Exploring the 7 Natural Wonders of the Caribbean Part 2

We’ve looked at two of the seven amazing natural wonders of the Caribbean and marveled in their unique beauty and awe. Natural Wonders is a one-of-a-kind natural formation perfect for the sightseeing, bucket list filling traveler. Let’s get on another trip to discover more Caribbean hidden gems.

Great Blue Holes- Belize

The Great Blue Hole is a massive underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. (The world’s biggest natural formation of its kind.)

The hole is circular, over 984 ft. across and 410 ft. deep., the Great Blue Hole is part of the larger Barrier Reef Reserve System, a World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 62 miles from the mainland of Belize City.

The Great Blue Hole is the ultimate destination for recreational scuba divers attracted by the opportunity to dive in crystal-clear waters and see myriad species of marine life including tropical fish such as nurse sharks, giant groupers, and several types of reefs sharks.

Bio Bays- Puerto Rico

It is an eco-friendly and surreal experience to take a trip to one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. But, what is a bioluminescent bay or bio bay?

A bio bay is a rare natural wonder where microscopic, single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates (plankton) grow in quantities large enough to produce a “glow-in-the-dark” effect when stimulated by movement. Imagine any paddle or splash of the water, and it lights up in a neon blue-green color due to the presence of these organisms. The experience of kayaking through the Bio bays has been described as almost alien.

There are only five places in the world where the concentration of these planktons is high enough to be considered bioluminescent bays, and Puerto Rico is home to three of them.

The Pitons: St. Lucia

The Pitons are two volcanic plugs of dormant underwater volcanoes located on the southwestern coast of Saint Lucia. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, and over the years, the Pitons have become a symbol commonly associated with the island. What stands out most about the Pitons is that together, they make for a majestic and carefully composed natural monument. The best view of this wonder is through a sea excursion where the cone-shaped structure seemingly juts out of the ocean.

The Baths at Virgin Gorda: British Virgin Islands

The Baths are located at the bottom of a hill on the southern end of Virgin Gorda BVI. There’s a moderately priced restaurant at the top of the hill – appropriately known as “Top of the Baths” – and a refreshment stand and lockers located at the base of The Baths. 

Wading through the colorful coves and granite boulders of The Baths in Virgin Gorda is undeniably the most travel-worthy experience you can have in the British Virgin Islands. The baths are massive, smooth, ash gray boulders of varying sizes rising from the clear waters of the sea. A visitor is able to swim through the maze of boulders or climb through the crevices and grottoes of The Baths. It is encouraged to bring water shoes to explore this natural wonder. The baths end at Devil’s Bay which offers a stunning beach and shallow crystalline waters perfect for snorkeling or sunbathing. 

Diamond Falls: St. Lucia 

The Diamond Falls is situated on a six-acre, multi-award-winning tourism site called Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. The area and the falls are described as attractive, alluring, and a peaceful retreat from the outside world. You will enjoy the sultry warmth of beautiful, tropical, and lush flora. The Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens are also a haven for birds and insects, which deliver the majesty of nature and its unique experiences.

The Diamond Falls are about 10-15m tall, and the meandering walkways were well-maintained with signposts to direct a curious visitor.  The water of the Diamond Falls is very rich in minerals picked up from running through volcanic rocks. These minerals give the falls a colorful appearance that constantly changes depending on the mineral concentration in the water. This waterfall is a true wonder to behold and is sure to take your breath away with its beauty and seeming elegance.

Visiting one of these Natural Wonders is sure to build up an appetite or you might visit one of the authentic Caribbean restaurants near these sites. Be sure to bring your camera with lots of storage, pack the right clothing and shoes and explore your option of tour companies to see these natural wonders. Jirie Caribbean is bringing you a sneak peek into what you might find on a Caribbean Restaurant menu in the daytime at a restaurant or eatery along the tour of any of these natural wonders.