Castaway Catamaran Sail and Snorkel to Shipwreck Cove - St. Thomas

We knew that snorkeling was something we'd like to try during our Caribbean Cruise.  There are many choices for this, and we decided to go on the Castaway Girl, departing from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.  This ended up being an excellent choice!

You take about a 20 minute ride out to the cove for your snorkeling.  You should be aware, depending on the sea, it can be a rough ride, but not unpleasant.  Once there, you receive instructions on how to snorkel including safety information as well as how to enjoy yourself in the water.  All of the equipment you'll need is provided. 

Once in the water, your tour guide will take you around the cove explaining the different sea life you're seeing, which cannot be fully appreciated in just photos.  She also shows a shipwreck under water that she'll swim through.  This was definitely a very exhilarating tour that we'd recommend to others looking for a snorkeling trip in St. Thomas.  

After everyone got back on the boat, there was plenty of Rum Punch to go around (and other non-alcoholic drinks for kids).  Refills were unlimited and simple trail mix snacks were provided as well.

Mountain Top Downhill Rainforest Trek - Sint Maarten

Mountain Top Downhill Rainforest Trek in St. Maarten is a great excursion for those in good physical condition. Let me repeat that: only do this if you are in GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION.

People on this excursion are taken to the top of Pic Paradis by bus and then a very bumpy ride by truck. The hike downhill from there is much easier than the hike uphill would have been, but some of the sections of the trail are steep, rocky, or both. However, the views from the top of the hill are worth the hike back down.

The trail has two sections, the first small section ends at a road for people who signed up and decide they can't handle the hike. From here, someone from Loterie Farm will come pick you up. However, beyond that, there is no turning back.

The area that you hike through was once a rainforest that was destroyed and turned into a sugar plantation. You'll hike past a slave-built rum distillery, see lots of critters (we saw lizard-type creatures both big and small) and tropical fruits and learn about the local flora.

This is a very cool excursion. It takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to hike down the mountain, and you will get sweaty. But the views and the history you'll learn about St. Maarten, and the ride to Loterie Farm and to the top of Pic Paradis makes everything worth it.