Island adventures

Three ways to discover the Caribbean’s volcanic landscapes, tropical rainforests and colourful coral reefs from a small-ship yacht cruise. Words: Kerry Walker

1

RELAX IN SOUFRIÈRE’S HOT SPRINGS, ST LUCIA

One look at the dramatic peaks of the Pitons in St Lucia and you’ll immediately fall for this island’s smouldering beauty. Soufrière, in the island’s south, is a hotbed of geothermal activity, with volcanic summits rising high above botanical gardens, waterfalls, cocoa plantations and golden beaches. For an al fresco spa day, head to Sulphur Springs and make a DIY mud mask before taking a dip in the mineral-rich springs in the collapsed crater of ‘the world’s only drive-in volcano’.

2

GO SCUBA DIVING AT

LES SAINTES, GUADELOUPE Sprinkled like stepping stones off the south coast of Guadeloupe, the Îles des Saintes are as close as you can get to a tropical island paradise. Framed by shallow reefs, these volcanic islands are diving heaven, with coral, caves, shipwrecks, steep drop-offs and an underwater volcano, Sec Pâté, to discover. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, you’ll see plenty of marine life — turtles, spotted dolphins, barracuda, angelfish and, if you’re lucky, even humpback whales.

3

HIT THE MARKET IN PORT ELIZABETH, BEQUIA

Bequia (‘island of the clouds’) in the Grenadines is an instant heart-stealer, with its slow pace of life and palm-dotted beaches. Wrapping beautifully around Admiralty Bay and with a backdrop of forested hills, Port Elizabeth is the buoyant hub of the island. For a true flavour of local life, take a stroll around the open-air market, where stalls are piled high with fruit, then relax with a glass of cool, freshly-tapped coconut juice.

Pool on the Emerald Azzurra yacht From above: St. Lucia’s Twin Pitons; Port Elizabeth, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines