Cruises - Azores Cruise Club

126
Caribbean
porTS of Call
Oranjestad, Aruba
Nowhere showcases Aruba’s Dutch roots quite like Oranjestad. With its gable-topped
houses and colonial clock towers, the island’s capital is like a little slice of Amsterdam.
It’s got some typically Caribbean credentials, too – expect cushiony sands that stretch
on for miles, and underwater spots that are great for snorkelling. Plus, all along the
coast, you’ll find ramshackle beach bars serving up fresh seafood and rum cocktails.
• Check out the Casibari Rock, a natural formation that’s a result of strong trade
winds. Climb to the top and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the island.
• Head to De Palm Island to explore the underwater depths. Set just off the
Aruban coastline, this private reef is home to a huge variety of exotic sea life
and clusters of rainbow-coloured coral.
• Explore the castle-like ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mill. This place was at
the centre of Aruba’s 19th-century gold rush, and is well worth a chunk of
your time for its Medieval looks alone.
PhiliPsburg, St Maarten
Two flags rule over this tiny isle – the French and the Dutch. Philipsburg is the
Dutch capital and the place to head for a serious shopping splurge. Marigot,
meanwhile, is the French capital, where you can divide your time between bistros
and boutiques. Add to the mix dreamy Caribbean coves, kaleidoscopic reefs and
lashings of sunshine and you’ve got all the ingredients for tropical bliss.
• Give your credit card a duty-free workout in Philipsburg. From cut-price island
crafts to cutting-edge designer gear, you’ll find it all here. Front Street’s your
starting point, the town’s main artery that has lanes, alleyways and courtyards
leading off in all directions.
• Listen to the flutter of hundreds of tiny wings at the Butterfly Farm in Phillipsburg.
This place is home to more than 40 different species, including the Tree Nymph
and Blue Morph.
• Get to know the island’s underwater locals on the special Seaworld Explorer.
This boat is home to an underwater observatory where you can watch
sea turtles, stingrays and barracudas swim by.
rOad tOwn, British Virgin Islands
Nature’s the star attraction of Tortola. Ancient rainforests hog the limelight.
Beautiful botanical gardens vie for your attention. And opal-white beaches
like Apple Bay and Smuggler’s Cove really steal the show. It’s wild. It’s wondrous.
It’s waiting. Head for Road Town’s pretty Main Street. Here, you’ll find a medley
of shops, museums and historical buildings. And you won’t be able to resist
snapping away at the brightly-painted bungalows either.
• Soak up the beauty of Sage Mountain National Park. The British Virgin Island’s
highest point, it’s an oasis of tropical vines, trees and plants. You can even
saddle up and explore by horseback.
• Pay a visit to the Prospect Reef Resort, where you’ll get into the
water and splash around with the dolphins that call this place home.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Leave Tortola behind and make tracks for another of the British Virgin Islands –
Virgin Gorda. Among the must-sees here are the Baths, a cluster of sea pools
where you can swim or snorkel through the tunnels, caves and arches.
rOseau, Dominica
Known as the island of waterfalls, Dominica is as green as it is unspoilt.
Fairly off the tourist trail, this exotic isle is a paradise for nature lovers. In fact,
it’s one of the Caribbean hotspots for scuba-diving and rainforest trekking.
And of course, it’s got some superb beaches. Not the snow-white variety you’d
expect, but dramatic volcanic sweeps and secluded coves hidden by greenery.
Have your camera at the ready…
• Make your way through the rainforest of canopied ferns and soaring trees
in Canefield and you’ll arrive at the Emerald Pool. A sparkling grotto at the
foot of a 12-metre waterfall, it’s the perfect place for a cooling dip.
• Don’t miss the chance to river tube down Dominica’s biggest river, River Layou.
You’ll climb into what looks like a giant rubber ring, before battling currents,
rocks and rapids as you head downstream. It’s great fun, and gives you fantastic
close-up views of the island’s jungle-like scenery.
Visit your local travel shop | 0871 230 2800 | thomson.co.uk/cruise
Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. The cost of calls was correct at the time of publication.
See page 3.