From Cocoa to Turtles: Wild Diary of a Carribean Cruise

Part 1

By Giulia Valente @giulia_diariodiviaggio

Finally, we are leaving for the trip I have been dreaming of for a long time: a 15-day Caribbean cruise! I leave Milan with a direct flight to La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, with my heart beating fast with excitement. In my suitcase swimsuits, sunscreen and a great desire for adventure.
I can’t wait to dive into turquoise waters, sip a rum under the palm trees and fill my eyes with tropical panoramas.
What awaits me is a taste of paradise among dream islands, Caribbean flavours and unforgettable encounters.
Ready to set sail with me?

Saint Lucia – Creole Crafts and First Dive into Paradise

As soon as I set foot in Saint Lucia I am greeted by the warm smiles of the locals and by stalls full of colourful crafts. I can’t resist and get lost among handmade necklaces, wooden sculptures and bright fabrics, a riot of Creole creativity.

Then I enter a lush rainforest: around me the air smells of wet earth and tropical flowers, and the songs of birds echo among the giant trees.

During the trail, a guide appears with a smile and offers us a taste of local rum and freshly picked fruit: I sip this sweet-spicy nectar while tasting juicy pineapple and ripe mango, already feeling part of the island.

In the afternoon I reach Pigeon Island, a small historic peninsula now a natural park. I climb up to the ruins of an old fort from which I enjoy a breathtaking view of the bay, then I descend to a secluded cove.

Here I finally realize my dream: I dive into the crystal clear and warm waters, the first Caribbean swim of my life! I float on my back looking at the blue sky, surrounded by silvery fish, it’s only the first day and I already feel like I’m in paradise.

Barbados – Sails in the Wind: Snorkelling with Fish and Party on a Catamaran

In Barbados, the day begins aboard a catamaran that sails lightly on an incredibly transparent sea. The sun is high, and the warm wind fills the sails as we sail along the golden coast of the island.

We stop to snorkel in a protected bay: I dive among multi-coloured tropical fish that swim around me curiously and even an elegant manta ray that glides on the sandy bottom.
I should have seen sea turtles here too, but unfortunately no turtles show up today – it seems they decided to make themselves desired!

No problem, the atmosphere on board is overwhelming: the crew starts playing soca and reggae music at full volume, and we all start dancing and laughing, with the sun on our skin and the sea in our eyes.
A glass of ice-cold rum punch in my hand, I toast with the new friends I met on the spot.
Between dances, I enjoy the view of the Barbados coast that passes by swaying palm trees, white beaches and brightly coloured houses.
Even without turtles, this day of celebration in the middle of the sea was unforgettable.

Guadeloupe – In the Jungle of Guadeloupe: Jaguars, Waterfalls and Creole Flavors

Guadeloupe welcomes me with its French-Caribbean soul and exuberant nature. I dedicate the morning to discovering the Parc Zoologique de Guadeloupe, immersed in the tropical forest: I walk on suspended walkways between the giant trees, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.

I meet mischievous monkeys jumping between the branches and then him, the majestic jaguar: when he appears in his enclosure, spotted and regal, I am breathless watching him as he crosses the clearing with feline elegance (luckily at a safe distance!).

After the excitement of the animals, I seek the coolness of a waterfall: I reach the Cascade aux Écrevisses, a graceful waterfall in the greenery where the water roars into a clear pool.
I take off my shoes and dip my feet in the cool water with other visitors: the relief is immediate, with the droplets refreshing my face. The air smells of damp earth and leaves, and I feel part of the forest.

At lunchtime I stop at a local kiosk and try a typical Creole lunch: a plate of spiced Colombo chicken with rice and beans, fried plantains and spicy Creole sauce… an explosion of new flavours that make me close my eyes for goodness. In the afternoon I stroll through the central market of Pointe-à-Pitre, among stalls of very fragrant spices, vanilla, local rum and brightly coloured tropical fruit. The Creole vendors wrapped in their turbans chat lively and infect me with their good humour.

St. Maarten – Wrecks, Jets and a Surprise Turtle

In the morning, on the island of St. Maarten, I board a boat for a snorkelling session near old, submerged wrecks: swimming around a coral-encrusted hull is fascinating and a little surreal. Colourful fish swim among the remains of the wreck and, to my great surprise, a sea turtle appears!
This time it doesn’t escape me: I follow it with my gaze as it glides placidly in the turquoise water – finally my close encounter with a Caribbean turtle is a reality. I get back on board enthusiastically and the boat continues towards the coast.

In the afternoon I stop at Maho Beach, the famous beach adjacent to the airport runway.
The experience here is adrenaline-filled: I find myself standing on the white sand watching a huge plane that literally grazes the heads of the bathers during the landing phase! The deafening roar of the engines and the trail of hot air that lifts the sand make us scream with excitement – it’s crazy to be so close to a plane in flight. I laugh heartily with the other tourists, all with their noses in the air and their phones in hand to capture the moment.

Immediately afterwards, to relax, I move to Mullet Bay, not far away: here, tranquillity reigns, the beach is wide and less crowded, perfect for a last dip in the late afternoon.
I immerse myself in the calm emerald waters of Mullet Bay, thinking back to the day: this island has given me adrenaline rushes and moments of pure Caribbean peace in just a few hours.

British Virgin Islands – The Baths: Tropical Rain on a Rock Paradise

We land in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, ready to explore the famous island Virgin Gorda and its beach of The Baths. But the sky turns grey and suddenly it pours: an intense tropical rain hits us along the path to the beach.
At first, I run to take shelter under a large tree, but then I decide to take it philosophically: I continue to walk in the hot rain, soaked but amused, feeling in tune with the wild nature around me.
In a few minutes, as if by magic, the storm moves and the sun shines again.

With the clear sky I can finally admire the enormous granite rocks of The Baths that emerge from the sea, forming a unique natural labyrinth. I slip barefoot between these smooth and rounded boulders, following a path that passes through semi-flooded caves and narrow passages in the shadows.

The sea water forms natural pools between the rocks: impossible to resist, I dive into one of these clear aquamarine waters, while the rays of light filter from above creating beautiful reflections.

Then I reach Devil’s Bay, a heavenly cove of white sand framed by giant boulders. Here nature puts on a show: with the recent rain, the plants around shine a bright green and some puddles between the rocks reflect the sky, now blue again.

While I relax on the beach, I notice a funny scene: a mother hen with her chicks pops out from behind a palm tree and walks among the tourists’ towels, pecking at crumbs here and there.

I smile in amusement – I didn’t expect to see chickens on the beach!
In the late afternoon I get back on the boat with the wonder of this unique place in the world in my eyes, half cave adventure and half dream beach.

👉 The journey doesn’t end here! 👉See you in Part 2 where we’ll keep sailing, exploring, and tasting the best of the islands!