11 Thrilling Excursions To Try In The Caribbean

xth November 2019

Many people associate the Caribbean with relaxing beaches, endless sunsets and rum cocktails, but this popular cruising region has plenty more to offer if you want it. With the islands boasting some fantastic natural scenery, there are so many ways to get out and explore, and enjoy some thrilling activities in the process.

If you’re looking to swap sunbathing for something a little more fast-paced, we’ve got some great shore excursions for you to consider. Here are just some of the exhilarating adventures you can look forward to when you sail on one of our Caribbean cruises.

Hotwire Pitons Zip Line, Soufriere, Saint Lucia

The skyline of St Lucia is dominated by two peaks known as the Pitons and the Piton Mitan ridge that connects them. Found in the south-west of the island, they overlook the beautiful town of Soufriere, where you can enjoy this exciting adventure. You’ll travel to the Morne Coubaril Estate to embark on a series of zip lines through the tree canopies and over wetlands. As you move from platform to platform, admire the breathtaking views of the peaks and the lush central part of the island, whilst your guide points out some other areas of interest.

Before all that, though, you will learn a bit more about the estate itself and the things produced here. As well as being home to extensive gardens of endemic flora, the plantation makes cassava bread, coconut water, coffee, cocoa and sugar cane products – all of which you can try during your tour.

Sea Riders, Saint George’s, Grenada

Head out along the coastline in a two-person inflatable boat for an afternoon of snorkelling close to Moliniere Point. After a quick introduction to the controls, you’ll pilot the boat yourself on the short journey to the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park. Once you arrive, you can choose to swim, snorkel or dive down to see the submerged statues created by Jason de Caires Taylor.

Mangrove Kayaking, Kralendijk, Bonaire

From Kralendijk, you’ll transfer to Lac Bay to explore the unique mangrove habitat. As you manoeuvre your comfortable craft between, through and around the vegetation, your guide will help you understand more about the animals that live here. You’ll hopefully get to see birds nesting and marine creatures travelling between the mangroves and the open ocean. All the while, your experienced guide will ensure this beautiful national park is left protected and undamaged.

Andicuri Off-Road Adventure, Oranjestad, Aruba

This fast-paced tour will give you the opportunity to see some of Aruba’s most popular sights in an unconventional way. Take the routes less-travelled, as you head off-road in an UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) for a sightseeing adventure around the island. Your guide will lead the convoy but you will drive your own vehicle to attractions like the Pilgrim’s Church, Bushiribana Gold Mill ruins and the stunning California Lighthouse. Be ready to get dusty but to see Aruba like never before.

River Tubing Adventure, Cabrits, Dominica

See the beautiful surroundings of Dominica from an unusual viewpoint by floating down the Layou River in an inflatable ring. With a paddle to propel yourself and the whole river to explore, you can lie back and enjoy the natural sights or build up some speed as you pass through rocky areas and patches of white water. Stop for a moment to take part in the much-loved Dominican pastime of river bathing, before you continue on to refreshments at the end of your journey.

Dark View Falls, Saint Vincent

Dark View Falls, found between Chateaubelair and Richmond, will give you an idea of the volcanic nature of St. Vincent. The rock formations down which the water cascades were created by lava flows in the past, resulting in a spectacular twin falls layout where one is situated above the other. Your guide will take you across the bamboo bridge (or the slightly more stable one further up the path) and then lead you to both the lower falls and the upper falls. The journey to the latter involves a bit more of a hike, but it’s all worth it when you finally get to admire the beauty of this natural attraction.

La Soufrière Volcano Hike, Saint Vincent

For a closer look at Saint Vincent’s volcanic history, take the hike to the top of its most iconic peak, La Soufrière. The journey to the foot of the volcano will take you through banana plantations and coconut groves, as you travel along the windward side of the island and get a feel for life here. The hike involves a climb of around 3,000ft, taking approximately two hours and resulting in jaw-dropping views once you reach the crater’s edge. Various different climate zones exist along the trek, as you walk past tall ferns to reach much smaller vegetation closer to the top.

Funtastic Mountain Bike Adventure, Martinique

If you love an opportunity to get out and explore on two wheels, this exciting activity should be high on your list during a Caribbean cruise. Travelling up and down Martinique’s various hills, you will visit popular sites and learn about the terrain and history of the island. On a round-trip from Grand Anse, the stunning backdrop will be provided by peaks like Morne Larcher and Morne Blanc, as well as Diamond Rock out to sea.

Helmet Diving, Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

If you’ve spent a lot of time gazing out across the water and now you want to discover the world beneath its surface, this is the shore excursion for you. Transfer to Pigeon Island National Park where you will don an innovative breathing helmet that lets you spend an extended period underwater as you walk in, what feels like, zero-gravity conditions. Frolic with the fishes and cavort amongst the coral, before you leave the water and enjoy some free time to look around the park.

Aerial Tram Adventure, Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

Ascend through the rainforest in an open-air cable car, as you admire flora and fauna on the way up and spectacular views of the north of the island when you get to the top. Your knowledgeable guide will point out gommiers, chatanniers, strangler fig trees, nimble hummingbirds and yellow-breasted bananaquits during an extended journey from forest floor to a position overlooking the canopy.

Shaka Buggy Adventure, Antigua

Discover Antigua from behind the wheel of your two-seater buggy on this thrilling off-road experience. Travelling along a purpose-built track for these vehicles, you’ll speed through areas of rainforest, along mountain trails and past the edge of the water at Body Ponds Nature Park. Regular stops will allow you to learn all about the island and there’s even a chance to look down at the Star Clippers ship in the harbour.

If you would like to learn more about the shore excursions available on our Star Clippers cruises, or you would like to book an itinerary that includes some of these thrilling activities, call the team on 0845 200 6145 today. You can also contact us directly through our online chat.