Trip Summary and Packing List

 ADVENTURES IN THE CARIBBEAN MARCH 25 -­‐ APRIL 1, 2017 TRIP SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS Sea kayaking in crystalline Caribbean waters that are so clear you can see the bottom 60 feet below * Hiking trails that crisscross rugged terrain * Snorkeling among coral reefs teeming with life * Swimming and relaxing on quiet white sand beaches * Trying the exciting new sport of stand up paddleboarding * Staying in comfortable "tent cabins", open to the breeze and away from the bugs Phone: 877-­‐439-­‐4042 Outside the US: 410-­‐435-­‐1965 Fax: 410-­‐435-­‐3084 Email: [email protected] TRIP AT A GLANCE Dates: Location: Cost: Activities: Arrive: Depart: Mar 25 -­‐ Apr 1, 2017 St John, U.S.Virgin Islands $2,495.00 Kayaking, hiking, standup paddleboarding, snorkeling 6:00 pm on March 5 at our lodging on St. John Anytime on April 1. It takes a couple of hours to get back to the airport so we don't advise taking a flight before 11 am, or 10 am at the earliest. TRIP OVERVIEW Over half of St John, the smallest and most pristine of the U.S. Virgin Islands, has been protected from over development as a National Park for years. As a result it is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. We'll sea kayak turquoise waters, hike on trails that crisscross the interior, snorkel in warm water among vibrant colored fish, try the exciting new sport of stand up paddleboarding, and even spend some time relaxing and swimming on white sand beaches. Our guides know all the options and are happy to tailor the trip to the group’s interests .Maximum group size: 10 RATING This trip is designed for women who want an active vacation in a warm winter environment, not your typical lie on the beach vacation. The trip is rated a 3 because days are full and you will be able to enjoy all the activities more if you are active and in good condition. However, this is not boot camp and of course you always have the option to take the day off and just relax. Rating 1 2 [3] 4 5 WHAT'S INCLUDED Guide services and instruction Seven nights lodging at Concordia eco-­‐resort Meals from dinner on Saturday through dinner the following Friday (except juice, soda and alcoholic beverages) Some meals are in restaurants, others will be prepared at the resort. • All kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding and equipment • All transportation once you arrive in St John • • • Not included: Transportation to St John's, beverages excluded above, guide gratuities OUR ITINERARY Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests. Our guides know all the options and are happy to tailor the trip to the group’s interests. D A Y 1 M A R C H 2 5 , S A T U R D A Y Our trip officially starts at 6 p.m. at our lodging on St. John, USVI. We'll do introductions, have a trip orientation and an orientation to Concordia, and share the first of many delicious dinners. Detailed instructions on how to get to St John are included on page 6. Once we know everyone's arrival times, we'll designate a couple of different times to meet at the Cruz Bay ferry and take you to Concordia. D A Y 2 M A R C H 2 6 , S U N D A Y Today is full of kayaking and snorkeling. We'll start the day with kayaking instruction on the beach in Cruz Bay, learning how to use our muscles most efficiently and how to get in and out of kayaks safely. If you've never received formal instruction, you'll be surprised how much a few basic tips can improve your kayaking. We'll practice our new strokes as we paddle to Honeymoon Beach, stopping to snorkel the seagrass bed and look for turtles and rays. Next, we paddle to Henley Cay for some superb reef snorkeling. Multi-­‐hued fish abound and if you have never snorkeled in the Caribbean, you'll be amazed at the variety and vibrancy of colors. After resting and refueling with a healthy picnic lunch, we paddle on to Lovango Cay for more snorkeling. We'll return to Cruz Bay in late afternoon for a hearty dinner. D A Y 3 M A R C H 2 7 , M O N D A Y We'll spend today hiking some of the remote trails through the Virgin Island National Park and learning about the sugar industry, that was a mainstay of the island economy until the early 1900s. We begin with a ride up the North Shore road to the ruins of the Catherineberg sugar mill. After a brief visit to these ruins, we'll continue on to the head of the L'esperance trail. This trail follows an old Danish road through the L'esperance and Siebens valley and ends at the beach at Genti Bay. We’ll stop here for a swim and a picnic lunch before continuing on to the ruins of the Reef Bay sugar factory, which was the last operational factory on the island and produced sugar up until 1917. From here, we'll continue on a shoreline walk and scramble to a rendezvous with the vehicle that will take us back to Concordia. D A Y 4 M A R C H 2 8 , T U E S D A Y Today is our introduction to the rapidly growing sport of stand-­‐up paddle boarding (SUP). We'll spend the morning learning the basics of SUP in calm, protected waters. After everyone is comfortable on the boards, we will go for a short paddle. Afterwards, those who want to do a more adventurous paddle can join us for a long paddle to an offshore cay.
