18 ESCAPE TO THE CARIBBEAN


Continued from page 16... Aruba Aruba is the underdog of the Caribbean, offering all those who visit the perfect paradise in order to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and reconnect with those who matter most. Bathed in the warmth of a turquoise sea and cooled by trade winds, Aruba is the happy home to constant sunshine and powdery-soft white-sand beaches. However, Aruba is not to be underestimated as just a beach location. The island comes alive with sights, sounds and culinary delights found that can be found on no other Caribbean island. With the locals eager to welcome and embrace you. With surprising natural wonders to explore, and countless ways to relax, indulge your wild side and find happiness, the only problem with Aruba is that you’ll never want to leave.


Located within walking distance of the Palm Beach resorts, just in front of Aruba’s historical Old Dutch Windmill stands The Bubali Bird Sanctuary. A sanctuary that offers travellers a unique bird-watching opportunity. This location is perfect for families and avid bird-watchers. As birds unique to the Caribbean swoop overhead. Climb to the top of the Bubali Observation tower to catch a glimpse of these wonderful creatures putting on a show. Travellers are advised to bring their camera on this excursion as the sights and scenes in the Bubali are unmatched, with a spectacular view of Aruba from the sanctuary’s observation tower. Catching a glimpse of these fantastic birds in their natural habitat makes the trip to the sanctuary well worth the journey, as birds of all colours, shapes and wingspans take to the skies. Bringing travellers closer to nature than ever before.


Named after the British Captain Rodgers, who


opened Aruba’s first oil refinery in San Nicolas. Rodger’s Beach sits as an authentic part of Aruba’s coastline. Rodger’s Beach is a narrow powdery white coastline close to the famous Baby Beach. However, Rodger’s Beach offers travellers a rustic feel to it as fishermen anchor their colourful boats along it’s bay, protected by the calm and tranquil waters of Aruba. Rodger’s Bay offers a luxurious spot for visitors to relax and unwind, either with a dip in the ocean or lounging on shore with a good book. Rodger’s Beach is the perfect place to stay away from the crowds that flock to Aruba’s most notable beaches, Palm Beach and Baby Beach, and can act as the perfect spot to bring the family if you prefer a more relaxed setting. The ideal time to visit the sandy shores of Rodger’s Beach is during the week, as with the lack of crowds and peaceful waves, travellers are sure to experience the most refreshing and invigorating beach day that the Caribbean has to offer.


However, if you fancy an exhilarating beach outing. Baby Beach in Aruba is the place for you. Aruba’s most notable beach for its crystal clear waters, sandy shores, and range of aquatic activities. The shallow waters make it a prime beach destination extremely family-friend and appeal to swimmers who like to wade out for a long distance and still touch the sea bottom. Baby Beach also offers the perfect location for snorkelling, kayaking and many other loved beach activities.


Aruba’s nightlife is deemed one of the Caribbean’s best. With glamorous beachfront lounges, exciting casinos and lively clubs, Aruba makes it easy for tourists to sip cocktails, share stories, dance and play until the warm Caribbean sun rises once again. Tourists are invited to jump into the seaside bars where the Caribbean meets the coast in Oranjestad. There is something for everyone…whether a relaxing evening on a pier under the stars tickles your fancy or donning your dancing shoes into the wee hours of the morning. Aruba nightlife takes place in many areas, and there is something for everyone.


Aruba’s vibrant night-life means that travellers will make unforgettable memories as the sun sets.


Waves crash ashore on a beach in the Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Dominican Republic


Known for their warm and hospitable nature, the Dominican Republic is a Caribbean destination like no- other. With scenes of astounding nature, a deep and rich history along with a vast culture. The second largest and most diverse Caribbean country, the area is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea on the south. The Dominican Republic paradise is home to almost 1,000 miles of coastline. There is a range of different cultural activities for tourists to embrace, such as the pulse-pounding thrill of the merengue, the relics that run deep in the Dominican Republic’s history. Along with the delicious Dominican gastronomy and exceptional ecotourism in the form of national parks, mountain ranges and beaches.


Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is the quintessential water, sun, and sand escape for many travellers. With plenty of beaches to rest and relax upon by the sea. However, it’s not only about relaxing on the warm sand or basking in the sun, or the clear water to dip in. Punta Cana is also a golfer’s paradise, with 10 courses located all along the strip, there is plenty of opportunities for golf-lovers to go for a round of golf in the warm Caribbean sun . Punta Cana is an indulgent seaside escape with marinas to walk around and fine dining to enjoy, along with a tranquil wellness corner that is home to the Dominican Republic’s top spas. Fancy yourself to be a daredevil? Punta Cana is


home to the very first zip-line built in the Dominican Republic, built to suit to any skill level. Travellers who are just seeking a holiday thrill are suited to head to the beginner zip-lines or take their chances on one of the intermediate levels. The perfect place for those seeking an adrenaline rush is the Runners Adventures’ 18-Platform course boasts 12 zipline runs, including one of the longest in the Dominican Republic. With an expert guide, that offer travellers exceptional training and gear preparation, travellers will take to the heights of up to 800 metres above the lush jungle canopy of the Anamya mountains. Travellers are given the option of riding solo or alongside a partner. A half-day adventure often takes people zipping above the Anamya jungle, on a double zipline up to a total of 1,310 meters in length, Soaring past the gigantic trees, this forest adventure is sure to the one of the most invigorating parts of your travels. For even more of an adrenaline rush why not try the Extreme Swing Adventure, which takes travellers flying like super-man at 200 feet high at speeds of 65 kilometres an hour. On the journey across, travellers will cross hanging bridges and enjoy a hiking trip long a range of park’s native botanical scenery. This excursion is sure to raise the hairs of even the most adventurous of people.


Those who love the game of golf will be at home in the Dominican Republic, the island is home to some of the most established golf-courses with a terrain that include serene lakes and swaying palm trees. Beginners and intermediate players can continually improve and have fun in the player-friendly environment that the Dominican Republic provides. Trademark features at Cocotal Golf Club include strategically placed trees, bunkers, mounds, and gently curving terrain with wide fairways. The four sets of tees on the Hibiscus and Bougainvillea nines (three tees on Benjamina) provide low-handicap golfers with a challenging layout, making for an all more impressive game of golf. Enjoy a day trip


to the world-famous, Bávaro The Caribbean’s Famous Flamingos


Beach which is ranted as one of the longest, and most continuous white sand beaches in the Caribbean. Extending over thirty miles and surrounded by coral


March 2022 Travel News Turks and Caicos


reefs, the beach is the most developed section of the Punta Cana resort area. Many beachfront resorts, restaurants and gift shops line up along the Bavaro Beach, inviting tourists in to take a snoop around the trinkets and homemade items of the Dominican Republic. A day trip to the beach is the perfect time to indulge in some relaxation but also some retail therapy for trinkets and gifts to remember your trip to the Beautiful Caribbean Island of the Dominican Republic. The entire stretch of Bavaro Beach is walkable and


thanks to its tranquil, crystal clear water, water-sports and activities are easier than ever to partake in. There are a range of different activities to enjoy including parasailing, riding speedboats or sailing on a catamaran. Or if you are seeking a more individual view of the Dominican Republic’s expanse of coastline, why not go out on a jet-ski? The perfect way to see the sights of the city while also making memories. Nestled away inside Scape Park, Hoyo Azul


stands in the Cap Cana area, this cenote offers a refreshing and secluded swim in natural, cool spring waters. Surrounded in lush rainforest, Hoyo Azul, is


approximately 14 meters in depth. This cenote sits


at the foot of a 75-meter tall limestone cliff covered in vegetation. You’ll have to cross a suspension bridge and hike past a myriad of flora and fauna, including an orchid garden, to make your way to this hidden oasis. Make sure leap into the tempting turquoise waters, or use the steps to enter this paradisiacal, natural pool. But this is sure to be a secluded and relaxing endeavour as you gaze upon the beautiful cliff while relaxing in the cenote’s natural spring waters.


