TRAVEL SPECIAL................ UNUSUAL WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE CARIBBEAN

UNUSUAL WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THE CARIBBEAN

Though the warm sands and frosty rum cocktails could distract anyone for hours, there is more to the Caribbean than that. From wild pig swimming in the Bahamas, to biking through salt flats in Curaçao, travel writer Evelyn Torres suggests excursions for which it’s definitely worth leaving the sunlounger

1 Cycle through the salt flats in Curaçao

See the sights and stretch your legs with a mountain bike ride through Curaçao. Wannabike offers tours of Jan Thiel Lagoon, with its unspoilt views and impressive salt flats. From the Lions Dive & Beach Resort you can cycle the trail developed for the First World Cup Mountain Biking race in 2006.
Try this: See how many flamingoes you can count. The lagoon is home to the largest colony of them on the island.

2 Swim with pigs in the Bahamas

Swimming with dolphins is so 2014. On the island of Big Major Cay, the unlikely bathing beauties are 20 resident pigs. Take a boat ride from Royal Plantation Island to watch the friendly animals paddling in the clear blue waters, or jump in to join them. Click the image above to watch them in action.
Try this: Now’s your chance for a ‘pig selfie’, so don’t forget your camera.

3 Go underground in Bermuda

While Bermuda is known for its picturesque beaches and swoon-worthy sunsets, the most striking views are actually underground. Visit the Crystal and Fantasy Caves to marvel at pristine white stalactites, clear pools of water and spectacular rock formations over 50ft beneath you. In Fantasy Cave, the calcite mineral deposits on the wall look like waterfalls frozen in time. 
Try this: Arrive early in the day for a more serene experience. The larger tour groups get in just before lunch.

4 Get a bird’s eye view of the rainforest in St Lucia

Heart-pumping action awaits when you book a zip-line experience with Viator. Enjoy a rainforest hike and an aerial tram tour over the canopy, before clipping on for the descent. There are ten different zip lines, allowing you to fly from platform to platform, enjoying the views as you go.
Try this: This is what a GoPro was made for. Strap it on to your helmet and record the ride.

5 Chase waterfalls in the Dominican Republic

Don a helmet and swimsuit and prepare to climb, jump and splash along the Dominican Republic’s natural waterslides. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Northern Corridor, the 27 Waterfalls of the Rio Damajagua are nature’s waterpark. Click the image above to find out more.
Try this: Fancy a hike as well as a swim? Book a tour with Iguana Mama and learn about the area’s tropical plants and fish.

 ADVENTURE • DECEMBER 2015