SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
GAME ON
GET ACTIVE IN THE SUN
FROM GOLF AND TENNIS TO HIKING AND BIKING THE PARADISE ISLANDS ARE BRIMMING WITH SPORTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GET ACTIVE
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nyone who thinks the Caribbean is just for chillin’ couldn’t be more mistaken! It may be the ultimate beach
destination, but behind the laid-back image lies an awe-inspiring collection of sports and activities to satisfy the most ardent activity fan. If you want to keep your feet dry there is no
shortage of championship golf courses, tennis courts, horse-riding, biking, hiking and eco- adventures to indulge in, but it’s on the water that this region really comes into its own.
FUN IN THE SURF The Caribbean Sea has blessed the region with warm gentle currents and gentle trade winds that make many areas ideal for sailors. Antigua stands out for its near-perfect conditions and the famous Sailing Week every April. The British Virgin Islands are rated as a top spot for beginners with their beautiful views, gentle conditions and good facilities, while the Grenadines offer a challenging alternative for more experienced sailors to explore the tiny islands and deserted cays. The Bahamas is
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another well-known sailing ground, while the French islands of Guadeloupe and St. Martin are noted for good conditions and sailing regattas. Caribbean waters teeming with marine life, bright corals and numerous shipwrecks make them one of the world’s top dive spots, especially around the Bahamas, Bonaire, and the Cayman Islands. Curaçao’s 40 dive areas include an impressive ‘Mushroom Forest on star coral, and Belize’s barrier reef is the longest in the Americas. Tobago is regarded as one of the best dive areas in the southern Caribbean as its waters are fed by the Orinoco River, providing rich nutrients which attract a fascinating array of marine life. There is wall diving off the Turks and Caicos, an underwater volcano, coral gardens and the wreck of the Bianca C cruise ship off Grenada, plus reefs and underwater pinnacles to explore off St. Eustatius and St. Kitts.
Fishermen can land the perfect catch in Caribbean waters with the sea around Jamaica and Bermuda offering a good hunting ground for big game fish. The same can be said for Grenada, the
Bahamas and Barbados, which hold a number of fishing tournaments. Wind-surfing and kite-surfing are becoming increasingly popular on islands such as Barbados and Antigua, while kayaking is a good way to explore coasts and the inland waterways, particularly in Saint Lucia, the Bahamas and Jamaica, which is also famous for its leisurely river rafting. Whale- and dolphin-watching trips are becoming more widespread on islands such as Dominica, the Turks and Caicos and US Virgin Islands. Visitors can also swim with dolphins in Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas, or stingrays in the Cayman Islands and Antigua.
FUN ON DRY LAND The Caribbean holds rich rewards for thrill-seekers looking for adventure with off-road safaris, rainforest treks and zip-wire tours mainly on larger, more mountainous islands like Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Walkers can stride out across jungle-covered volcanoes on Guadeloupe, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts
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