Drag yourself away from the shore-side screen of palms and coconut oil, and you’ll find that the Caribbean offers a trove of unexpected adventure in beautiful locations.
Once known for its sun, sea, and sizzling inactivity on the sand, the Caribbean has recently upped its game for active travelers, with a steadily growing number of adventure activities available beyond sailing. As you’d expect, watersports are massive, from snorkeling and SUP in calm and protected waters to world-class kitesurfing. On land, there’s hiking, canyoning, and even mountain ultra-running. The most rewarding islands tend to be the larger ones—the bigger areas of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico simply offer more variety. However, the tall, volcanic islands in the Eastern Caribbean chain also offer excellent rainforest hiking, ziplines, waterfalls, and plunge pools.
Kitesurfing & Windsurfing
Due to constant trade winds streaming in from the Atlantic, the Caribbean islands have excellent kitesurfing and windsurfing conditions. Winds are best from December to June, while the waves are bigger from December into the early part of the year, allowing you to perfect your freestyle moves. It’s warm, of course, so a short wetsuit will usually suffice. Moreover, easygoing communities have grown around the favored spots, creating a great atmosphere in which to relax after a day spent being pummelled by the wind and waves. The best spots are found in Cabarete on the north shore of the Dominican Republic, where winds hit the coast across the bay; at Silver Rock, on the southern tip of Barbados, where fluorescent kites and sails scoot back and forth from the lighthouse; and the enclosed bay near Vieux Fort at the south tip of St Lucia. Other favored spots include the southern part of Martinique and Le Moule on the northern coast of Grande-Terre on Guadeloupe. Many of the smaller islands also have operators with a few rigs available for rent, including Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Tobago, and even glitzy St Barts.
Diving
Coral formations resembling a thousand green molar teeth, barrel sponges large enough to sit in, and networks of spiky staghorn teeming with marine life make Caribbean diving spectacular. The water is warm and visibility can reach up to 30m. Notably, some islands feature intentionally sunk wrecks, and every minimal island has at least one dive operator. The best dive spots include Tobago, especially its east end, famous for rays and large corals (one brain-coral equals the size of a semi-detached house) that flourish on nutrients brought in by currents from the Orinoco (ensure you are comfortable diving in currents). The Cayman Islands are known for their sheer walls, showcasing corals as bright as cathedral windows. Meanwhile, Bonaire, one of the Dutch Leeward Islands off Venezuela, is renowned for its colorful corals and sloping drop-offs. In the Bahamas, they have perfected diving with sharks, and off Dominica, you can dive in “Champagne,” where bubbles are released due to submarine volcanic activity. Additionally, don’t miss Saba and Jacques Cousteau’s marine park off Guadeloupe.
Hiking
Almost all of the Caribbean islands provide opportunities for hiking, usually suitable for a day trip, particularly the larger Greater Antilles and the tall volcanic islands of the Eastern Caribbean. In some locations, old farmers’ trails have been maintained, but often you will hike to dormant volcanic peaks. For all the exertion, these hikes are typically taken at a relaxed pace, often with a guide explaining the extraordinary flora and fauna in the rainforest. Remember that many hikes culminate at a waterfall and rock pool, so bringing your swimming gear is essential. Volcano climbs include the lush La Soufrière (1234m) in St Vincent and the dormant Mt Pelée (1397m) in Martinique, followed by the renowned Boiling Lake in Dominica, and the iconic, incisor-shaped Gros Piton in St Lucia. You can also embark on rainforest hikes to see birds in the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere at the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve. Dominica features a long-distance trail, spanning 184km from one end of the island to the other, a layout seen in both Martinique and Guadeloupe. Additionally, in the Dominican Republic, you can ascend to the Caribbean’s highest peak, Pico Duarte (3098m).
Canyoning & Caving
Across the rainforest-covered islands, endless waterfalls, canyons, and rivers create scenarios ideal for canyoning. Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Martinique, and Guadeloupe all provide exceptional canyoning experiences, and options exist in Dominica and Grenada as well. For a gentler adventure in the lower reaches of the rivers, tubing is available. Alternatively, those seeking an underground experience can try caving in Puerto Rico.
Surfing
Despite the 4800km stretch of the Atlantic Ocean, only a few locations in the Caribbean present reliable, accessible surf spots. Two of the best surf destinations are the east coast of Barbados at Bathsheba, where you can watch the action from cozy cafes, and at Rincon on the northwestern end of Puerto Rico.
Mountain Biking
Only a couple of islands feature designated bike parks. Anse Chastanet, near the Pitons in St Lucia, offers various trails, as does the Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park in Puerto Rico.
Ziplines
Ziplines are now widespread across the Caribbean—in St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua, and Puerto Rico (which boasts the world’s longest). This exhilarating activity allows you to see the rainforest up close and suddenly find yourself soaring across a 60m river gorge before re-entering the trees.
Swimming
The Caribbean hardly gets more inviting for wild swimmers. The highlight is the annual Nevis to St Kitts swim, which crosses the spectacular Narrows (4km of open water) between the sister islands. In the Cayman Islands (on Grand Cayman), you can swim with rays at Stingray City. Moreover, you can join the famous swimming pigs that inhabit Big Major Cay in the Bahamas.
Racing
Running in the Caribbean can be hot; hence, events typically commence early in the morning. Several islands host marathons (generally with half and often 10km options), and some are now introducing triathlons. They also feature off-road runs and a few adventure races. Martinique stages the Tchimbe Raid and the Guadarun, a six-stage race covering six islands around French Guadeloupe.
Night Kayaking
Kayaking in Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques, Puerto Rico, offers an extraordinary experience; it’s best enjoyed on dark, moonless nights. Every paddle stroke releases weird white-and-green whorls of light (as millions of tiny dinoflagellates emit a glow when disturbed). Observe fish zipping beneath you, their tails flashing left and right, alongside manta rays gliding like glowing spaceships.
