Insider Info, Wellness & Spa Vacations
Article written by Wendy Helfenbaum.
Is there anything more relaxing than a soothing spa treatment inspired by your tropical surroundings, with ocean breezes and the sounds of birds singing in the background? Indulging in restorative massages, facials and body scrubs or wraps in the Caribbean often includes using traditional rituals and indigenous ingredients such as aloe, tropical fruit, sea salt, spices, coffee, coconut oil, seaweed or volcanic mud — all meant to offer a luxurious experience.
From rum and aloe massages in Aruba to cane sugar and rum scrubs in Barbados, here are some signature treatments to try on your next trip.
The British Virgin Islands
Let go, breathe deep, and let the view of the crystal, clear waters of the BVIs take care of the rest. Photo courtesy of Ixora Spa on Scrub Island
A heavenly retreat is waiting at Ixora Spa, located at the Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in The British Virgin Islands, where four treatments leverage the island’s sun-kissed ingredients. For the Ixora Signature Coconut Frangipani Scrub, the oil from these fragrant local flowers is mixed with fresh coconut flakes to gently exfoliate, nourish and moisturize the body with natural antioxidants. Took too much sun? The Ixora Signature Aloe & Cucumber Wrap instantly cools and soothes sunburned skin. The aloe is picked at the property’s onsite farm, and the treatment leaves the skin hydrated to minimize peeling.
Using traditional medicinal and healing techniques, the Ixora Signature Caribbean Poultice Massage draws inspiration from ayurveda to enhance, repair and help the body’s muscles and joints recover. Locally sourced herbs including Neem leaves, Tamarind leaves, Moringa, lemon grass, Knight shade, Basils, Japana, Mint and Banana leaves are combined in a poultice bag and warmed in oil before being massaged into the skin. The Couples Caribbean Escape is a 90-minute relaxing aromatherapy massage and salt scrub body polish plus a rejuvenating frangipani scalp massage or foot reflexology.
At the Sundara Spa and Studio at Oil Nut Bay in Virgin Gorda, you can enjoy a decadent treatment in an overwater massage pavilion with panoramic bay views.
Offering integrative healing therapies and marine-inspired treatments using the healing properties of the sea, the spa menu includes things like the Voya Organic Herbal Bag Massage, where warm steamed bags of organic orange, clove, ginger, and Fucus Serratus seaweed are massaged into the body to release the seaweed oils. There are also Voya seaweed-based facials that detoxify, hydrate and restore balance to the skin and the Ocean Essence Body Wrap which uses Fucus Serratus seaweed to stimulate blood and lymph flow to detox, hydrate and encourage skin cell renewal.
Aruba
This is not your average pool day! Photo courtesy of JOIA Aruba by Iberostar Spa.
The recently renovated Balinese-style Mandara Spa at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is the largest on the island of Aruba. The soothing Aloe and Milk Bath Wrap is perfect after a day at the beach, refreshing and hydrating the skin using locally harvested aloe gel. You can also book at tour of Aruba Aloe to learn how it’s grown, harvested and processed, and take a create-your-own-scrub class.
The spa added new saunas and steam rooms, along with a new outdoor hot tub and cold plunge pool to complete your self-care session. Top things off with a refreshing Aloe Spritz cocktail — in addition to soothing your skin, ingesting aloe has health-boosting properties including vitamins A, C, and E, which are natural antioxidants.
JOIA Aruba by Iberostar’s Spa Sensation offers several pampering experiences such as the Aloe Vera Calming Wrap which uses fresh Aruba aloe to calm and nourish the skin. The Ritual Babor includes a body exfoliation, mask and full-body massage with either a restorative experience using the scents of musk, cashmere, and wood or a balancing experience with the fragrances of citrus, rosemary, and lavender. The anti-aging Earth Experience features almond, mimosa and musk scents and starts with a dry peel using cranberry seeds followed by a brushing technique to invigorate the blood. A creamy mask containing antioxidants is then applied to the face. And the Ocean Experience is infused with citrus aromas to hydrate and refresh the body along with a massage and mask application.
At the Eforea Spa at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, guests can enjoy an aloe vera, rum and stone massage using local volcanic beach stones and agave nectar. The Tropical Oasis Eminence Body Treatment uses organic products containing yuzu, coconut, and mango to exfoliate and hydrate the skin.
Book a dynamic massage at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Aruba, created by local therapists that integrates the oil derived from the island’s Divi Divi tree to improve circulation, boost metabolism and regenerate skin.
Barbados
Out of office. Indefinitely. 😎; photo courtesy of The Spa at Sandy Lane.
