Saturday, July 24, 2010

The Virgin Island - Some of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World

St John USVI is the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands. Its sister islands are St Thomas and St Croix. The exotic beaches here are unique among the beaches of the Caribbean and the world.
The island is only nine miles long and three miles wide and two thirds of the island is the Virgin Islands National Park and therefore protected by the USA Park Rangers.

But, most of the tourists arrive in St John for its beaches. They are unspoiled and surrounded by pristine waters touching the while sand beaches.
It is located to the east of St Thomas on a 20 minute ride by ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay in St John. Coming from St Thomas that is populated and very busy, you will notice that you arrived to a place totally the opposite, St John is laid back, relaxed and the calm can be felt all over.
Beaches
  • Trunk Bay
This is one of the most famous destinations in the Virgin Islands. It is located about two miles from Cruz Bay. It is a hearth shaped spectacular beach. This beach has visitor's facilities, like showers, changing areas, restrooms, food area, as well as picnic facilities.
The white powdered sands are surrounded on one side by coconut pal trees and on the other side by crystal clear blue waters.
When visiting Trunk Bay pay a visit to the Archaeological dig where many prehistoric artifacts were found. You'll see remnants of bones and plant material.
This is an ideal beach for Family Vacations, since the place is children friendly with many water sports and calm waters. And at the same time very popular with groups of cruise lines passengers, that like to spend the day here.
Trunk Bay is easily accessible by public bus, taxi or car; there is a scenic ferry ride across Pillsbury Sound to St. John.
  • Cinnamon Bay
Larger than Trunk Bay, this beach offers beautiful jungle like surroundings, featuring mango and cacao trees, as well as great underwater life and water sports.
It is located three miles distance of Cruz Bay on North Shore Road. The beach is great for kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving or swimming through flagrant corals and colorful tropical fish. You will also find here all facilities for visitors like changing rooms, showers, lockers and a local restaurant. There are also facilities for picnics and family reunions.
  • Salt Pond Bay
This is a fairly unknown beach along the southern coast of the island. It features a salt pond where locals take salt from. The salt is formed from sea water that enters the pond via subterranean tunnels. Once the water evaporates it leaves a white foamy residue of sea salt.
  • Blue Cobblestone Beach
This beach gets its name from the cobblestones along the beach. It is great for a snorkeling adventure along the large rocks. This area is also renowned for bird watching because the area is more secluded and the birds abound here.
  • Caneel Bay

Cannel Bay is am idyllic resort area. The beaches are made of powdered white sands great for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling.
To get there you will take a ferry from St Thomas provided by the resort and dock in their private pier. Or if you are already on the island you'll take route 20 and turn left where the sign tells you to get to the beach.
  • Hawks nest Beach
This beach is very accessible and popular among locals in St John. It is a short drive from Cruz Bay. The parking for this beach is very close to the sea, making it very easy to carry all you need for a great beach day.
They have all facilities for picnics and barbeques. The corals and tropical fish here are incredibly beautiful. Some of the fish you'll find here are the grunt, fry and goatfish. Your entire family will love the scene under the sea regardless of age.
  • Maho Bay
This beach offers a lot to families with small children and those who like calm and shallow waters for swimming.
You can get to this beach going past Cinnamon Bay one more mile. You may park below one of the maho Trees and enjoy your day. There are no signs or parking spots, just plain beach. The road is lined by coconut palm trees.
The snorkeling between Maho Beach and Little Maho is great. You'll enjoy and array of tropical fish and exotic coral reefs.
Salomon Beach, St John
It used to be a Nude Beach, but since the new legislation on public nudity, this is no longer possible. Those breaking the law may get fines of hundreds of dollars and even jail time.
It has become a family beach, but it is accessible only by boat or by hiking through a guided trail. This trail is one of many provided by the authorities.
The waters are calm and shallow in Salomon Beach and the coral reefs are spectacular. This is a great place for beginning snorkelers. The reefs between Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Bay are unique.

Villas or Resorts
You will find in St John accommodation for any budget and two luxury resorts. You can find here a large variety of restaurants offering Continental and Caribbean Cuisine and many bars offering entertainment featuring the best musicians attracted to St John.
There are million dollar villas that are available for rent through local agents. These villas offer all amenities expected by those looking for a deluxe vacation including concierge and maid services.
A visit to St John in the American Virgin Islands is an unforgettable experience. You'll be happy you came.

