Tag Archives: New Years

Theresa on the zip line, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Ringing in the New Year with Rain Forest Zip Lining Adventures in St. Lucia – by Theresa

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For Christmas, Ryan and Ronan found in their stockings, certificates for a day of Rain Forest Adventures in St. Lucia, including an aerial tram, hiking, and adrenaline driven zip lining, high atop the rain forest canopy. Rainforest Adventures aims to promote environmental consciousness and conservation awareness while striving to provide world-class eco tourism. (See http://www.rainforestadventure.com/st-lucia/). Putting aside my general distaste for heights, I strapped on the required safety helmet and gear and set off into the rain forest with the boys.

Ryan on the zip line, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Ryan on the zip line, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Ronan on the zip line, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Ronan on the zip line, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

After a few practice runs on the training low/short zip lines, we graduated to the aerial tram. The aerial tram took us from the forest floor, through the understory, and over the rain forest canopy. Our knowledgeable guide provided an encyclopedia of rain forest facts along the way. The panoramic views were nothing short of majestic.

Rain Forest Adventures tram, St. Lucia

Rain Forest Adventures aerial tram, St. Lucia

Aerial Tram, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Aerial Tram, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

At the top, we hiked through the rain forest viewing and learning about the many different plant and animal species.

Hiking through the rain forest, St. Lucia

Hiking through the rain forest, St. Lucia

We then spent the next couple of hours zip-lining from one tree top platform to another.

Tree top platform, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Tree top platform, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Ryan, Theresa and Ronan, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

Ryan, Theresa and Ronan, Rain Forest Adventures, St. Lucia

VIDEOS

The system of automatic brakes, double cables, triple redundancy clasps and chest harnesses made us feel secure while whizzing through the tropical paradise.

Click image below for GoPro videos of zip lining adventures.

Wishing everyone peace, prosperity and many adventures in the new year!

Sea Ray Neigbors, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

NEW YEARS EVE IN ST. LUCIA – by Theresa

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Cruising Past the Pitons, St. Lucia

Cruising Past the Pitons, St. Lucia

On our previous stop in St. Lucia earlier this year, we cruised past Marigot Bay and moored in the shadows of the Pitons. On this, our return trip, we motored on by the Pitons and cruised into Marigot Bay. We tied up in the most southeastern corner of the bay, directly in front of Capella Resort. As residents of the marina we had full access to all of the resort amenities, of which we took full advantage! We were fortunate enough to ring in the New Year here and were rewarded with a spectacular midnight fireworks display over the bay with front row viewing from the bow of the Pilot’s Discretion.

Capella Resort, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Capella Resort, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Capella Resort, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Capella Resort, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
R&R Playing at the Pool, Capella Resort, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Capella Resort Marina, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Marigot Bay is a noted hurricane hole that is lined with mangroves, beaches, and a plethora of restaurants, all dog friendly and with excellent cuisine. Many of the restaurants are only accessible via boat, either in your own dinghy or one of the many water taxis and ferries that service the bay. Not surprisingly, the boys particularly enjoyed the rope swing at the beach and kayaking around the calm waters in the bay.

Mangrove Shores of Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Marigot Bay Beach
Ronan on the Rope Swing, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Doolittles, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Chateu Myga, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Pirates, Marigot Bay St. Lucia

Upon advice of cruising friends that have been in Marigot Bay before us, we sought out the hiking trail behind the Rain Forest Café (an actual café in a rain forest setting, not the chain restaurant). The hike was arduous, and very steep at times, but the views made it well worth the climb in the end.

Rain Forest Café, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Rain Forest Café, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Hike Behind the Rain Forest Café, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
(Ryan) Steep Hike Behind Rain Forest Café, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
(Ronan) Steep Hike Behind Rain Forest Café, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Ryan & Ronan on the Meditation Platform – The Views Were Worth the Climb, Marigot Bay Hike, St. Lucia
The Views Were Worth the Climb, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia
Ryan & Ronan on the Meditation Platform – The Views Were Worth the Climb, Marigot Bay Hike, St. Lucia
The Views Were Worth the Climb, Marigot Bay Hike, St. Lucia
Sea Ray, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Sea Ray, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Throughout our Caribbean voyage, we have seen countless sail boats and trawlers, but we have not seen many fellow Sea Rays. We were pleasantly surprised when we pulled into Marigot Bay to find several Sea Rays underway in  the bay, including our port side neighbor in his 52′ Sea Ray Sundancer.

 

Sea Ray Neigbors, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Sea Ray Neigbors, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

We also shared the bay with our other boat neighbor, the 231′ Mega Yacht Talisman reminding us that  “there is always a bigger boat!”

M/V Talisman, Cruising Past Our Bow, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

M/V Talisman, Cruising Past Our Bow, Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

Our plan is to continue exploring all that St. Lucia has to offer. Our next stop will take us further north to Rodney Bay and will be posting additional updates from there as time allows.

Typical St. Lucia

Typical St. Lucia