Shaped by sugar cane fields and salt-tinged trade winds, Barbados’ spa culture stems from the same ingredients that define its history and landscape. At Eforea Spa at Hilton Barbados Resort, locally sourced coffee, cane sugar and island rum are woven into exfoliating rituals for an ultra-luxurious experience.
In Bridgetown, Reflections Spa Barbados uses Bajan sea salt and raw Barbados sugar in body polishes to invigorate and polish sun-kissed skin. At the AquaSpa at Sweetfield Manor, open-air treatments within an historic plantation setting feature coconut oils and tropical botanicals sourced from the surrounding gardens.
St. Kitts & Nevis
Healing hands…let the rainforest do the rest: photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Signature services from The Spa at The Four Seasons Resort Nevis include a variety of sumptuous spa treatments such as the Nevisian Rainforest Massage, which begins with a relaxing herbal foot soak while you’re surrounded by the calming sounds of the rainforest. Vanilla-scented products restore and refresh the skin, followed by a cup of soothing local tea. The Herbal Poultice Massage packs the healing power of local herbs from Nevis into a multisensory massage designed to awaken the senses and alleviate aches.
The spa’s Nourishing Neem Ritual harnesses ingredients from neem, known as ‘the Miracle Tree,’ to nourish the skin after a gentle exfoliation with a neem- and moringa-infused scrub. Warm herbal oil is drizzled on the scalp followed by a stimulating massage.
On the island of St. Kitts, the Sugar Mill Spa & Sanctuary at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts offers facials crafted to restore brighten, tone and nourish the skin. There’s a mineral-rich salt stone facial or ones that detoxify or soothe sun-damaged skin.
Editor’s Note: Beyond more traditional treatments, sample from the spa’s well being offerings including sound healing and yoga classes offered inside its sugar mill inspired studio. Or try the Cacao Ceremony with guided meditation. This unique experience blends tradition, scent and intention to open the heart and calm the mind.
Article by Wendy Helfenbaum.Wendy Helfenbaum is a Montreal-based freelance journalist who writes about travel and lifestyle for dozens of publications.
Throughout her career as a journalist, freelance writer and television producer, she’s written and produced print or television features on a wide variety of topics, including news, business, health and fitness, parenting, celebrity profiles, art, home decor, entertainment, sports, consumer affairs, philanthropy and corporate incentive travel.
Wendy is President of Take Two Productions Inc., a freelance writing, television production and translation solutions company in Montreal, Quebec. She works with clients in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Insider Info, Wellness & Spa Vacations
Article by Theresa Storm.
If you travel to preserve or improve your physical, mental and emotional health and well-being, you’re embracing the ever-growing wellness tourism trend. It includes activities like cleanses and detoxes (including digital), healthy eating, fitness, yoga, meditation and mindfulness, spa treatments, immersion in nature and outdoor adventures. It’s travel for self-care, helping you reconnect with yourself and the natural world for a healthier, more balanced life.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering wellness, in 2024 wellness tourism worldwide was valued at almost US $894 billion. And between 2024 and 2029, it is expected to grow more than nine per cent. So, it’s no surprise the wellness industry is evolving at record speed, including spas, holistic wellness programs and health resorts and retreats.
With its verdant jungles, abundant nature, turquoise waters, long sandy beaches and organic locally-grown foods, the Caribbean is ideal for a New Year wellness vacation. In each destination, you’ll find a variety of mindful resorts and activities to help you pause, reset and truly relax so you return home with less stress, feeling rejuvenated and committed to healthier living.
Here are three Caribbean wellness experiences to help you kick 2026 off to a healthy start:
Turks & Caicos Islands: Amanyara’s Detoxification Program
Complete relaxation…after a day at the spa, a serene walk along the beach is just what the doctor ordered; photo courtesy of Experience Turks & Caicos.
With 24 Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic has stood atop tennis’s pinnacle for more than a decade. In 2024, the Aman Group named the sporting legend its global wellness advisor. Now, his life-long commitment to wellbeing, plus 30 years of Aman’s wellness expertise, are uniting in Longevity Pathways — Aman’s wellness program to help individuals live better and longer.
Designed by Djokovic, the Longevity Pathways series commences with a three-day Detoxification Program, available at seven resorts including Amanyara, a luxe Turks & Caicos haven nestled in a 7,285-hectare nature reserve on the peaceful shore of Providenciales’ North West Point Marine National Park.
The restorative retreat offers a body, mind and spirit reset guided by three core pillars: physical optimization, mental equilibrium and spiritual illumination. Tailored to individual needs and length of stay, the program can include wellness activities like a personalized 90-minute signature massage with aromatherapy oils on day one, followed by sunrise yoga, detox pilates and water shiatsu on day two. While you float in the warm water of Amanyara’s volcanic-stone pool, a therapist will aid your body in making gentle movements that realign the spinal column, chakras and meridians, releasing energy and inducing deep relaxation. The Detoxification Program can wrap-up on the third day with a sound bath meditation class to live Tibetan singing bowls. The combination of yoga, breath work and immersive sound regulates the nervous system, helping you rest and restore.
