EXCURSIONS À TERRE

OVERVIEW

See Cartagena from every perspective imaginable – while walking through Old Town, riding in a convertible car and cruising around Cartagena Bay. The walled city was founded in 1533 and exudes history, especially at landmarks such as the 17th-century San Pedro Cathedral. While strolling through the plaza named for Simon Bolívar – who liberated Latin America from Spanish rule – you will likely see vendors preparing street foods and selling fresh fruits, which you may sample. More architectural treasures will be seen on the car ride as you will enjoy uninterrupted views of this UNESCO World Heritage site. If there are places you still want to see within Old Town, time has been allotted for a bit of independent exploration. You will view the historical downtown from yet another perspective while skirting along the coast in the boat. The bar will be open, music will be playing, and the mood will be wonderfully festive.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the landmarks in Old Town while walking along the cobblestone streets.
• Ride around Old Town in a convertible car that offers uninterrupted views.
• View Old Town from a bay perspective while cruising along the coast in a party boat.
• Toast the experience with cocktails and snacks on the boat.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Interact with southern stingrays on a shallow sandbar and observe an abundance of other marine life by snorkeling a barrier reef off Grand Cayman. A scenic cruise along beautiful Seven Mile Beach will bring you to Stingray City, a collection of sandbars teeming with stingrays. These graceful creatures may look somewhat ominous, but they are docile and shy, often burying most of their flat bodies in the sand. While swimming with the stingrays, you might feed them, run your hands over their sandpaper-like skin or simply allow them to brush by. The stingrays that inhabit this particular sandbar are quite friendly and accustomed to sharing the water with people. After cruising to a nearby reef, you will see many of the other marine creatures that live in the crystal-clear waters. Among the most colorful are queen parrotfish, red-and-white striped squirrelfish and silvery yellow French grunts, whose name refers to the noise they make by grinding their teeth.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit a series of shallow sandbars with so many stingrays that it’s called Stingray City.
• Feed and touch the stingrays or simply watch them from a distance.
• Snorkel a barrier reef and observe the other marine life that lives off Grand Cayman.

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

OVERVIEW

Spend hours luxuriating at Emotions by Hodelpa Playa Dorada, an exclusive waterfront resort with seemingly endless amenities. The all-inclusive day pass will give you access to the entire property, allowing you to focus on the attractions that you find most appealing. You might bask in the sun on a beachside lounger, relax in the shade of a coconut palm, stroll along the gently sloping shoreline and take a refreshing swim in the Caribbean. If you prefer swimming pools to the sea, there are three at the resort and Jacuzzis. You might also enjoy the pool bar and beach bar, two popular venues that are always full of life. The day pass includes a hearty buffet lunch featuring international dishes as well. You will have plenty of time to enjoy this contemporary resort, shopping if you please and simply wandering about without a care in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Luxuriate for hours on end at the beachfront resort Emotions by Hodelpa Playa Dorada.
• Relax as you please, whether swimming in the sea, basking in the sun or strolling the shore.
• Enjoy a buffet lunch of international dishes that are sure to please.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Race through the countryside in a caravan of off-road vehicles on the way to Eco Del Mar, a secluded hotel where you can unwind on the beach. After a briefing to become familiar with the vehicle, you will hop into a 4-person Can Am Maverick dune buggy and either drive or ride along as a passenger. Either way, it will be adrenaline-pumping nonstop fun. The route will take you through a desert landscape, along the coast and into the rugged hills. Stops along the way will enable you to really take in the dramatic changes in scenery. By the time you arrive at Eco Del Mar, you should be ready to relax and enjoy the serenity of the private beach. It will be easy to find your own slice of paradise whether you stretch out on the sand, settle into a beach chair or continue the adventure by paddle boarding.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive a 4-person dune buggy through the countryside or just ride along as a passenger.
• View an ever-changing landscape that includes desert and coastal environments.
• Relax on the private beach at Eco Del Mar, a secluded hotel in a remote location.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

This river tubing adventure is fun, refreshing and scenic. It’s an experience the entire family can participate in and enjoy. It’s a 40-minute boat transfer from Harvest Caye Marina to the mainland of Belize where you will start your adventure by boarding one of our air-conditioned buses at Malacate Pier. Relax and enjoy the approximately 55-minute scenic ride to your rainforest river tubing experience. As the bus turns off the paved highway, you'll embark on a picturesque journey up the mountain on a jungle canopy road. When you start seeing tree ferns, you'll know you're getting close. Upon arrival at the tubing orientation site, you'll find restrooms where you can change if needed. You'll then meet your experienced guides, who will provide you with life jackets—your tubes will be waiting at the starting point. After a safety briefing, you'll re-board the bus for a short ride to the launching point. The mountain spring-fed river is usually crystal clear, except after a shower. As the river winds through the narrow mountain gorge, you'll encounter numerous small rapids, making for a lively and fun-filled journey. You'll be smiling and laughing all the way down the river. At the end of your tubing adventure, your guide and our river rangers will assist you out of your tube. A short walk will bring you to the greeting area, where you can purchase snacks or a cold drink. Remember to bring cash, as this off-grid location does not accept credit cards. After changing back into dry clothes, you'll board the waiting bus and enjoy a relaxing ride back to Malacate Pier. Note: River flow varies with the seasons, being faster during the rainy season and slower in the dry season.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Float down a slow-moving river through a pristine rainforest.
• Admire the ever-changing jungle scenery while listening to the sounds of nature.
• Look for wildlife, especially birds such as the keel-billed toucan, Belize’s national bird.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothes..
• Wear shoes that are appropriate for the water.

