OVERVIEW

Race through the forested countryside in an open-air, all-terrain buggy and eventually pause to enjoy free time at an isolated beach. Following an orientation and test drive to become familiar with the four-wheel buggy, you will travel caravan-style along the back roads that crisscross the rural landscape that surrounds the village of Cumayasa. You can expect it to be an adrenaline-pumping adventure the entire time, but especially when you drive off the beaten path. It will be even more fun if the terrain is muddy. You will pause briefly at a cave full of eerily illuminated geological formations and tear through a rugged area where caliche mineral deposits are mined. In time, you will arrive at a secluded beach along the Dominican Republic’s southern coast. Feel free to take a refreshing swim in the sea, stroll along the shore or relax in anticipation for the thrilling ride back through the jungle-like interior.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through the beautiful Dominican countryside in an open-air buggy.
• Expect a fun-filled high-energy experience, especially when driving off-road.
• Explore a cave with unusual geological formations.
• Spend free time doing whatever you please at a secluded beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift to the top of the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park and explore yet another enchanting park with a botanical garden, animal sanctuary and waterfall. The views from the Sky Explorer will be absolutely breathtaking, especially since the chairlift is open-air, which allows for unobstructed viewing in every direction. From the summit of the mountain, which rises 700 feet above sea level, you will look out over a dense rainforest all the way to the sparkling Caribbean. The ride down will be just as breathtaking. A different sort of environment awaits you at nearby Konoko Falls. This densely vegetated park includes more than its namesake cascade. You will be free to observe the tropical birds in the mini-zoo, stroll through the lush gardens and browse the small museum, whose exhibits cover topics as diverse as the indigenous Taino Indians and present-day curiosities.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift up and down the forested slopes of Mystic Mountain.
• Gaze out over the natural beauty of the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park.
• Spend free time at Konoko Falls, a tropical park with a cascade, mini-zoo and gardens.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch of traditional Jamaican dishes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover how injured parrots are rehabilitated at the Echo conservation center and then hike through a reforested area looking for yellow-shouldered Amazon parrots. As an introduction to the island’s natural wonders, you will take a circuitous route to the center, driving along the ocean, and on to Goto Lake, where you may spot flamingos. You will delve deeper into the challenges of protecting Bonaire’s birds, especially parrots, when touring the center with a naturalist. It will be inspiring to see how the birds are rescued, rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild. To enhance your experience and understanding of Bonaire’s endangered Amazon parrots, you will follow the naturalist into a replanted section of dry forest looking for these magnificent birds. Chunky and brightly colored, they are easy to identify. The birds are usually seen in pairs that remain monogamous throughout their lives, which typically last about 40 years on Bonaire.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a conservation center that rehabilitates yellow-shouldered Amazon parrots.
• Hike through a replanted forest looking for parrots with a naturalist guide.
• Admire Bonaire’s extraordinary natural beauty on a panoramic drive around the island.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable trekking shoes.

Join us as we explore the region and learn about its history, culture and heritage; drive past quaint villages and fertile plantations on the way to the Pachira Lodge dock where you’ll embark on a cruise to the peaceful Tortuguero Canals a network of natural and man-made waterways; As you cruise the canal in your covered boat, keep your eyes open as you might be able to spot wildlife, such as sloths, howler monkeys, crocodiles and many waterfowl species, participate in a guided walk through the tropical rain forest using a network of above-ground cemented pathways. At the dock, you’ll be served a boxed fruit snack. Afterwards, re-board your transportation for the short drive to the train stop where you’ll depart on an open-air train that made its first trip in 1950 and gave birth to the banana industry. Upon arrival at the stop, you will re-board your transportation and head for a visit to a demonstrative banana and other fruits with a chance to purchase some locally made souvenirs, before heading back to your ship.