Before arrival, a wellness concierge contacts guests to discuss options and answer questions, ensuring you select the perfect pathway to your desired outcome. The Detoxification Program is just one of Amanyara’s many wellness, fitness and sporting performance programs.
St. Kitts: The Do Not Disturb Destination
Ahhh…enjoying a Do Not Disturb moment….at the Mango Walk Spa at Belle Mont Sanctuary; photo courtesy of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
Through a range of restorative experiences from starlit sleep therapy and sound baths to cacao ceremonies and sacred circles, St. Kitts invites visitors to switch off in its new Do Not Disturb Campaign.
In our world of endless to-do lists, St. Kitts Tourism Authority encourages you to slow down, reconnect with nature, log off and unplug from digital distractions.
“Do Not Disturb is more than a message; it’s a mindset we hope travellers embrace,” said Minister of Tourism Marsha T. Henderson. “We want visitors to truly disconnect from the demands of everyday life. St. Kitts provides the perfect space to focus on wellness and rejuvenation.”
Explore mindful island activities and soul-soothing experiences to help you pause, reset and embrace true relaxation, like:
Sacred circles & grounding rituals: The Art of Presence offers movement meditation, energy cleansing and sensory experiences to foster calm and reconnection with oneself and the natural world.
Outdoor herbal baths & massages: At Belle Mont Sanctuary Resort’s Mango Walk Spa, outdoor herbal bath experiences with local ingredients like rich coconut milk and rose petals induce deep relaxation.
Sleep under the stars: At Imagine Yoga and Sound Studio in Frigate Bay, engage in restorative sound therapy and yoga in a peaceful, natural setting.
Cacao ceremonies: Sugar Mill Spa & Sanctuary at Park Hyatt St. Kitts hosts mood-boosting cacao rituals paired with intention setting and journaling to foster stillness and holistic balance.
Balm & bond body bar workshops: With Sugar Town Organics, create bespoke self-care products, like fragrant body creams, made with Caribbean botanicals.
Martinique: Escapes for Wellness Seekers at Aux Bains de Cluny
So many treatments to choose from…the scrub might be messy going on but feels amazing coming off! Photo courtesy of the Martinique Tourism Authority.
In Schoelcher, located just northwest of Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique, Aux Bains de Cluny Spa and Health, was founded 24 years ago, and offers day or multi-day healing experiences for children, teens, adults and seniors, as well as specific treatments for pregnant women and athletes.
Each treatment is designed to help you release tension and return to a more grounded state, harmonizing your body and mind and allowing you to regain your balance and energy.
The spa’s holistic 75-minute rituals combine wellness techniques such as wraps, hydromassage baths and relaxing massages for an optimal effect. For example, the Rose Sweetness Ritual is a soothing inner journey combining a scrub, a rose cream wrap and a massage under delicate droplets of warm water.
The ceremonies, which are between 75 and 130 minutes, also combine several wellness techniques to offer intense relaxation, like The Ceremony on the Road to Happiness. This 130-minute treatment in three stages includes exfoliation and massage under warm water, a classic hand and foot polish and a radiance facial.
Targeted cures combine several sessions, from a few days to several weeks, to meet your specific needs, whether your focus is on slimming, anti-stress, detox, or dealing with migraines or insomnia. Multi-day treatments support both physical and mental recovery. For example, the four-treatment Silhouette Cure is comprised of slimming treatments to help sculpt your silhouette and regain tone. Innovative techniques — including slimming massages targeting specific body parts, hydro massages, peels and cold wraps, electro stimulation and pressotherapy — target areas of stubborn fat while improving skin elasticity, for visible and long-lasting results.
Article and photography Theresa Storm.
A four-month-long solo island-hopping adventure through the Caribbean 28 years ago ignited Theresa’s passion for the tropics, culture, nature and trying new adventures.
Back home in Calgary, her increasingly restless, itchy feet soon led to a career writing about travel worldwide. She loves escaping winter for warmer climes, especially to the Caribbean, which has long felt like her real home.
As an award-winning travel writer and photographer, she’s penned scores of articles for magazines, newspapers and e-zines, and contributed to books including Caribbean Escapes and the first edition of DK Eyewitness Caribbean.
Her articles and photographs have been published in magazines including Bon Vivant, Extraordinary Experiences and Vacations (Ensemble Travel Group), Wanderlust (U.K.), Avenue Calgary, WestJet (WestJet Airline’s in-flight), Morning Calm (Korean Air’s in-flight), LUXE Magazine Canada, AAA publications, Cruise & Travel Lifestyles, Dreamscapes and Today’s Parent.
