I am trying to decide which caribbean island to visit. Interests are snorkeling from the beach, birdwatching, staying in luxury accommodations and eating good food. Prefer quiet, honeymoon-type hotels as opposed to lots of activities/kids/watersports/volleyball, etc. I was originally thinking of Caneel Bay on St. John but I am planning to go in Mar/April and it sounds like they will still be renovating at that time. Does anyone have other suggestions? I'd really like to stay on an island with a lot of rainforests/trees which likely means many birds, as opposed to a more arid island. And prefer a hotel that has a lot of forested grounds so you can bird right around the hotel.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Joni

I've said it before and I'll say it again check out St. Vincent and the Grnadines.

There are parts of Barbados very lush in feeling. Flower Forest and Andromeda Gardens are spectacular and have numerous birds. Coral Reef Club is the class act there. Lush grounds, fine food, low-rise, plantation style. Family owned and run for 50 years. There is a bonus; when the birds quit at sunset, the tree frogs take over for the night. Their mating call is a crystal clear bell-like sound, prettier than most birds. If you go to any open air restaurant, they serenade you from the foiliage. When you stay oceanfront, you are lulled to sleep by the sounds of the ocean and the frogs.
Wonderful island. See www.barbados.org
and www.coralreefbarbados.com

Oops, I almost forgot. Coral Reef Club is adjacent to an underwater park with snorkeling. You can also do wade-in snorkeling. Not as spectacular as at Caneel.

Joni: While I love St John...you will not find rainforests there.You will find awesome snorkeling,nice locals,beautiful turquoise beaches and beautiful mountainous views.

I have heard that for birding and rainforests that Costa Rica is great.Maybe Faithie will respond to this as she has been there a few times.

Also Jamaica could be good.I plan on going to Negril in the next few months.

Hopefully people who have been to both can help you more.Good luck!!

Great suggestions. I've actually been to Costa Rica and just loved it but we really want to try out the Caribbean for our next trip. And my husband doesn't want to go to Jamaica as he would be too nervous hiking around on our own.

The Coral Reef Club on Barbados sounds really interesting. Have you stayed there and if so, what other activities did you do while there?

Thanks for all your help!
Joni

Barbados snorkeling isn't very good. If you were pleased with Costa Rica snorkeling, you'll probably be ok at Barbados though. Tobago used to have the perfect resort (Anos Vale), but nothing there now that I know of that's truly fine. The Grenadines were hit pretty hard in one of last year's hurricanes; not sure what it's like there now (snorkeling really is great though-- but not better than St John). Jamaica has some great rain forest stuff and one wouldn't have to hike alone (Ritz Carlton, e.g. has different "tours&quot-- but the snorkeling on Jamaica isn't good. I'd love to find the same thing you're looking for!!

It might be impossible to find an island with rainforests and excellent snorkeling.(I also would like that)I would just figure out what is the most important and go from there.Good luck

In actuality The Grenadines for the most part sustained minimal damage during Ivan the Terrible. The island hardest hit was Grenada which is not a part of the Grenadines. I visited most of the islands in the chain in Dec.'04 and nothing really noticeable. Could not even tell a hurricane had come thru 3 months earlier so donot let that be a deterrent. The main island St.Vincent has the rainforest, volcano, lush green valleys, the St.Vincent parrot, Botanical Gardens. The closest resort is Young Island just off the southern tip of St.V. Many trees nice beach private intimate setting but can be expensive. Johnny Depp stayed here while filming Pirates of the Caribbean. The other islands in the chainare all within close proximity and an easy day or 1/2 day trip. If your into nature and the rainforest birds natural habitats etc you truly can't go wrong. Websearch SVG tourism and www.youngisland.com Good luck

Joni, A possible solution is Belize, although you have to spend your diving/snorkeling portion on one of the Cayes out by Blue Hole, then the rainforest, bird watching portion in the country proper. There are also amazing ruins nearby like Tikal in Guatamala. As for the luxury accomodations, I understand that Francis Ford Coppola has established a few high end hotels that have a good rep (my wife and I prefer the more modest hotels, but we found some nice ones for a reasonable price.

My wife and did this in 2003, spending I think 3 days diving at South Caye (I think that was the name) at the Blue Marlin Resort. They have ocean front and garden accommodations...the ocean front have their stilts actually in the ocean, and the garden are about 50 ft back from the ocean, so either way, the views are outrageous. This Caye was tiny (about 1 mile around) and seemed to have about 10 people on it while we were there. Fairly lush in the middle, with beaches all around, but the vegetation would not be for birding. After we took boat/bus to San Ignacio (again, I'm working from memory so I might have gotten the town name wrong, it's right near the Guatamala border), we spent about 4 or 5 days touring jungles, climbing among ruins, rafting through caves. Lots to do.

Anyway, we liked it and it costs about the same to get to as other caribbean locations.

Tobago DOES have a rainforest AND great snorkelling !!

For Rainforests and snorkling skip the islands and go to Belize! Don't expect Sandals type resorts here, and don't expect a lot of tourists. The country is rugged and BEAUTIFUL! The roads are horrible, but renting a car is worth the abuse because of the breathtaking scenery. If you take puddle jumpers around the country you miss out. Francis Ford Coppola's Blancaneau Lodge is a romantic and unique jungle experience, and you can split your vacation between that resort and it's sister resort Turtle Inn in Placencia (on the coast). Both are 5 star resorts offering first class service and beautiful accomodations--Cabana style. For pictures and descriptions of the resorts, visit WWW.Blancaneaux.com. Above all, I recommend taking a tour of the Jaguar Preserve (you get to hike through rainforest to a beautiful waterfall where you can swim), visiting Caracol and Xunantunich maya ruins, and taking a snorking tour around Laughing Bird Caye. If there's time, while at Blancaneaux, visit 1000 Foot Falls and take an early bird horseback ride. In Belize you will not be harrassed by locals trying to sell you drugs or souveniers.... in fact the locals are very kind and genuine (and honest), and all speak fluent English. The country is extremely clean and environmentally conscious. I cannot do this extraordinary country justice in my description.... you have to see it for yourself and be amazed. Good luck with your travel plans.

How about the Cotton House in Mustique. One of the best small hotels (listed by Leading Great Hotels) has snorkelling right off its dock as well as a dive operation. see www.cottonhouse.net

When you want to hike in the rain forest the hotel will organize a day in St Vincent where you can hike up the volcano through the rain forest or to the Trinity Falls (water falls with a natural whirl pool in the bottom