How often do you get to step into the home of a 16th century Spanish explorer? Juan Ponce de León’s residence continues to stand in the southeastern town of San Rafael de Yuma, close to Higüey, where he lived before heading out into the seas to conquer neighbouring Puerto Rico, and later head to Florida. The stone building was turned into a museum, sitting in the middle of a verdant yard. Visitors can tour the interior to see a few preserved household items and artefacts, including 16th century furniture. History buffs will appreciate this pit-stop on the way to or from Punta Cana. Cap Cana by night offers a sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance away from the nightclubs. Cap Cana Harbour & Marina is home to Riva, an old world glamour lounge offering cocktails and classical music. In Ciudad Las Canas, Pvblic Bar is a favourite for cocktails and live music. Near Juanillo beach, Sanctuary Town offers guests a night filled with options, boasting nine bistros and bars, including a traditional English pub. The cigar clubs and tapas lounges in this area rank among the most upscale in the DR, and you’ll find additional over- the-water hotel bars with panoramic sea views, open to the public. Cap Cana offers locals and tourists a dynamic nightlife with it’s host of restaurants, lounges and bars. Founded in 1992, Don Lucas Cigars remains one of the highest quality, small-scale hand rolled cigar makers in the Dominican Republic. The store which is located in downtown Punta Cana’s Mundo Auténtico shopping complex, offers free tours to travellers who are willing to learn more about the process of creating such high- quality cigars. Head to the small factory, where visitors can watch and learn the hand rolling process, before tasting a puro of your choosing. Don Lucas’ cigars have won multiple awards over the years. This on-site shop in the Dominican Republic is the ideal place to pick up a box to take home.


Turks and Caicos crystalline turquoise waters and white sand beaches are trademarks to the over forty islands and cays that make up the archipelago. Considered the World’s best kept secret, the Turks and Caicos are an easy escape – with an ease of connectivity from Miami, New York, Toronto or London. Each island and cay in the archipelago is a destination in its own merit. The island welcomes visitors to enjoy their pristine and inviting beaches, to achieve ultimate relaxation by indulging in their world class spa treatments. Travellers can also taste the delectable dining in paradise and revel in the culture and local traditions that encompass Turks and Caicos. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Grand Turk by kayaking to Madison point or choose to explore the coast on foot. Or opt to take in the beauty and tranquility of nature as you paddle your two-person glass bottom kayak through gentle, shallow waters surrounded by mangroves. A kayaking excursion will allow you to explore small coves and learn about the importance of mangroves. Learn more about the various plants, birds and vast wildlife of Turks and Caicos. The clean bottom kayak will allow you to see witness all the marine life that lives in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Or why not take a stroll along the coastline, taking in the vast beauty and peaceful surroundings of Turks and Caicos. While the Caribbean does not seem like the ideal shopping location, Turks and Caicos has markets that carry a range of different trinkets and items for purchase. One of the most notable market-places on Turks and Caicos is Paradise Arts. Located in the heart of Grace Bay in Providenciales at Unit#17 Saltmills. The Paradise Arts host a variety of local artists, that encompasses the essence of Turks and Caicos. All the pieces in Paradise Arts are locally made, making any purchase made in the store much more significant. With coveted hand-thrown ceramics of Brenda Ludington to carved shells by Stanford Handfield and the stamped silver jewellery of Atelys Adrian, to sample just a few. Artists from around the world flock to the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the intention of selling produce in Paradise Arts is proud to feature the works of those who now call these islands their home. We have a diverse representation of artists that use many different mediums, including ceramics, oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, photography, prints, jewellery, and various other crafts, such as salts, soaps, needlepoint and basket weaving. Be sure to make a purchase from the market in order to take a piece of Turks and Caicos back to your own corner of the world.


Turks and Caicos invites Grand Turk residents and visitors to enjoy a world-class wellness and spa experience at OceanScapes Spa. Regardless of if you are a long time-resident, newly arrived local, be here for a first rate dive experience. OceanScapes Spa offers a range of charming island hospitality to enjoy. Or if you’d prefer to simply laze on the beach where your footprints may be the only ones in the sand, OceanScapes Spa is the perfect place to go.


With a range of treatments that derive from the vast botanical life on the island, and some of Turks and Caicos most invigorating massage treatments. Whatever your reason for being here, we invite you to relax and let our professionally trained and licensed therapists take you on an unforgettable island retreat. Using only the best spa materials, derived from local produce, which is filled with antioxidants and additional health benefits. With their own section of the beach, those who attend the Spa can make use of their secluded area along the coast to enjoy a sense of true relaxation. What could be better than sipping a cocktail on one of Turks and Caicos most beautiful beaches? Those who attend OceanScapes Spa are guaranteed to leave feeling like a whole new person. After all, where could be better for a much-needed sunshine escape?


The Coastline of Turks and Caicos


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