Will Goodman’s 48 hrs 8 minutes official world record dive. This is the current record for the longest open saltwater scuba dive. Location Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia January 9 2010

Duration : 0:5:51

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Overview

Parrot Cay is a privately owned island set along the Turks and Caicos island chain. Once uninhabited, the island is still relatively secluded and quiet, though now home to the luxurious Parrot Cay Resort. The Parrot Cay Resort is set on the 1000-acre island and includes the holistic Shambhala Spa, a spa that specializes in massages and therapies from Asian countries. The gorgeous white-sand beaches that contrast with the multi-colored waters of the Caribbean Sea are magnificent natural attractions, and the miles and miles of coral reef in the waters around the island are a dream for scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

Sightseeing Attractions

As an island that was, until recently, mainly inhabited by pirates of centuries past, Parrot Cay does not have too much to offer as far as historical and architectural attractions are concerned. However, one of the most important structures on the island is that of a late 18th century house that was built by the Stubbs family who then owned plantations on North Caicos. The fantastic beaches, however, remain the primary attraction of Parrot Cay, and their aesthetics make up for what the island lacks in historical monuments.

Nightlife

If you’re looking to take a trip to a destination that offers an exciting nightlife, Parrot Cay is probably not the place for you. The island is not designed for drinking and shopping; rather, it is meant to be a quiet place of relaxation — a haven away from the bustle of everyday life. In fact, you may not ever see another person as you graze the beaches around Parrot Cay. However, dining on the island can be a pleasant experience. Choose from classic Mediterranean and Asian dishes, most made with some sort of fresh fish caught in the island’s surrounding waters.

Relaxation Attractions

Take a stroll along the three miles of gorgeous beaches or go for a swim in the warm Caribbean waters. Either way, you’ll be met only by the sound of the water crashing against the island coasts and that of the birds flying overhead. When you’re finished immersing yourself in the outdoor beauty of Parrot Cay, head for the Shambhala Spa. Employing many relaxation techniques from Bali, the Shambhala Spa offers services such as Thai massage, shiatsu, Indian head massage, Reiki, reflexology, Abhyanga, and Shirondhara. The resort also has a 24-hour gym, offers yoga classes, and has kayaks, canoes, and bikes available for guests to rent, as well as windsurfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving outings every day.

Jessica Elliott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/traveling-in-parrot-cay-what-to-do-and-where-to-go-on-your-parrot-cay-vacation-91863.html

If you’ve ever tried to reserve a Caribbean travel deal but have found that it’s already full, chances are you’ve tried to do it last minute. For the best deals and choices, do the best you can to book your vacation well ahead of time to make sure that your vacation is everything you want. However, if it’s a must to book at the last minute, here are some tips to help you get what you want.

Of course, you have to consider many factors when you book your business travel, among them budget and perhaps time constraints, if you need to have your vacation occur on specific days. However, you do have choices if you simply can’t book your trip ahead of time.

Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort & Casino

The Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort & Casino offers the breathtaking beauty of the Dutch Caribbean, including an awe-inspiring beach, magnificent casino, and outdoor pleasures galore. Aruba’s Palm Beach has soft white sands with carefully cultivated, lushly tropical gardens nearby. With their 2007 deals, you should be able to find something for your budget even if you’re pressed for time.

The Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort & Casino has comfortable rooms boasting satellite television, refrigerator, floor-to-ceiling windows so that you can enjoy the view from indoors, and a private balcony with an indescribable view. Even last-minute vacationers can enjoy sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and golf here. Should you choose, you can take a refreshing swim in the ocean or in the marvelous seaside pool next to it.

The Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort & Casino offers a Spring Sale, with rooms going for $634 per person doubly occupancy, plus a $100 food and beverage credit for five nights or more.