OVERVIEW

See Antigua from every possible perspective, beginning with an exhilarating helicopter ride high above the island’s western shore. During the flight, you will enjoy a bird’s-eye view of St. John’s and two 18th-century forts, only one of which saw military action. You will also pass over your cruise ship and several landmark hotels along the waterfront. A scenic drive to the island’s southern shore will bring you to Nelson’s Dockyard, a fully restored 18th-century naval base that is so historically important that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site. Following free time there, you will board a boat for an enlightening 30-minute cruise around English Harbour. The guide will point out and describe the historical highlights and the spectacular coastal rock formations known as the Pillars of Hercules. Back on shore, you will drive to Shirley Heights, a former military lookout and gun battery that still offers magnificent views of English and Falmouth harbour.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fly high above St. John’s and Antigua’s western shore in a helicopter.
• Drive through the island’s picturesque interior to the southern coast of Antigua.
• Spend free time exploring Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Hear enlightening commentary as you cruise around English Harbour.
• Admire the views from atop the lookout at Shirley Heights.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Observe the wonders underwater by swimming with sea turtles and snorkeling before relaxing on one of the island’s most spectacular stretches of sand. Barbados is known for its natural beauty and it extends well beneath the water’s surface. After cruising to a spot teeming with marine life, you will ease into the crystal-clear water for a wondrous experience. You may see enormous leatherback turtles gracefully swimming by and hawksbills, a species of sea turtle named for the shape of its head, which tapers to a point that resembles a raptor’s beak. Reef fish are also abundant as you will discover by snorkeling. You may spot queen angelfish, schools of brightly colored blue tangs and honeycomb cowfish, which are easy to identify by the honeycomb-like pattern on their scales that serves as camouflage. You can also expect to snorkel over a shipwreck before cruising to a lovely tropical beach to relax.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Admire the gorgeous scenery of Barbados while cruising off its southwestern coast.
• Swim with sea turtles such as hawksbills and leatherbacks.
• Observe an endless parade of colorful marine life by snorkeling the crystal-clear waters.
• Spend free time relaxing on one of the island’s most inviting beaches.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience the natural wonders of the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve while ziplining through the tree canopy and hiking along the forest floor. A briefing at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort will prepare you for the adventure that lies ahead and how to make the most of it. You will then soar over nearly a mile of tropical rainforest on a series of zipline cables that stretch high above the ground. Every moment will be exhilarating as each of the 10 ziplines has its own characteristics. Along the way and while pausing on the elevated platforms between the ziplines, you will enjoy a literal bird’s-eye view of the tropical surroundings. Sights include the Panama Canal and the Chagres River. You will see the rainforest from an entirely different perspective while hiking through it with a naturalist guide. Besides learning about flora such as the Holy Ghost Orchid – Panama’s national flower – you may spot wildlife such as white-faced capuchin monkeys.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the thrill of soaring through the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve on a series of 10 ziplines.
• Get a literal bird’s-eye view of the tropical forest, the Panama Canal and the Chagres River.
• Hike through the rainforest with a naturalist guide that will describe the native flora and fauna.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ascend the forested slopes of the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park on the Sky Explorer chairlift and then race through the tropical woodlands at the summit in a sleek bobsled. The chairlift is open-air much like the ones at ski resorts, allowing you unobstructed views of the scenery as you rise high above the rain forest that blankets the mountain. The ride will be exhilarating the entire way, but especially as you approach the top of the peak, which rises 700 feet above the sea. A different sort of thrill awaits you on the bobsled, which resembles the one that Jamaica’s Olympic team famously rode in the 1988 Winter Olympics. You won’t have to do a thing but sit back and enjoy the ride as the bobsled is gravity-driven. The track winds through a narrow chute cut through the trees that twists and turns for more than a half mile. The thrills will be nonstop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift up and down the forested slopes of Mystic Mountain.
• Tear through the rainforest on a bobsled track with countless twists and turns.
• Enjoy the natural beauty of the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch of traditional Jamaican dishes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Relax however you please on three of the most magnificent beaches along the southern coast of Barbados, an experience that will showcase the island’s boundless beauty. The drive to the first beach will immensely fun and present an authentic look at local life as you will ride in a jitney, a colorful bus that is a popular form of public transportation. Before leaving Bridgetown, you will pass the 19th-century Parliament buildings, several notable neighborhoods and one leafy plaza after another. The exact beaches will be chosen the day of the excursion based on water conditions and the expected number of beachgoers. You will be free to enjoy the tropical settings as you like. You might stretch out on a towel and bask in the sun, stroll along the coast without a care in the world and take a refreshing swim in the sea. Shopping and dining on your own will also be options.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Ride a colorful jitney bus through Barbados with the locals.
• Enjoy free time on three different beaches, each with its own personality.
• Swim, bask in the sun, beachcomb and do most anything else you please at the beaches.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Learn to handroll a premium cigar at a factory that has been producing them for decades and sample a selection of rums inspired by the life of Ernest Hemingway. While touring the Hemingway Rum Company distillery, you will discover how the ingredients are sourced and processed to produce a variety of rums that capture the bold spirit of Hemingway. You will then settle in for a tasting of rums, which may include a complex dark one, another finished in a sherry cask and an unusual blonde rum. A short walk will bring you to the family-owned Rodriquez Cigar Factory, the oldest such manufacturer in the Florida Keys. On the eye-opening, behind-the-scenes tour, you will observe the art of hand-rolling a cigar and then try it yourself while enjoying a sample of Cuban coffee. You may be surprised by the skill involved in producing a tightly rolled cigar that burns evenly.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a distillery that produces bold rums that reflect the spirit of Ernest Hemingway.
• Sample a selection of rums with distinctive tasting notes and unexpected finishes.
• Watch skilled artisans hand-roll cigars in a family-owned cigar factory.
• Savor a sample of Cuban coffee while trying your hand at rolling a cigar.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Take a ride to one of the local beaches of Curaçao to cruise to Turtle Bay and snorkel its crystalline waters where sea turtles are frequently spotted. On the way there, the crew will describe the characteristics of Curaçao’s three most commonly seen turtles – loggerheads, hawksbills and green turtles. Although these species are endangered due to factors such as loss of nesting habitat, pollution and poaching, sea turtles are relatively abundant off some of Curaçao’s beaches. Snorkeling near one of these magnificent creatures as it gracefully swims by is an experience that you will not soon forget. The crew will offer instruction on how best to behave in the water when close to a sea turtle. The waters are also teeming with tropical fish, many of them incredibly colorful.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Snorkel the waters off Curaçao and look for loggerheads, hawksbills and green sea turtles.
• Listen to commentary from the crew explaining the threats to these endangered species.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Experience two exhilarating rides at the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park as a warm-up to visiting the natural wonder Dunn’s River Falls. Covered by rainforest, Mystic Mountain rises 700 feet above the sea and the views on the way up are extraordinary. You will ascend on the Sky Explorer, an open-air chair-lift much like the ones used at ski resorts. The higher you ascend, the more thrilling the ride and the more spectacular the views. At the summit, you will hop in a bobsled patterned after the one that Jamaica’s Olympic team rode in the 1988 Winter Olympics. The big difference is that this bobsled follows a twisting track through the dense rainforest. As an alternative to these manmade thrills, you will enjoy an easy but exhilarating climb up gently cascading Dunn’s River Falls, perhaps Jamaica’s most iconic attraction. Pause any time you like to relax in the terraced pools and soak up the tropical scenery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift up and down the forested slopes of Mystic Mountain.
• Tear through the rainforest on a bobsled track with countless twists and turns.
• Climb gently tumbling Dunn’s River Falls and enjoy a refreshing dip along the way.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch of traditional Jamaican dishes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.