Take a trip to one of these fitness-focused Caribbean islands and you’ll tone your body, relax your mind and restore your energy.
Take a trip to one of these fitness-focused Caribbean islands and you’ll tone your body, relax your mind and restore your energy.
Saba Diver’s dreamland
The eastern Caribbean is actually home to the highest peak in the Netherlands. Let us explain: Mount Scenery (elevation 877m) is on Saba, a tiny Dutch island around 48km south of Saint Martin. Known as the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean, the isle consists mainly of a dormant volcano studded with jagged peaks.
What it lacks in beaches, however, it makes up for in vibrant, crystal clear waters, ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. A long-standing commitment to conservation makes Saba one of the world’s top diving destinations, and it’s the primary reason that divers and snorkellers will encounter incredible underwater biodiversity.
On any given dive, you may see a variety of sharks, jacks, groupers, burrfish and turtles. Crabs, lobsters and rays patrol the sandy ocean bottom, which is covered with garden eels. The underwater topography is replete with unique vistas, courtesy of Saba’s volcanic history – pinnacles rise from the ocean floor, covered with colourful sponges and lush varieties of hard and soft coral.
Schedule your diving trip with Sea Saba, which runs three boat dives a day, as well as night dives, and offers a full range of dive training, certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. (Dives from $172, www.seasaba.com)
Back on land, you can trek up one of Saba’s many hiking trails or climb Mount Scenery, the pinnacle of which is blanketed with the Cloud Forest, where orchids and rare plants grow.
Book a room at the Queen’s Gardens Resort & Spa, which is terraced into a steep slope overlooking The Bottom, capital of Saba. Featuring 12 comfortable suites, the resort is situated 360m above sea level, where the ocean and mountain breezes are cooling, and the views of the rainforest and the valley are stunning. (Suites from $323 a night, www.queensaba.com.)
Another good option: the Saba Ecolodge. Tucked away in the rainforest, this compound of five cabins is off the grid; electricity and hot water are generated by solar power.
It also has a working organic farm that provides about 65 percent of the ingredients used to make meals served in the on-site restaurant. Be sure to check out the Saturday night Fire on the Mountain barbecue and bonfire, which attracts people from all over the island. (Rooms from $110 a night, www.saba-ecolodge.com.)
Nevis A haven for hikers
You’ll get the ultimate endorphin rush when you climb Nevis Peak, a 985m inactive volcano on this beautiful West Indies island. Reaching the top requires navigating some tricky terrain, so consider taking a guided trip with Sunrise Tours.
Then behold the spectacular views. Bonus: You’ll get a certificate of achievement once you make your way back down. (Tours from $110, www.nevisnaturetours.com.)
The volcano is just one of several Instagram-worthy hikes on Nevis. You’ll also want to check out the Hamilton Estate and Rainforest Hike for a fascinating glimpse into the life of Nevis native Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the US; the Monkey Tour, on which you can snap pics of the friendly vervet monkeys; and the Devil’s Copper tour, an excursion to a rock formation that features gorgeous waterfalls and tropical bird-watching.
Stay at the Paradise Beach Resort Villas, where you can swim in your own lap pool. Then take in the scenery on a private deck, watching the sun sink into the sea and drinking the resort’s famous rum punch cocktails. (Four-bedroom villas from $2,833 a night, www.paradisebeachnevis.com.)
Cayman Brac Rower’s oasis
Kayaking is one of the best ways to explore the craggy shorelines of Cayman Brac, one of the three Cayman Islands. Launch your boat from the south coast, which is protected by a reef that provides the calmest paddling conditions. As you glide along, you’ll spot colourful fish and sea turtles. (Double kayaks for $34 an hour or $83 for four hours, www.southerncrossclub.com.)
Back on land, give your arms a rest and hike the Lighthouse Footpath, which winds its way up to the 47m bluff on the island’s eastern end, where you get a breathtaking panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea. Then head underground with a local guide to explore Cayman Brac’s deep caves (free, www.itsyourstoexplore.com).
Stay at Le Soleil d’Or, which has a boutique hotel, a rustic farm lodge, and beach houses, along with an 8-hectare organic farm from which the resort’s chefs source ingredients. Plus, guests enjoy free kayak rentals. (Rooms from $440 a night, www.goldensuncayman.com
If you’re craving a bit more hustle than what this locale has to offer, jump over to lively Grand Cayman, where you can run the white sands of the famous Seven Mile Beach, then reward yourself at one of the island’s hot dining spots. Stay at The Caribbean Club, an impressive boutique hotel just steps from the sea. Book an in-room massage for after your workout. (Rooms from $1,032 a night, www.caribclub.com.)
