The planning phases were painless and the logistics were well planned. The staff were all friendly and full of info about the region and the history of the islanders who run the tour. We felt secure as we were transported to and fro.
The young man who picked us up from our hotel was a very nice young man who is also of islander heritage. He stopped at a small restaurant in the jungle where we had some really good tasting coffee that was grown in the region.
Once we were on the boat and headed out to the islands, there were several species of jungle animals that were easily spotted along the river bank. We saw a crocodile, several different types of birds and one monkey. My kids were ecstatic. The rest of the boat ride was uneventful. However, the scenery was beautiful.
As we approached the island we were mesmerized by the beauty. The cabins were very minimalist but that is what we were looking for. We had a semi private beach that was protected from the rougher waters of the Caribbean by a small coral reef. My kids all had snorkeling gear and after putting their masks in the water came up screaming with delight about all that they had seen underwater. That only got better!
My oldest son is very into wildlife and made friends with one of the islander boys that was close to his age. They were instantly buddies and that boy showed my son how to catch all kinds of critters that were there in the little cove during low tide.
The trip includes two tours of some cool attractions that are close to the island. The first was to a sand bar in the middle of the sea that is very shallow and drops of into deeper waters that surrounds the little natural pool. We shallow dove and snorkeled for and hour while taking some awesome pics. The second trip was to a couple of outlying islands that were nice to look at but I was happier on the island where we were staying.
The boat captain was very nice. He took my sons and me fishing and my boys both caught fish which was the highlight of their trip. The boat captain shared bait (squid) and fishing secrets very liberally and because he did not have to take us fishing, I gave him a good tip. Without him, I would have been hard pressed to produce some fish. We took our own tackle, which was just some 8lb line and a weight and hooks, but it was enough. The captain and his two deck hands caught a lot of fish.
Our time on the beach was priceless. We hung our hammocks between the coconut palms (we all have our own hammocks) and relaxed, swam and took naps. Our hosts would harvest, open and serve us coconuts full of about a liter of milk for only two dollars. My kids loved them and they stayed hydrated without me having to force them to drink water.
The food was tasty and plentiful. Mostly typical dishes of very well seasoned dishes. Breakfast was simple, but filling. We took plenty of snacks to get us through between meals but only ate a little of what we had. Take fresh drinking water, enough to have at least 3 liters per person per day. The only complaint I have about our dining experience was that they only served instant coffee. So, if you are a java person, watch out for that detail. I was able to obtain hot water from the cook and make my own. There was usually an alternate menu for my kids who are picky eaters. The fried chicken that my kids had was pretty good, too.
Overall, it was one of our favorite vacations that we have had so far and that is saying a lot. My wife made me promise to take her back. If you can deal with the basics for a couple of days, this is the place. I hope all of my future vacations are as satisfying.
