This cruise is like a brunch buffet loaded with variety and enticements. It’s also refreshingly low-key and quiet. On Mandalay’s 13-day “Barefoot” expedition, you’ll have ample time to explore and linger over a chain of islands that span some 400 nautical miles. This itinerary is truly exotic. Mandalay sails to islands smothered in primal rainforest … where cascading waterfalls plunge hundreds of feet over tropical foliage to bathing-pools below … and untamed rivers teem with fish and rolling rapids. Exotic birds and butterflies ride rum-scented winds that continually fan the green fields of sugarcane, banana, and coffee. A smorgasbord for the senses, shipmates will see and feel the many cultural influences of the Caribbean: Creole, French, Indian and European. The villages encountered along the voyage range from quaint and intimate to bustling and energetic. These islands are like a first love—they’ll steal your heart instantly and forever.

Antigua     Tours & Excursions
With 365 idyllic beaches–one for each day of the year–Antigua is the water sports mecca of the Caribbean. Wind surfers, sailors, divers, and sun-seekers love this island of rolling hills and wide sweeping bays. You’ll feel the legacy of the British as you stroll along the boardwalk to Redcliffe Quay, a historic promenade of restored town homes and stone warehouses that have been converted into brightly painted cafes, shops, and restaurants. The Caribbean pulse is palpable everywhere.

Bequia     Tours & Excursions
Pretty as a picture describes our beloved Bequia. You’ll be captivated by the island’s charm while strolling along the lovely harbor with its shops, restaurants, and pastel-painted gingerbread homes. There’s a long tradition of boat building and you’ll find a slew of handcrafted model ships, old nautical charts, and rare sailing books to bring back home.

Carriacou     Tours & Excursions
Peaceful and removed describes this patch of paradise. Green rolling hills descend to sandy white beaches (typical of the Grenadines.) At Tyrrel Bay, under the shade of palms at the edge of the sea, you can watch local men building schooners by hand. Still unspoiled by mass tourism, this is the perfect spot for getting away-from-it-all.

Dominica
People say that the ‘Nature Island’ is the only Caribbean landmass that Columbus would recognize today. Virgin rainforests stand proud and tall ... Untamed rivers run wild ... Hundreds of waterfalls cascade from glorious heights where some 160 species of birds fill the forest with song and color. Lucky for us, many of Dominica’s eco-sensitive tourist activities have been integrated into the lives of the locals–a nice change from the traditional tourist kitsch and glitzy resorts found on other islands.

Iles des Saints
The Saints are an archipelago of eight volcanic islets–tropical hideaways scalloped by white sandy beaches and sheltered coves. The 17th century Fort Napoleon is an impressive structure with fine views over the island and surrounding seas. A charming and seductive atmosphere pervades the place. It’s enough to make you want to buy your dream villa and leave the world behind.

Martinique
Welcome to the island of flowers. Roadsides are splashed with bougainvillea, hibiscus, and poinsettias. The romantic artist Paul Gauguin came here to paint in 1887. The culture is a unique blend of French, African and East Indian influences–a diversity as rich as the landscape itself. Martinique has it all: deserts, rainforests, volcanoes, white and black sand beaches. Accented with almond and pear trees, the beaches are the most exotic we’ve encountered. In town, French and Creole culture bombards the senses, from the colorful Madras fabric to the lively Boules games on the town square. Vive la difference!

Mayreau
No need for a time machine–just go to Mayreau! There’s only one road, virtually no development, and farm animals outnumber people. Ok, so you would not want to move here permanently, but it’s the ideal place to take that overdue break from reality.

Nevis     Tours & Excursions
Almost completely circular, Nevis’ green slopes rise in sweeping curves to the central and only summit. From a distance, Nevis looks like a snow-capped mountain, but it’s just clouds and mist hovering around Nevis Peak. Charlestown is a well-preserved village: plantation estates and eighteenth century buildings decorated with gingerbread trim tell the story of a bygone era. An interesting zoning law states that no buildings may be taller than the palm trees. We love that!

St. Lucia     Tours & Excursions
This island is a nature lover’s paradise. Here, the dueling Piton peaks serve as an inspiring landmark for sailors. You’ll have a chance to visit waterfalls, hot springs, botanical gardens and the world’s only “drive-in” volcano. Got Boots? Hiking boots are what you’ll need for trekking along trails through the Rainforest Reserve, a favorite venue for bird-watchers. The forest is loaded with flowering delights: giant ferns, wild orchids, and towering stands of bamboo. Shop for the island’s famous hand-printed Batik fabrics, sample the calalloo soup, or step back in time by strolling through an historic banana or coffee plantation. The possibilities are endless...

St. Vincent     Tours & Excursions
St. Vincent glimmers like an emerald in the sea. A boat ride along the coast is the best way to appreciate the island’s volcanic origins; and visit the Falls of Baleine, a breathtaking waterfall that spills from a mass of foliage into a rockbound pool. Kingstown, the capital, is an 18th century town worth exploring. A walking tour begins at the docks and leads to the farmers’ market (Saturday mornings), past shops, restaurants, and old churches. Beachcombers will find beautiful black sand on the Leeward side, proof of the island’s volcanic birth. If flowers brighten your day, take a free tour through the botanical gardens-the oldest in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tobago Cays
The highlight of cruising the Grenadines is the Tobago Cays (prounounced keys). They are four uninhabited, palm-fringed islets ringed by pristine, white-sand beaches and clear azure waters. For many, this is the most beautiful region in the Caribbean. The atmosphere is serene, and the intensity of colors sheds a romantic glow. From any of the cays, you can swim or wade to outlying portions of the reef. The Tobago Cays are the closest thing to heaven-on-earth!

Grenada     Tours & Excursions
Grenada is the fruit basket of the Caribbean. The fertile soils of the ‘Spice Island’ are perfect for growing cinnamon, cloves, and cocoa beans. Banana trees grow as tall as palms along the sides of the road. The scents of ginger, vanilla, almond, and nutmeg linger in the air, while the countryside explodes with every tropical fruit imaginable. The bustling farmers’ market in picturesque St. George is one of the liveliest and most resplendent.