What’s happening to the beach sand in Florida?
Sorry, Beach Closed, No More Sand!
The supply of sunken sand off Miami -Dade and Broward is tapped out.
”For practical purposes, we are out of sand“, so explains Miami-Dade Environmental Director Carlos Espinosa in an interview with the Miami Herald.
”The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic, places like that that would be willing to sell the sand,” Espinosa said. But under a clause in federal law, to protect the American dredging industry, the Corps must rule out all domestic sources as too costly or environmentally damaging before signing off on foreign grains.
Apart from carolling to the calypso beats and enjoying the sun, sand and surf, the fans thronging at the West Indies during the coming World Cup matches will get a chance to relish their eyes seeing the exquisite sand art of India.
Internationally acclaimed sand artist from Orissa Sudarsan Pattnaik will be in action on the scintillating Caribbean beach during the coming ICC World Cup cricket match.
Sudarsan has so far participated in more than 31 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. His sand sculpture on Black Taj Mahal earned him accolades all over the world.
Through his art he helped the tsunami victims in India, save the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles and spread awareness of the dangers of HIV-AIDS and polio.
Mexico spent $19 million to replace beaches washed away by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but erosion has shrunk Cancun’s sandy playground to the point where waves at high tide lap against some hotel patios.
To bring tourists pouring back after Hurricane Wilma, the ocean floor was dredged to rebuild eight miles of beach, nearly double their pre-hurricane size, and hotels were refurbished.
Just a year after the grand refurbishment was completed, the beaches have shrunk again, from 100 feet to less than 70 feet at mid-tide in the tourist zone, and swimmers are forced to clamber down 3-foot drops in the sand level to reach the water.
Read full article at ENN (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=12373
The eastern coastline of Trinidad is rather wild, and development is slow coming to this side of the island.
Although Manzanilla appears to be a typical, secluded Caribbean beach, nothing could be farther from the truth.
At any time of the day, you can expect to see water buffalo, giant egrets and other interesting water fowl. I’ve never been to any beach and viewed a water buffalo walking down the beach – like I said NOT your typical beach.
This is a brown sand beach – the sand is a bit courser than your typical powder white sand beach. At sometimes of the day (depending on the sun) the beach takes on a greyish color tone. The raging blue waters against the backdrop of brown/grey sand offers a non typical visual Caribbean beach experience.
This is a perfect beach for sunbathing, but since the east coast is on the Atlantic side, the waters have an undertow, and are too rough for swimming.
Manzanilla is 17 miles long, and bordered by coconut and mangrove trees, and quite at drive from the capital city Port of Spain – about 1 1/2 – 2 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
The beach shoreline doesn’t get much typical beach traffic, and coconuts, leaves and other vegetation line the area – so you might want to put on some shoes if you plan on walking any part of this 17 mile beach.
Since this side of the island is less developed, not a lot of tourist come here – so you pretty much have the beach to yourself (and the water buffalo and fowl). There are lifeguards on duty, a snack bar, picnic tables and also changing rooms, showers and toilet facilities – and also an adequate parking lot.
Nature lovers can travel about 2 1/2 miles to the northeast to visit a turtle nesting area.
Not an ideal beach for everyone, but it offers excellent sunbathing, privacy, seclusion and a great view of the raging Atlantic.
I much prefer the white sand beaches, however I gained an appreciate for this “wild beach“. It does not have the pristine look of the “average” tourist beach, but there was definitely serenity and beauty in its wildness. And I got a great sun tan!
The uninhabited island of Sandy Spit is located in the British Virgin Islands, southeast of Little Jost Van Dyke.
The island has been used as a backdrop for many movies, and once you view it you can definitely see why – just the place where you would want to be shipwrecked. Needless to say, this tiny piece of paradise is a favorite island hopping spot.
A 360 degree ring of beautiful, pristine white sand encompasses island, and the beautiful aqua marine water appears to make the white sand brighter.
The islands vegetation is located at the center, and there are only three rather tired looking palm trees on the entire island. The south end of the island has a pristine reef, and provides the perfect snorkeling environment. No need to go out too far to view tropical fish – many can be seen (and felt) as you wade out from shore into the crystal clear water.
This is a perfect Caribbean island picnic spot. While you dine, the graceful frigate birds circle overhead, and schools of flying fish skirt just above the water – they really don’t actually fly, but I can see why they would be easy to catch.
