Geology Holidays

I was recently lucky enough to experience some first class diving in Barbados. The island itself is full to brimming of exciting geology as it’s one of the only Caribbean islands that is not volcanic. Go under the warm tropical waters and you will find an abundance of fantastic marine life, wrecks and geological features. I managed to take this picture whilst snorkelling on Turtle Beach, it’s not the best picture, but you can imagine the amazing sites you will see.

The islanders or ‘Bajans’ are the friendliest, happiest people you will meet and it won’t take you long to relax in when you get there, one thing to note is ‘bajan time’ which means if you say turn up at 7, they will turn up at 9! Barbados is an island where you throw all your cares away, sit back and enjoy the rum. Taste all the different foods, enjoy all the beaches, swim in the warm tropical seas and you’ll wish you weren’t leaving!

Currently travel times to Cape Verde from London are approx 5.5 hours and the best time to visit is from October to June.Good things about Cape Verde are the food, people, beaches, the lagoon, salt mine, charm, scuba diving, wind surfing, surfing, and golf courses. Music plays a huge part in Cape Verdean culture and it really is quite unique. Varied landscapes, beautiful beaches and clear waters of the Atlantic ocean appeal to all. Hiking the hills, turtle or bird watching, enjoying the culture or island hopping there is something for everyone.

The Archipelago is volcanic in origin and there are 10 islands that you can hop to each offering different regions, from the flat, barren and windswept Islands of Sal, Boa Vista and Maio, to spectacular mountainous scenery, white sandy beaches and lush plantations filled with banana, sugar cane, papaya. The climate is wonderful all year round. Enjoy great cuisine (especially if you enjoy fish) mainly Portuguese and Creole influenced, while overlooking a spell binding and tantalising country.

Check out some great deals to Cape Verde here.

Aruba has incredible dive spots for both scuba diving and snorkelling. The waters surrounding Aruba are filled with stunning coral formations and shipwrecks including the Caribbeans largest ship wreck, the Antilla. Snorkel one of the largest wrecks in the Caribbean, the visibility can be hundreds of feet in the clear waters or just soak up the warm sun.

Have a look at the great deals to Aruba here!

Cancun is on the East side of Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula, known as the Mexican Caribbean. Home to stunning white sand beaches, great weather and an all round idyllic holiday feel. There is something for everyone, from shops to bars and traditional to modern. Cancun is great for families or for a great party holiday.

The whole of the Yucatán Peninsula hides an underground secret. Made from limestone the peninsular has become an easy target for underground rivers to be formed which in turn have created a ‘Swiss cheese’ type formation full of holes. Some of the rivers in this vast system run for over 96 miles! It is this immense quantity of water that helps to keep the peninsular lush with jungle. Full of huge Stalactites and Stalagmites you can descend into a Cenote (sink hole) and swim or dive in this vast underwater oasis.

A great holiday deal;



A great hotel deal;

Nassau is the Capital of the Bahamas, and is home to some breathtaking beaches. White sands, warm blue seas, palm tree’s and secluded hideaways make Nassau a popular tourist and honeymoon destination. Nassau is also home to some amazing bright carnivals such as Junkanoo which occurs every Boxing Day and is similar to the World famous Mardi Gras. If you want great food, amazing beaches and a holiday in Paradise, Nassau is for you!

The Bahamas is home to over 5% of the Worlds coral. Most of which can be found in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea National Park. The Exuma Cays stretch for over 90 miles and is a long chain of more than 360 cays and islands. The Cays vary in size from small barren sandy bits of reef to small islands with trees. The water visibility is 25-45m making it an incredible place to explore by snorkeling or scuba diving. There are sheer walls of reef that are home to thousands of sea species and corals, so make sure you take your underwater camera!

You can’t beat Cape Town for sun, sand, sea and lot’s of great memories. It has everything you need for a great holiday – bars, shops, cafe’s, beaches, mountains and friendly people. Great wines are an added bonus! If you like outdoor adventure then hit the waters for a dive or the mountains for a hike.

The Cango Caves are truly spectacular, they formed millions of years ago when water began trickling down a small ridge of limestone that runs parallel to the Swatberg Mountains. They now stretch for over 3 miles, the largest cavern being 107m long and 6m high. The caves are situated near Oudtshoorn which is famous for Ostrich, you can even have a ride on one at one of the farms!

Check out the cheap holidays to Cape Town Here!!!

Barbados is home to sun, sand, sea and rum. Famed for Mt Gay Rum which can be drunk with anything or on it’s own the island will never bore you. Whether you chose to chill out by the pool or hire a car and explore the island you will fall in love and want to go back over and over again. Being an island in the heart of the Caribbean, Barbados is lucky to have a number of incredible beaches both on the Atlantic Ocean side, and the Caribbean Sea side.

Crane Beach in Barbados has been voted one of the top ten beaches in the world, and after visiting there I can understand why. It has something for everyone, body boarding, surfing, lounging or shopping. There are a few local people on the beach selling trinkets and necklaces but they are not pushy. The sand is so clean you could eat off it and it is a beautiful white colour. Overlooked by stunning cliffs the beach is protected and isolated.

Have a look at the incredible deals Sunshine.co.uk have to Crane Beach here!

Aruba lies at the very South of the Caribbean Islands situated only 17 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Famed for it’s long stretches of clear white sands and tropical seas it is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations for newly weds. The island is Dutch and therefore many of the Islanders speak Dutch along with Spanish, English and Papiamento the local language.

There are many caves in Aruba, the main three being Huliba, Fontein and Guadirikiri which all have different features including Bats, ancient cave drawings and local tales of lovers who lived in the caves. Not forgetting the ever impressive Stalactites and Stalagmites you may find. Helmets and flashlights can be rented for $6 at the entrance. The island itself has a ancient volcanic core surrounded by limestone which is where you will find the caves.

Sunshine.co.uk have some great deals to Aruba – check them out here!

Antigua in the Caribbean is renowned for its long white beaches, weddings and incredible water sports. Full of history and culture the island truly is a tropical paradise. Many people choose Antigua as their wedding destination, either for their honeymoon or for the wedding itself. The market is great for picking up some local treats and gifts for the family.

Antigua lies to the East of Montserrat, and the island itself is constructed from a volcano and coral reef beds. Boggy Peak is the highest point of the island at 410m. From the top you can often see Montserrat and St. Kitts the neighbouring Islands. The island itself is fairly low lying compared to the other Caribbean islands but this doesn’t detract from the amazing geology you can find there. Limestone hills dominate the East of the Island with the volcanic mountains in the South West.

Check out the great deals to Antigua through Sunshine.co.uk here.

Barbados is an island of dreams, surrounded by clear blue waters and white sand beaches it is truly stunning. The island is full of culture, great food, amazing music and the friendliest people you will ever meet.
You will find Barbados in the East of the Caribbean sea, it is surrounded by many volcanic islands in a chain one the most famous in the chain being Montserrat. However Barbados is mainly made from coral, not volcanic rock. It is this coral that creates some amazing cave systems including the Animal Flower Caves found at the North of the Island.

The caves are named after the sea anemones which the locals named ‘animal flowers’. With several cave openings giving fantastic views of the sea and surrounding cliffs and a natural pool for you to swim in the animal flower caves are a must when visiting the island.

Have a look at some great deals on Barbados Holidays here.