choose your own adventure - new Caribbean vacation travel ideas

Black Enterprise, May, 1999 by Lisa Tabb

Iguana Mama offers a repertoire of bike excursions ranging from overnighters to day trips, strenuous pedaling to easy coastal tours. The tour operator provides plenty of support for riders: food along the way, vans to carry your gear--even high-end bikes for kids. All that's left for you to do is pedal and soak up the view. Remember to wear your helmet, dress in fluorescent clothing at night and always apply your back brakes before your front brakes so you don't flip over the handlebars. To book your bike tour with Iguana Mama, call 800-849-4720.

Call the Dominican Republic Tourist Information Center at 800-752-1151 for other suggestions.

Child friendly? Yes, Iguana Mama has bikes for everyone.

Flight time:

From New York: 3 hrs.

From Miami: 2 hrs.

Entry requirements: A valid passport. You also need a Dominican Tourist Card (U.S. $10) to enter the country. Your travel agent or airline may sell them. Some charter flights include the tourist card with the purchase of your ticket. Or buy it when you arrive at the airport.

Biking Gear

A backpack/hydration pack, helmet, bike shoes, bike gloves, wraparound sunglasses, padded bike shorts

Other Great Biking Spots

Belize's Maya Mountains St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Park

underwater in bonaire

This island offers an entree of action for scuba divers

Bonaire, located 86 miles east of Aruba and 50 miles north of Venezuela, is one of the most progressive nations on the planet when it comes to environmental protection. The movement here dates back decades. In 1979 the government deemed the waters surrounding the boomerang-shaped island a marine park and clamped down on industrial polluters, spearfishers and coral collectors. Today Bonaire's underwater natural resources--its coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves--remain uniquely intact.

What's more, because Bonaire experiences very little rainfall, its oceans are exceptionally calm and clear year-round. Underwater visibility often exceeds 100 feet, and temperatures hover in the low 80s. Add it up and you're talking about one of the premier spots for scuba diving in the world.

Much of the best diving in Bonaire is within wading distance of the beach. The best tour operators on the island are connected to two long-standing resorts: Captain Don's Habitat (599-7-8290) and Sand Dollar Dive & Photo (599-7-5252).

For more information on Bonaire, visit the island's Website at www.bonaire.org or call the Bonaire Tourist Board at 800-266-2473.

Child friendly? Yes

Flight time:

From New York: 5 hrs. (includes a flight change)

From Miami: 2 1/2 hrs.

Entry requirements: A valid passport or voter's registration card or a birth certificate with raised seal plus an onward ticket

Scuba Diving Gear

Snorkel, mask, underwater camera fins, bathing suit

Other Great Scuba Diving Spots

The ease side of Cayman

Backen Little Cayman

The Bahama Out Islands

Aruba Curacao

The Bay Islands of Honduras

get to stepping in belize

Trekking through lush rainforests is a natural adventure

Unlike its Caribbean cousins, Belize is securely hooked to a whole continent. Despite its South American moorings, however, Belize's coastal vibe remains thoroughly Caribbean: white sand beaches, swaying palms--the whole nine yards. Inland, Belize has one of the, world's great rainforests, and the hiking is prime. A typical trek involves bird-watching (Belize is filled with toucans and parrots), orchid sniffing (250 varieties grow here) and butterfly chasing. Elusive jaguars and noisy howler monkeys add a hint of danger to your stay.