Caribbean News
The Most Popular Boating Cities in the Caribbean
- Nassau, The Bahamas
Most Popular Style of Boat: Powerboats
Number of Vessels: 167
With its turquoise waters and proximity to the famous Exuma Cays, Nassau offers fantastic boating experiences and stands out as the busiest boat rental destination in the Caribbean. Popular boat trips include visiting Pig Beach, snorkeling in Thunderball Grotto, and exploring private islands. Fishing charters are a top boating activity in Nassau, with visitors booking half and full-day excursions on fully-equipped fishing boats for deep-sea adventures. The warm climate and thriving marine life make it exceptionally popular for winter escapes and Spring Break vacations for families and groups of friends of all ages.
- Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Most Popular Style of Boat: Yachts
Number of Vessels: 110
Fajardo is known for its bioluminescent bays and the nearby Cordillera Nature Reserve. Boat trips to Icacos Island and Vieques offer opportunities for pristine snorkeling, diving, and the unique experience of visiting a bioluminescent bay. It’s seasonally dependent, but if you come at the right time, you could be greeted by glow-in-the-dark organisms illuminating the waters around you during a tour by boat at night. This is often considered a bucket list experience, and Fajardo, Puerto Rico, is one of the best destinations for it. The consistent weather and calm seas are also ideal for sailing year-round.
- Cartagena, Colombia
Most Popular Style of Boat: Catamarans
Number of Vessels: 285
Cartagena boasts a rich cultural heritage, charming old town streets, alongside stunning coastal waters. It’s one of the most visited cities in Colombia, both by international and domestic tourists. The most commonly chosen boating itinerary for visitors on vacation is a day trip to the Rosario Islands. These islands are known for coral reefs and vibrant sea life, and provide the perfect scenery for photo shoots, island hopping, and sunbathing. Its year-round tropical weather makes it a favorite for yachters looking for day excursions or even overnight adventures.
- Bavaro, Dominican Republic
Most Popular Style of Boat: Yachts
Number of Boat Listings: 167
Located on the eastern coast, north of Punta Cana, Bavaro is a growing tourist destination in the Dominican Republic, thanks to its proximity to the international airport and its rapidly-growing accommodations and facilities. It’s also a very affordable destination for yachting, with average hourly rates starting at just $125/hour for large yachts.
With 10 kilometers of coastline, there are many great beaches to explore and enjoy, and cruising around from Bavaro to various sandbars and tiny islands off the coast is a top activity enjoyed by visitors on vacation. Popular trips from Bavaro include snorkeling in coral gardens and cruising along the lagoon. Boat tours here with local captains provide for an unforgettable vacation experience.
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Most Popular Style of Boat: Yachts
Number of Boat Listings: 345
With the international airport in Punta Cana receiving over 1.5 million tourists annually, it’s a top Caribbean destination for travelers seeking sunshine and warmth, especially during the winter months and over Spring Break. Punta Cana is known for its white-sand beaches and warm, blue waters, and it offers fantastic boating options. Popular excursions include Saona Island, exploring natural pools and sandbars, spotting dolphins in the wild, or even full day trips to Punta de los Nidos. It’s a remarkably affordable yachting destination, especially if you’re visiting with a group and can split the cost. Many options start at under $100/hour for impressive vessel rentals with captains included.
- Jan Thiel, Curacao
Most Popular Style of Boat: Yachts
Number of Boat Listings: 24
Jan Thiel in Curacao is a gem of the Caribbean for on-water adventures, where you can cruise and discover secluded beaches and vibrant coral reefs. Motor yachts and large sailboats are the most in-demand style of boat to charter or rent here, as the favorable winds make it ideal for sailing, and there are many great areas to explore by private yacht. Popular trips by boat from Jan Thiel include exploring Klein Curaçao, a remote island perfect for snorkeling and diving, and day trips to Fuikbay and the Spanish Lagoon. It’s an area of the island with many beach clubs and waterfront restaurants that you can visit by boat, or book a catered lunch onboard your yacht charter.
