Things to see and do Caraïbes

On the heights of Camrose, 15 minutes from the city, this garden-gallery where art is in communion with nature has been shaped in the rock by the strength of the wrist for years, a real wonder. A garden of Eden maintained by Ras, his wife Tamika and their son Ayale covered with a multitude of plants and flowers. Hummingbirds have taken up residence there. The path is amazing and the works of the artist fascinating. On site: a Juice bar. The generosity of the hosts will remain an unforgettable memory. If the price can be dissuasive, it is worth the candle.

The Rastafari Indigenous Village has been in existence for about ten years. Its community brought it to life through a generous sharing of land from an open-minded neighbor. The visit is a real cultural and initiatory rejuvenation for those who wish to discover the Rastafari precepts. This movement is based on the principles of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and identifies the last Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, as the Negus, the king of kings, lord of lords, lion of the tribe of Judas. The welcome is sincere and warm and the lesson of life amazing. It is an opportunity to discover the Ion Station community, which is well anchored in its values, and yet lives with the times. Philosophy, lifestyle, education, culture, music, ganja, after a brief historical point, your guide will explain everything to you without any language, by making the tour of the village. You will also discover the basics of i-tal cuisine, the vegetarian Rasta cuisine (while enjoying a snack). You will end up with a moment of musical sharing where you will not only be a spectator. A souvenir store, composed only of handicrafts made by the community, will be a must before heading back to the road. Please note that it is forbidden to photograph the members of the community alone. It is also possible to stay there for a few nights, if the visit was a revelation or if you wish to know more, to live more, but it is not cheap.

The Montego Bay Cultural Center houses the National Museum West and the National Gallery West. It is located in the heart of Downtown. With its permanent and temporary exhibits, it provides an informed view of the country's central cultural and historical themes. From the Tainos to the Spanish and British colonization to modern Jamaica, the structure traces its history. The part on the birth of the Rasta communities is very well highlighted.

Josette Nicole is what we call an orchid collector. Over the past twenty years, she has transformed her garden at Le François into a veritable orchid paradise. There are thousands of specimens, with a hundred or so varieties, rare and less rare, that Josette has brought back from her travels or from exchanges with other collectors of the Ionopsis Club association, which brings together orchid enthusiasts on the island. To take care of her little protégés, she has two greenhouses, treatment rooms and potting rooms to multiply them.

With over 1,500 varieties of various plants, this nursery is the largest on the island. You'll find everything from fruit trees and citrus fruits to green, flowering, aromatic, aquatic, fat and pollution-removing plants and cacti. Plants are sold in pots to both professional and private customers. If you have any questions, our team of specialists is on hand to help you plant and care for your plant progeny.

For more than twenty years, Dominique Petit has been loud and clear: this is not a zoo! In this 3,000 m² farm that she has transformed into an educational farm, this committed farmer houses pigs, ponies, donkeys, sheep, rabbits, as well as a poultry hotel! Her objective: to make visitors discover what farms can offer and let them experiment. Visits include feeding the animals with cuddling and petting sessions, gardening and planting workshops, with a focus on environmental protection.

Frank, a multilingual Swiss Romansh speaker, offers personalized tours in very small groups. A lover of Samaná who has lived here for eight years, his tours reflect his love of the region. He offers original tours. On the program: camping on the beach and boat trip, meeting the locals, information on the local flora and fauna. Suitable for groups of friends who want to share a unique experience. See the "Intimate Samaná" tour, a cultural outing that presents the history of the peninsula's city centers.

The island owes its name to the many Spanish galleons who have sunk into its waters. A dive site, the Wrecker's Reef, reminds visitors that the galleons are still there.

As with all national parks, access to Parque Nacional del Este (or Parque Nacional Cotubanamá) requires authorization from the General Directorate of Parks in Santo Domingo (if you are going alone, bring a motorcycle or a 4x4, as the trail is in poor condition). It is also possible to get there by participating in a tour organized by an association or an agency like Padre Nuestro. The latter organizes guided tours of 2 hours to discover the national park: its tropical forest, its butterflies, its birds and its caves.

It's a spectacular and tiny piece of terrain planted with multiple minéralogiques and signs of all kinds, which don't lack a certain poetry. Attention is drawn to the fact that for any photograph, a 50 cent fee must be paid to the church; Unfortunately, you don't know where to leave the bet.

A short but sporty hike… It starts on the small path that goes along the water treatment plant on the right. After a steep descent, you will cross a dark tunnel and will reach in twenty minutes a first waterfall. After crossing the river and following a narrow path, you will then reach a second crystal clear waterfall (another 20 minutes walk). Don't forget your bathing suit, a flashlight and especially your picnic! Not recommended for children under 8 years old because some passages are very steep.

Denis settled in the Bahamas in the 1960 s to teach art, he was a recognized artist. He has made several ceramic mural frescoes to decorate official buildings. He works in this workshop to fine miniatures of ceramics that reproduce the traditional houses of the islands. It also creates ceramics, for table and decoration, representing précolombiens objects, characters of the Junkanoo. The creations presented can be purchased on site. 

