Kayaking in Dominica, ziplining in Saint Lucia and hiking in Jamaica? The Caribbean is an energy boost for active travellers
A holiday in the Caribbean could mean sipping a rum punch on the beach – or it could mean exploring the tropical settings on an active trip.
Perhaps clients will even feel inspired by the plethora of sporting events coming to the region, which include the second Central American and Caribbean Beach Games contest next year.
So which islands should you focus on for clients keen to get their hearts pumping? We’ve picked out a few of the best spots to suit every budget.
1. Jamaica
The top Caribbean destination for British travellers in 2023, Jamaica has the ambitious target of attracting 250,000 visitors from the UK and Ireland by 2025. The country is known for its beaches, reggae and Rastafari culture, but the Caribbean’s largest English-speaking island has plenty to offer the active, budget-conscious traveller too.
Jamaica’s sole national park, the Blue and John Crow Mountains, has a four-hour hike leading to the island’s highest peak, at 2,256m. There are plenty of waterfalls offering hiking and climbing opportunities, including the ever-popular Dunn’s River Falls and bright blue waters of Island Gully Falls.
Less than an hour west of these falls sits the adult-only Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa. This all-inclusive hotel has 10 workout stations scattered around the grounds, so guests can get a dose of fresh air while they work up a sweat. Activities abound: there’s a paddle tennis and pickleball court, while unlimited non-motorised watersports are included.
Book it: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort and Spa starts at £1,634 with Tui, based on two adults sharing a Premier Double Room, including transfers and flights from Manchester on June 4.
tui.co.uk
2. Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia might have a reputation as a honeymoon paradise, but amid all the happy couples lies an adventurer’s utopia.
Perhaps the most famous challenge is the Gros Piton hiking trail, which leads to the tip of Saint Lucia’s tallest sugarloaf peak. The round trip, which takes three to four hours hours and requires a little scrambling towards the top, rewards hikers with panoramas of Petit Piton, framed by banana trees.
For a less strenuous day out, suggest Rainforest Adventure park in the more remote eastern side of Saint Lucia, where they can whizz through the canopy on eight ziplines or birdwatch on the jungle trail.
The island is also home to one of the Caribbean’s best-equipped fitness resorts, BodyHoliday, where exercise classes, stress-management sessions, bike tours, sailing lessons, scuba diving courses and tai chi workshops come as part of the standard package.
Book it: Inspiring Travel offers seven nights’ all-inclusive in a Garden View Room from £3,109, based on two sharing. The price includes private transfers and flights from Gatwick, based on travel between June 1 and September 30, 2025.
inspiringtravel.co.uk
3. Dominica
One of the least-populated nations in the world, Dominica’s primordial landscapes remain unspoiled, with nine active volcanoes, dramatic black-sand beaches and a year-round pod of sperm whales.
The island’s rainforests are criss-crossed with paths, including the 115-mile Waitukubuli National Trail, the Caribbean’s only long-distance walking trail.
Connecting historic trails created by runaway slaves and the indigenous Kalinago population, it’s conveniently split into 14 sections, so trekkers can pick and choose.
Snorkellers and divers can explore spots such as Champagne Reef, where bubbles rise through volcanic vents. The Waitukubuli Sea Trail, which was launched in 2023, also comprises a 40-mile sea-kayaking route that offers views of Dominica’s dramatic coastline with stops at seaside villages.
For a base, suggest the Fort Young Hotel and Dive Resort, a stalwart set on the site of an 18th-century fort, which also offers whale watching and canyoning.
Book it: A week’s all-inclusive at Fort Young Hotel starts at £5,299 with Elegant Resorts, based on two sharing a Fort Ocean View Room. The price includes flights on August 5, UK lounge passes, all meals and daily excursions.
elegantresorts.co.uk
3 of the best
New wellness hotels
South Bank, Turks and Caicos Islands
This five-star retreat, which opened on November 1, offers townhouse-style accommodation across multiple islands and is home to a spa that overlooks a lagoon.
livesouthbank.com
Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada
Six Senses’ first foray into the Caribbean offers personalised sleep programmes, detoxing and cleansing practices, plus spice-infused spa treatments.
sixsenses.com
Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, Antigua
Due to open in 2028, the resort will feature a Tone Gym and a Nikki Spa with a thalassotherapy centre.
nikkibeach.com
Insider insight
Sean-Pierre Webster, southern UK business development officer, Jamaica Tourist Board
“Jamaica is a destination filled with adventure for all ages, from active experiences like daring ziplines and muddy quad biking to river experiences such as rafting on the Martha Brae or climbing Dunn’s River Falls. Jamaica offers immense value, not just as a place to ‘beach’ but also as somewhere to push yourself and come alive.”
PICTURES: Lauren Segal; Jamaica Tourist Board; Alex Maguire
