wharf) and not a lot of other amenities. The Wharf has some lounge chairs for rent ($10 for 2) but no umbrellas. You can pull your chair under a palm for shade. There have been some rumblings about safety on this beach but I have searched and can’t find any details on specific incidents. Many visitors have been there and had no problems, but it could be that a few have run into issues.
LOCAL BUS - If you are not intimidated by a little adventure, you can take a local bus (van) to Choc Beach and save a good amount of money as fares generally run around a couple of dollars, depending on your destination. From Pointe Seraphine, you will need to walk for about 5-7 minutes to find the bus stand next to the local electric company (LUCELEC). When you see a bus with the yellow sticker ‘Route 1A’, you will need to flag it down and let the driver know that you want to go to Choc Beach. If you opt to go to Reduit, the cost will be slightly higher. The bus stop at Choc is directly across from The Wharf and you can flag down a bus/van to return to port.
Pigeon Island – see info under “Attractions/Sights” above
Anse Cochon – this spot is known as one of the best snorkel spots on the island. You can snorkel right off the beach. Anse Cochon is located about ¾ of the way down the coast towards Soufrière. You can take a cab there, but your best bet is likely to visit the beach as part of a tour (see options under “Tour Guides/Companies” below) or arrange a day pass with Ti Kaye Resort (see info under “Resort Day Passes”) which is located on this beach.
RESORT DAY PASSES
Sandals Grande St. Lucian – located north of Castries, near Pigeon Island. A day pass usually runs around $100-$110 for 10am-6pm access. To get there by cab will take between 20-25 minutes and cost around $20 one way (total cab, not per person). According to past visitors, this resort appears to have the best beach of the three Sandals properties. You don’t have to book a day pass in advance, you can get a pass at the front desk on arrival.
Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa – http://www.sandals.com/main/lucia/lu-home.cfm - This resort is located 1.5 miles west of Castries and is about a 15 minute cab ride from the pier, due to traffic. Visitors have commented that this is the place to go for golf but not the beach. The surf is often very choppy and the beach at the Sandals Grande is better for sunning and swimming.
Ti Kaye Village - http://www.tikaye.com/dive-rates.php - this family resort is located at Anse Cochon (one of the best snorkel spots) about ¾ of the way down to Soufrière on the west coast. The day pass for Ti Kaye Village runs about $75pp for the day and includes boat transportation to and from the pier, lunch, 2 soft drinks/juice, use of their facilities and non-motorized water sports, as well as snorkel gear rental for the day. Be aware that if you go by car, the drive is about 45 minutes and the driveway into the resort is about one mile of very rough road.
Rendezvous Resort - http://www.theromanticholiday.com/Content/16.htm - this adult only boutique hotel/resort is located on Malabar Beach (aka Rendezvous Beach) about a 5-7 minute drive from the pier. Rendezvous offers a couple of different half-day passes. Their published rates are a ½ day pass from 8am-12pm which costs $40pp and includes drinks and use of the facilities and non-motorized water sports, but no lunch. There is another ½ day pass from 12pm – 6pm which costs $50 and includes lunch, drinks and use of the facilities and non-motorized water sports. I have seen reviews from people who were there from 10am-3pm so there may be some flexibility with the time frames, but you should clarify all of those details with the resort when you contact them. You should arrange for your day pass in advance. Serenity Tours also offers a package to Rendezvous as well.
Rex St. Lucian Resort – http://www.rexresorts.com/_caribbean/_stlucia/_stlucian/index.html - located on Reduit Beach, to the north of Castries. A day pass costs $59pp but make your arrangements in advance as they are not available all of the time.
Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa – http://www.baygardensbeachresort.com/ – also located on Reduit Beach. A day pass costs $50pp and includes a BBQ lunch and limited bar drinks.