Sit back and relax in complete safety at a depth of 1.80 m aboard a semi-submersible vessel, a comfortable, air-conditioned underwater observatory. This vessel, which resembles a real submarine, does not descend below the surface, but offers an unforgettable spectacle. A breathtaking view of the local aquatic world, the fauna and flora of the famous "La Pared" (coral reef) and Catalina Island. You'll also discover the wreck of Captain Kidd's famous pirate galleon 'Cara Merchant', sunk in 1699, with its many cannons and anchors...

This beautiful and large beach located at 7 km from Samana, languishing on the north coast, has always escaped the flood of tourists. Yet, it is very easily accessible. The road is indeed paved along its entire length since spring 2018. The sight is breathtaking when you arrive at the beach, a paradise of golden sand and crystal clear shores. If you go up to the left of the beach, you will come across a small river flowing into the sea. Take a picnic if you want to isolate yourself at the end of the beach. It is deserted.

Very beautiful and long sandy beach, surrounded by a huge palm grove. Children are still there and will be happy to climb to coconut trees to catch a nut and prepare it. The juice is very nourishing and the flesh translucent, nothing to see with the same fruit when they arrive in France! Beware the sun strong on the white sand, fortunately there is a lot of shade under the trees and bushes. And even for cars!

A refreshing waterfall flows into a pretty basin. In a word, an ideal place to relax. Hikers will take about a-hour walk to reach the fall. 30 minutes by car.

Superb sandy beaches accessible by boat. Find out about the port.

One of the great properties of Apricots is its long sandy beach nestled in a paradise cove. The water is calm and hot. The vegetation of the village - where coconut and almond no longer count! - seems to stop in his race by the expanse of sand and the sea. 

On Dame Marie Beach of the canoes will take you to the îlets of Lahaie, for a afternoon of bathing and rest.

In the east of Anse-d'Hainault, a road that is more or less connected leads directly to natural hot springs, where it is possible to swim at certain times of the year.

At Jacmel, the black sand beach extending from the wharf (wharf) to the mouth is not very attractive. Water purity is altered by the discharge of the sewers and, during the rainy season, by the mud that the river raises.

One of the main points of Belle-Anse is its beautiful beach of Lagan, almost deserted and wild, surrounded by palm trees. If you have your surfing board under your arm, this is the ideal spot!

The Saltworks is located on the eastern coast of Jacmel Bay. You can go on foot or by car along the cemetery. It is a charming small little beach, if not by a handful of fishermen - the odd coloured boats present are witness to it - with little substance. Ideal for cooling and laisser children (with shoes, to avoid unfortunate encounters with sea urchins, especially near rocks). A small bar is open from time to time. In the summer, concerts are organised on this small shore. This is the closest beach to Jacmel's centre. The Cap Lamandou Hotel overlooks the hotel.

Beautiful waterfall in a beautiful corner. But beware! You have to have a good car to go because the road is really bad.

A natural aquarium created off the beach and the brainchild of Japanese biologist Kaio Morita, who created this aquatic garden using rocks and succeeded in attracting a wealth of underwater fauna, with a view to protecting the region's marine fauna. The snorkelling trip is therefore particularly rewarding! From the beach, boats take you to the aquatic reserve. Equipment can be borrowed on site. The trip takes about two hours. A fun outing.

In the mountains of the Sierra de los Organos, the national park (declared as such in the 1960s) of La Guira spreads its 22,000 hectares of forests, streams, lakes, Japanese, English and Cuban gardens. Manuel Cortina, a wealthy landowner, had his beautiful country house, the Hacienda Cortina, built there before the Revolution. From the top of the hill, the panorama of this region, known for its great variety of flora and fauna, is wonderful.

Camp Louise beach, also named Saint-Michel Beach, is exposed to the winds and consists of black sand. Partly arranged - a restaurant as well as a few sea-side gargotes offering mixed fish and grilled fish are open on weekends - it retains a very valuable wilderness.

To get there, we will take the national highway 1. Halfway between northern plain and Limbé, turn right before the road begins a curve on the left. Then borrow a runway in the ground (hard time in rainy weather) and then cross a very varied countryside (just twenty minutes). 

2 km hike with 150 m ascent. A beautiful Way of the Cross to discover. The climb is steep and the ground can be wet and slippery, but the walk is magnificent. Chinese cabbages, beacon trees and bamboos line the route. At the highest point, you'll discover a small red-and-white chapel and a splendid panorama opening onto southeastern Martinique, from La Caravelle to Sainte-Anne. You can return by the same route or along the eastern flank to the Ensfelder district (but in this case, it's better to have a second car).

Despite a large population of more than 17,000 inhabitants spread over 4,329 hectares, Saint-Joseph remains an authentic place representative of deep Martinique. The wild beauty of its natural sites makes Saint-Joseph a true haven of peace and a nice starting point for multiple walks around: forests with rare species, rivers, and gardens with varied flowers, incomparable show of a luxuriant vegetation crossed by magnificent rivers. The tourist office will be able to show you the most important itineraries.