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
Most Popular Style of Boat: Powerboats
Number of Boat Listings: 53
Montego Bay is celebrated for its lively culture, luxury accommodations, incredible yacht services, and beautiful scenery. It’s a top destination in Jamaica for the over 2 million visitors who travel to the island annually.
Boating trips from Montego Bay often feature visits to Doctor’s Cave Beach and the Montego Bay Marine Park. Many visitors opt to have an all-inclusive bar and catered local food onboard. The area’s warm waters are perfect for kayaking and snorkeling, and many larger yacht charters will include equipment for these sorts of activities.
- Oranjestad, Aruba
Most Popular Style of Boat: Yachts
Number of Boat Listings: 18
Aruba’s Oranjestad is renowned for shipwreck dives and luxury catamaran cruises, and has grown in popularity in recent years as a top vacation destination for visitors from around the globe. Popular destinations include the Antilla shipwreck and the calm waters of Eagle Beach. Sunset cruises are another popular choice here, and are an ideal way to end a perfect vacation day. The gorgeous beaches and waters of Oranjestad coupled with the easy access to boats and yachts in the various marinas of the city make it a top choice for boating enthusiasts on a trip to the island.
- Leeward Settlement, Turks & Caicos
Most Popular Style of Boat: Powerboats
Number of Boat Listings: 27
Turks and Caicos experienced record tourism growth in 2024, and an upscale area of the islands, the Leeward Settlement, is a top Caribbean destination for boat rentals and yacht charters. The area offers natural beauty thanks to its clear turquoise waters and pristine, white sand beaches. Popular trips by boat from here include exploring Grace Bay and snorkeling at Smith’s Reef. The shallow, calm waters make it an ideal spot for family boating. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, and incredible colorful fish.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
Most Popular Style of Boat: Sailboats
Number of Boat Listings: 15
While not as busy with respect to boating as the east coast city of Fajardo, San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, combines vibrant city life with excellent boating opportunities. Sailing is a top choice here, with visitors opting for sightseeing and sunset cruises. Popular excursions
by boat from San Juan include trips to nearby islands like Palomino and Culebra. Its rich history, iconic landmarks and warm, sunny weather make it a top choice. Make sure to snap some photos of the old fort infrastructure while cruising around.
- San Pedro, Belize
Most Popular Style of Boat: Catamarans
Number of Vessels: 28
Located near the Belize Barrier Reef on the south side of Ambergris Caye, San Pedro offers unmatched opportunities for diving and snorkeling and is a top destination for visitors venturing to Belize. Popular boating trips include Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. The biodiversity of this region in the Caribbean guarantees marine life sightings when out exploring by boat. Catamarans are the top style of boat for trips here, which are great for large groups on vacation together.
In Summary
The Caribbean is a world-renowned destination for boating and yachting, offering over 7,000 islands, cays, and islets, each with unique charm and natural beauty. With its consistently warm temperatures ranging from 77°F to 82°F (25°C to 28°C) year-round, calm waters, and trade winds averaging 15-25 knots, the region provides ideal conditions for sailors and boaters of all skill levels. The Caribbean accounts for approximately 20% of the global yacht charter market, with the top hotspots like The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic drawing millions of visitors annually. Boating highlights include the Great Blue Hole in Belize, attracting divers and boaters, and the Rosario Islands near Cartagena, known for vibrant marine biodiversity. Visitors flock to these waters for exceptional snorkeling, diving, fishing, and island-hopping experiences, making the Caribbean a paradise for maritime enthusiasts.
To develop this report, Getmyboat analyzed all boat rentals, charters, and demand data for Caribbean cities in 2024. The data was cleaned to exclude outlier hourly rates and locations with insignificant sample sizes, while rentals were categorized into the significant categories to be evaluated in this report. Data on the most popular boat style and the number of vessels available in each location are included for the top locations to paint a more detailed picture of each city’s boating culture.
