Caribbean Sea Yacht Charter and Sailing Vacation Guide

About Chartering in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is rightly referred to as a yachting paradise. Perhaps no other destination in the world can offer the range of beautiful islands, diving and snorkeling, clear water, and ideal sailing conditions than the islands of the Caribbean Sea. The waters are idyllic, the sights gorgeous, and the activities endless, providing the perfect adventure and holiday. Key destinations such as the Virgin Islands, St Barths, Antigua, the Genadines, St Martin and St Lucia are almost synonomous with palm trees, sandy beaches and great chartering!

While you can try to hop many of the islands, especially if you’re on a motor yacht, we normally would recommend taking a leisurely pace to fully explore a few islands and to absorb the culture. One of the key aspects of being on Caribbean Islands is to do some “chillin” – to ensure you enjoy the slow, natural and relaxed way of life in these tropical islands.

The islands themselves differ considerably, however they all offer beautiful and sheltered anchorages, palm trees, excellent marine life, and fine white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters. The character of the local people likewise varies from the charming and unspoiled modest Dominican, to the well-to-do and modern French of Martinique.

Caribbean Climate

Caribbean weather is normally very sunny, 12 hours a day, with a few billowy clouds and occasionally scattered showers. The climate is nearly perfect – the daily temperatures are fairly consistent all year round, with an average temperature of 80 Degrees Fahrenheit (27 Degrees C). There is only a 5 Degree difference between the warmest and the coldest months of the year.

The period between December-May is the dry season, apart from the occasional shower. During the Summer, conditions are still ideal with refreshing rain showers. There is a risk of Hurricanes during August and September. The Easterly trade winds that blow all year round and rarely exceed force 5 ensure splendid sailing conditions which, combined with the many beautiful and uncrowded island anchorages, have made the Antilles a boating paradise. High Season is the two weeks around Christmas and New Years, and Easter/Spring Break time. Prices are higher during this time, and it it recommended that you book at least 6 months in advance.

Charter Information about the major Caribbean Islands

Below is a short summary of the key Caribbean islands. We have also written in depth Charter Guides for most, just follow the links if you want more information on luxury yacht charter in the Caribbean. You will also see a link to the charter yachts in the area, if you just want to see our boats. In certain areas we also have itineraries and additional local interest articles.


1. Antigua and Barbuda

The beautiful beaches of AntiguaOnce the primary port for Admiral Nelson's Fleet, Antigua ("An TEE Ga") is now a charter and vacation paradise that offers a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches, stunning coral reefs and numerous beautiful bays.

Barbuda was once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs. It is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries, as well as a fantastic place to snorkel.

2. Barbados

Barbados is the most eastern island in the Caribbean, with an area of 430 square kilometres. Under British Rule from the 1600's until 1966 - it is a mix of British, African and Caribbean culture.

Barbados is the only all-coral Caribbean island, providing beautiful white sandy beaches and great diving (but fewer bays and inlets). Visitors can explore Colonial Bridgetown, mangrove forests with monkeys, the Mount Gay Rum refinery and of course miles and miles of beautiful beach.

3. British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, BVIA group of British-controlled islands 60 miles from Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are a mecca for sailing and yachting. These predominantly undeveloped islands, with beautiful sandy beaches lined with palm trees, excellent snorkeling, and plenty of interesting places to visit, are often recommended as the best place for your first sailboat or catamaran charter.

The BVI trade winds are constant, gentle and predictable, sailing is line-of-site in the protected Sir Francis Drake channel, and each island has its own charm and points of interest such as "the Baths" - a boulder field on a beach on Virgin Gorda that's fantastic for snorkelling and exploring. Key islands to visit are Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Norman Island, and Anegada each with it's own personality and attractions.

Being the birthplace of bareboat chartering, the BVI has a well established infrastructure for sailing, hundreds of charter yachts to meet just about any need, and plenty of great beach restaurants and boating destinations.

4. Dominica

Because Dominica is the youngest island in the Caribbean, there remains a stunning sharpness to her terrain. Beautiful, dramatic angles abound, rivers run clear and fast and forests remain untouched. The uncompromising beauty of the island is everywhere - rolling hills, secluded coastlines, virgin woods. Dominica is often called “The Nature Island of the Caribbean”. Besides sailing, visit Dominica to hike, raft, bike, dive and generally enjoy the multiple wonders of nature.

5. Grenada

Grenada is a rolling, mountainous island, covered with fragrant spice trees and rare tropical flowers. In the interior of this volcanic island are cascading rivers and waterfalls, lush rainforests, and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful mountain lakes imaginable. The capital, St. George's, is widely held to be the loveliest city in the Caribbean.

Grenada offers plenty of beaches and coral reefs to explore. The island is ringed with miles of picture-perfect strands, including both black (volcanic) and sugar-fine white sand beaches.

6. Guadeloupe

The beautiful coast of GuadeloupeGuadeloupe consists of the twin islands Basse-Terre to the west and Grand Terre to the east, along with several smaller islands. Basse-Terre is a thickly forested mountainous island of volcanic origin. Grand-Terr is a limestone island of coral origin with low hills rising to 150 meters and extending through the central and southern part of the island.

Guadeloupe was a French colony and as a result of its heritage, offers the height of the Caribbean's Creole culture - a blend of French and African influences. The archipelago offers a mix of modern cities, rural towns, rainforests and secluded beaches, as is as well known for its sugar and rum as it is for its beaches and resorts.

7. Martinique

Martinique is truly "A little bit of France in the Caribbean islands." It exudes a distinctly French feeling -- In the excellence of it's caribbean cuisine, the beauty of its language.

The sailing infrastructure of Martinique is well developed, with plenty of charter boats (more catamarans than monohulls) in le Marin. You can explore Sainte-Anne, the southernmost village to Saint-Pierre, famous for the 1902 volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée, sail near HMS Diamond Rock and explore the many wonders the island has along her shores.


8. Vieques and Culebra, the Spanish Virgin Islands

Often referred to as the Spanish Virgin Islands - the islands of Vieques and Culebra lie to the west of the US Virgin Islands and are part of Puerto Rico.

With water depths rarely exceeding one hundred feet Culebra is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Hard and soft corals are found in the shallows and magnificent reefs encircle the island where tropical fish and other sea life abound.

Vieques offers the lush, unspoiled Caribbean of the past with ample diving, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and several other activities for nature lovers.

9. St Barthelemy/St Barths/St Barts and Anguilla

A view on beautiful St Barths during high season St Barts is more rugged and less lush than islands such as Martinique. Steep hills divide the island into several valleys, usually open on one side to the sea. The shoreline includes around 20 beautiful white sandy beaches, most with a coral reef, and several offshore Marine Reserves.

St Barts is a prime spot for all boats, but it's especially known for its superyachts, as the island is a hideaway for may rock stars and celebrities. It has great cuisine derived from it's French ancestry, but is also quite expensive.

10. St Kitts

A view of a secluded black sand beach at St KittsThe combination of natural beauty, great weather, warm waters, and white sandy beaches make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus first spotted St. Kitts in 1493, when it was populated with native tribes, but the Europeans did not colonize until the British arrived in 1623. Its strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was among the best in the Colonial Caribbean.

Development of St Kitts has been well controlled, keeping the island uncrowded and unspoiled. If you enjoy nature you can tour lava formations, tropical forests, and seaside lagoons. Plantation homes with a colonial feel have been transformed into nice hotels, and there are several quaint shopping areas.

11. St. Martin/St. Maarten

The beautiful beaches of St Martin The smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch for almost 350 years. Each side has managed to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. You will find comfort and style on the French (St Martin) side, with secluded beaches, plush accommodations, and restaurants that offer some of the finest dining in the Caribbean. St. Maarten is more bustling and has been developed with more of an informal Dutch flavor.

Boat enthusiasts will find plenty of charter boats on the island, as it's a charter hub and there are several of regattas. It's also a great stopover if you are cruising the Antilles on a yacht.

12. St Lucia

The mountainous terrain of St LuciaSt. Lucia is the sort of island that travelers to the Caribbean dream about--a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. St. Lucia has a south Pacific feel to it, with its soaring peaks, rain forests and colorful birds.

St Lucia offers great diving and snorkeling, and exploration of the rainforest and the Soufriere volcano, the world's only drive-in volcanic crater.

13. St Vincent and the Grenadines

A quiet anchorage on St VincentSt Vincent and the Grenadines are remote (most easily reached from Barbados) and therefore not as touristy or glitzy as some Caribbean islands, but just as beautiful! They are the perfect for travelers searching for quiet, getaways surrounded in natural beauty.

St. Vincent is a very lush island that is spectacular in terms of rain forests, high mountains, deep valleys, and dramatic shorelines.

Mustique is 18 miles south of St. Vincent and 110 miles west of Barbados. It is a very secluded island where growth is controlled by the Mustique Company, and offers quite relaxation, beauty and plentiful possibilities for exploration, both on land and in the water.

There are several other small islands - Bequia, Canouan, Union - all beautiful, secluded and great destinations for beach, diving or exploring.

14. Trinidad and Tobago

A deserted beach in TrinidadTrinidad can offer both a bustling city - Port of Spain - and quiet seclusion. The island has gorgeous, sandy beaches and dense forest along our North Coast, and miles of protected beaches and wetlands on the East Coast.

Tobago is less developed than Trinidad, offers the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere, and of course has plenty of palm-lined beaches, lush rain forests and pristine coral reefs teeming with rich marine life.

15. US Virgin Islands: St Thomas, St John, St Croix

The three major American Virgin Islands are St Thomas, St John, and St Croix. They form part of the Virgin Islands chain adjacent to the British Virgin Islands.

St Thomas - the most developed island - offers all you would want for a Caribbean holiday - beautiful water, green hills, soft breezes, with an American flavor of efficiency and comfort. You can find just about anything you want on St Thomas - quiet villas, night life, white sandy beaches, golf, interesting cuisine. Its international airport is often the starting place for Americans on holiday, and offers easy boat ferries to the other islands.

St. John is just 20 minutes by ferry from St Thomas, but offers a completely different experience. Two- thirds of the island is a protected National Park offering quiet sailing, breathtaking views and beautiful coves to anchor in for the night or diving.

St. Croix, the largest of the Virgins, lies 40 minutes south of St Thomas. St. Croix, besides the beaches, offers ruins and restorations of sugar mills and plantation houses everywhere. It is less mountainous than St. John and St. Thomas, but offers a wide variety of landscapes, from rolling hills to rain forest, to cactus-covered plains.

Chartering a Yacht in the Caribbean

If you’re chartering a Luxury or Super Yacht, you can start your holiday on any of the major islands – often determined by availability of flights. Those coming from North America often Start in St Thomas, because of the many flights, and Europeans can often more easily get to St Maartin, Martinique, Barbados or St Lucia. Sailing yachts often choose the British Virgin Islands (an easy ferry from St Thomas) - please see our 7 Day Sailing itinerary in the British Virgin Islands or Luxury Virgin Islands Itinerary.

In just about any case, a Caribbean Island holiday will provide ample sun, activities, and chance for both exploration and relaxation!

For Futher Information :

Seychelles "The Perfect Beauty"

The Seychelles are a group of 115 islands, only a few inhabited, in the Indian Ocean that lie off the coast of East Africa, northeast of Madagascar.