Jalousie Beach Plantation - http://www.thejalousieplantation.com/ This resort is located at the south end of the island, past the town of Soufrière. The resort has brought in sand for the beach so it is definitely more appealing than some of the others. It takes a little over an hour to get there by cab, around 30 minutes by boat. A day pass costs $50pp adult ($35 for children) for use of amenities (except the pool), a lounger and $25 towards your food purchase. Your best bet for this spot is to visit as part of a tour so that you can also see some of the sights around Soufrière (ie: warm waterfall, drive-in volcano). We have been to Jalousie on 4 different occasions, but have never bought a day pass as you can access the beach for free. The resort no longer allows tour guides to pass through their resort to get to the beach so most tour operators have arranged for water taxis from the pier in Soufrière over to Jalousie Beach.TOUR GUIDES/COMPANIES
The following guides are the most popular and generally get great reviews from their clients. You should arrange for a tour in advance of your stop in St. Lucia. There are, obviously, other guides that you can hire but I am listing the ones that receive the most positive feedback on the discussion boards:
Herod Stanislas – http://herodsislandtours.com/ - we have personally toured with Herod on four different occasions and I cannot say enough about how fantastic he is. He is professional, knowledgeable, low-key and takes such good care of his guests! He offers an Island Delights tour that takes you to the most popular stops in the south of the island and he also has a Land and Sea tour that visits those same sights, but part of the tour is by boat and also includes lunch. Herod prefers smaller groups so he can give more personal service. At last visit, he charged $50pp for the Island Delights tour and $70pp for the Land and Sea tour. We always pay him more as he provides such phenomenal value for the price. Lately, some have had problems contacting him through his website so you can also reach him by email him at herodtours@gmail.com.
Cosol Tours – http://www.cosol-tours.com/ - Cosol operates a large tour business on St. Lucia. He is very popular with visitors and generally gets good reviews for his operation. The negative reviews are usually because people expected to tour with Cosol, personally, and did not except the sheer size of the tour group as all of the vans travel together. Cosol hires additional cab drivers for the day, as needed, so your experience is impacted by which driver you get and how many ships are in port. As with other tours, he will take you to the most popular stops in the south of the island.
Serenity Tours – http://www.serenitytvl.com/ - operated by a husband and wife team, John and Caroline, this tour operation consistently gets great reviews from their customers. They offer various land tours and also a zipline tour that gets you to the zipline location before the cruise tour crowds! Some of their tours also include day passes to several resorts mentioned above, as well as Pigeon Island. Visit their website or call 1-866-766-0794.
Palm Services Treetop Canopy Tour and Adventure Course - http://www.adventuretoursstlucia.com/ultimate_treetop_adventure.html - offers a range of activities including the popular zip line course. They also offer cycling, hiking, and kayaking excursions. To appeal to younger families, Palm also offers a "kiddie challenge" course with mini-zip lines for children. This operation is located in the south-center of the island at Dennery. It is a bit of a ride to get there, but well worth it. Palm also contracts to various cruise lines for their excursions so it is better to arrange this tour on your own with a local tour company so that you can get there ahead of the ship’s tours and crowds. Serenity Tours gets great reviews for their zipline package (see details under ‘Serenity Tours’ above).
Rainforest Aerial Trams – http://www.rainforestrams.com/stluciaintro.html
Located near Castries, this operation is open every day except Monday from October until April. If you plan to visit between May and September, you should contact the company to get details as they are open 4 days a week during that time period. The aerial trams take you through the rainforest in an open-air gondola. They also offer some bird watching hikes for the less adventurous. The popular Tranopy (tram and canopy) tour costs $85pp and the Adrenaline Zip Line costs $69pp. Go to the website and click on ‘Book Now’ to see a full list of tour pricings. You will need to scroll through the list to find the St. Lucia options. There are minimum age limits on some tours. This operation is also used by cruise line excursions so you should get there early to avoid the crowds.
Bernard’s Island Tours - http://www.stluciataximan.com/default.asp?page=home
This unique island is a natural wonder and not to be missed!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan is both a popular port of call on Caribbean cruises and also the main departure port for most southern itineraries. Puerto Rico is officially a Commonwealth and is a self-governing territory of the US. Most people you will encounter will speak English as well as Spanish. Drivers tend to be a bit crazy on this island so renting a car is not for the faint of heart! Get a good map and keep your eyes wide open. Others have rented cars and lived to tell the story ☺
If you are departing on a cruise from San Juan, most people will stay at a hotel in Condado, Isla Verde or Old San Juan (OSJ) due to their proximity to the piers. There are two main cruise piers in San Juan: the Old San Juan pier and the Pan American pier. Most ships stopping for the day in San Juan will port at the Old San Juan pier. Most ships beginning a cruise in San Juan will depart from the Pan Am pier however Carnival cruises usually leave from OSJ Pier 4. If you tell your cab driver which ship you are on, they will generally know which pier you need to be at.TIP: If you are flying in for a cruise or need to wait for a flight out after a cruise, you can drop your luggage at Restaurant Barrachina (104 Calle Fortaleza) in OSJ and they will store it for you at no cost.