She is a two-time winner of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Canadian Travel Writer of the Year award and twice won CTO’s best photograph with a feature article and best online feature. She also was honoured with the Travel Media Association of Canada’s excellence in Caribbean travel writing award.
Insider Info, Sustainability, Wellness & Spa Vacations
Article by Theresa Storm.
Do you care what your dollars support when you take a Caribbean holiday? For travellers who do, choosing accommodation — a hefty part of your travel spend — is key. What should you look for?
Of late, the term “regenerative tourism” is buzzing around, yet another travel trend. But what does it mean? Regenerative travel aims to leave a destination in a better state than it was found, actively working to restore and rejuvenate local communities and the environment. Some say It goes beyond “sustainable tourism,” which mitigates negative impacts on ecosystems and communities. But others, like the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, says its members focus on increasing positive impacts alongside reducing negative ones.
In the former camp, Regenerative Travel is an organization that says it is redefining tourism through ecological stewardship, cultural celebration and guest experiences that give more than they take. It recently held a Caribbean Showcase webinar featuring eco-luxury hotel partners that don’t just minimize harm — they actively give back, showing how travel can restore, uplift and transform both guests and local environments. The hotels have projects to protect, conserve and regenerate ecosystems and communities and offer mindful guest experiences that can trigger transformation, proving that hospitality can be a force for renewal.
For tips on what to look for when choosing “regenerative, sustainable or eco” accommodations — whatever moniker you prefer, here we highlight a few things that three small, independent Caribbean properties are doing beyond typical green measures (like LED bulbs, reusing towels and recycling) and what they offer guests that makes them a solid choice: one each in Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Aruba.
Jamaica Inn – Jamaica
Chef Maurice finds inspiration in the vibrant flavours of local ingredients — follow along as he shops nearby markets, then guides you in creating unforgettable dishes. Photo courtesy of Jamaica Inn.
This iconic hotel in Ocho Rios, Green Globe certified since 2012 and Jamaica’s first resort to install EV charging stations, the Jamaica Inn pledges to be carbon neutral next year.
Family-run since 1958, the Morrow family established the non-profit Jamaica Inn Foundation to assist the local community with youth education and wellbeing, preserve the marine environs, and support several charities. Following are examples of the foundation’s work and how guests can participate.
The hawksbill turtle conservation program runs during nesting season, July to November. Guests can book a session with the turtle concierge to learn about the endangered species, including witnessing turtles coming ashore to lay eggs or helping the tiny hatchlings to the sea.
The White River Fish Sanctuary, largely funded and facilitated by the foundation in collaboration with fisherman, hired wardens to protect regional waters. Since coral has depleted 85% since the 1970s, leading to a decrease in fish by 600%, the sanctuary is running a five-year coral restoration program, training three wardens as coral gardeners. Guests can take a glass-bottom boat tour to learn about the sanctuary’s work.
Other ‘Travel with a Purpose’ initiatives allowing eco-conscious travellers to preserve Jamaica and give back to the community include the:
Farm-to-skin foraging spa experience,
Spice & fruit tour,
Shop & cook with Chef Maurice at the local market,
Dinner at a locally-owned restaurant,
‘Pack for a Purpose’, which encourages guests to bring needed items for community sports, a school and the fish sanctuary.
Jade Mountain – Saint Lucia
More than a hotel — a living project in sustainability and thoughtful design, Jade Mountain is the recipient of multiple international awards including landing in 3rd spot in the top 25 favourite resorts in the Caribbean for 2025 (as voted by Travel + Leisure Readers). Photo courtesy of Jade Mountain.
The first Caribbean hotel to earn LEED Gold, Jade Mountain was designed with environmental consciousness by St. Lucian architect/co-owner Nick Troubetzkoy and built in harmony with Caribbean nature from locally-sourced materials by Saint Lucian tradesmen and artisans (rather than foreign workers), up-skilling locals for enhanced future employment.
And to make Jade Mountain’s potable water supply independent from the nearby community of Soufrière, a long abandoned reservoir was restored to serve as a water catchment that is then purified to directly supply the resort, just one of the measures that show Jade’s commitment to the environment, sustainability, best practices and community efforts.
“Build it locally or buy it locally” is the resort’s mantra, including all furniture and furnishings, intentionally keeping much of the economic benefit in the region. Most of the gross revenues from Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet (her sister property) remain in the local community. With a 99% local workforce numbering 500+, together the resorts are one of the most important employers in the island’s southwest.