Here the things that you can do in Seychelles :

Visit the beaches. Many of the beaches are untouched by man's influence and are refreshingly uncrowded. They offer clear blue skies and a tranquility you will rarely find. A hike along the coastline from Beau Vallon to Anse Major will take about 1.5-2 hours and your reward will be a small deserted beach that's fit for a king. The scenery along the hike is breathtaking. Not all beaches are suitable for swimming depending on the time of year, due to the seasonal winds. Do not ignore warning signs indicating that a beach is hazardous for swimming, no matter how it seems to you.

Vallee de Mai is a national park and world heritage site, home to amazing flora and fauna, including the world's largest seed: the coco de mer. Entrance fee: Free for residents, 315 rupees (~20Euros) for foreigners (Sept 2010).

Aldabra Atoll: The world's largest coral atoll that stretches about 22 miles east to west and encloses a huge tidal lagoon. Aldabra is the original home of the giant land tortoise and tiger sharks and manta rays can also often be seen here.

Watersports: The warm Indian Ocean waters make Seychelles the perfect place for the water enthusiasts. Explore on board a yacht, power boat, catamaran or sailboat. Windsurfing is also popular and the best time for this activity is usually around May then in October, at the start and end of the trade winds.
Scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing are also extremely popular and can be done almost anywhere in Seychelles. Baie Ternay is superb and easily acccessible by glass bottom boat tour from Beau Vallon beach - leave yourself an empty day and walk the beach for a 'last minute' booking - great deals can be bartered. Snorkeling (provided you have your own gear - some hotels lend masks, snorkels and fins to guests) is FREE and there are many great spots: off some of the small beaches at Glacis, past Mouse Island at Anse Royale, along the reef at Port Launay (near Ephelia Resort). Often spotted are a wide array of tropical fish, sea turtles, eagle rays and more!

Land Sports: Golf, tennis, squash, badminton, horseback riding, biking and hiking are some of the recreational activities available on the Seychelles Islands. Bike rentals and walking tours are great ways to sightsee and since distances are relatively short and the scenery is beautiful, walking is probably the best way to see the smaller islands (La Digue, Praslin), while walking along the main road can be quite intimidating as the roads are narrow and local cars/busses drive quite quickly. On Mahe it is not advised to ride bicycles, and there are no rental shops within sight. Bird watching is also popular and the islands are home to many of the worlds most treasured and rare species of animals. The best place to do so is Cousin Island which although only 1 km (0.6 miles) in diameter, is home to more than 300,000 birds, but many unique species can be found at ease on Mahe.

Nightlife: Do not miss most popular Nightclub "Lovenut" in the centre of Victoria, 100 metres walk from central Taxi station. Also entertaining are "Tequila Boom" at (Bel Ombre) and "Katiolio" (near Anse Royale) night clubs. "Katiolio" was one of the first nightclubs to open on Mahe and boats an open-air that is directly beside the ocean.

International Charter Group: Yacht charter and sailing, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in the Seychelles. Operating from nine offices worldwide (USA, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Honk Kong and Dubai).

Seychelles also has numerous markets, art galleries and shops, colonial Creole-style plantation houses, and the main island of Mahé has six museums, a botanical garden, and several national monuments. The market downtown Victoria has a good selection of local produce, and spices for sale that are all grown locally and 100% authentic. 

How To Get In

No visa is required for all nationalities, though all foreigners must have a passport valid for at least 6 months, and must have proof of accommodation bookings before arrival. Visitors without pre booked accommodation are likely to be compelled to book accommodation at the airport for the length of their stay before being allowed to leave the airport. An initial entry permit is granted for 1 month but can be extended for a maximum of 3 months at a time up to a maximum of 1 year in total.

By plane

The only international gateway to the Seychelles is Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) near Victoria. Air Seychelles reduced its operations in late 2011/2012 and now flies only to Johannesburg and Mauritius. International service is also available from Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad) and Doha (Qatar Airways), and regular charter services from Frankfurt (Condor).

By boat

The strict controls imposed on cruising yachts in the early 1990s have been gradually lifted and rules and regulations are no longer so complicated. However, some restrictions remain in force, mostly for the sake of environmental protection as most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs near the surface.