And if one fantasy island isn’t enough, Green Cay is just yards away, and connected to Sandy Split by an extremely shallow coral shoal.
Green Cay also offers great snorkeling, swimming and greats views of the beauty of BVI. And Sandy Cay is only minutes away.
The British Virgin Islands is home to small, tiny pristine islands – each one with its on personality and charm.
Port Antonio, Jamaica offers one of the most beautiful shorelines in the Caribbean, and right off this eastern coastline, sitting all by itself is Monkey Island.
Visitors usually swim over the sandy channels from San San Beach to this island outpost. The entire island is covered with lush vegetation, and provides a great place to snorkle and scuba dive.
Once you come ashore, you can climb up to 100 feet and take in the view of Jamaica’s beautiful lush green hill, and on a clear day you can see the island of Cuba. Climbing is not done on typical steps, but instead on tree roots that appear to be placed just so travelers can get a great view from this island outpost in the sea.
Monkey Island also has several other names: Woods Island, Pellow Island, and Princess Island. If you swim over from San San Beach watch your step – there are sea urchins with sticky spins on the shoreline.
Back in the early 1900’s an American millionaire, Arthur Mitchell built a house (the Folly House) in Port Antonio, and kept monkeys on the island across the bay – hence the name. Presently the house is in ruins, so not much need to stop there unless old relics make your day.
Seven beaches surround ring this 850-acre island in the
British Virgin Islands
Guana is one of the most intimate private-island resorts: just 15 rooms.
It’s as much about what you get (food that’s better than you expect) as what you don’t (phones and televisions).
Guana is a private island – while the entire private island can be rented for the right price, you can opt to sequester yourselves in one of Guana Island’s 15 guest rooms.
Guana is one of the most intimate private-island resorts: just 15 rooms.
It’s as much about what you get (food that’s better than you expect) as what you don’t (phones and televisions).
Guana Island British Virgin Islands – www.guana.com
Idyllic Vieques island is “the Caribbean as it used to be.”
But changes are on the horizon.
Travelers smitten with this 21-mile-long island off the coast of Puerto Rico love it as much for what it lacks as for what it has.
Absent are malls, stoplights, casinos and golf courses. Only one lodging has full resort amenities, and it hasn’t been a raging success.
Newcomers are wowed by what Vieques does have. Pristine beaches stretch for miles, the sweep of white sand interrupted only by swaying palms and tangles of mangrove.
A bioluminescent bay lit by billions of microscopic organisms (and considered one of the finest in the world) delights kayakers on moonless nights. Rural guest houses offer laid-back hospitality.
Travel writers are fond of proclaiming Vieques “the Caribbean as it used to be,” usually with the caveat: Get there fast before it changes.
On the horizon: Faster ferry service to the mainland; a proposal to build a tourist-oriented town; and a W hotel, part of a chain more often associated with hip, urban spots than island idyll, opening in 2008.
If you’ve been to Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, on your next trip to Jamaica experience the Western tip of the island.
What visitors find in Negril is a very laid back atmosphere, great variety of watersports, mind-blowing sunsets, cliff-jumping and the true Rastafarian culture.
When most beach lovers think of 7 mile beach – the Cayman Islands come to mind. But there’s another famous Caribbean beach with the same name.
One of the best things about this particular beach is that there are no high rise hotels to block your view.
7 mile beach (shown above) is aptly named, because it is the longest continuous stretch of powdery beach on the island of Jamaica. The beach also contains some nudist sections along with bare-all Booby Cay offshore.
Jamaica’s world famous 7-mile beach is located in Negril on the west coast of Jamaica. Here you will find the perfect soft white sand beach. Every morning joggers take to the beach for their eary morning run, and take in the unspoiled beauty of this great beach.
The beach is as popular in the evening as well – the sunsets are spectacular and hundreds of visitors watch as the huge sun sinks into the ocean. If you’ve ever dreamed of capturing sunsets – this is the place. In fact, Rick’s Cafe, in Negril is among the most famous places in the Caribbean for watching sunsets.
Snorkelers will love the variety of coral reefs, and the water feels like a nice, warm bath. All sorts of resorts, clubs, beach bars, and open-air restaurants close by.
Another great beach is just around the corner from 7 mile beach. Bloody Bay (pictured below) unlike its name has excellent clear waters, lots of palm trees, and an unspoiled beach – two and a half miles of white sand beach on a calm bay.