On a wider Caribbean scale, co-founder Karolin Troubetzkoy is instrumental in creating change through working with multiple hospitality and conservation associations to promote more sustainable tourism models. And Nick was the instigator of the Soufrière Foundation, an NGO to benefit the Soufrière community, including beautifying the town square and creating a museum, a spa at Sulphur Springs, and a crafts market.
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel – Aruba
A quiet place to recharge — surrounded by greenery, built with care for the planet. Jeff Herron Photography, Inc.
Boardwalk Boutique Hotel’s colourful casitas are an adult-only hideaway steps from Palm Beach. Family-run by Aruban twin sisters, it is Travelife Certified for its green hotel operations. In 2018, 32 casitas were added. All are Green buildings 100% powered by solar and constructed with Insulated concrete form walls, double-glazed aluminum windows and doors, insulated floor slabs and panel roofs.
Guests are inspired to get involved and give back to the island with Boardwalk’s growing Do-Good program. Activities include drinking tap water; walking, adopting or transporting a stray; “meditate to donate” with proceeds funding upkeep of the Butterfly Farm; donating non-perishable food and hygiene items to the food bank or donating a crate (baby, hygiene or food) by adding it to the room bill; adopting a donkey; cleaning up beaches; or visiting Arikok National Park, where the visitor admission fee contributes to Aruba’s nature conservation. Boardwalk also encourages guests to pack with a purpose, bringing school supplies, books, toys or treats to place under the giving tree in the lobby or the year-round donation box.
Another way guests support the community and learn about Aruba’s culture and heritage is by exploring with Boardwalk’s signature treasure maps, themed for discovering romance, culture or doing-good while exploring the isle. Visitors are urged to purchase from local sources, including locally-made artworks and products in the hotel’s lobby shop and guest room pieces by the Artesano Foundation to rehabilitate prisoners.
Article and photography Theresa Storm.
A four-month-long solo island-hopping adventure through the Caribbean 28 years ago ignited Theresa’s passion for the tropics, culture, nature and trying new adventures.
Back home in Calgary, her increasingly restless, itchy feet soon led to a career writing about travel worldwide. She loves escaping winter for warmer climes, especially to the Caribbean, which has long felt like her real home.
As an award-winning travel writer and photographer, she’s penned scores of articles for magazines, newspapers and e-zines, and contributed to books including Caribbean Escapes and the first edition of DK Eyewitness Caribbean.
Her articles and photographs have been published in magazines including Bon Vivant, Extraordinary Experiences and Vacations (Ensemble Travel Group), Wanderlust (U.K.), Avenue Calgary, WestJet (WestJet Airline’s in-flight), Morning Calm (Korean Air’s in-flight), LUXE Magazine Canada, AAA publications, Cruise & Travel Lifestyles, Dreamscapes and Today’s Parent.
She is a two-time winner of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Canadian Travel Writer of the Year award and twice won CTO’s best photograph with a feature article and best online feature. She also was honoured with the Travel Media Association of Canada’s excellence in Caribbean travel writing award.
Insider Info, Tours & Activities, Wellness & Spa Vacations
Article by Karen Burshtein.
Walking is the latest fitness obsession. It’s something that fits with another travel trend: quiet travel.
For me, the best time to go for a walk on a Caribbean stay is the morning. Nothing is easier than getting out of bed bright and early (even on holidays) and heading out for a hike, when the morning weather is a warm embrace not a hot bash on the head.
The perceived wisdom is that an island’s scenic treasures and most spectacular views are often accessed via remote parts of an island and that that entails a daunting hike. But it doesn’t have to be that way because the trails that take you to these island’s natural wonders are easily walkable. Join a tour or head out on your own (in some cases) and enjoy the sites in the best possible way – via a nice, easy walk.
Cactus and Meditation Rocks: Bushi Trail, Aruba
The Bushi Trail in Aruba offers a fairly easy hike…best done in the morning; photo by Karen Burshtein
Aruba continues to surprise with its diverse terrain. Going from wide sandy beaches to cacti studded desert atmosphere in just minutes is one of the things I like about the island. Even locals that have grown up in Aruba remain enthusiastic about it. My favourite early morning walk in Aruba takes me to and around the Bushi Trail, as it offers a variety of flora.
This walk is easy to moderate. The trailhead is at Calbas before forking off to one of two directions, one takes you down to the beach, the other to the mountainside. The trail to the beach is downward with a gentle incline for getting back up. I like to stop and rest on one of the giant rocks and gaze out at the sea or meditate. Even on an organized walk, guides let you perform this lovely little ritual. They are also very good at describing the various vegetation you will see along the way.