Those who prefer not, can relax and swim on the lovely beach. Whichever you choose, it's another lovely day on the Caribbean. D A Y 5 M A R C H 2 9 , W E D N E S D A Y Today we're back in the kayaks as we kayak the Coral Reef National Monument in Hurricane Hole. Our trip begins with a ride from Maho to Princess Bay on the East End of the island in our safari-­‐truck. We'll kayak through the mangrove-­‐lined bays of Water Creek, Otter Creek, and Princess Bay and discuss the importance of mangrove forests in protecting our shoreline and in providing habitat for juvenile fish. We'll also snorkel in the mangroves, and get to see schools of juvenile snappers, barracuda and starfish, colorful sea anemone, and more. We'll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch near Turner Point and from here we will paddle to Borck Creek and onto our final stop at a small white sand beach for a nice reef snorkel. D A Y 6 M A R C H 3 0 , T H U R S D A Y We see more of the interior today on our hike to Waterlemon Cay and Brown Bay. We'll begin with a ride to see the ruins of the sugar plantation at Annaberg. After a walk through the ruins, we hike along the shoreline to Leinster Bay and to Watermelon Cay, where the snorkeling is superb! We'll rest from our long snorkel and have a picnic lunch on the beach before hiking onto Brown Bay. We'll enjoy a swim here and perhaps a quick snorkel before hiking back to the vehicle at Annaberg. D A Y 7 M A R C H 3 1 , F R ID A Y We're going to leave today open to make sure we have time for anything we haven't done yet or want to do more of. Maybe we'll do another kayak, a hike, spend more time on a paddleboard, or enjoy additional snorkeling. Whatever we do, it will be a fitting cap to our week of adventure. And of course it will end with another delicious dinner. D A Y 8 A P R IL 1 , S A T U R D A Y It's definitely going to be hard to tear ourselves away from this island paradise! You can leave anytime this morning. It takes a couple of hours to get back to St Thomas and the first ferry leaves at 7 am, so you shouldn't plan to fly out before 10 am and 11 am would be even safer. Of course you may want to stay around and continue your Caribbean adventure. GETTING THERE Fly into St. Thomas (STT) by 3:30pm on March 25 in order to meet at our lodging on St. John by 6pm. There are 3 steps to get there: Airport to the Red Hook Ferry: After collecting your luggage, proceed outside to the taxi area. Take a taxi to the Red Hook Ferry. The ride ranges from 30 -­‐ 60 minutes and cost anywhere from $12 -­‐ $20 a person. Red Hook Ferry to Cruz Bay, St. John: When you get to the ferry dock, there will be a St. John ticket booth. It leaves for St. John at 6:30am, 7:30am and then every hour on the hour from 8am until mid-­‐night and takes about 20 minutes. The ferry costs $7/person (2016 price) and $4.00 per bag. Note: There is also a ferry from Charlotte Amalie, which is closer to the airport, but runs less frequently. If you choose to take the ferry from downtown Charlotte Amalie, the rate is $12/person plus $4.00/bag and the ride is 45 minutes. This ferry leaves at 10am; 1:00pm, & 5:30pm Getting to Concordia: On March 25, we will arrange two shuttle pickups in the afternoon based on participant arrival times. If you are arriving prior to March 25 or do not plan to use our shuttle, you can take a taxi to Concordia from Cruz Bay. The cost is approximately $15 per person or $30 if you are traveling alone. Anticipate a $2 charge for each piece of luggage. You should plan on at least 35 minutes to drive from Cruz Bay to Concordia Eco-­‐Resort. If you would like help with any travel plans we recommend our travel agent Sara Schuitemaker at [email protected] or call 800/727-­‐2157 ACCOMMODATIONS We'll spend seven nights in a tent cottage at Concordia Eco_Resort. The cabins are perched like tree houses along the hillside. Every tent-­‐cottage has a separate sleeping area with comfortable twin beds, its own private deck, solar lights, a composting toilet, solar heated hot water shower, refrigeration, a 2-­‐
burner propane stove, and no electrical sockets. Electronics can be recharged at the front desk. WEATHER March is typically mild and dry. Average daily temperatures are in the 70s and 80s F and temperatures at night are typically in the upper 60s. Rain is less frequent at this time of year, though intermittent showers are possible. The Christmas winds usually have calmed down by this time of year, although it can still be breezy and choppy on the water. TRAVEL INSURANCE WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TRIP CANCELLATION/TRIP INTERRUPTION INSURANCE, WHICH COVERS YOUR COST IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL OR INTERRUPT YOUR TRIP for medical reasons, trip delay, lost baggage, and other unforeseen emergencies. Adventures in Good Company will send you information about travel insurance with your registration information, or you may purchase coverage through your own insurance company. In order to avoid disappointment and expense in the event that you must cancel your trip we strongly urge you to purchase some type of insurance coverage. You can also sign up for it online at Travelex Insurance. To get the best rates, use 20-­‐0016 as your location number on the Get A Quote