This tiny islet is located north of the Abacos archipelago. Considered a fishing and diving paradise, it hardly contains an airstrip and a 75-slot marina offering all services to recreational boaters. The north coast offers a rich fishing area where blue géants and blue fishes abound.

Diving Sites near Walker's Cay

The pirate cathedral. A large underwater cave off Walker's Cay. Lines, colonies of parrot fish and groupers are met.

Tiger Beach. This is the high place for the great sharks: tiger, hammer, lemon…. For lovers of strong emotions.

Shark Canyon. The site, located 27 m deep, houses sharks sleeping from different species.

Spiral Cavern. The site, at 13,5 m, consists of a collection of caves populated with tiny fish that roam in the heart of large coral colonies.

Barracuda Alley. During this dive, you will meet Charlie, a tamed barracuda that is 1,80 m long, which is in superb coral training at 13,5 m depth.

To leave the car in front of the church and to win the beach where the pilgrims go massively on 6 September to celebrate the Sainte-Mbavu - a bus bearing this name, transports the passengers from Cape Town that Day. On the right of the beach, in marshland, appears a powder keg built in 1683.

On this island, there are vestiges of English ships and ruins of Catholic churches dating back more than three centuries. 

Christopher Columbus used to ride with his beautiful Indian. He called him Amiga. This tiny island is composed in its center of a virgin forest surrounded by a white sand beach, crystal clear water and corals. The dream especially for lovers who will find the summum of exotic romanticism here. Gaia Tours agency offers excursions on island to Rat (or Ara Island).

In the centre of the bay, we see the Îlet Bayau, which served as a point of retreat to the buccaneers of previous centuries.

Ibo Beach is a famous Cabaret beach nestled in the hollow of a large bay. The water is turquoise and extends with sight, flat and glittering. Near Port-au-Prince, it is obviously very busy. Scuba diving reserves great surprises because of the exceptional transparency of the water and the diversity of its corals. Also possible to make sailing.

It is said that most of the presidents are attending a ceremony to seek protection from the Loas of lakou at the beginning of the mandate. A very mystical site where a white river and a black river separate under a 2-head palm tree. We celebrate on December 31.

If bathing and bathing are not enough, here you can enjoy the joys of the body board, a sport accessible to everyone, without training.

A kite spot that starts to emulate. Julien, the Boukan Guinguette, has been asked to hire equipment or even take courses.

By boat, we reach this beautiful bay from the port of Belle-Anse. The excursion is worth it, the place is magical.

Moving in towards the sea, Cap Macré is bordered along its entire length by two very pretty beaches (to the north, Anse Grosse Roche) which meet at the end of the Cape.

Several hikes with beautiful beaches are located between Le Marin and Sainte-Anne.

From Le Marin, follow the direction of Sainte-Anne and then, at the traffic circle, turn left towards Cap Macré, in front of the residence Cap Evasion, renting furnished apartments by the month or by the week. The road, bordered by gentle hills with southern vegetation, is ideal for cyclists and hikers alike. A fork invites you to choose between Grand-Macabou on the left (stop at the pretty viewpoint on the sea a little further) and Cap Macré on the right. Cross the rock to go down to the cape, surrounded by scrubland. The Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres protects the natural site of the Grand-Macabou domain. It is located at the Cape Beauchêne: no beach, just a starting point for hikes. A small stone church, at the end of the cape, on the edge of the cliff, overlooks the sea.

You can follow footpath n° 29, the trace des Caps, which crosses the southern tip of the island from Cap Macré to Anse-Caritan. Remember to bring a bottle of water. A superb walk, with no major difficulties, except for its length. Count about 5 km from Petit-Macabou to Cap Macré, 7 km between Cap Macré and Cap-Chevalier, 6.5 km between Cap-Chevalier and the Baie des Anglais (Anse-Trabaud), 5 km between Anse-Trabaud, considered as the most beautiful beach of Martinique, and Les Salines, and 4.5 km from Les Salines to Anse-Caritan. This amounts to a total of 28 km from Petit-Caribou to Anse-Caritan (the sign indicates about 12 hours, but good walkers will do it in 6 hours without any problem).

From Cap Beauchêne to Cap Chevalier. On the way back to Sainte-Anne, reach Cap-Chevalier by a pretty road invaded by goats and lined with small white houses. The beach of Cap-Chevalier, nicer on its left side (with more sand and immaculate bottoms), is open to the Atlantic Ocean. Its narrow strip of sand is strewn with seaweed, rafts and a few fishermen's boats, from which the restaurants in the area get their supplies. You can dive with just a mask, fins, and snorkel to discover the rocky barrier. By choosing the road on the right, reach the seaside, in front of the “îlet Chevalier”, a nice opportunity for a beautiful marine stroll. You can get there with a shuttle called “taxicap”.