SHORE EXCURSIONS

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
Race through the tree canopy on a series of exhilarating zip lines and then cool off in the Damajagua River as it cascades through the dense jungle terrain. The five ziplines more or less follow the river and offer a wonderfully unique perspective of the tropical landscape, as they span platforms high above the ground. To reach some of the ziplines, you will need to walk across swaying suspension bridges, which definitely add to the excitement. Afterwards, you will follow the guide along a section of the river with a dozen cascades. You will jump off some of the waterfalls into the deep pools below, while other waterfalls are more easily negotiated by sliding down natural waterslides carved in the rocks. You will also have time to swim in the cool, remarkably blue water between the cascades. Over time, the Damajagua has carved steep canyons into the terrain, so you can expect the scenery to be magnificent.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Fly high above the jungle floor on five ziplines and walk across two suspension bridges.
• Follow a guide down the Damajagua River as it cascades through the mountainous jungle.
• Jump off and slide down the waterfalls and swim in the cool pools below the cascades.

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

Snorkel the turquoise waters off Blue Bay Beach and relax however you please on this beautiful stretch of sand. You will likely see an ever-changing parade of marine life, which is just one of the reasons that this is one of Curaçao’s most popular snorkeling sites. You may spot brightly colored queen triggerfish, red-striped squirrelfish and brilliant blue tangs. Spiny lobsters are often seen hiding among the coral reefs and on occasion hawksbill turtles swim by. The biodiversity is spectacular with marine species ranging from large white-spotted eagle rays to the teeniest of sea horses. It will be easy to find a comfortable depth for snorkeling because the sea floor slopes gently from the beach. If you wish to rest while snorkeling, feel free to lounge about the beach and stroll along the shore.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Behold the underwater wonders while snorkeling off Blue Bay Beach.
• Marvel at the marine biodiversity, the schools of colorful fish and perhaps even a sea turtle.
• Relax on Blue Bay Beach as an alternative to snorkeling the entire time.

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

Snorkel into Key West's most popular attraction; the reef and crystal-blue waters surrounding our island paradise. For almost three decades visitors and locals alike have chosen Fury Catamarans to snorkel Key West's nearby reef. Your sailing adventure begins as you board one of Fury's state-of-the-art catamarans, part of the largest and most luxurious catamaran fleet in the Florida Keys. Feel the excitement as you sail to North America's only living coral reef, where the wonders of Mother Nature await you. During your trip, unlimited sodas and water will be served. Complimentary beer and wine are served after snorkeling.

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.

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.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a look at local life by interacting with the fun-loving residents of Monkeyland and by visiting a typical Dominican home. Two families of squirrel monkeys live in the Monkeyland nature reserve, where they spend most of the day in the trees, although not high in the canopy. Unlike other New World monkeys that use their prehensile tails to grasp tree limbs, squirrel monkeys rely on their remarkably human-like hands and powerful feet to hold on. You will see them leaping about the trees, and they will likely come down for you to hand-feed them. If you encourage them, the squirrel monkeys will climb up on your shoulder. They are exceptionally social, highly intelligent and quite vocal as they communicate through dozens of calls such as barks, purrs and squawks. You will also see how many Dominicans live by dropping by a traditional house at Monkeyland for a cup of organic coffee.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Interact up-close with the gregarious squirrel monkeys at Monkeyland.
• Gain an understanding of their social behavior and high intelligence.
• Enjoy a cup of organic coffee in a traditional Dominican home at Monkeyland.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Let loose at the Cumayasa Adventure Park by participating in all sorts of thrilling activities, most of them taking place high above the ground. You will be briefed on how to make the most of your adventures, which include walking across several rope-and-wood suspension bridges. Although you will be harnessed in during the crossings, the bridges typically sway in the wind and with every step, so be prepared for a breathtaking experience. The park also features a course of seven double-cable ziplines, allowing you to fly through the tree canopy for an entire mile. 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. You will also have the opportunity to walk through the park’s Hurricane House, a vertigo-inducing but fun carnival-like attraction that makes you feel like you’re moving even when standing still.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an epic day participating in exhilarating activities at an adventure park.
• Race through the tree canopy on a series of ziplines that stretch over one mile.
• Walk across swaying suspension bridges and through the eerie Hurricane House.
• Marvel at the lush natural surroundings from high above the ground.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Experience the outdoors in unusual ways that bring you much closer to nature. A visit to Monkeyland will literally put you in touch with nature because the resident squirrel monkeys have been trained to eat right out of your hand. Bright-eyed and intelligent, these slender monkeys are exceptionally social creatures and will and climb up on your shoulders, if allowed. You will interact with nature in a more physical way at Damajagua Falls, a series of cascades that you will reach by walking up a jungle-enshrouded river bed. Upon reaching a deep pool at the bottom of one of the remarkably blue cascades, you will be welcome to swim. Or you may opt to simply rest on a boulder along the shore and admire the scenery. The mood will be entirely different once you hop into an ATV-like buggy and race off-road through the countryside. Few experiences are quite so exhilarating.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Interact up-close with the gregarious squirrel monkeys at Monkeyland.
• Walk through the rainforest to a series of waterfalls on the Damajagua River.
• Swim in a pool beneath a waterfall and relax on the surrounding boulders.
• Ride through a jungle-like setting in a buggy designed for off-road adventure.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Maya Lost Mayan Kingdom is an adventure park offering exciting, fun and refreshing activities. There’s something for everyone - waterslides, ziplines, a zip coaster, swimming pool, natural pool, Mayan jungle, a teen-park and more.

