TAKING PART

St. kittS ride the WaVeS

Learn to surf in a safe and fun environment in the beautiful cerulean waters around the island of St. Kitts. The warm ocean and perfect wave conditions here mean no wetsuit is required, and kids and adults alike are catered for. Ride the waves in a group or private session, ensuring full attention from your fully-qualified instructor and sympathy if you fall off. Sandy Bank Bay is one of the best spots for beginners.

the BViS JuSt potterinG

Recreate an iconic movie moment by getting your hands dirty on a pottery wheel, à la Demi Moore in Ghost. Keen potters can join a local Tortola small-group ceramic artist in the British Virgin Islands, who will guide and instruct you in their small group class. Take a seat and try your hand at crafting your own masterpiece at the potter’s wheel. There are also live demonstrations inside the tropical garden, where the workshop is located, and the chance to purchase pieces from a practicing local artist

trinidad and toBaGo Steel yourSelf

Have a go on a set of iconic steel drums in a two-hour tour and class hosted by Steel Pan Yards Experience in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Taking you through the lively streets of the capital, you’ll see how steelpan drums are played and watch the bands practice live. You’ll also see live calypso performances, enjoy the party strip with several bars and outdoor venues and try the delicious street food. No musical expertise is required and children are welcome to take part too. Afterwards, you’ll be able to tick learning a national instrument off your bucket list (worth your while for the bragging rights alone!).

Grenada Bee curiouS

Experience a day in the life of a beekeeper at Tri-Island Chocolate Farm, Grenada. Budding nature enthusiasts will venture inside a working Grenadian beehive to discover the world of the honeybee, test out the equipment used by a bee-keeper and learn about a typical beekeeping year, followed by light refreshments and honey tasting.

the BahaMaS ruM diarieS

No visit to the Caribbean would be complete without sampling some fine golden rums.

A Rum N Ting mixology class in Nassau will teach you how to make the perfect cocktail using the region’s finest export. An experienced bartender and mixologist will show you how to combine the island’s best flavours, then you’ll have time to taste your creations with fellow cocktail enthusiasts.

St. Vincent and the GrenadineS Get crafty

The Youlou Art Centre is an non-profit, nongovernmental Cultural Centre dedicated to preserving arts and culture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Set up in 1999 by local artist Camille Saunders-Musser, it offers creative art classes, from making sculptures and puppets to singing, book illustratating and poetry writing, for locals and tourists, both children and adults.

There’s also an on-site art gallery and gift shop selling locally-made products, which often make use of recycled materials.

Martinique cook up a StorM

The Martinique In-Home Culinary Experience offers insight into life as a local, with guests welcomed into the home of Martinique residents and invited to join in with prepping the feast. Alongside great home-cooked food and conversation, your hosts will offer travel tips, with a choice of menu and drinks, including ‘planteur’, a Martinican cocktail, or rum. Groups are capped at 10 to keep the experience intimate.

Belize BottoMS up!

You’ve heard of puppy yoga and hot yoga, but what about sunset yoga with wine? A gentle evening flow and meditation session is followed by deep relaxation in savasana pose at Stella’s Sunset Wine Bar in Belize. After the class, participants are offered the chance to sip a glass of red or white wine from across the world, or try the house sangria, while making new friends and sharing stories about their trip.

Saint lucia Bean to Bar

Make your own chocolate during an immersive treat with chocolatier Hotel

Chocolat at Rabot Estate, Saint Lucia. The Tree to Bar experience plunges you into the rainforest for a tour of the cacao groves as you learn how to graft a tree, while the Bean to Bar experience lets you taste cacao pulp from a freshly-cut pod and learn from the experts about what it takes to transform roasted cacao beans into chocolate. Both tours culminate in visitors crafting their very own chocolate bar.

Saint Martin SMell of SucceSS

Make your own perfume or cologne at Tijon in Saint Martin. Create and bottle three scents over 90 minutes, choosing your favourite to take home. Or don a lab coat and pick up your workbook to delve deep with 300 oils in a three-hour class to create and name a signature fragrance. Perfumers will leave with a goodie bag of Tijon products valued up to 45 euros, for you to keep as a sweetsmelling souvenir or for a special gift. •