Hotel Riu Paradise Island

The Hotel Riu can be found on Paradise Island in the Bahamas and is another choice for the rushed traveler who can only make travel plans at the last minute. This last minute Caribbean travel resort has indescribable building facilities, including the “Colony” lobby bar, “Calypso” lounge bar with terrace, and “Atlantic” Restaurant, which includes a non-smoking section and the terrace. It also boasts a myriad of other facilities, including a 300 meter swimming pool with adjoining Jacuzzi, and convenient lounge chairs, towels, and umbrellas.

The Hotel Riu has 379 guestrooms to choose from, and their last minute Caribbean travel bargains start at $521 per person double occupancy. However, if this is your choice, book now. This last minute Caribbean travel discount only runs from April through June. Notably, all bookings must be made by March.

The Fairmont Southampton – Bermuda

The Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda has, as with most places in the Caribbean, unimaginably beautiful tropical gardens. However, here, in addition to spectacular blue waters and incredible sunsets, you also get beautiful and unusual pink sand beaches. Welcome to Bermuda. The Fairmont Southampton hosts its guests on the island’s highest point and provides views of unsurpassed beauty. Its old world British charm complements Bermuda’s new spirit beautifully, offering the perfect getaway for the last minute traveler.

Valorie Jay
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/last-minute-caribbean-travel-deals-120235.html

Koh lanta; hailed as the most beautiful island in Andaman Sea, is located just off the Thailand’s western coastal town of Krabi. The island is a unique, unspoiled island of the true spirit of humanity and traditions. Koh Lanta is surrounded by 27 kilometer coastline beautified by the golden sandy beaches.

Koh Lanta is actually an archipelago which consists of fifty small islands from which only 3 are inhabited. So the waters surrounding Koh Lanta is virtually untouched and it is one of the best places to go in scuba diving. The Scubafish is one of the designated diving centeres which offer services to the professional as well as the amateurs in the field of diving in Koh Lanta.

The main advantage of diving in Koh Lanta is the clearness of the water. The vivid colors, the great visibility and the range of dive sites are some of the key factors which attract divers from all over the world to Koh Lanta. In Scubafish, divers can get the help of experienced instructors who knows the place as well as the technology and they are willing to provide their knowledge without much hesitation to travelers of all expert levels.

Some of the diving areas in Koh Lanta waters are Ko Haa, Ko rok, Ko Phi Phi and Hin Daeng. The special diving sessions also can be arranged in the sites like the King Cruiser Wreck, The Shark Point and Anemone Reef. A special Marine Education centre is also established in the premises to support any visitor with the knowledge and guidance about the Koh Lanta waters. The divers also can try underwater photography first hand in Scubafish underwater videography and Photography Company offers limited number of internships about this craft.

Langham place Koh Lanta; a premier luxury vacation spa resort in Koh Lanta, is the ideal place for all the scuba diving fanatics to stay with the luxuries and comforts in this magnificent tropical region.

Naveen Marasinghe

Ponce de Leon, in his search for the fountain of youth, discovered Quepos in 1519. Named for the Quepoa Indian population he encountered, this seaside gem has evolved through the banana industry, to palm oil, to tourism; which is now the area’s leading product. In the late 1800’s, vast banana plantations were developed throughout the region. Bananas were shipped to world markets from the docks that now service the renowned sportfishing and diving operations. In the 1980’s the focus became the hearty African Palms with their high quality palm oil. Throughout all this transition the area has maintained marvelous charm and Quepos has established itself as a premier vacation destination, boasting the distinctions of world-class ecotourism and sportfishing to name just a couple of highlights.