Perhaps you'll want to slide straight down on the Kamikaze slide or spin into the hydro-whip slide, you have nine water slides to choose from. Try the inner-tube slide or hop on a mat and speed down the 60 foot slide. Do all nine or one, it’s up to you!

Take flight on one or both zipline courses. You can zip over 3,000 feet for a birds-eye view of the park, surrounding jungle and the Caribbean Sea. Work your way through the rope course and across the suspension bridge. Top it off with the thrill of a lifetime - the Kukulcan Zip Coaster, an 800 foot flight with twists and turns.

Ready for a swim or just want to relax? Head over to the swimming pool or the natural Cenote pool. Grab an inner-tube and take the River Expedition, a lazy river that flows through the Mayan jungle. Let the kids discover the Teen Park, which offers smaller slides.

You’ll be welcomed at the pier for your short bus ride to the park. The park features changing rooms, showers, restrooms and lockers for an additional fee. You can purchase snacks and refreshments at the snack bar and even shop for souvenirs.

OVERVIEW

Fly between Cozumel and mainland Mexico in a helicopter for the ultimate sightseeing experience and explore the Mayan ruins at Tulum after landing. Once you take off, you will soon look down on attractions such as the Punta Sur lighthouse near the island’s southern tip and the adjacent El Cielo sandbar. Not long after crossing Cozumel Channel, you will touch down in Tulum. Although not the largest or most elaborate archaeological site on the Yucatan peninsula, Tulum may be the most beautiful. The Maya built the walled city of Tulum in the 11th century to control maritime commerce, and the city-state’s excavated temples and buildings are spectacular. As you meander about, you will see El Castillo – a cliffside tower that probably served as a landmark for sailors – and the Temple of Frescoes, an observatory used to track the sun’s movements. The building was once painted red and you can still see remnants of that hue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fly high over southern Cozumel and the Riviera Maya coast before landing in Tulum.
• Wander through the ruins of Tulum, a Mayan walled city built in the 11th century.
• Explore excavated buildings such as the temple that the Mayas used as an observatory.
• Enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch at a restaurant in Tulum.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Leaving the Castries harbor in a fully-equipped Bertram Boat, you'll cruise three to four miles off the west coast of St. Lucia from the north to the south of the island. Although the tour is a fishing expedition, there are over 40 different species of whales and dolphins here, and the sighting of one of these species is a possibility. Nevertheless, the main thing on your mind is a catch, and the variety of fish in these waters include marlin, sailfish, king fish, mackerel, jack fish, yellow fin tuna, dorado, wahoo and barracuda.