Best Accommodation near NIKOI ISLAND Beach

What perfect timing for revealing a new island paradise just off Singapore that will remind you of the Maldives, but is so much easier to get to. The best way to describe Nikoi Island is Five Star meets Robinson Crusoe. This is an eco-friendly resort with the last of 15 beachfront cottages on the small tropical island just completed in late 2009.

The architecture and feeling of freedom is superb. Picture this...you arrive by speedboat onto a beautiful white sandy beach, where check-in is at the thatched beach bar. Next to the bar with panoramic blue ocean views are the two dining rooms with white sand floors, distinctly "no news, no shoes" for the beachcomber in you who also wants five star comfort.

Top Accommodation near NIKOI ISLAND BeachIt will take you half an hour to wander around this beautiful island, and only five minutes to walk through a rainforest to the two swimming pools with elevated views and another thatched bar near your beachfront accommodation.

And what accommodation it is! The Australian owners recruited an American named Peter to partner them after he developed and then left another nearby Indonesian island. Peter's development of Nikoi is remarkable, enhancing Nikoi's natural palm-fringed beauty with eco-friendly design. Australian owner Andrew is a frequent visitor and his marketing expertise complements Nikoi's appeal.

Top Accommodation near NIKOI ISLAND BeachYour accommodation near the white coral beach is a perfect, natural experience; open-air two storey thatched cottages that are superb in design, from the gorgeous Queen size beds hanging from chains to the designer driftwood timber. Everything inside is beautiful local timber, past which you gaze blissfully over your stretch of white sandy beach only metres in front of you.

Below your elevated balcony is the white sand ground floor where you can rock from your hanging sofa or relax on your thatched daybed as you contemplate ordering a beachfront massage. You understand instantly why Nikoi's motto is "Relaxed by nature."

These elegant cottages are so open plan that there are no windows, doors or locks. Even if you're a little nervous at first, you quickly get back to nature and become one with the island spirit of honesty and freedom. There are room safes if required, but the wonderful feeling of waking up in daylight, cocooned only by mosquito netting on this island paradise, is a real revelation.

That may sound unprotected, but that's the whole point. Here, you're getting back to nature to enjoy the purest of holidays, and the gentle Indonesian staff become like family members. When you sleep surrounded by nature, cooling breezes and a fan above you make artificial air conditioning obviously unnecessary. Even the elevated al fresco bathroom is all natural, from the solar-powered waterfall shower to the timber toilet roll holder hanging from the ceiling, next to the "loo with a view" of the ocean outside.

Top Accommodation near NIKOI ISLAND Beach

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Wonderful Beaches Vacation Spot of Kauai

If you have not yet discovered the hidden beauties of Kauai beaches, it is highly recommended that you must utilize your next Hawaii vacation to experience the thrilling happenings of these areas. Virtually unending beaches of Kauai covered with pompous white sands will give you enough opportunities to experiment with the exciting beach activities, which may include:
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • People-watching
  • Picnicking
  • Sailing
  • Snoozing
  • Snorkeling
  • Sunbathing
  • Surfing
  • Swimming, and
  • Walking, etc.
Island of Kauai is gifted with more than 25 wonderful beaches that attract thousands of fun loving Hawaii visitors from around the world throughout the year. Together with its amazing beaches and natural sea appeals, the Island offers an ideal Hawaii vacation destination. Most prominent and celebrated Kauai beaches are:
  • A'anini Beach
  • Anahola Beach
  • Donkey Beach
  • Glass Beach
  • Ha'ean Beach
  • Hanakapi'ai Beach
  • Hanalei Bay Beach
  • Hideaways Beach
  • Kalapaki Beach
  • Kalihiwai Bay Beach
  • Kealia Beach
  • Ke'e Beach
  • Kekaha Beach
  • Kilauea Bay Beach
  • Lawai Beach
  • Lumahai Beach
  • Lydgate Beach
  • Nukoli'i Beach
  • Po'ipu Beach
  • Polihale State Beach Park
  • Pu'u Poa Beach
  • Salt Pond Beach Park
  • Shipwreck Beach
  • Tunnels Beach
  • Wailua Beach
  • Wainiha Beach Park
  • Waioli beach
Staying and enjoying life in distinctive ways on a dream Hawaii vacation at the illustrious Kauai beaches have inimitable appeals. As each beach has their own styles of responding, you must not forget adhering to the safety precautions while roaming on the alluring Kauai beaches. Some of these beaches such as Anahola, Hanalei, Kekaha, Lydgate, Po'ipu, Salt Pond, Wailua, and Waioli, etc. produce some of the biggest waves on the earth. The views are magnificent; but you must not be tempted to swim on these beaches without the active presence of lifeguards. Unlike other Hawaii beaches, all of the Kauai beaches are public, thereby allowing its visitors with unrelenting opportunities of enjoyment without imposing any artificial restrictions.
You will find numerous luxurious and affordable hotels and restaurants located along the romantic beaches of Kauai providing an array of solution for your idyllic messing and accommodation requirements. Some of these hotels may provide exclusive private beach areas where you will be able to experiment your innovative ideas to explore beach sides making your Kauai vacation a grand affair.
By Linka Po