Seeing Double: Dark Views Fall, Saint Vincent
A double fall, Dark View Falls on the island of St. Vincent, is worth the short walk through the rainforest; photo courtesy of the St. Vincent Tourism Authority
Dark Views Fall in St. Vincent and The Grenadines is a mysterious, beautiful and history-laden waterfall accessed by an off-the-beaten path that’s easy to navigate once you access it. Local lore has it that the falls were unknown until quite recently. A guided tour tells a different story: Indigenous islanders have long known about them.
A little more insider info: Dark View Fall is a double fall, one of one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular. It’s located on the Leeward side of the island surrounded by natural pools, and lush and bio-rich flora.
You need to drive (or go with a tour) starting from Kingstown, and driving north for about an hour and a half. The falls are then accessed by a short and easy walk through a patch of rainforest. A bamboo bridge brings you to a bamboo grove which then opens spectacularly onto the first waterfall. The second is further away and more challenging to get to but in eyesight from the first.
An easily hikeable volcano: Cerro Negro, Nicaragua
Aside from enjoying the stunning view at the top, adventurous hikers can choose to sandboard down the volcano after their climb; photo courtesy of the Nicaragua Department of Tourism.
Everyone likes the idea of climbing to see a volcano up close but the idea of such a hike is often daunting. I’ve been on a few of these which are sometimes more treacherous than advertised and if it’s rained before the hike (which it often does in such climes), it can be slippery going up and descending even gentle inclines. That’s just one a small detail about why I recommend the Cerro Negro Volcano hike in Nicaragua. It’s easy and accessible. The loop is 3.5 km long with the trailhead at the Cerro Negro Car Park. It’s under an hour to get to the top and there’s a natural path along the rim (that said, a guided tour is recommended).
Once at the top, you’re treated to a spectacular 360-degree view of forest and neighbouring volcanoes for miles. The descent is easy, although the path is pebbly and there’s some loose scree. Some more adventurous hikers try a unique method for descending: Volcano boarding down the volcano slope. This is an extreme sport really associated with the Cerro Negro. It means you must lug the toboggan up with you but if you like thrills, this is a great, and truly unique experience.
Walking through History: Sint Eustatius
This Dutch Reformed Church in St. Eustatius was built in 1755; photo courtesy of the Sint Eustatius Tourism Board
Not all Caribbean walking tours are strictly through nature. We like the ones that give us some of the history of a place, too. Of course, Sint Eustatius, the tiny island in the North Eastern Caribbean, has some wonderful walks in the wild, including the trail around the Quill, the dormant volcano on the island. But this little jewel, a part of the Dutch Caribbean, has a fascinating and outsized (and often dark) history. In the 19th century it had one of the most active ports in the Atlantic, attracting thousands of ships each year.
Over the course of the centuries, the tiny but strategically located island, has been fought over between the French, Dutch and English, all of whom left their mark on the capital, Oranjestad. (The island changed hands twenty two times over the centuries.) Walk through the capital on a guided tour with Sint Eustatius Historical Foundation. A tour takes you from the port, through the major sites in town including Fort Oranje, the sites of centuries old synagogues and churches, and the old slave path. The island is an open air museum and you definitely get a sense of that on a walking tour.
Ruins and Black Sand: The Beach and Ruins of Anse Couleuvre, Martinique
The lushness of Martinique is on display walking the Anse Couleuvre trail as is the beauty of the waterfalls found here; photo courtesy of the Martinique Tourism Authority.
The Beach and Ruins Anse Couleuvre trail is a short easy to moderate walk on the north part of Martinique. The eastern Caribbean island is a French overseas region, whose culture is a distinctive blend of French and West Indies. It’s popular with French vacationers (it’s the birthplace of Josephine, of Napoleon and Josephine fame). Many Quebecois come as well. The walk incorporates the ruins of a 17th century cocoa farm, which later became a rum distiller and then a lemon orchard harvesting citrus for essential oils.
It is now under the ownership of a conservation society; a half mile walk through thatch of almond trees and the highlight: the wild and stunning black volcanic sand Anse Couleuvre Beach. The beach is striking against the turquoise waters of the sea with steep cliffs in the background. After visiting the ruins, continue along and to the right of the house towards the beach. This is the kind of trail that you could do on your own but there’s an option to take a guided tour, a good idea if you don’t have a car.
Article by Karen Burshtein. Karen Burshtein is an award-winning Toronto-based travel and culture writer with a love of history, saltwater and open water swimming.
She was born in Winnipeg, Canada and writes about all aspects of Canadian culture and history. She also travels the world where she likes to seek out the untold, the unconventional, and the quirky.
Insider Info, Tours & Activities, Wellness & Spa Vacations
Article written by Mark Stevens. Photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens.
Looking for a break from the beach? Then take a hike!
Experience local flora and fauna. Discover crater lakes or gorgeous waterfalls; climb a mountain.