MAP
Map of Puerto Rico and map of Old San Juan – http://www.travelmaps.com/
TAXI CABS
All cab fares are regulated by the government and broken down into zones. You pay a flat fee from one zone to another, plus $1 for each piece of luggage. For more information on the various zones and fares, click on: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/getting-around-by-taxi/
BUS INFO
Local buses are a very cheap alternative to get between downtown areas and Old San Juan. Fares run between $0.50 - $0.75 each way. Schedules are not always firm so some flexibility is required. Route B-21 runs from Condado to OSJ. Route A-5 runs from Isla Verde to OSJ. The bus is not a good option from the airport though.
ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTS
I have provided information on some of the more popular attractions and sights below. If you want to see a very detailed summary of all of the sights, go to: http://www.topuertorico.org/city/sanjuan.shtml
OLD SAN JUAN (OSJ)
This is the heart of the action for most visitors and is full of history and culture. You will find two fortresses and the Parliament House as well as tons of hotels, shops and restaurants. If you are in relatively good physical shape, you can walk to most locations in OSJ.
El Morro Fortress - $3 entrance fee or $5 for access to both El Morro and San Cristobal Fortresses. Valid for 24 hours. Open 9am – 6pm. This is the most well known of the two fortresses. Don’t miss the Paseo de la Princesa boardwalk path along the city wall. It is a beautiful walk to or from the Fortress and not to be missed. You can reach the path by walking to the left from the cruise ship pier, along Calle Marina, past the Plaza de Armas & La Casita (yellow building) and past the fountain where you will find the beginning of the boardwalk.
San Cristobal Fortress – $3 entrance fee or $5 for access to both El Morro and San Cristobal Fortresses. Valid for 24 hours. Open 9am – 6pm. This is the largest of the two fortresses and can be reached by walking up the hill and to the right from the pier area.
Restaurant Barrachina - http://www.barrachina.com/ - Located at 104 Forteleza in OSJ, Barrachina’s claim to fame is that they are the birthplace of the original Pina Colada. This restaurant will hold your bags for you, at no charge, while you are waiting for a flight or cruise to depart. If you are staying around OSJ, they also have a flamenco show on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm. Just ask to be seated in the show area!
Walking tour - If you are interested in a walking tour of Old San Juan, check out: www.frommers.com/destinations/sanjuan/0323010008.html
Shopping options - You can find vendors selling knock-off purses down along the waterfront. The popular Coach outlet is located at 150 Calle Cristo. You can find many local artisans selling their wares at Plaza Arturo Somohano located about a block behind the Sheraton Old San Juan.
OSJ FREE TROLLEY
There is a free trolley that travels around Old San Juan and makes regular stops at Covadonga, La Pultilla, Plaza de Armas and both forts. There are three different routes. You can get a map from the information kiosk near Pier 1. The trolley moves slowly due to traffic and, if speed is what you want, you would be faster on foot. There is a trolley stop right at the corner of the waterfront road and Corretjer St (the street going up to the left of Pier 4 and the second street up to the right from pier 3) but everyone from the ship will try to get on at that stop. If you walk a few blocks to the left of the pier along Calle Marina (parallel to the waterfront), there is a trolley stop to the left of the small yellow "Casita" building (Tourist Info Centre). Just follow the road to the left and look for the trolley stop marker beside the trucks that sell food/drinks at the plaza.
EL YUNQUE RAINFOREST – http://www.elyunque.com/ - located about an hour's drive from the pier, the park's hours of operation don’t appear to be fixed. They say that they open ‘early’ and you cannot stay past 6pm. Entrance to the park is free, but if you stop at the Visitor’s Center, there is a fee of $3. You can pay $5pp for a guide from the Visitor’s Center. The best way to really enjoy the rainforest is to find a group tour or rent a car. Taxis are not permitted to enter the rainforest. Taxis must drop their passengers at the Visitor’s Centre, which is a good distance from the good hiking trails and scenic falls.
There are lots of hiking trails to choose from in the rainforest. You can select one based on your time frames and fitness level. Big Tree Trail is one of the more popular trails and a 20 minute hike will get you to La Mina Falls where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. Since it is very popular with large ship’s tours, it is best to hit this trail early to avoid the crowds. To get to the Mount Britton trail, drive on PR191 and park on side road 930 at km 13 marker. If you want to hike all the way to the mountain peak, aim to hit the peak by noon as often clouds roll in and the panoramic view may disappear in the afternoon. The hike to the peak appears to take between 1.5 and 2 hours. For a shorter option, if you hike about 20 minutes along Mount Britton Trail, you will reach the Mount Britton Observation Tower. Juan Diego Creek is a less well-known spot so doesn't have much of a crowd. If you hike about 1/8th of a mile along the creek (not a trail...more like a path), there are three different waterfalls to see. You may also want to check out the 1575 foot Yokahu Observation Tower at km 8.8 on PR191.