Beautiful Carlisle Bay Antigua : The Best of Vacation Spots

Carlisle Bay is quite a large Antigua Luxury resort and very stylish indeed. It has eighty superb suites, a full service spa, a large pool, and two restaurants.

Carlisle Bay Antigua Best of Vacation SpotsThere is a Children’s Club, and nine tennis courts plus a host of other facilities you would expect from a luxury hotel. It is a great place for a family vacation, and yet appeals to the top end of the market as well, and definitely suits wealthy travellers who like to stay at fashionable hotels. Carlisle Bay Hotel Antigua is definitely a place where you can relax in a magnificent tropical setting, once described as contemporary luxury on the beach.

Carlisle Bay Antigua Best of Vacation SpotsThe Carlisle Bay Hotel is on the southern coastline of Antigua, and is located in a broad bay with steep sides with a mangrove lagoon to one side and the turquoise blue sea on the other. When you arrive at the gates you notice that everything from the gravel to the windows and balconies is grey which contrasts quite beautifully wit the lush vegetation, grass, and the sea. It also contrasts with the staff who are dressed in lilac. There are two distinct locations for the bedrooms, and this helps make this Carlisle Bay Antigua Luxury resort such a good place for a family vacation, and yet still an excellent place to stay without children.

Carlisle Bay Antigua Best of Vacation SpotsThe Beach suites which are two bedroomed, and the Carlisle Suites which have three bedrooms line the beach on either side of the dining room and they are for families, whilst the one bedroomed Ocean Suites are set back somewhat by comparison. You’ll particularly enjoy the hugeness of the rooms, the bathroom and all the luxury extras a hotel of the quality of the Carlisle Bay should have but don’t have. There are two restaurants, and they are excellent.

Carlisle Bay Antigua Best of Vacation SpotsThe East has an Asian theme, and is Carlisle Bay’s more formal restaurant, next to, but hidden from the Piano bar and the pool and Indigo on the Beach is particularly good just a few feet from the sea. There is a Friday evening BBQ on the beach which is very much a ‘must do’. It is also possible to dine in your suite, and there is 24 hour room service. The Carlisle Bay must be almost unique for a hotel, in having its own cinema, which is a great thing to be able to take in a movie, but beware the air conditioning is pretty fierce.

Carlisle Bay Antigua Best of Vacation SpotsAnother sign of a Luxury hotel is the availability of sun loungers, and one of the great things here at Carlisle Bay is the fact that even when the hotel is full, you won’t have a problem either by the pool or on the beach. If you want to go snorkelling off the beach then go along to the rocks on the left of the bay. The probable reason for this is firstly the families have their own bedroom suites as previously indicated. There is an extremely well run children’s program as well, and perhaps it is the fact that many of the children are from well off British families which is why they are so well behaved!! Carlisle Bay has made a point of helping you to relax and do nothing, and it does this very well. There are however a good few complimentary facilities including water sports as well as nine tennis courts and a spa. To summarise Carlisle Bay is an ideal destination for a family vacation in the Caribbean, being not a typical Caribbean Hotel. It is a class act well deserving its claim to be the top Antigua Luxury Resort

Monday, July 19, 2010

Popular Beaches of Iran

Popular Beaches of Iran

Iran enjoys many different beaches with different mood and a wide range of holiday experiences. Shores of the Caspian Sea have mild and relatively cold weather and southern parts enjoy moderate and pleasant weather.