page. PACKING LIST Don't bother buying fancy new gear for your trip. Comfortable clothes and used gear is best for saltwater kayaking. Light colored clothing is also preferable to keep you cooler in the sun. Our outfitter will be providing us with dry bags to pack our gear in for kayaking. FOOTWEAR: __ 1 pair Teva/Chaco sandals, river shoes, or dive booties for loading and unloading kayaks in water. __ 1 pair sturdy walking shoes: light hiking boots, athletic shoes __ 1 pair comfortable shoes to wear around the eco resort (can be the same sandals) __ 2 -­‐ 3 pair light socks: wool or synthetic equivalent (Thorlo, Smartwool, running socks, etc.) CLOTHING __ 1 pair lightweight pants: (Supplex, or nylon/polyester/spandex blend) __ 1-­‐2 lightweight short-­‐ or long-­‐sleeved shirts (a surfing shirt, called a “rash guard” is great for snorkeling and kayaking) __ 1 lightweight raincoat with hood -­‐ good quality “waterproof” PVC coated nylon, e-­‐vent, or Gore-­‐Tex. "Water resistant” rainwear is not recommended. __ 2 pairs of shorts: Quick drying nylon is recommended __ 2-­‐3 t-­‐shirts (synthetic for paddling is recommended) __ 1 wide-­‐brimmed hat, for rain, sun (a string tied to the hat will keep the wind from blowing it away) __ 1 lightweight fleece jacket, sweatshirt, or other warm layer __ underwear __ 1-­‐2 bathing suits (nylon shorts and a running bra also work as swimwear) __ 1 – 2 changes of comfortable clothes to wear around the hotels and out to dinner (e.g. pants and/or skirt, with a couple of tops) ESSENTIALS __ Passport or proof of citizenship __ headlamp or flashlight and extra batterie __ 100% UV sunglasses with case and retention strap __ Insect repellant __ sunscreen and lip protection with an SPF of 15 or greater __ bandanna __ small day or fanny pack for day use (hiking) __ ear plugs (for a good night’s sleep) __ 2 one-­‐quart water bottles __ your favorite snack TOILETRIES (small everything) __ soap, toothbrush, paste, dental floss, lotion, extra contact lenses/glasses __ female sanitary items __ personal “patch kit”: bandaids, moleskin, ibuprofen, seasick medication (if tendency to motion sickness), and personal medications, if any. Individuals allergic to insect stings must bring an epi-­‐pen. Please consult your physician. OPTIONAL PERSONAL GEAR (if you want it, bring it – personal preference and not required for the trip) __ binoculars __ book __ waterproof camera bag __ watch: water resistant __ aloe gel __ powdered hydrating drink mix (e.g. Gatorade, Crystal Light __ pocket knife __ extra sunglasses __ journal and pen __ gloves for paddling -­‐ optional (bike gloves work well) __ camera, film/memory card, and an extra camera battery __ snorkeling gear (only if you have your own and prefer to use it, otherwise it will be provided by the outfitter) NOTES ON PACKING PASSPORT: While passports are not technically required since St Johns is part of the US, you need to bring proof of US citizenship when you return to St Johns, so a simple Driver’s License is not sufficient. If you don’t have a passport, bring a birth certificate with a raised seal as well as Driver’s License or other photo ID. CLOTHING: The Caribbean is typically warm and dry, but when it rains, it rains for several days. Bring clothing that can get wet (synthetics are best). Clothing will get salt stains, so don’t bring new clothing. The following is general information about layering. We may or may not need it on this trip. Layering is the most practical and efficient method of insulating the body. Several layers of varied weight materials provide better insulation than one thick layer of clothing. Also, adding or subtracting layers allows you to adjust to the temperature at your particular level of activity. Wet cotton (even heavyweight sweats) will rob you of your body heat faster than if you were wearing no clothing at all. RAIN GEAR: Typically we recommend rubberized rain gear for sea kayaking trips, since they are warm, work best in steady downpours, and their effectiveness is not diminished by salt water. Since this trip is in the Caribbean we are recommending a jacket made of waterproof/breathable fabric or coated nylon. This layer will most likely be worn more often as a wind-­‐proof layer than a rainproof layer on this trip, so having it be breathable is a good addition. Coated nylon is not very breathable, but it is lightweight, waterproof, and can be relatively inexpensive. Gore-­‐tex (and other brand-­‐identified waterproof materials) is a great material, but can be quite expensive. If you have any questions about raingear, please call us. WATERPROOF BAGS: If you choose to bring waterproof bags for your small day bag, several companies make vinyl bags with good closures (Phoenix, Outdoor Research, Cascade Designs). Wide-­‐mouthed plastic jars are good for film, first aid supplies, and the like. Ziplock bags are handy for many uses. BRINGING YOUR CAMERA ON A SEA KAYAKING TRIP: Ocean water is highly corrosive to camera equipment. To protect your camera from the salt, pack it in a waterproof sports bag. Many outdoor retailers and most camera shops have inflatable bags that are waterproof, float, and cushion your camera against bumps. Phoenix, Basic Designs, and manufacturers of whitewater equipment make inflatable camera bags