Power snorkeling to canyoning: Caribbean vacations for guys

Caribbean vacation

By Lena Katz

Honest disclosure: As a female, I fully believe that most Caribbean vacations — actually, most vacations in general — should be mixed-gender. Women make things more fun, plus, we always are the ones who remember the sunblock.

But if you’re planning on four solid days of spear-fishing or survival training or anything that gets dirt/fish scales under the fingernails, I pass. You and your backpack-heaving buddies have my blessing to hit any of the amazing, remote, outdoorsy Caribbean vacation destinations below, have fun, take pictures, try to avoid major bruises, and I’ll see you when you’re back to civilization.

Cayman Islands

If you’re the type who likes to spend the morning jumping off a dive boat and the afternoon lounging on the beach with beers, the Caymans are just about perfect for a beach vacation. With more than 250 dive sites and 40 dive boat outfitters, this island nation offers access to a whole new underwater world.

Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort

Dive sites include famous Stingray City, the sunken warship at M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts Cayman Brac, or Bloody Bay Wall, the 1,000-foot dropoff located just offshore from Little Cayman.

Since this is a macho article, I’m not even going to talk about snorkeling … however, power snorkeling is a whole different deal. Basically an electric-powered Dive Propulsion Vehicle tows you through the water at speeds similar to a moped in city traffic. The Reef Resort on the East End of Grand Cayman offers it, and it’s fun, though not very Indiana Jones. For an awesome lodging deal in the Caymans, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort is actually offering 30% off rooms through September, but only if you book in March. So are its sister Marriott hotels in Curacao, St. Kitts and Aruba.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is climbing higher and higher on my favorites list for Caribbean vacations because there is so much to do on this island, and because you don’t need a passport to travel from the U.S., and because it’s one of the only Caribbean destinations where you see groups of post-college-aged guys (and women for that matter) out on the town, mingling with each other.

El Yunque Rainforest

In the daytime, you and your crew can join the golf crowd at one of 23 golf courses — 17 are championship level, so bring your A game. If you want to go where the “names” go, try for a reservation at Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande. That’s the site of the 2010 Puerto Rico Open — first PGA Tour event in the Caribbean. Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Gary Player have all designed courses on the island. Or you can go 180 degrees away from the golf courses, experientially speaking, and book a special adventure tour to El Yunque Rainforest or hike the trails at Toro Negro Forest.

Puerto Rico’s seen a few new luxury hotels recently, including the Verdanza Hotel in Isla Verde, and the long-anticipated W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island, which is actually opening March 25.

Belize

Belize is a few steps ahead of other Caribbean vacation spots when it comes to guy getaways — the country started building up its program of “Survivor-style Man-cations” more than a year ago. Specialized outfitters in the country offer multi-day fishing excursions, archaeological explorations of ancient Mayan caves, and “Wildman Adventures” that feature activities like learning how to start a fire with a piece of dry bamboo and a machete. Okay, now that’s Indiana Jones!

Belize hotels run the gamut from multi-bedroom condos like Grand Colony Island Villas to chains like Best Western to luxurious private island digs like Cayo Espanto.

Costa Rica

Canyoning in Costa Rica

And to wrap this list … how could I leave out Costa Rica? If you’re into surfing, miles of canopy tours, windsurfing or hiking on your Caribbean vacation, this country was made for you. Likewise if you like reggae music and really cheap beer and friendly people from every-which corner of the world. You could stay beachfront at the Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa in Guanacaste, or go up to the volcano and crash on the cheap in Lavas del Arenal … or stay at Morgans Cove Resort and do a little gambling at the adjacent Hard Rock casino.

But no matter where you stay on your Costa Rica beach vacation, if you’re truly on the macho tour, you must try the new adventure sport craze called canyoning — AKA waterfall rappelling. It’s a combination of hiking, rappelling down the side of a waterfall, jumping and swimming. Experts advise you to leave the hiking boots at home, and wear Tevas and — duhhh — clothes you don’tmind getting wet.