The coastline of the Persian Gulf in the south is rocky and mountainous in some areas and sandy and swampy in others; it is not as even as the northern shores of the country.


Kish Island Beaches
The coral coasts of Kish Island, a pearl across the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf, have a special glow under the sunlight. The seawater near the coasts is so clear, that one can see the depths of the sea and all its aquatic life that are unique in their kind.


These beaches are safe and there are no dangerous creatures in the region; thus those interested in fishing and swimming can go for their favorite sports. Tourists can benefit from Kish sandy beaches, coral reefs vivid with colorful fish and sea and sun all year round.


Facilities such as a recreational jetty, glass-bottomed boats, motorboats, and scuba diving equipment are available on the beaches.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Best Honeymoon Beaches - Discover Great Options

I don't know you, but I'm sure you will agree that honey is a ritual, not just during the holidays. This is a once in a lifetime experience that allows you and your partner enjoy the bliss of romance and magic of days or weeks. Your honeymoon is the perfect time for you and your spouse to imagine a world of magic itself, and escape it for now. This is mostly the reason why that should be considered a good honeymoon and will plan the perfect places - places that will add a feeling of happiness and romance every new bride. Most people go for the best beach honeymoon as they offer the perfect atmosphere for peace and love.

Below is a good option best honeymoon beaches in the world:

1. Pink Beach - located on Harbour Island, Bahamas, the beach is beautiful, it will make you fascinated by just one second. Imagine a small, secluded beach with fine sand with palms attract a lot of pink and intensify. If you want privacy, they would offer, as a tropical basis of only a few cottages (only 25 of them). For relaxing and romantic experience, the Pink Beach is a great choice.

2. Matira Beach - located Raititi Point, French Polynesia, this place is famous as one of the best in the world. You are greeted by the Hotel Bora Bora, a famous city in the world, and you can choose to get around the island for more romantic adventure. The beach is beautiful - pure white sand, gentle waves and warm, beautiful scenery and exotic, and very romantic sunsets.

3. Wailea Beach - This beach is located on the island of Thermal Expansion, Hawaii, offers a fun and privacy to get married. Imagine the warm water with bright golden sand as far as the eye could see. If you're hungry for some scenes, national park and a nearby waterfall provides great bonding time with your partner. Island expansion answer for every couple who wanted a place where they can experience a romantic day in solitude and yet still have access to the upscale lifestyle of luxury to the urban world.

Do not let your most romantic experience of your life a chance. Everything must be in par with what you expect, so learn more about the best beach honeymoon. Each of these places are ideal for you, and offers a great, romantic newlyweds start your life.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Senggigi Beach: The Best Beach Vacation in Lombok Island Indonesia

Senggigi Beach is a famous tourist spot in Lombok. It is located on the west coast of Lombok Island. Senggigi Beach is not as big as Kuta Beach in Bali, but once we were here will feel like staying in Kuta Beach, Bali.
Coastal beaches are still beautiful, although there are still littered with trash because the leaves are rarely cleaned. Very beautiful underwater scenery, and tourists can do snorkling much as you like because the wave is not too large. Ketengah towering coral reefs cause waves amid the broken. It is also available hotels with prices ranging from expensive to economically valuable hotel.

Kuta Beach Vacation in Bali Island

Kuta beach is located on the Indonesian island of Bali, this beach is one proud Indonesian state to attract tourists from abroad, its natural beauty became the main destination for tourists visiting the island of Bali.

Kuta Beach Bali

Kuta Beach Sunset

Most Romantic Beach Destination : Matira Beach, Bora Bora ,Tahiti

Just 18 miles long, Bora Bora is an enchanted tropical island in the French Polynesian chain. Nick-named the Romantic Island, Bora Bora lies in a secluded lagoon and boasts many secluded white sandy beaches. Intimate hotels and the quiet, relaxed South Seas atmosphere add to the feeling of romance. The secluded Matira Beach offers visitors all of that romantic atmosphere with bright turquoise water and brilliant South Seas sunsets!





Huntington Beach : Top Beach California Vacation Spots

If you are thinking about vacation beaches in sunny southern California then you should consider Huntington Beach. This is very probably one of the best vacation spot in the world. There are many activities you have a vacation full of fun. You can easily go surfing, golfing, playing tennis, skateboarding, beach volleyball or do. There's something really for all sports fans out there.