LUQUILLO BEACH – This is a beach area located not far from El Yunque. A great spot for some beach time after touring the rainforest. Parking $4. Bathroom access $1 adult/ $0.50 children. There are actually four different beach sections in Luquillo:
1. "La Pared" (The Wall) is where the surfers hang out. Lots of action and heavy waves.
2. "Costa Azul" (Blue Coast) in front of the 3 condominiums is quiet with lots of 'snowbirds'.
3. "El Balneario El Monserrate" has lots of gorgeous palm trees and delightfully calm water that is perfect for young ones.
4. “Kiosk Beach” aka Jet Ski Beach located behind the 60 local food kiosks. Lots of people and jet ski traffic and can be a bit dirty.
PLAZA LAS AMERICAS – http://www.plazalasamericas.com/
This is a large, modern three-story mall. Open 9am – 9pm weekdays and Saturdays, 11am – 7pm on Sundays and contains many well known stores. The mall can be reached easily by cab or bus. From the Condado area, take bus B12. The bus stops running around 9pm and the fare is $0.75. Have the exact change.
BACARDI RUM FACTORY TOUR – You can arrange this tour through the ship and pay a premium or you can do it on your own for very little money. Take the ferry from near the OSJ pier across the bay to Catano for $1 pp each way. On arrival, you can catch a cab for the short ride to the Bacardi Rum Factory which will cost around $2pp each way if there are a group of people heading there. You can get your free tour ticket in the gift shop area, along with your coupon for 2 free drinks, and then wait for the start of the next tour. You do not tour the actual distillery. The tour includes a movie of the company’s history, a mock up of the distillery, a chance to smell some of the different rums they make and a demonstration on how to make some rum drinks. The tour ends in the gift shop where you are entitled to 2 free rum drinks. Food for thought: Cruisers who did this tour through the ship say that it is overpriced and not worth the cost that the cruise lines charge.
CAMUY CAVES (Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy) – For more info, see http://www.gotopuertorico.com/caving-puerto-rico.php. The caves are only open Wednesday through Sunday from 8am to 4pm, or until they reach park capacity. It appears that the park only allows a certain number of visitors per day, so it is best to get there early. Entrance fees are $12 for adults and $7 for children (ages 2 – 12). Parking will cost you $3pp. There is generally a wait until your number is called to start your tour so patience is a virtue : - )
BIOLUMINESCENT BAY TOURS – These very unique tours are done at night as that is the prime time to experience the natural phenomenon of microscopic plankton that glow when the water is disturbed. The two most popular locations for this excursion are Fajardo or Vieques Island and you can tour either by boat or by kayak. I have posted the most popular tour operations for each location below. You can also book a tour through the cruise ship, but it will definitely cost you more. This tour is best done around a new moon when there is not a lot of moonlight and it is easier to see the glow from the plankton. Check the moon calendar to see whether the moon phases match well with your vacation time in Puerto Rico : http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/biobay-and-moon/ . Make sure you take bug spray as bugs can sometimes be an issue!!
La Laguna Grande - located in Fajardo, to the north-east of San Juan. Two well-reviewed tour operators are: http://www.bioislandpr.com/ or http://www.kayakingpuertorico.com/ . The pros are that this location is closer to San Juan, less costly than Vieques and the tour takes about 2 hours. On the con side, you do not get the chance to swim with the plankton and visitors who have taken both tours say that Mosquito Bay has way more organisms to be seen.
Mosquito Bay - located on the island of Vieques, off the coast of PR. You can get detailed information here: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/eastwind-vieques-biobay/ and then book here: http://www.eastwindcats.com/pages/powercat_excursion1.html . You will need to scroll down the page to get to the Bio-Bay excursion. The pros of this tour are that you can enjoy a swim among the plankton and that there is less light pollution which enhances the experience even more. The con is that travel time is longer from San Juan and, therefore, requires more of a time commitment.
SEGWAY TOURS - http://www.segwaytourspr.com/ - Tour OSJ on a segway.
TOUR GUIDES
The following guides get excellent reviews on the discussion boards. They both offer a wide variety of tours:
Albert Aguirre – contact at surfcabs@yahoo.com or (787) 317-6907. To get the $50 pp rate, Albert requires a minimum of 6 people. If you don’t have that number, he will approach other cruise passengers until he gets additional passengers for his tour.
Countryside Tours (Victor Balbin) - http://www.countrysidetourspr.com/
Experience the history and culture of this beautiful island!!
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