{"id":4689,"date":"2010-03-18T08:57:05","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T13:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=4689"},"modified":"2017-03-16T13:27:09","modified_gmt":"2017-03-16T18:27:09","slug":"power-snorkeling-to-cayoning-caribbean-vacations-for-guys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2010\/03\/power-snorkeling-to-cayoning-caribbean-vacations-for-guys\/","title":{"rendered":"Power snorkeling to canyoning: Caribbean vacations for guys"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Caribbean<\/p>\n

By Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

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

But if you\u2019re 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,\u00a0 have fun, take pictures, try to avoid major bruises, and I\u2019ll see you when you\u2019re back to civilization.<\/p>\n

Cayman Islands<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re 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<\/a>. With more than 250 dive sites and 40 dive boat outfitters, this island nation offers access to a whole new underwater world. <\/p>\n

\"Caribbean

Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort<\/p><\/div>\n

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

Since this is a macho article, I\u2019m not even going to talk about snorkeling \u2026 however, power <\/em>snorkeling<\/strong> 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\u2019s fun, though not very Indiana Jones. For an awesome lodging deal in the Caymans, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort<\/a> is actually offering 30% off<\/strong> rooms through September, but only if you book in March. So are its sister Marriott hotels in Curacao, St. Kitts and Aruba.<\/p>\n

Puerto Rico<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019t need a passport to travel from the U.S., and because it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"Beach

El Yunque Rainforest<\/p><\/div>\n

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 \u201cnames\u201d go, try for a reservation at Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande. That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Puerto Rico\u2019s seen a few new luxury hotels recently, including the Verdanza Hotel<\/a> in Isla Verde, and the long-anticipated W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island<\/a>, which is actually opening March 25.<\/p>\n

Belize<\/strong><\/p>\n

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 \u201cSurvivor-style Man-cations\u201d more than a year ago. Specialized outfitters in the country offer multi-day fishing excursions, archaeological explorations of ancient Mayan caves, and \u201cWildman Adventures\u201d<\/strong> that feature activities like learning how to start a fire with a piece of dry bamboo and a machete. Okay, now that\u2019s<\/em> Indiana Jones!<\/p>\n

Belize hotels run the gamut from multi-bedroom condos like Grand Colony Island Villas<\/a> to chains like Best Western to luxurious private island digs like Cayo Espanto<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Costa Rica<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Beach

Canyoning in Costa Rica<\/p><\/div>\n

And to wrap this list \u2026 how could I leave out Costa Rica? If you\u2019re 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<\/a> in Guanacaste, or go up to the volcano and crash on the cheap in Lavas del Arenal<\/a> \u2026 or stay at Morgans Cove Resort<\/a> and do a little gambling at the adjacent Hard Rock casino.<\/p>\n

But no matter where you stay on your Costa Rica beach vacation, if you\u2019re truly on the macho tour, you must try the new adventure sport craze called canyoning — AKA waterfall rappelling. It\u2019s a combination of hiking, rappelling down the side of a waterfall,\u00a0 jumping and swimming<\/strong>. Experts advise you to leave the hiking boots at home, and wear Tevas and — duhhh — clothes you don\u2019tmind getting wet.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n