Redang Islands "The Famous Crystal Clear View"

Redang (Malay: Pulau Redang) is an island which lies about 45 km off the coast of Terengganu state in Malaysia.

Redang Marine Park (Taman Laut Pulau Redang) covers all 9 islands in the Redang Archipelago.

Redang Island is famous for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and the tropical fish that inhabit the numerous reefs, many within 50 feet of the shore.

In contrast to the neighboring Perhentian Islands backpacker hangout, Redang has a more upmarket image, as almost all accommodation on the island is resort-based. The largest beach is Pasir Panjang on the east side, featuring half a dozen resorts. However, on the south end this beach usually has more choppy water and the beaches will have more debris than the beaches around the bend to the north. The snorkeling is also found to the north of Pasir Panjang. Scheduling your vacation around the summer school break will mean drastically fewer people at the resorts and it would not be uncommon on the beaches on the north end of the beach for you to be one of only a handful of people if not the only person on the beach.

Snorkeling is the number one activity on Redang and rightly so as the coral reefs are quite spectacular. Many resort packages include snorkeling tours by boat to nearby islands, but there are some decent reefs right off Pasir Panjang. The best of the lot is at the southern end next to the aptly named Redang Reef Resorts, and the small hill/island in the middle of Pasir Panjang is a nesting ground for baby sharks. It is very important to be concious while snorkeling if you are using fins as it can take many years for the coral to re-grow. The snorkeling is quite protected making the water quite calm and fins are not necessary.

Running a close second in the popularity contest is scuba diving. The waters around the island are usually crystal clear - although visibility can drop dramatically after a storm - and home to a host of sea creatures including turtles and reeftip sharks. While Redang caters to divers of all levels and is a popular place to complete a diving course, some of the sites further out can have fairly strong currents. More or less every resort on the island has its own dive shop, but it may be worth looking beyond the house shop as quality varies considerably.

• Coral Redang Divers, Pasir Panjang (at Coral Redang Island Resort). Very professionally run PADI outfit with custom-built dive boats. Single dives from RM90 and an extra RM45 for gear hire.

• Redang Bay Divers, Pasir Panjang (at Redang Bay Resort). Dive station here is not as fancy and sophisticated as the one in Coral, but the friendly and helpful staff make up for it. Only MAUI instructors on the island. Single dives from RM90 and an extra RM60 for gear hire

• Redang Pelangi Dive Centre, Pasir Panjang. Competitive price, offering dive services, courses as well as Scuba Discovery for non-divers. Professional Dive Master and Instructor from either PADI/SDI certification. Contact: reservation@redangpelangi.com for more details. Single dives from RM90 and an extra RM50 for gear hire

Other available sports options include beach volleyball and sea kayaks, but jet skis and water skis are mercifully absent (banned to protect the coral). Fishing within the marine park is not permitted, but fishing boats can be hired for excursions beyond the 2-mile park limits.

Underwater cameras also available for rental at RM30 per day with pictures burnt in CD at the end of the day. Walk in to Redang Pelangi to enquire for more.

Get in

No matter which way you choose to arrive, a marine park fee (RM5) is levied on all visitors to the island. Transfers can be arranged directly with resorts.

By plane

Berjaya Air has recently opened an airstrip on Redang (code RDN), located on the south side of the island near the Taaras Beach & Spa Resort (formerly known as Berjaya Redang Spa Resort). As of July 2005, there is one daily flight each to and from Kuala Lumpur (RM249 one-way) and Singapore (RM350 one-way). The airport is connected by roads to both of Berjaya's own resorts and to the southern fishing port, however transfers from the airport to anywhere else will require a combined car & ferry ride that must be arranged in advance. Laguna resort offers transfers from resort to airport for RM40. Note that the flights utilise the secondary airport of Subang(SZB) in instead of KL International(KLIA).