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.

You'll be greeted by the staff at the Stingray City dive shop and given a safety briefing before a fun interaction with the rays. Protected by the fringing reef, the calm crystal-clear waters are home to many southern stingrays. You'll be assisted and supervised by the qualified staff into the stingray habitat where you'll be able to play with, pet, and perhaps even feed the stingrays. Entry into the 3-8-foot deep water is an easy step from the large swim platform. Even non-swimmers can enjoy the rays. These amazing animals will surprise you with their gentleness and with the informative briefing you receive, these once-feared ‘beasts’ will find a special new place in your heart and provide you with an unforgettable memory.

Ease down a gently flowing river that empties into a glass-smooth lagoon, a wonderfully scenic setting that will leave you immensely relaxed. The spring-fed Bacalar Lagoon is always crystal-clear and its hues are ever-changing, the reason the pristine waterway is nicknamed the Lagoon of Seven Colors. You will glide down the river in an inflatable tube, as an assistance boat gently pulls the group through the pristine waters of the lagoon, ride that will take you past one spectacular natural sight after another, including mangrove forests full of wildlife. Besides the outstanding scenery and abundant water birds, you will see sheet-like rocks called stromatolites. Some of the world's first forms of life were found in ancient stromatolites and these unusual rocks continue to grow today. Although the river current is light, it will be just enough to carry you downstream leave your tube, let your body float in the river for some minutes, you can swim or just let you go and enjoy the experience, after the lazy river-like floating portion, get back to your tube to enjoy another fun-filled boat pull across the lagoon as you reach the shore. After a while, lunch will be served along the shore, a most satisfying end to a day of adventure.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Water shoes are recommended

Be treated like a VIP at a waterfront resort where you won’t have to lift a finger to enjoy amenities such as a reserved area of the beach, all-inclusive beverages, and different live food stations for guests to choose for lunch. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a wonderfully scenic drive toward the east end of Roatan Island, where you will find the Turquoise Bay Resort. Directly on the ocean with the lush Bonacca Ridge as a backdrop, the resort couldn’t be more picture-perfect. Upon arriving, you will receive a welcome cocktail and an enlightening overview of the property so you can maximize your time here. You will then meander over to an area of the island’s longest private beach that has been reserved for you and your party. It is an extraordinary setting to stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun and take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline. If you prefer shade, thatched-roofed palapas and hammocks dot the white-sand beach. Mid-morning hors d’oeuvres will be served, along with an array of live cooking stations available for lunch. A bar with endless all-inclusive beverages will also be open for your enjoyment. Whenever you need a refill, or most anything else, simply ask one of the waiters standing by.

Your adventure begins with a short transfer to the submarine aboard the shuttle vessel Subseeker. Board the submarine just off the southeast coast of Aruba for a thrilling dive to either the mysteriously sunken airplane or the retired Danish sailboat Mi Dushi I, together with the newly sunken coaster, the Morgenster. You’ll have the opportunity to get an up-close view of exotic marine life while diving to depths of up to 130 feet. Be amazed by colorful schools of tropical fish, huge sponge gardens and the mystical beauty of the coral fields. An educational and entertaining narration from your experienced, professional, and licensed crew will highlight this unique experience. All of this is in air-conditioned comfort and without getting wet!

Glide through the jungle on an Aerial Tram and see the rainforest from the same perspective as the monkeys and birds do. You’ll travel to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort located within the Soberania National Park for your tram adventure.

Your gondola will take you from the shadowy forest floor, through the under story and high into the sun-drenched canopy. Keep an eye out for the monkeys and exotic birds that make their home here. You’ll also have an opportunity to explore the various resort exhibits, including a butterfly farm, aquarium and orchid garden.

Rafting is one of those rare pleasures to experience in Jamaica. The Martha Brae River is blessed with lush banks, sweet air and nature's soothing symphony. Your mode of transportation is a 30 foot bamboo raft with seating for two. A raft captain navigates the meandering river while telling you the tale of Martha Brae, an Amerindian maiden who was tortured by Spanish soldiers to reveal the location of a secret gold mine. While leading her captors to the mystery mine, she summoned magical powers drowning herself and the soldiers. Ponder the legend as your friendly captain poles you downstream for an approximate 90 minute ride. Once at the termination point, you'll board your bus for a sightseeing journey through the town of Falmouth before making a brief stop at the Shoppes at Rose Hall. Your tour concludes with a return sightseeing drive through the port city of Montego Bay to the cruise ship terminal.