Caribbean Writing Today

Each Caribbean country has many pretty beaches. For those travelers who want a bit more adventure here are a few of the best ecotourism activities.

Barbados: Wildlife Reserve This 4-acre paradise was originally founded in 1982 to preserve and study Green Monkeys, which were brought to the island in the 17th century. Today the popular primates are just one of many species that roam freely around the reserve, including Red Brockets (a South American deer), Patagonian Maras (a short-eared hare from Argentina), Cuban Rock Iguanas and Red-Footed Tortoises. Your entry fee also grants you admission to the Grenade Hall Forest & Signal Station, an adjoining attraction that affords amazing views of the island’s landscape. With the closing of the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary back in 2008, the Barbados Wildlife Reserve has emerged as one of the island’s most relaxing natural retreats.

Bahamas: Get Close to Nature Named for renowned Freeport-based philanthropist James H. Rand, the Rand Nature Center is a 100-acre sanctuary designed to preserve the natural habitat of Grand Bahama Island for future generations. Though located mere minutes from downtown Freeport, the center boasts a bevy of flora and fauna that should appeal to nature lovers of all stripes. But bird-watching enthusiasts are in for a special treat, as the Center’s pond frequently attracts Antillean Peewee birds, Red-legged Thrushes, Stripe-headed Tanagers, the endangered Bahama Parrot, an occasional Kirtland39s Warbler and the prized West Indian flamingos, the national bird of the Bahamas.

Dominican Republic, (North Coast): 27 Waterfalls The 27 Waterfalls tour offered by Iguana Mama is endorsed by the National Geographic Adventure. The extreme tour takes you deep into the heart of the Dominican jungle and up a series of waterfalls that vary in difficulty from easy to “Are you frickin’ KIDDING me?!” Of course, the fun part is coming back down: Hiking, shooting down natural rock water slides, and leaping over 20 feet from narrow ledges into shallow pools surrounded on all sides by rocky cliffs, the descent is the definition of an adrenaline rush.

St. Kitts: Windward Coast Rainforest Hike Led by a 5th generation islander, Greg’s Safaris takes you off the beaten path via 44 safari vehicle and into the wild, mountainous heart of St. Kitts, which is protected as a national park. Past hilly farmland and into the jungle, you’ll spot hummingbirds, butterflies, crazy tropical flowers (including one that curled its leaves if touched), amazing trees and picturesque waterfalls along the way.

Curacao: Dive at the Dolphin Academy Located at the Curacao Sea Aquarium, this facility is one of only three in the entire world that allows visitors to swim with our fine-flippered friends in the open water, petting, playing with and riding on Bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment. Their up-close Animal Encounters give snorkelers and scuba divers an incredible opportunity to interact with dolphins and hand-feed a variety of sharks (thankfully, through a hole in a Plexiglas window), stingrays, turtles and tropical fish. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime underwater experience.

Jamaica: Go Under the Sea Located on Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay, Chukka’s Sea Trek Adventure allows you to explore the wonderful world under the caribbean Sea without even getting your hair wet! Guests are fitted with a space-age helmet that sits on their shoulders and allows for underwater breathing; you can wear prescription glasses underneath, and don’t even need to be able to swim. Lowered to the bottom of the sea, guides lead visitors on a tour of dazzling marine life in their natural habitat among the coral reefs, making for an impressive undersea experience everyone in the family can enjoy.

Bret Love is the co-founder/Editor-In-Chief of Green Global Travel, a web-based magazine highlighting Ecotourism, Green tips, Eco-News, Indigenous Culture and Conservation. As a experienced freelance travel writer his work has appeared in more than 50 national and international publications. You can get a free wildlife photo calendar, for a limited time, by going to Green Global Travel