Get some exercise; earn that next Piña Colada.
If your ideal vacation includes a walk in the woods (or anywhere else) then consider this quintessential quintet of islands.
Tackle the Pitons in Saint Lucia
Enjoy the stunning views from the Pitons in Saint Lucia.
Not long ago a friend of mine accepted a marriage proposal high atop the Pitons in Saint Lucia, a duet of statuesque mountains dominating the skyline of this lush island.
My last time there I wanted to bond with the Pitons as well, but I’m neither as ambitious nor fit as my friend. Even so, I still experienced incredible views of both the Pitons and the sapphire waters far below on a trail called Tet Paul. The view from a weather beaten wooden lookout on this trail is one I will remember forever.
And that’s just one of nearly two dozen Saint Lucia trails.
Explore The Caribbean’s Longest Trail in Dominica
Hiking through Waitukubuli National Trail in Dominica
According to Discover Dominica Authority’s Canadian representative, Jerry Grymek, Dominica boasts the Caribbean’s longest hiking trail. “This island is a hikers’ paradise.”
This route, the Waitukubuli National Trail, is a challenging course roughly eighteen kilometres long. Though you could break it into one of two segments – from Scotts Head to Soufrière Estate or Soufrière Estate to Bellevue Chopin – either segment is still rated as difficult.
Hit the trails here in Dominica and visit a boiling lake or explore one of three hikes through lush rainforests leading to cascading waterfalls.
Hike this unspoiled gem and discover why Dominica’s called the “Nature Island.”
Discover Waterfalls on a Grenada Hike
Grenada offers a variety of hikes for different skill levels.
On my first visit to Grenada I began a hike rising up from a crater lake called Grand Etang, making for the heights of Mount Qua-Qua.
Twenty minutes in I stopped and asked our guide if things got any more challenging. His answer in the affirmative abruptly ended that adventure, though I was struck by the lush forest and great views.
On our next Grenada visit we made for Seven Sisters Falls, trudging cross-country for roughly forty minutes before achieving a septet of delightful cascades.
I was starting to like Grenada.
Grenada boasts a wealth of trails ranged from the “easy”-rated Grand Etang Lake Loop (I survived that one) to the eight-plus-kilometre challenge of Mount Saint Catherine.
What’s not to like?
Take a Forest Bath in Montserrat
All smiles hiking in Montserrat – finding ancient stone Taino carvings and petroglyphs (photo courtesy of Montserrat Tourism).
Hit the trails in Montserrat and experience the newest health craze – forest-bathing – first-hand.
Soak in the lush tropical rainforest ambiance dominating the route along the Oriole Trail and you’ll get Montserrat’s nickname: the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.”
Cool off in a refreshing waterfall on another trail after encountering ancient stone Taino carvings, book a walking tour in the Exclusion Zone – a controlled access area due to its proximity to the Soufrière Hills Volcano.
According to Alltrails.com, the definitive online hiking resource, five iconic and diverse routes dot the island’s landscape.
If you’re a hiker, Montserrat’s a definite must-do.
Check out the views from a St. Eustatius Trail
Enjoy a break with stunning views while hiking The Quill in Statia (photo courtesy of St. Eustatius Tourism)
Do some pre-vacation homework on St. Eustatius (AKA Statia), and two things become readily apparent.
First, with an area of a mere twenty-one square kilometres, this island is tiny. Second, with sixteen diverse trails, St. Eustatius boasts a range of hiking possibilities way out of proportion to its size.
Many of St. Eustatius’ most popular trails are in Quill National Park. Hike here and descend the crater of an extinct volcano. One trail – Panorama Point – offers spectacular views of neighbouring islands. Soak up some history on the Signal Hill trail, traverse a cactus-studded countryside past the ruins of a plantation.
According to travel writer Gay Nagle Myers, “trails wind all over the island and many are well-worn paths trodden by goats over the years.”
If you’re a hiker this island is a definite must-do. So go ahead: book your trip to St. Eustatius.
Just remember to pack your hiking boots.
Article written by Mark Stevens. Photography by Sharon Matthews-StevensFor twenty-five years the writing/photography team of Mark Stevens and Sharon Matthews-Stevens has provided editorial and photographic Caribbean content to a multitude of publications.
They’ve worked with newspapers from The Washington Post to The Globe and Mail, magazines from Travellife to Caribbean Business and Travel, and online publications from ATasteforTravel.ca to VacayNetwork.com. They have hiked the rainforests of St. Vincent in search of the Vinci parrot, sailed the waters off countless islands and traversed Jamaica in search of the world’s best jerk.
In addition to numerous other writing and photography awards, they have been recognized for their writing and photography fifteen times by the Caribbean Tourism Organization during their Canadian Media Awards events. Mark and Sharon are true Caribbean specialists.
