3 Unforgettable Ways to Spend Your Caribbean Vacation

While it’s really a matter of opinion what comprises the best attractions in the Caribbean, the fact is that so many exciting options exist. Guests only have to leave the confines of their luxury hotels (Caribbean packages often cover everything, including accommodation) to discover for themselves what makes the region tick. Here are some of the many reasons people return with a smile on their face.

Swim With the Turtles

Aside from its awesome beaches, wonderful accommodation and friendly locals, Barbados has another great thing going for it: turtles! These lovely creatures are a major draw for visitors. Some even go the extra mile to don snorkelling gear and get up close and personal with these delightful sea animals – and we’re not talking about your garden variety turtles here, but the giant, majestic species endemic to the region. Those who have experienced swimming with these creatures often describe the moment as ‘life-changing’. Unsurprisingly, despite their size, these giant turtles are actually very gentle and deeply endearing.

Befriend Stingrays

Stingrays are not exactly the first creatures that flash in to your mind when somebody mentions the topic of ‘befriending’ wild animals! After all, stingrays exude an unmistakable air of ferocious mystery. Yet, in the Grand Cayman, you and the whole family can take a day trip from your luxury hotels (Caribbean accommodations tend to pamper their guests, so leaving can be a challenge!) with short boat ride to a well-known sandbar where a school of stingrays live. Fortunately, the stingrays here have become used to the presence of humans and they will actually interact with you. One only needs to get in the waist-deep water and these majestic creatures will glide by - as if saying "don’t worry, you’re welcome here". It’s an experience that people of any age will appreciate.

Zipline Over Forests

You may have heard a lot about ziplines—many locations around the globe have found a place in which to attach a sturdy line from point A to point B and charge people for the experience of zipping down the wire. But your experience ziplining over rainforests brimming with astonishing biodiversity is another thing altogether. That’s what awaits you in Costa Rica, on an excursion within easy access of your luxury hotels. Caribbean rainforests are particularly lush and this zipline experience will truly test your mettle and your passion for adventure. Visitors climb a hundred feet up a tall tree (first-timers often swear it feels more like a thousand feet), then a trained guide hooks your carefully designed harness to a wire, after which you’ll simply launch yourself off the platform! What follows is the experience of a lifetime; if you’ve ever fantasised about flying through the air, this lengthy zipline should be the next best thing.

Olivia Chetham works for the Essential Hotel Collection. For a stay in romantic luxury hotels, Caribbean venues can't be beaten. We have a handpicked portfolio of privately owned hotels offering superb accommodation. We have an intimate knowledge of every property and can provide the perfect accommodation to make your island dreams a reality.