Miami Herald (Sunday)

4 Caribbean islands to experience in 2023

- TRAVELPULS­E BY VALENTIN FUENTES TravelPuls­e

In their long pilgrimage in search of food and weather conditions conducive to their reproducti­on, whales offer one of the most incredible spectacles on the planet every year. Here are the best places in the world to see these majestic creatures in the wild. Vizcaino Desert Reserve, the gray whale sanctuary

After a 20,000-kilometer journey every year, the spectacula­r gray whales arrive in Mexico. These aquatic mammals (friendly to humans) come from the icy waters of the Bering Strait to mate on the coasts of Baja California Sur.

Whale watching season runs

Virtually every Caribbean island has lifted restrictio­ns after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, although in some cases there are specific requiremen­ts travelers can quickly meet.

These four island destinatio­ns have opened their doors for millions of travelers and stand out as can’t-miss destinatio­ns as we enter the new year.

ANGUILLA

This island, located off the coast of St. Maarten, welcomes tourists with an excellent hotel infrastruc­ture, a wide range of activities, extraordin­ary natural areas, and first-class cuisine in restaurant­s that offer internatio­nal dishes with Caribbean fusion.

Little Bay is one of the most popular places on the island. There, visitors enjoy hours of snorkeling and swimming in crystal-clear waters. However, it from January to March in Magdalena Bay and Laguna Ojo Liebre, within the boundaries of the Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve, also known as the Gray Whale Sanctuary.

Enjoy the paradisiac­al Bahía Concepción in Mulegé, one of the most beautiful things to do in Baja California Sur. Bahia Concepcion has stunning beaches as well as crystal clear and calm waters. This is one of the first things to do in Baja California Sur if you visit the destinatio­n as a couple.

Tip: It is worth a road trip along the transpenin­sular highway surroundin­g it and is a treat for the eyes.

The Valdes Peninsula in Argentina This region in Argentinea­n Patagonia receives the largest breeding population of southern right whales. There are more than 2,000 whales that can be seen, especially from June to November, along with other species such as dolphins, penguins, elephant seals, and a should be noted that this spot does not have any services for tourists, so it is recommende­d to bring the necessary towels and drinks to spend the day. Also, avoid using sunscreens that are not friendly to the environmen­t.

In addition, several tour operators in Anguilla offer day sailing trips with lunch included in fabulous locations such as Prickly Pear Cays, a pair of protected islands classified as Wildlands by the Eastern Caribbean Natural Management Programme.

For history and culture lovers, there are two must-see sites: the James Ronald Webster Memorial and the Heritage Museum. The latter is located near East End Salt Pond and features an extensive collection of artifacts and photograph­s telling the island’s history, including the eras of slavery and phosphate trade.

CAYMAN ISLANDS

great variety of birds. For this reason, this peninsula is considered one of the best places in the world to see whales.

Patagonia is divided in two: the Atlantic, which offers the possibilit­y of enjoying numerous species of protected native fauna, and the Andean Patagonia, which exhibits the majesty of its forests, lakes, and millenary glaciers, with a wide range of snow, ideal for adventure tourism.

San Diego, among humpbacks and killer whales

Whale watching as an organized activity began in 1950 when the Cabrillo National

Monument in San Diego was declared a public place for gray whale watching.

Since then, thousands of tourists have come to this

American city to enjoy the spectacle

This beautiful Caribbean spot has regained momentum after the pandemic. It is again visited by tourists from all over the world, especially from the United States, as it’s just an hour away from Miami.

Tourists can dive among incredible reefs, participat­e in water sports and tour cultural attraction­s designed for couples and families. Plus, the hotels and restaurant­s on the Cayman Islands are top-notch, which ensures visitors a very comfortabl­e stay.

In Grand Cayman, one of the three islands that make up this fabulous destinatio­n, visitors can enjoy the appeal of the famous Seven Mile Beach and North Sound, where there is a large colony of rays that can be seen by snorkeling or diving. In Cayman Brac, visitors will find impressive stone caves and an abyss, where they can dive along a sunken ship. This island also has a beautiful forest ideal for bird watching as tourists walk the paths through lush nature.

SAINT LUCIA

This Caribbean island, recovering from the effects of the pandemic, has traditiona­lly been one of the most visited destinatio­ns in the world, with a rate of 2.3 tourists per resident. The extraordin­ary island combines fine white sand beaches, rainforest­s, flower fields and other scenic landscapes.

Located next to the islands of St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Martinique, this volcanic island has, in addition to its beaches and jungles, great mountains such as the famous Peter Piton and Gros Piton, ideal places for excursions and trekking along its lush trails. Most of Saint Lucia’s hotel infrastruc­ture is located on the west coast, where visitors enjoy extraordin­ary views of the Caribbean and volcanic landscapes.

The island offers plenty of places to enjoy outdoor activities and water sports, especially diving in the Marigot Bay area, where visitors can discover abundant marine life with long snorkeling sessions. Windsurfin­g and kayaking are also available.

In addition to these activities, tourists can tour the island on foot or by bike to enjoy nature, including banana, coconut, mango and guava trees. Soufrière is one of the most recommende­d cities for those visiting Saint Lucia due to its popular tourist areas such as Sulfur

 ?? DARREN ORNITZ/AURORA ANGUILLA RE TNS ?? Anguilla, located off the coast of St. Maarten, welcomes tourists with a wide range of activities and extraordin­ary scenery.
DARREN ORNITZ/AURORA ANGUILLA RE TNS Anguilla, located off the coast of St. Maarten, welcomes tourists with a wide range of activities and extraordin­ary scenery.
 ?? JANE TYSKA TNS ?? A humpback whale breaches near a sailing vessel during a whale-watching tour off the coast of San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2015. Another California city – San Diego – is one of the best places in the world to see a variety of whales, with viewing generally best from December to March.
JANE TYSKA TNS A humpback whale breaches near a sailing vessel during a whale-watching tour off the coast of San Francisco on Aug. 5, 2015. Another California city – San Diego – is one of the best places in the world to see a variety of whales, with viewing generally best from December to March.

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