If you do not become one of the top sports and for somewhat more relaxed holiday or if you need a break from the big waves, why not try some activities and locations below.

In Huntington Beach
In town or very close to Huntington Beach there are tons of great sports to visit. Huntington Beach art center and the International Surfing Museum and the Surfing Hall of fame. This fun activity that can last up to two in the afternoon. You also may want to look at the main downtown shopping area where you'll find a cool new flip-flops or dress bathroom. There are also some excellent restaurants in downtown on Main Street.

If you are a Shopaholic rights then you might want to try either Fashion Island Shopping Center or South Coast Plaza. These two malls house some of the best shopping in the world. South Coast Plaza in particular has tons of modes' high-end clothing stores and major bookstores great to boot. If you get hungry and need a break from shopping, several restaurants extensively around the mall and even at the mall. Why not try something different at the California Pizza Kitchen restaurant or at the Wolfgang Puck.

With Kids

Bring your kids with you on vacation many activities in and around the area that they can get a lot of fun to do. For example, the Huntington Beach Central Park is the largest park in Southern California. You can easily burn energy in kindergarten. They will have plenty of open space to run and shout and children. A restaurant, picnic tables, and even the Adventure Playground ar4e would sulk even adults.

Nearby Destination
If you can not find anything to make the adventure you can always just outside the Huntington Beach where you will soon find a large number of activities. For example, Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Wild Rivers and the Aquarium of the Pacific all within 30 minutes of walking and can offer many fun activities to do. Then after a day full of fun on the tour or see the fish back into the beautiful city lifestyle both peaceful Huntington Beach.

Virginia Beach Condos - Great Places to Stay in a Fun Area

Virginia Beach has stood as one of the highest state holiday coast for decades. areas that provide more than enough entertainment, as the main strip full of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and more to make you and your family entertained. If you are considering visiting the area and for the full experience you may want to consider seeing Virginia Beach condos for rent. They provide the best comfort in living in the area.

This area is known by what is known as "this plot," a long road filled with shops, restaurants, and anything that can be packed into a small commercial buildings. Rent a space in the area tend to be around this area, where most of the action took place.

The Strip is located conveniently on the beach, visitors and local residents provide equal opportunities both mentally between fun in the sun and shopping, or between relaxing on the beach and grabbed a bite to eat. Feeling relaxed and like elsewhere.

Not the best part of Virginia Beach to rent a condo is the fact that you are near the beach, but it's amazing how bright and busy area in Virginia Beach is located next to the meadow, a forest of large and small metropolitan areas like Newport News and Hampton is located in the southern states . And for the more historically inclined, Jamestown and Williamsburg is only an hour and a half north.

Like other coastal areas, Virginia Beach Condos price rise during the summer months, whether you rent or buy. If you are considering buying one, then you might want to start looking at the market in the fall or winter term. In the same way, if you only intend to rent, it is advisable to book in advance during the winter - sometimes even have to put in your guard up to one year in advance! In any case, to truly experience the lifestyle of Virginia Beach, hotels or apartments are not just doing. Condos are located close to the beach and the Strip, and makes you really feel like a local.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Top Beach Vacation at Molokai Ranch Hawaii

Do you want to camp on a beach in Hawaii but don’t feel like worrying about camping gear? The Beach Village at Molokai Ranch offers an upscale version of camping with all the modern conveniences. Guests stay in canvas tentalows on wooden platforms featuring hot showers and electricity provided by solar energy.

Things to Do
The Beach Village is located on a secluded spot, about 30 minutes by car from the Lodge at Molokai Ranch. Beach vacation activities include swimming, stargazing and tidal pool exploration. Molokai Ranch offers a range of vacation activities, including biking, kayaking, sailing, surfing, paintball games and archery. You can sign up at the activities center near the main lodge.
The Beach
The beach is part sand part rocks which means that you will have to be careful getting into the water. There are tidal pools where you can spot tropical fish, crabs and other sea life during a low tide.
Where to Eat
An open-air restaurant next to the beach serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also drive up to the main lodge and dine with a view of the valley and the ocean at the Molokai Lodge.
Getting There
From the Lodge at Molokai Ranch, take the road paved with crushed shells to the beach. The drive takes about 30 minutes. You’ll need to sign a waiver and pick up a remote from the main lodge to open a gate along the way. If you prefer, there is a shuttle that takes guests from the lodge to the beach, but you’ll have to depend on the schedule

