Aruba is an island that’s all about discovery. It’s a destination that begs travelers to get out into a car and explore, to discover its hidden corners, to go beach hopping, to walk around its neighborhoods and to really experience the place.

But that doesn’t mean choosing the right hotel isn’t important. As it is all over the Caribbean — it’s an essential part of the vacation experience.

Thankfully, Aruba is home to an enviable collection of places to stay, with a particularly strong offering of large beach hotels but some interesting alternatives to the beach, too.

And we’re here to help, with a guide to our seven favorite hotels in Aruba right now.

The Elements restaurant at the Bucuti Tara.

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort This isn’t just one of the greenest hotels in the Caribbean — it’s also one of its best. Owner Ewald Biemans’ vision of a sustainable, exquisitely run beach hotel is realized every day at this adults-only Aruba institution on the most prized perch of Eagle Beach. There are 104 crisp, bright, endlessly comfortable rooms, but it has a way of feeling far more intimate, with an innovative philosophy that’s always about making the guest experience better, from iPad walk-through check ins to advanced air filtration in the rooms.

The post 7 Aruba Hotels to Check into Right Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader R. Reid-Smith, who sent in this gorgeous shot of Rainbow Beach in St Croix in the USVI.

Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean?

Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the subject line, including your first and last name and the location of the photo.

It could be the next Caribbean Photo of the Week!

— CJ

The post Caribbean Photo of the Week: Rainbow Beach, St Croix appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

… . “There was something happening in Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans responded.”
That immediate response … Puerto Rico’s collective voice grow louder. The number of people of Puerto Rican …

Powered by WPeMatico

By Guy Britton

Zip lines come in many shapes and sizes, but this one is different. Very different. 

The Flying Dutchman at Rainforest Adventures on St Maarten is the steepest zip line in the world.

It’s an essential St Maarten experience, plunging more than 1,000 feet down and traversing more than 2,800 feet.

As amazing as the Flying Dutchman experience is, at the already-legendary adventure park,  the “zip” is only part of the experience. 

And this is especially true at the Rainforest Adventures location on St Maarten, which first made its debut in April of last year.  

It’s the steepest zip line in the world.

It’s a major addition to the St Maarten vacation and cruise experience ,and a place well worth going even if you don’t ride the zip line.

There’s even a tube surfing ride that goes 657 feet down a field of sloped tubes that’s particularly great for kids.

And then there are the lifts, just like the ones you’d find at a high-end ski resort like Aspen or Vail. 

The lift traverses over 2,997 feet and are worth the ride just for the experience and the views 

And when you get to the top, you’ll discover one of the finest views you will find anywhere in the Caribbean.   

When you’re up here, up here at 1,125 feet, St Maarten’s famous airport and the planes below look like tiny toys.  But there’s only one way to get up here — and it’s worth it.

Up at the top, there’s a climbing trail and hiking course that offers challenges and views in equal measure. 

There’s even a little cafe (to be precise, a cooler and a nice guy) at the top where you can get refreshments and take in the views while snapping photos and then enjoy the ride of your life back down.

It’s part of a wider destination that’s been built on the 436,000-square-meter Rockland Estate that was once the home of the legendary Emilio Wilson, who negotiated the purchase of the entire property in 1954. (It’s also home to the namesake Emilio’s, one of the best places to eat in St Maarten).

Along with the lifts and zip lines great effort has been taken to preserve the natural landscape and cultural heritage here.

There’s even a museum to to help educate the public about the legacy of Emilio Wilson and how he so enterprisingly acquired the vast lands, about his life during those times. 

What it all adds up to is an authentic St Maarten adventure — and one that you won’t soon forget.  

For more, visit Rainforest Adventures St Maarten.

See more in the latest CJ Video.

The post In St Maarten, the Ultimate Caribbean Zip Line appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Ultra-luxe boutique cruise line Regent Seven Seas is expanding its network of ports in the Caribbean region, the company said this week.

Regent Seven Seas will be adding three new ports in the Caribbean for the upcoming 2021-2022 season, including Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Terre de Haut in the Guadeloupe archipelago; and Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

It’s part of a wider expansion for Regent for the 2021 cruise season that includes a record number of overnight stays.

Regent Seven Seas’ newest ship.

The latter will include a number of overnight stops for the all-suite cruise line in the Caribbean, including Bridgetown, Barbados and Port Antonio, Jamaica.

“These voyages represent the most stunning and ambitious collection in our company’s history. We are sailing to even more legendary and lesser-known destinations highlighted by included immersive land experiences in every port,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Whether searching for an exciting adventure, a new way to unwind or for something entirely different, we invite luxury travelers to find it with Regent and discover their next unrivaled experience, with the highest levels of elegance, comfort and hospitality on board.”

Regent has a fleet of four ships: Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator and Seven Seas Voyager in its global fleet.

— CJ

The post Regent Seven Seas Is Adding New Caribbean Ports appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico