Although you can observe butterflies, crocodiles, sharks, parrots, peacocks and other birds at the Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter, sea turtles are the prime attractions. At the Breeding Pond, view swimming green sea turtles and look for beach nests where females lay their eggs from May to October. Check the box office for times when staff feed the turtles or buy a package of turtle food to feed them yourself. For even closer encounters, visit the turtle touch tanks or swim and snorkel with them in the turtle lagoon. Hell is only a pitchfork’s throw from George Town, Grand Cayman’s capital. A field of jagged black limestone engendered the small town’s name. At Hell Post Office, you can mail postcards and shop for satanic souvenirs, including mugs, hot sauce and T-shirts proclaiming: “I’ve been to Hell and back!” The road to Hell is signposted with good directions. www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-ca Located 80 kilometres off Florida’s east coast, The Bahamas is comprised of 700 islands and cays, with 16 unique island destinations. Among its numerous resorts, Atlantis Paradise Island – a 10-minute drive from Nassau – must be seen to be believed. In addition to three beaches, 11 pools and many hotel amenities, it features the world’s largest resort marine habitat. More than 50,000 aquatic animals represent 250 marine species, ranging from sharks to stingrays. A 141-acre water park includes thrilling water slides for the grandkids and a meandering Lazy River Ride where you can leisurely float onmulticoloured tubes through tropical landscapes. A golf course, spa, casino and evening entertainment ensure that you won’t run out of things to do. To shop for duty-free items and Bahamian souvenirs – ranging from handmade straw hats and bags to conch shell jewellery – visit Nassau’s huge Straw Market. Haggling is part of the fun! www.bahamas.com At the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, 20 minutes from the capital of Bridgetown, dozens of frolicking, chattering green monkeys are not in cages. Neither are you, as you stroll through their forested domain. They’re called “green” because their brownand-grey coats have an olive-green sheen in the sunlight. The best time to see them is during their afternoon feeding time. Barbados celebrates everything from rum and golf to reggae music and field hockey at year-round special events. For dazzling costumes, steel band music and street fairs, it’s hard to beat Barbados Crop Over, which marks the end of the sugar cane harvest. Festivities include parades, calypso performances, dancing and traditional foods and drinks. Costume competitions are explosions of colour, with sparkling sequins and feather-covered headpieces. The designers’ creativity will amaze you. www.visitbarbados.org The Bahamas Barbados Cayman Islands CSANews | WINTER 2021 | 17 Travel
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx