Caribbean Attractions - An Introduction to Great Vacation Experiences

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The Caribbean's most famous attractions offer a chance for vacationers to embrace nature, go adventuring and experience wildlife up close.

Waterfall Hikes / Dunn's River Falls
The most famous waterfalls in the Caribbean is located on Jamaica at Dunn's River Falls. Visitors climb the waterfalls in a daisy chain of people. The climb up the rocks and through the splashing water is 600 feet and challenging, but it draws all ages and anyone who is moderately fit.

Other islands have numerous and sometimes more challenging hikes through rain forests before reaching waterfalls. Islands with well-known falls include St. Lucia, Trinidad, Dominica and Grenada.

Touring Historical Towns
Anyone with an interest in history will find Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as a starting point for understanding the history of the Caribbean. Sites include the forts of San Cristobal and El Morro, both built in the 1500s; and La Fortaleza, also built in the 1500s and the oldest governor's mansion in the Western Hemisphere still in use.

Many other Caribbean destinations such as the British Virgin Islands still have forts, buildings and churches dating back centuries to the time of the original Spanish, Dutch and British explorers.

Canopying and Cave Tubing
People who take western Caribbean cruises will have the chance to try two activities popular on Central American stops -- canopying and cave tubing.

Canopying is common in countries such as Honduras and Costa Rica. Visitors climb a ladder up a tree as high as 100 feet into the air. They are strapped to zip lines and glide from one tree to another with views of rain forests, monkeys and mountains.

Fun seekers will find that cave tubing in Belize is the most popular adventure excursion in the country. Visitors go to Sibun Caves Branch Archaeological Park, where they jump into a grotto, sink into a large inner tube, and float down a river and through a series of dark caves once used by Mayans for religious ceremonies.

Swimming with Dolphins, Sea Turtles, Barracuda and Sting Rays
A half dozen destinations including Cancun and the Bahamas offer visitors a chance to swim with trained dolphins in large enclosed pens. People have a chance to be dragged through the water, thrown into the air and even get a hug.

Barracuda usually don't hug people, but for anyone with an interest in seeing them, various snorkeling trips at places like the U.S. Virgin Islands might provide a chance at spotting them. Another swimming adventure is in Barbados, which is one of the few locations with excursions to swim with giant sea turtles that have become comfortable having people in the water with them.

The most famous experience with sea life is Stingray City off Grand Cayman. Vacationers can take excursion boats out to a sandbar where a large school of sting ray have become used to swimming with people and even touching them. Visitors jump into the water, which is only three or four feet deep, and go snorkeling with the sting rays.

Vacationers will find an array of Caribbean attractions that will suit many interests and provide a chance to do more than spend time on the beach.