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Italian Beach

Other than the islands of Greece and the South of France, beaches in Italy draw more people per year than any other country in Europe. The hardest part is deciding which of the Italian beaches to visit, as each one has a storied history and separate features.
The world famous Amalfi coast has many of the best beaches in Italy - you can throw a dart at a map and never go wrong. The sleepy villages along the coast lie on wicked curves, and its villas have acted as getaways for celebrities both new and old.
Palm trees and expensive boutiques line the narrow streets leading to the pebbled shores of the Italian beach resort of San Remo. Here you can also try your luck at the luxuriant casinos and racetracks, the gambling mecca for western Italy.
The lemon trees and fragrant flowers of the Isle of Capri provide a picturesque backdrop for its sprawling beaches. The statuesque arcs of the Tyrrhenian Sea guarantee that the resorts along its coastline are among the best beaches in Italy - the sights of the translucent blue and green grottoes more than make up for the lack of sand found here.
Sorrento was the home of the Greek sirens and the docks and cliffs of this town still call out to passing travelers. Connoisseurs of Italian beaches may shun this town, which is mostly made up of jagged rocks and crowded piers, but the combination of sunny locale and a wide array of shopping and nightlife make this one of the most popular destinations south of Naples.
Cinque Terre is another fine Italian beach resort, where a small but hospitable strip of sand lays unassuming in the midst of the five fishing towns. Popular with American and European honeymooners alike, this quiet spot on the banks of the Italian Riviera is just steps away from scenic hikes and exquisite seafood dishes constructed around the fishermen's daily catch. The only traditional beach in any of the five towns is located in Monterosso, but it is still one of the best beaches in Italy.
The white sands of the Venetian beach of Lido make it one of the most tempting beaches of Italy, even if the water lapping at your feet is not fit for swimming. Deluxe hotels offer endless privacy in one of the most romantic cities in the world, and waterfront huts are available for rental if your wallet feels too full.
Another popular Italian beach resort is located in the antiquated Greek ruins of Syracuse. Fontane Bianche is a prime spot for cooling off in the summer, popular with both vacationing Italians and tourists. Nearby Taormina offers equally fine displays of sand and shade beneath the imposing shadow of Mt. Etna. When it comes to Sicily, though, any number of them rival the Italian beaches located on the mainland.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Selena Burgas Beach Bulgaria is favourite family holidays

Selena Burgas Beach Bulgaria
Selena Burgas Beach Bulgaria
Selena Burgas Beach Bulgaria
Selena Burgas Beach BulgariaSelena Burgas Beach Bulgaria

Hotel "Selena Beach" is situated in the "Budjaka” area between the new part of Sozopol and “Raiski zaliv”,where it is separated from the other noisy restaurants.You will enjoy the cosy, calm and comfortable atmosphere in the hotel "Selena Beach" during your stay here.

Wonderful Baltic Beach Holidays

Wonderful Baltic Beach HolidaysThat could be a difficult question to answer as we think the Baltic beaches are one of the best kept secrets in Europe. Expect to be surprised, delighted and want to return time and time again; as you will experience some of the best beaches and one of the most beautiful coastlines on the Continent.

Wonderful Baltic Beach Holidays

Monday, July 5, 2010

Holidays in Paradise Cozumel Beach Mexico

Cozumel Beach

Cozumel island located at the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, opposite the Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatan Channel. Cozumel is a popular tourist destination renowned for its scuba diving and snorkeling. Cozumel has ranked for years among the top five dive destinations in the world. Tall reefs line the southwest coast, creating towering walls that offer divers a fairy-tale landscape to explore. For nondivers, it has the beautiful water of the Caribbean with all the accompanying watersports and seaside activities. The island gets a lot more visitors from North America than Europe for reasons that probably have to do with the limited flights.

Cozumel popular with the cruise ships, the waterfront section of town holds wall-to-wall jewelry stores and duty-free and souvenir shops.

When Hurricane Wilma hit the island in October 2005, this section, including the attractive shoreline boulevard Avenida Rafael Melgar, was severely damaged. But so extreme was the effort of the town’s merchants and the local and federal government that by early 2006 all signs of the destruction were gone, and a casual visitor would never have guessed how serious the devastation from the hurricane was. This and the area around the town’s main square are about as far as most cruise-ship passengers venture into town.