Insider Info, Wellness & Spa Vacations
Article and photographs by Karen Burshtein.
Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are known collectively, as the ABC islands.
All three share ties to the Netherlands. Aruba and Curaçao are autonomous, self-governing constituent countries of the Dutch Kingdom, while Bonaire’s status is a special municipality. Though each is distinct in flavour and character, they share some things, notably stretches of some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and extraordinary sub-aquatic life. All are committed to eco- and sustainable tourism, and all have enticing experiences for those looking for a wellness-focused holiday.
A is for Aruba
Pure relaxation on Eagle Beach in Aruba
North American visitors who like the comforts of home will find Aruba the most approachable of the three islands with many familiar US retail businesses. The island is spread across 145 kilometres (90 miles), comprising long stretches of sugar fine beaches, hidden coves, and deserts with flowering cacti. The cacti supply the aloe at the base of most local skin care. Visitors, too, can take an aloe scrub-making class, which can be arranged by contacting Aruba Aloe directly.
Recoveryzone Aruba is a luxe but serious day spa. A perfect, just-off-the-plane treatment is their RecoveryAir Pneumatic Compression Contrast Therapy, which includes a mood-lifting cold plunge, sauna and compression boots.
Balance is key while holding a yoga pose on a SUP Paddleboard
SUP Paddleboard Yoga lets you fully embrace your Caribbean stay by doing sun salutations on a paddleboard in the sea. Certified yoga instructors guide you through gentle moves, while you balance -or not- on the board. Uninterrupted views of the turquoise water can free the mind as much as the yoga poses.
Goddess Retreats are increasingly popular in Aruba. The island offers pre-designed packages or easy opportunities to tailor your own. Two small and charming hotels on Eagle Beach are wellness-focused. Manchebo Resort has daily complimentary yoga classes and a Bali-inspired spa, while the neighbouring Bucuti and Tara Resort has a designated wellness concierge who will tailor a wellness itinerary for guests.
Bountiful Bonaire – lesser known but a must visit!
Experience Bonaire’s Yoga Wellness Week – date TBA for 2025
Bonaire is perhaps the least known of the ABC islands. Until recently most of its visitors came for the amazing snorkeling. But now they’re discovering this under-the-radar-gem’s untouched terra firma as well as its commitment to sustainability and wellness.
Nature Cooking School aims to wean this arid island off imported foods. At least for produce like tamarind, bananas, avocado, eggplants and the herbs which can thrive on Bonaire. Locals and visitors together learn about planting and picking. The lesson ends with a meal cooked together.
Nature Cooking in Bonaire
Bonaire’s annual Yoga & Wellness Week lets you connect with nature over and under water: their packages include activities like snorkeling workouts, biking and hiking in addition to yoga sessions.
The salt pyramids on the eastern side of the small island have been on the radar for ecotourists and now draw wellness vacationers. The residue of evaporated sea water is raked into towering, pyramid-shaped mounds next to seawater that shimmers pink. The rosy hue is thanks to microorganisms called halophiles. Swimming in the high mineral salt flats is a boon for skin, while just breathing in the saline air brings a general sense of calm and, say, aficionados, cleanses you of negative energy.
Culture in Curaçao!
Visit Ashram Curaçao on your journey of self-discovery
Curaçao ticks the box for wellness seekers who are looking for a Caribbean holiday immersed in culture. The island is rich in history and architecture, with a unique melting pot of people. It also has some spectacular beaches such as Grote Knip, and Cas Abou.
8, The Experience Spa is located on the gorgeous west coast within the Coral Estate Luxury Resort. 8 offers an array of thoughtfully designed services in treatment rooms that face the sea. Enjoy cool breezes as you take in a plant-based Dual-Exfoliation facial or a Chakra Healing massage. Post treatment, relax in cliffside jacuzzi. Day spa patrons have access to many of the resort’s amenities.
Marerly Elly, aka The Universal Alchemist
Ashram Curaçao provides visitors with a secluded and gorgeous patch of nature to focus on self-discovery. The retreat and its varied activities are based on non dualism which aims to connect you with all aspects of your surroundings.
Get wellness tips from Marerly Elly. The guru, known locally as the Universal Alchemist, is a microbiologist and herbalist who concocts holistic skin and healthcare products, and teas, based on plant medicine. She learned the practice from her grandmother who was also an herbalist.
Article and photography by Karen Burshtein. Karen Burshtein is an award-winning Toronto-based travel and culture writer with a love of history, saltwater and open water swimming.
She was born in Winnipeg, Canada and writes about all aspects of Canadian culture and history. She also travels the world where she likes to seek out the untold, the unconventional, and the quirky.
