Top Ten Aquatic Adventures
Presented by AAA Travel & Travel Impressions
Rather have flippers than feet? This list is one to save. Splash and play at the places that make H2O H2WHOA!
Moon Palace Jamaica Grande
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
With ongoing generous resort credits, there’s no reason not to dive right in.
Part of "living the Palace Life" is staying in the sumptuous accommodations of this new build and exploring outstanding "Awe–inclusive" features like the FlowRider® Double Wave Simulator and 15–foot water slide…along with all the standard non–motorized water sports. Among those, you can choose paddle boating, kayaking, windsurfing, and more. But with the resort credit promotion Travel Impressions frequently offers, WOW, do the options open up!
Of course, there's a snorkeling tour, a sunset cruise on a catamaran, but you can also head over to Konoko Falls in the hills of St. Ann or check swimming with dolphins off your bucket list—their habitat is right on site. There's also the Mystic Mountain Sky Explorer if you want to get your kicks in both water and air, taking you through Mystic Mountain Park and providing access to all its features, like a water slide and infinity pool. Or, splurge on the Horseback Ride 'N Swim, set along Papillon Cove, or do the Blue Hole, River Tubing & Zipline combo tour, which takes you down three miles of the White River, over a 17th century bridge, past a historic coconut plantation, into natural pools, and through underwater caves and tunnels.
Buccament Bay Resort
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
With 32 islands and cays, it’s no wonder this is a boater’s dream come true.
There is spectacular diving to be done in St. Vincent, especially around Buccament Bay Resort, where an on–site center facilitates your outing. From wall dives to huge reefs, yawning caves, and wreck sites, all with outstanding visibility, there's plenty to keep you busy underwater. But staying just above the surface has its draws, too.
Hop on a vessel to Mustique, Bequia, or both, and soak up the sun on Princess Margaret Beach at the latter island. If you prefer only to come up for air, a day trip to Tobago Cays should be on your docket. These five small, uninhabited islands that give the formal marine park its name are surrounded by a horseshoe of coral gardens splendid for snorkeling. Another opportunity for a ride and swim presents itself with an excursion to Wallilabou on the leeward side, where you can see the film set of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies before snorkeling at black–sand Mt. Wynne Beach.
Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Every coast is rich in Costa Rica, but only this one offers Unlimited-Luxury® and La Cascada.
The first AMResort to open in Central America, this property showed us all how to make the most of Costa Rica and its stunning Guanacaste coastline. Scuba diving is a classic deep water activity here, with manta rays, whales, dolphins, turtles, eels, and colorful fish to keep you company. Closer to the surface, there's always snorkeling, which is included along with kayaking.
Even closer would be kite surfing, stand–up paddleboarding, surfing, and deep sea fishing—ask your agent how to book it all in advance. Closest yet? The two oceanfront swimming pools with a steaming whirlpool and the La Cascada water slide and pool for kids.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Kona, Hawaii
You can hang ten in Hawaii…or get creative. Infinite options let you take your pick.
We all know Hawaii is a surfer's paradise, but you don't have to get on a board to enjoy the Kohala Coast's oceanic allure. In fact, at this hotel, you can even change gears from saltwater seas to a four–acre freshwater lagoon! From either one, you can hire a kayak, hydro–bike, snorkel gear, boogie boards, and more. For a bit more guidance in your aqueous adventures, there's also sailing cruises, deep sea diving, whale watching in season, snorkel sailing, sunset cocktail cruises on a catamaran, glass–bottom boat tours, and private charters for the ultimate in VIP treatment. For more boating fun, do the complimentary canal cruise on one of the resorts' mahogany boats, a tour that takes you back down to the lagoon.
As if that weren't enough, you can also take a scenic walk to the Anaeho'omalu Bay, a "salt–and–pepper beach" great for snorkeling or swimming. You can also book a range of experiences at Dolphin Quest, the only dolphin attraction of its kind on the Big Island.
Great Barrier Reef
Queensland, Australia
Starting with the obvious: the one and only legendary Great Barrier Reef.
No list of aquatic adventure would be complete without mentioning the largest barrier reef in the world, the only living thing visible from space and one of the original seven wonders of the world. There's an astounding amount of things to do here, with snorkeling and scuba diving topping the list, and rightfully so. You can't kick a fin a foot without seeing something new and exciting, no matter your launch point.
Those aren't the only ways to see the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, though. Non–divers can still witness life under the sea with easily available submarine reef tours. New innovations put you right in the thick of the action without even getting your hair wet! Scuba–Doo—an amazing, steerable underwater scooter—and Seawalker—a helmet that allows you to breathe normally while viewing marine life from an underwater platform—get you up close and personal without training. But if that's a little too close for comfort, there's always glass–bottom, sailing, and liveaboard boats for multi–day journeys.
Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa
Runaway Bay, Jamaica
Who says splashing around is just for kids? This adults-only resort proves it’s not.
Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, this all–inclusive resort makes it a must to take advantage of their motorized and non–motorized water sports alike. Set on a stunning strip of beach on Runaway Bay, the kayaks, sailboats, and Hobie Cats call out to you while readily available snorkel gear invites you to just jump right in. Want to take a deeper plunge? Look into their scuba diving program.
This great location also puts you in easy reach of other watery adventures, like joining a human chain and climbing Dunn's River Falls, one of the region's most popular attractions. Nearby Mystic Mountain offers water– and air–based soft adventure, from bobsledding in the jungle to the Sky Explorer ride and zipline, both bookable in advance. There's also dolphin swim tours, which put you in the midst of friendly dolphins, and the Green Grotto Caves and its underwater lake, Pear Tree River, and plenty else to explore.
St. Croix, St. John & St. Thomas
United States Virgin Islands
How can we play favorites when these siblings are all so charming?
Yes, these three islands are distinctly different in personality, style, and offerings. But how can we choose a favorite among three sister islands when, technically, they're one destination? The U.S. Virgin Islands are meant to be enjoyed together, making quick and easy island–hopping one way to have an adventure at sea.
In St. Croix, you're welcome to dive a wreck, wall, pier, and reef all in one day. Its Buck Island features underwater trails to follow, too, but if you're looking to blaze one of your own, there's always kitesurfing. You can do that on St. John as well, harnessing the power of the wind to ride waves in exciting new ways. Diving is equally big there—along with SNUBA®—and in St. Thomas. It's easy and accessible in both, and in all three, you can head on down secure in the knowledge that here in U.S. waters any boat you choose to take has been inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard and captained by USCG–certified professionals. That includes sailboats, but as for St. Thomas's clear–bottom kayaks? We think you'll be just fine.
Atlantis, Paradise Island
Paradise Island, Bahamas
This island is paradise indeed for water-lovers; Atlantis is a destination in and of itself.
To list all of the features of this destination resort would have the words overflowing off your screen like so many gallons of water…20 million, to be precise. That's how much you'll find in the 141–acre Aquaventure water park, where 18 high–speed water slides sometimes zip over a mile–long, not–so–lazy river with rolling rapids and wave surges and 20 swimming areas. One of the largest water parks in the Western Hemisphere, a day pass is not nearly long enough to uncover everything Atlantis, Paradise Island has to offer; we highly recommend opting to stay at one of its on–site resorts to take full advantage of the included attractions.
Spend your days in awe peering through glass into 14 lagoons filled with over 50,000 animals representing more than 250 marine species, including sharks, barracuda, piranha, eels, and even endangered alligator gar. Spring to swim with stingrays, sea lions, and dolphins, or even train them for a day! If you prefer a more "wild" experience, there's always snorkeling the coral reefs of the Bahamas, scuba diving, SNUBA®, or the shallow waters of its many gorgeous beaches. Here at the "lost island of Atlantis," it's you who'll be lost in wonder.
CoCo Key Hotel & Water Resort
Orlando, Florida
The only thing better than heating things up at a theme park is cooling down in a water park.
Many families go to Orlando for the theme parks, and this resort recognizes and respects that with complimentary scheduled shuttle service to Universal Orlando®, Wet 'n Wild®, SeaWorld®, and Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark™. But the thing is, a stay here doesn't mean you have to travel to partake in the destination's wateriest attractions. This property has one right on site—the city's only outdoor and canopy–covered water resort.
Fourteen water slides make getting around the water park a breeze, and four heated pools make the temperature just right year–round. There's also a Parrot's Perch interactive play area, Minnows Lagoon for toddlers, Coral Reef teen pool, and a 6,500–square–foot Key Quest Arcade. While the next generation plays, adults can wind down at the Wet Rooster Tiki Bar with cocktails and appetizers, or grab a snack there with the whole family.
Anse Chastanet Resort
Soufriere, Saint Lucia
(Literally) between the Pitons lies hundreds more reasons to visit this island.
We all know that that Saint Lucia's signature Pitons are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but did you also know that within this complex of hot springs and volcanic plugs there's a coral reef–filled marine area? This resort is set right in the center of it all, and with snorkeling that yields sightings of 150 types of fish at any given time, just ten yards from the water's edge on the beach. To make that peek below the surface even harder to resist, all the gear you need is complimentary for guests of this uniquely designed hotel.
Of course, you're welcome to explore even deeper and farther; a scuba center on the south end of the beach and guided boat snorkel trips are offered, as well as cruises and sailing. On the north side, find windsurfing, sunfish sailing, and ocean kayaking—all are complimentary and beginner lessons are offered upon request. However, being on the calm Caribbean side of the island, getting going should be as much of a breeze as the gentle tropical ones that softly blow through.