The Best Caribbean Beaches
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Enjoy the Best Beaches from the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands with crisper digital images and stereo sound.
Discover pristine “Treasure Cay” to “Smuggler’s Cove” plus beaches from Abaco, Turtle Cay, Eleuthera, New Providence, Rose Island, St. John, Tortola, and the world famous “Baths” on Virgin Gorda.
At MSNBC, Romantic Getaways an article on 8 Dreams Beaches of the Caribbean is featured
One of the featured beaches is Tahiti Beach, located in the off islands (or family islands) of the Bahamas
TAHITI BEACH
Even though Tahiti Beach shares Elbow Cay with quaint and popular Hope Town, its secluded location at the southwestern tip of the island — and the fact that no road leads to the sand — ensures that it remains an uncrowded dream beach.
Tahiti owes its South Seas moniker to the enchanted Bali Hai feel of otherworldly isolation, background of lush palms and view of Great Abaco.
Visitors staying in Hope Town or who ferry over from the other Abacos hike or bike out to the beach, while those taking advantage of the island chain’s ideal cruising grounds motor over in their dinghies. Bonefish feed in the shallows, which wrap around tide-rippled sandbars — ideal for strolling and sunning — that reach into the Sea of Abaco.
View the entire article at
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7818136/
A beach resort in Puerto Rico topped a list of best places for families to stay in the Caribbean based on rankings by readers of Travel + Leisure Family Magazine.
The list of the 10 best tropical destinations appears in the magazine’s spring issue.
Las Casitas Village & Golden Door Spa in Las Croabas, Puerto Rico, was in the No. 1 spot; with doubles from $269. Activities include family golf clinics, horseback riding, and kayaking in the bioluminescent bay, where you’ll see glowing sea creatures on moonless nights.
Next was Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands; from $410 per day for adults, children $95, rates all-inclusive. Kids will love the swim-up juice bar, Xbox stations, and water park.
No. 3 was the Four Seasons Great Exuma at Emerald Bay in the Bahamas; doubles from $495. It offers everything from kite-flying to a teen center to parent-child golf and tennis clinics.
Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas took the No. 4 spot; with doubles from $370. Swim with the dolphins and enjoy the 97-acre waterscape (with slides).
Paradisus Puerto Rico Resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, was next, adults from $406, children from $150, rates all-inclusive. Take tennis lessons, or if you prefer, golf or merengue classes.
The Four Seasons Resort Nevis in Charlestown, Nevis, was sixth on the list; doubles from $655. Look for sea turtles nesting on the beach at night.
The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in Palm Beach, Aruba, was next; doubles from $450. Kids can enjoy sculpting driftwood or playing volleyball on the sand.
In the No. 8 spot was Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica, doubles from $590. Kids will want to check out the Pineapple Club, and each of the 25 villas has a private pool.
Beaches Negril Resort & Spa in Negril, Jamaica, was ninth on the list; adults from $370, kids from $95, all-inclusive. Accredited nannies, Sesame Street characters, a water park and kids’ reggae parties are a few of the attractions.
Rounding out the list was the Westin St. John Resort & Villas in St. John – (Pictured Above), in the U.S. Virgin Islands; doubles from $759. Check out the water trampolines and iguana safaris, or just play a good old-fashioned game of bingo.
Source: USA Today
Travel & Leisure’s new rundown on affordable beach resorts – Rendezvous Bay Hotel – Situated on one of the loveliest beaches in the Caribbean.
The magazine’s says, “Spotless rooms with a funky B&B vibe,” but with rates for a double starting at only $140 for a garden view, that’s enough incentive to book lodging with minimal style and no A/C in the standard rooms, or step it up and go for a villa room with a view – that’s gonna set you back $205 – $315 per night.
The place sits on 60 acres and has a two-mile stretch of beach – which is more than enough for me!
This got me interested enough to visit the hotel’s website, which says
Wake up to the sound of waves lapping the shore and birds singing in the Flamboyant trees. Walk down the beach and take a swim before breakfast in the peace and quiet of a Caribbean morning. While away the entire day under perfect blue skies, snorkeling and sunning, sipping rum-punch on your verandah, eating local lobster just plucked from the bay and playing tennis in the coolness of the early evening. Meet friends at the bar and have a gourmet dinner together in our Cedar Grove Restaurant on the Porch.
Ready to go?!?
Beaches of the Caribbean 
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