About Getmyboat
Getmyboat is the world’s biggest and best marketplace for fun, safe, and easy boating experiences of all kinds. Launched in 2013, over 2 million customers have gone boating through the platform, with 180,000+ listings across 184 countries and thousands of 5-star reviews for boat owners and captains. 30% of trips are boat rentals, while 70% of trips are captained by boating professionals, so customers feel safe while they enjoy being together with family and friends on the water.
How Venezuelan farmers are learning to grow and live with a devastating plant disease
In the fields of Venezuela, where the banana has been for generations a symbol of sustenance and tradition, a shadow fell across the land. In 2023, Venezuela’s National Institute of Integral Agricultural Health (INSAI) declared a phytosanitary emergency: the fungus Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4; syn. Fusarium odoratissimum) had arrived in producing areas in the states of Aragua, Carabobo and Cojedes.
This fungus, considered a devastating disease of banana and plantain (Musaceae) trees, can remain in the soil for more than two decades,
threatening production and the lives of those who depend on it.
In the state of Aragua in the north of the country, the Renacer community had been growing bananas and plantains on 20 hectares since 2018. Then Fusarium arrived.
“When the disease hit, the entire plantation began to deteriorate. We refused to ‘die’ with the trees because that was our livelihood. The visits of INSAI confirmed that we had to chop down the banana trees. I cried a lot because I had worked with my banana trees for years,” recalls woman farmer, Lesbia Margarita García, with a broken voice.
In response, INSAI implemented measures to eliminate the affected plantations and improve the soil health by changing to other crops that allow agricultural production to recover. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) offered assistance by providing corn seeds, tools, biosecurity inputs and training, with teams of experts helping farmers to start again.
“Planting corn, thanks to the INSAI-FAO programme, gave us a harvest that benefited everyone. We have been improving the soil,” says Lesbia Margarita with a smile. “Now we rotate crops, observe soil health and have learned how to use natural fertilizers. Expert assistance has been key.”
The pilot project works directly with affected producers in high-risk areas, promoting alternative crops such as cereals and vegetables, delivering inputs and tools to mitigate damage and applying biosecurity measures for safe and effective containment.
“Beyond the corn received, we have already planted cassava, chili peppers, beans and pumpkin. We hope that by the end of the year [2025] we will be diversified and that each season we will have something to sell. These lands do not give up,” says Lesbia Margarita with conviction.
The Renacer community is beginning to see fruits. Their products are reaching local markets, generating income and rebuilding their livelihoods.
Key actions to manage Fusarium TR4 are ongoing, including regular monitoring, continuous training, inter‑institutional coordination,
updates to the national plan, information campaigns and producer impact assessments. INSAI is sustaining regulatory, surveillance measures and training —with FAO support—as part of a comprehensive long‑term strategy.
At the global level, FAO supports awareness raising, capacity building and international collaboration in the fight against Fusarium TR4 by facilitating the World Banana Forum and its Global Network on TR4.
“The objective is for countries to strengthen their operational and technical capacity, articulating actions between the public sector, the private sector and family farmers,” says Raixa Llauger, FAO Agriculture Officer in Mesoamerica. “FAO and local partners have promoted this approach in Venezuela.”
As an essential part of the activities, a comprehensive training programme was developed with activities that taught farmers how to identify the disease contain it and protect crops. In addition, FAO has distributed laboratory equipment, biosecurity tools and a multispectral drone to INSAI. Drones are an efficient and cost‑effective tool for phytosanitary surveillance, offering rapid, high‑resolution monitoring and early detection of plant pests and diseases.
Overall, the project strengthened biosecurity measures against the Fusarium fungus through the adoption of the National Action Plan and the establishment of partnerships with national and international institutions. In addition, the pilot initiative supporting smallholder farmers in key production areas and a nationwide awareness campaign with broad outreach improved surveillance, diagnosis and phytosanitary response capacities across the country.
MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given
jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.
Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.
She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.
According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and
Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.
The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.
More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.
Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed
at building stronger resilience to future disasters.
The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.
Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.
By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.
Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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