Kayak, Hike & Multi-Snorkel Adventure in St. Thomas
Includes a Vegan Lunch |
Kayak through St. Thomas' protected Mangrove Lagoon, an unspoiled region of mangrove forests, winding channels, and first-rate snorkeling territory. After arriving at a picturesque lagoon, don a mask and snorkel and begin exploring the marine splendor of the sanctuary. Keep your eyes out for spotted eagle rays, tarpin, sea turtles, and octopi. Afterwards, a ten minute paddle through mangrove alleyways brings you to Cas Cay. Enjoy a hermit crab race in a secluded mangrove forest and an eight minute hike along a coral and shell rubble beach to volcanic cliffs, tidal pools and a rare geologic blowhole. While enjoying the natural beauty and scenic photo opportunities you will recharge with a drink and a vegan lunch. Then, a short walk back to the beach where you will don your snorkel gear again. Snorkel from a sandy spit into a mangrove nursery and juvenile marine habitat. |
| Your professional Nature Guide will show you an underwater trail leading to a piece of an underwater shipwreck where numerous fish congregate. You will see a wide variety of colorful marine life. Following the Snorkel a twenty minute paddle will bring you back to the ecomarina. Experienced Nature Guides. Fun for the Entire Family. Small tours. No Experience Necessary. Two person easy to paddle sit-on-top kayaks. | |
Booking Information
- On the reservation form please note "A Taste of Health" in the Cruise Ship Field.
- Transportation to and from the ship IS included.
- Space for this tour is limited, and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
- IMPORTANT: This tour is separate from the Costa Cruise Excursions. Please don't request information about this tour from the Costa Excursion Desk on the ship. Once onboard the ship, please consult the Taste of Health information desk regarding this tour.
Price: $133.00
Booking Directions
- Step 1: Click the booking link below
- Step 2: Click the "Book Your Tour Now" link at the top of the page
- Step 3: Fill out Contact Info. Please list "A Taste of Health" as the Cruise Ship
- Step 4: Select 3/24/2010 as your "Date Wanted"
- Step 5: Select "Kayak-Hike-Multi-Snorkel St. Thomas 5 hrs 9:00am" as your Tour
This Tour is SOLD OUT. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Departure from VI Ecotours Marina at the St Thomas' Mangrove Lagoon
5 HOUR TOUR: Includes sack lunch, enjoyable and easy hike on flat but uneven ground & 2 snorkeling stops.
Here is a timeline of the tour:
9:30 Meet at the following: Deck 9, the Napoli Deck by the outdoor pool near the middle of the ship. Note: The Costa Cruise lines may be offering my 3 hour kayak, hike & snorkel tour, this is a different tour
10:00 Arrive at VI Ecotours Eco-marina, welcome introduction, safety talk and paddling demonstration
10:20 Don life jackets and load into easy to paddle sit-on-top kayaks
10:30 Paddle into the Mangrove Lagoon
10:40 First interpretive stop
10:50 Second interpretive talk
11:00 Third interpretive talk
11:05 Arrive at Long Point Beach and explore coral and shell rubble barrier between lagoon and Caribbean Sea
11:20 Snorkeling demonstration & instructions
11:50 Finish snorkeling and enjoy a granola bar or fruit snack
12:00 Depart by kayak to Cas Cay
12:10 Arrive at Cas Cay
12:20 Enter mangrove forest and enjoy hermit crab race
12:25 Begin walk with stops to view a sea grass bed habitat and black mangrove forest
12:45 Reach Red Point Blow hole, volcanic cliffs and tidal pools and enjoy superb photo opportunities and vegan sack lunch
01:15 Depart Red Point towards kayaks
01:30 Begin snorkel in protected lagoon Juvenile Marine Habitat to piece of shipwreck
02:15 Complete snorkel tour and have a snack and reboard kayaks
02:30 Begin paddle to VI Ecotours Marina
02:50 Return to Marina and change into dry clothes, choice of purchasing a set of photo CD with up to 500-600 digital photos of the tour for $40 per CD
03:00 Depart in a safari bus or air-conditioned van to return to ship
04:00 Arrive at the ship.
Reef walkers are the recommended shoe. VI Ecotours store sells a pair for $20.
St. Thomas’ Mangrove Lagoon & Cas Cay Wildlife Sanctuary & Marine Preserve
The southern coast of St.Thomas is endowed with the attractive and protected Mangrove Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary & Marine Preserve of exceptional natural resources and is filled with scenic contrasts: manglar islands, rocky cliffs, shallow clear waters with sea grass beds, salt ponds and panoramic ridge lines. These natural areas provide a rich nursery habitat for offshore coral reef fish and invertebrates such as rays, barracuda, silversides, grunts, snappers, angel fish, porcupine fish, eels, lobsters, conch, sea cucumbers, and turtles and the trees also provide homes to nesting egrets, pelicans, herons and terns. This gentle tour affords recreational and educational opportunities for persons of all ages and abilities. As an important part of the Virgin Islands Park System, Cas Cay, a small island within the mangrove sanctuary is a 15 acre Wildlife Preserve for white-cheeked pintail ducks, red-billed and white-tailed tropic birds, Brown pelicans, oyster catchers, roseate terns, egrets, herons and sandpipers. A special and rare dry forest ecosystem of mampo, sea grape and ink berry begins at the south side volcanic cliffs with a rare geologic blow hole and extends into a flat, sandy area with a red mangrove forest, complete with a village of hermit crabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Provided Free of charge: Snorkel gear and instruction, safety equipment, dry bag, lunch, beverages & snack.
Remember to bring: Your Towels, Sun protection, Bathing Suit, Shoes that can get wet (preferably Reef Walkers which are $20 at the VI Ecotours gift shop).
Photo CDS: Our photographer is available on most tours and sells CDs with up to 500 jpeg photos of the entire tour $40.
Gift Shop: T-shirts, hats, sunglasses, waterproof cameras, sunscreen, and waterproof shoes, snacks.
Gratuity: Voluntary and appreciated.
Free Lockers:
Free lockers are provided so that you may leave certain valuables safely locked at our marina while you are out enjoying your adventure.Dressing rooms & Toilet Facilities:
Dressing rooms and toilet facilities are available on our premises.Cancellation Policy: 48 hour cancelation policy.
"If you only have a day in St. Thomas,
experience the magic of the
Mangroves by kayak."
-Cruise Travel Magazine