Quepos is the gateway to perhaps the most popular National Park in all of Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio. The trails within the park lead to some of the most dazzling and secluded white-sand beaches in all of Central America. The emerald coves and a jungle-lined shoulder reaching an island of serenity will literally take your breath away. You may catch glimpses of whimsical spider monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, loud and colorful parrots, giant toucans, three-toed sloths, as well as many exotic flowering plants and vibrantly colored insects, including luminescent butterflies that inspire and overwhelm the senses. You may even see some of the last remaining squirrel or ‘titi’ monkeys left in all of Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio Park is one of the two restricted habitats of the highly endangered titi, or squirrel monkey. The birding opportunities are amazing, with more than 350 species spotted in the park’s small boundaries. Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, but no doubt one of the most appreciated by locals and tourists alike and is second in visitors only to Poas National Park. Easy walking trails boast panoramic views of Costa Rica’s dramatic coastline and meander through primary rainforest with over 300 species of trees. Stunning! The park is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday except Mondays. Admission is $ 10 U.S. dollars for non-residents, and children under 12 enter free of admission. Guided tours are available and highly recommended.

The town center of Quepos is a charming blend of seaside restaurants, bars, hotels, bakeries, art galleries and gift shops. High Season runs December to April, and is mostly dry but still lush and beautiful. The Festival del Mar dominates the month of February and features concerts, sporting events, parades and a street carnival with dancers from across the country. Quepos is brimming by Christmas, which is great fun. The friendly locals are joined year round by families, surfers, ecotourists, backpackers, fishermen and take it all in stride, maintaining their own special brand of Pura Vida. For people-watching, don’t miss Playa Espadilla just before the Manuel Antonio Park entrance, with its colorful street vendors and restaurants.

The panoramic views offered by the natural landscape are truly gorgeous, and can be enjoyed in a wide variety of accommodations from boutique hotels to luxury villas. Buena Vista Villas, La Mansion, and Hotel El Parador are wonderful, each with unique charm and unparalleled views. Buena Vista Villas is great for romantic honeymoon-like getaways, featuring privacy and the utmost elegance. The Parador is great for families, with lovely service, kid and adult friendly pool with a swim-up bar, and a family friendly restaurant. The view from the Parador pool is my favorite in all of the area. La Mansion is a cozy boutique experience that provides the service and cuisine that is all luxury, but with the personal touch by the friendly staff that really makes the experience above and beyond.

The activities to choose from are impressive: canopy zip-line tours, estuary/mangrove tours, sport fishing, scuba, snorkeling, hiking, naturalist tours, sunset catamaran cruises, kayaking, river rafting, surfing, spa experiences, horse back riding, jet skiing, waterfall excursions, etc. etc. etc. Iguana Tours is a trusted and great source that is fantastic for service. Lesser known is the ‘Spice Tour”, which is very unique and intriguing. Farm Villa Vanilla is a tropical laboratory for sustainable agriculture, 10 miles East of Quepos and includes 27 acres of agriculture production and 125 acres of primary and secondary rainforest. The organic, biodynamic crops include vanilla from the vanilla orchid, cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, and a variety of exotic fruits, essential oil and medicinal plants. The tour takes you through the sights and smells of all these crops, plus informing along the way about sustainable practices such as: composting, animal husbandry, and permaculture. Some spice treats and packs are included with the tour. After the tour you can pick up the spices in the spice shop. You will come away with an unforgettable experience of what makes the tropical rainforest unique.

Another unique experience, especially if you are a nature lover or are traveling with your children, is the Kids Saving The Rainforest in Quepos. Ahh, what one young person with vision, passion, and community support can do. For more information visit http://www.kidssavingtherainforest.org/.

The reforestation, rehabilitation of animals and other projects are worthy causes. At their Saturday Camp, local and visiting children learn about the rainforest and everything in it: trees, plants, insects, and animals, such as sloths, kinkajous, and titi monkeys. Learn ways to help and try to save the rainforest and specifically to prevent the titi monkey from extinction. Create artwork, some of which will be sold to help save the rainforest in the KSTR store. It is a fun-filled learning experience to empower kids to save the planet.

These are just a few highlights of the many magical things in store for you in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area. We can design a Quepos Costa Rica Vacation just for you, crafted by our local, passionate travel designers who live for providing the above and beyond! Ponce de Leon was on to something!

Lisa Khajavi
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/quepos-costa-rica-vacation-672288.html