thrillsofa lifetime

Adventure seekes can get their kicks with a host of fun-filled, adrenaline-pumping activities and excitement in the Caribbean – both on land and at sea

Zoom high above tree canopies, fly down precipitous flume rides, plunge deep in a submarine, go off-roading in a 4x4, swim with sharks and stingrays, abseil, climb, go canyoning, or trek deep into thick rainforests – the Caribbean can satisfy even the most ardent adventurers.

Fly By Wire

With two suspension bridges, three aerial walkways, a tree house and no less than 13 ziplines, ranging in length from 52 feet to 328 feet, the Antigua Rainforest Zipline Tour will take your breath away.

The brave can also take on the world’s steepest zipline. At more than 2,800 feet long, the Flying Dutchman at Rainforest Adventures in St Maarten has four parallel ziplines that feature a 42 per cent incline and drop over 1,000 feet from the island’s highest point, at speeds of over 50mph.

Royal Caribbean guests can launch themselves down the Dragon’s Breath Flight

Line on the cruise company’s Labadee private peninsula, in Haiti. The world’s longest overwater zipline, it ends on a beach.

Park Life

Spring 2023 will see the opening of the first phase of the Dominican Republic’s El Dorado Water Park in Cap Cana. Set to be the largest and most advanced water park in the Caribbean, it will include innovative water rides, a snorkelling canyon and the Caribbean’s largest wave pool.

Another early 2023 debutant in the Dominican Republic, Katmandu Park Punta Cana will be the Caribbean’s first worldclass theme park, featuring thrilling themed rides and attractions. It forms part of a $350 million joint venture between Melia Hotels International and entertainment development company Falcon’s Beyond.

Take a Leap of Faith from the top of the six-storey Mayan Temple at the Aquaventure water park at Atlantis Paradise Island, in The Bahamas. After a 60-foot vertical drop, riders on the water slide speed along a clear acrylic tunnel through a shark-filled lagoon.

tAK e t H e P l UNG e

Atlantis submarines have been operating in Barbados and Aruba for over 30 years, taking groups of 48 passengers, aged four and upwards, on narrated voyages past coral reefs, rock formations and shipwrecks. The tours take around two hours and reach depths of 130-150 feet.

For an even deeper delve, gaze at deep-sea marine life and shipwrecks in a submersible that descends up to 1,000 feet off Curacao’s coast. Substation Curacao began offering submersible tours in 2010 but recently added a new craft giving guests panoramic vistas. Tours last up to two hours and each submersible takes up to five people.

In the Dominican Republic, Scuba Doo Punta Cana gives guests aged 10 and above the opportunity to experience the underwater world nine feet below the surface on subsea scooters.

ON THe rOCkS

Rocky canyons and tumbling rivers make Dominica a playground for canyoning, a sport that sees participants abseil down boulders, slide down waterfalls and jump into deep pools amidst lush rainforest. Rock climbing enthusiasts can scale towering cliffs right on the beach in both Barbados and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. The limestone rocks of Cayman Brac in the Cayman Islands suit beginners and intermediate climbers, with more than 120 routes including some directly over the sea.

Jamaica’s Dunn’s River Falls is a popular and relatively easy climb, after which you can go cliff diving into the river or swing from a rope and jump in.

SeaS THe Day

Soar above the waves flyboarding on water-powered jetpacks in Virgin Gorda and Barbados – an exhilarating experience also known as hydroflying. Barbados also offers great kitesurfing and surfing.

Scuba divers can dive down to 130 feet past underwater stalactites at Belize’s Great Blue Hole, the world’s largest ocean sinkhole, while snorkellers can explore the colourful reef life on its fringes.

Snorkel or dive with curious stingrays at Stingray City, just off Grand Cayman.

The Bahamas is one of the world’s top destinations to see sharks, notably at Tiger Beach off Grand Bahama Island, while you can dive with huge whale sharks near Placencia, Belize.

eXplOre by fOUr wHeelS Or fOUr leGS

Take a guided 4x4 Jeep, buggy or ATV off-road trip in many destinations across the region or rent one yourself to head off through dense forests and across rugged landscapes. Among the best locations are Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and St Maarten.

Alternatively, sit atop a horse as you ride among forested trails and on deserted beaches, and even go swimming on horseback in the Caribbean’s azure waters in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Bonaire, the Dominican Republic and Grand Bahama.

STar TrekS

You will need seven days to trek the entire length of Dominica’s 185km-long Waitukubuli National Trail, the Caribbean’s longest hiking trail. It is made up of 14 sections, which can be tackled individually, some of them extreme.

It will take two or three days to scale the highest peak in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic’s 10,000-foot Pico Duarte, following a 15-mile trail that requires a guide and pack mules.

Alternatively, take the shorter but difficult hike through the rainforest to climb the aptlynamed Mount Scenery, the highest point on the mountainous island of Saba.

You can also tackle some of the region’s other lofty hikes, such as Guadeloupe’s La Soufriere and Mount Pelee, an active volcano on Martinique. •