SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The US Coast Guard is investigating a collision between a recreational boat and a commercial passenger vessel that occurred on Tuesday night just off “Isla Magueyes” in Lajas, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a radio call on VHF…

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By Alexander Britell

It isn’t the longest vacation of the year, but it’s one of the most important: Labor Day, the summer travel season’s exclamation point.

Maybe you block out a three-day weekend, or add on a few extra days. It may not be the week-long (or longer) Caribbean vacation you usually take, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect getaway in a small package.

We’ve compiled a group of Caribbean trips to think about for Labor Day, the kind of journeys that fit especially well in a smaller time frame, emphasizing destinations with shorter flight times from the continental U.S.

Here are five inspirations for your Labor Day trip this September.

Harbour Island, Bahamas  Still one of the region’s best-kept secrets, Harbour Island has long been a celebrity playground. But while its location off the coast of Eleuthera may seem remote, it’s actually decidedly easy to get to, with daily, 40-minute-long flights from Miami to North Eleuthera. Then it’s just a short cab ride and a five-minute ferry to get there. And once you arrive, you’ll find wonders, from Pink Sand Beach to one of the prettiest little towns in the Caribbean, the charming Dunmore Town. It’s a fascinating mix of historic architecture and world-class boutique hotels, with a Nantucket-meets-the-Caribbean vibe. Where to stay? We like Valentines Resort and Marina and The Dunmore.

The post 5 Caribbean Getaways for Labor Day 2017 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Canadian carrier WestJet is expanding its Caribbean network with a new route to Belize.

Beginning Nov. 3, WestJet will operate weekly nonstop service between Calgary and Belize on Fridays.

The flights will depart Calgary at 9:15 AM, arriving at 2:51 PM, with he return flight departing Belize at 3:45 PM and arriving in Calgary at 10:06 PM.

“The Calgary – Belize flight is a welcome addition that will further boost Belize’s tourism industry.  The new flight is exciting news and it underscores BTB’s unwavering marketing efforts in promoting Belize as a growing, viable and a must-go destination,” said Karen Pike, the Belize Tourism Board’s Director of Marketing and Industry Relations.

WestJet already operates a flight between Toronto and Belize from October to May.

“As the carrier with more flights from Calgary International Airport than any other, we have designed our Calgary flight schedules to deliver 55 per cent more connecting itineraries which will help to launch new flights in future seasons and further expand our presence in YYC – a key driver in economic and employment growth in the city,” said Brian Znotins, WestJet Vice-President, Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development.

The post WestJet Launching Calgary-Belize Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Fast-growing Antigua and Barbuda has become the latest Caribbean destination to formalize an agreement with home sharing giant Airbnb.

The agreement aims to “help drive diversified and sustainable tourism to the islands and begin dialogue about a framework for taxation on accommodation,” the destination said in a statement.

The tourism and services industry is continually evolving, and Airbnb is the largest game changer in the accommodation sector. By working with them, we will ensure that Antigua and Barbuda is interacting with the full spectrum of visitors,” said Asot Michael, Antigua Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy.

In Antigua and Barbuda, there are currently more than 500 active listings on Airbnb, with a typical host earning around $5,700 USD annually.

Antigua said the number of Airbnb guests to the islands had grown by 53 percent in the last 12 months, with travelers tending to stay around six nights.

“We are proud to work with Antigua and Barbuda to assist in the creation of new economic opportunities for the local economy and offer genuine experiences for travelers. Our joint efforts will highlight the culture, heritage and hospitality of local residents,” said Shawn Sullivan, Airbnb’s Public Policy lead for Central America and the Caribbean.

The post Antigua and Barbuda, Airbnb Sign Tourism Agreement appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Coral gardening, the process of replanting laboratory-raised coral fragments to restore coral populations, is proving to benefit Caribbean reefs, according to a new study from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

The school said the research had important implications for the long-term survival of reefs worldwide, which have been in global decline.

“Our study showed that current restoration methods are very effective,” said UM Rosenstiel school coral biologist Stephanie Schopmeyer, the lead author of the study. “Healthy coral reefs are essential to our everyday life and successful coral restoration has been proven as a recovery tool for lost coastal resources.”

Staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis) are propagated within underwater coral nurseries to create a sustainable source of corals. Photo by Stephanie Schopmeyer.

The study examined restoration success during the first two years of work at coral restorations sites in Florida and in Puerto Rico.

According to the findings, “current restoration methods are not causing excess damage to donor colonies as a result of removing coral tissue to propagate new coral in the lab, and that once outplanted, corals behave just as wild colonies do.”

This was the first study to collect baseline coral restoration survival and productivity data at regional scales.

It’s a boon for what has become a growing number of coral restoration projects across the Caribbean, most notably Bonaire’s Coral Restoration Foundation, which recently expanded to Curacao.

“Coral reefs are declining at an alarming rate and coral restoration programs are now considered an essential component to coral conservation and management plan,” said Diego Lirman, UM Rosenstiel School professor of marine biology and ecology and a coauthor of the study. “Our findings provide the necessary scientific benchmarks to evaluate restoration progress moving forward.”

The post Study: Replanting Coral Is Benefiting Caribbean Reefs appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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