A considerably cheaper if somewhat less convenient option is to fly to Kuala Terengganu, a one-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur, and continue from here by boat. There are half a dozen flights daily on MAS and Air Asia, with a full one-way fare costing around RM170, but advance fares can go as low as RM80.

By boat

The traditional way to get to Redang is by boat. The main jetty is at Merang, some 30 km north from Kuala Terengganu. From Merang, the trip to Pasir Panjang takes about 40 minutes on comfortable, large speedboats and ferry boats with prices are more or less standardized at RM40/80 one-way/return.

In season (March-October), there are also ferries directly from the Shahbandar Jetty in central Kuala Terengganu to the Berjaya Jetty on the south side of the island, with approximately 1 hour 15 minutes journey.These are operated by and intended primarily for guests of the Berjaya resorts, but they'll take non-guests on board if there's space available. Ferry Fare (two-way) is chargeable at MYR 100.00 nett per adult and MYR 50.00 nett per child (Aged 2-12 years old). Resorts can schedule on-ward travel and can accommodate even incredibly early departures from the resort area.

There are no scheduled ferries between Redang and the Perhentian Islands, however day-trip and dive boats are constantly travelling between the two, particularly during high-season, so a relatively economical transfer can usually be arranged if you have the time, inclination, patience and flexibility to ask around and wait for a boat that's departing with seats still available. Where a day-trip is not available, it should be possible to arrange a trip from with a local boat owner on the Perhentian Islands. A boat will typically cost around MYR 400 for up to 6 people, with the journey taking approximately 60 minutes.

If you have a group trip to redang, Private Ship Yacht available for charter/rent.

Halong Bay "Bay of Descending Dragons"

Ha Long Bay (also "Halong Bay") is in northern Vietnam, 170 km (105 mi) east of Hanoi. The bay is famous for its scenic ocean karst topography and is often included in lists of natural wonders of the world.

It is said that the perfect way to discover and enjoy the world natural wonder is to jump onto a traditional junk sailing to the far-most corners where there are hidden lagoons, unexploited beaches and exotic grottoes that can be found nowhere else in the world. Please be aware that Ha Long Bay is near the major port of Haiphong and therefore suffers from water pollution. It is not uncommon to see piles of rubbish floating in the water and the quality of the water can be dubious for swimming.

There are two popular kinds of cruise itineraries in Halong Bay, day cruise and overnight cruise. Day cruises are created for travelers who just have enough time to soak up the atmosphere and take short glimpse over the must-sees of Halong Bay. Though they are quite short, they include visits to tourist attractions and well-cooked seafood dinner, swimming in the emerald water, kayaking to lagoons of the bay. Overnight cruises which are referred to both one night cruises and two night cruise are designed for travelers who have more time. A general One night Halong Bay Cruise includes activities such as visits to cave, Islands, Kayaking, funny team building games on beaches, sunset watching with a cocktail party, and night actitvities on board while a two night cruise consists of all the activities of one night cruise and an extra day of further visits the far, untouched corner of the bay on smaller boat with a beach barbecue. Both one night cruise and two night cruise include everything but drinks.

Halong Bay Cruise Tips

Although you can visit Ha Long Bay all year round, you'd better plan your cruise carefully. Bad weather affects your vision and even spoils your trip. The best time to visit Ha Long Bay starts is from March to Jun;, avoid crowded public holidays (30 April 30 and 1 May). June through September is low season so you can get better deals but pay attention to storm forecasts. October and November is high season again and it is still sunny. December is cool, cloudy but dry while January and February are cold, foggy and drizzly. The showers will hide the splendour of the bay.

A day cruise will show you a glimpse of Ha Long Bay, yet if you want to get the most out of your trip, allow at least two days. You will be able to see the most stunning moments on Ha Long Bay or its greatest wonder: the sunset, sunrise and a starry or moonlit night.

Booking a Ha Long Bay tour/cruise from Hanoi is easy: you can deal with travel agent, the cruise line operator or at your hotel in Hanoi. It is advisable to shop around and ask clearly for what is included (and, just as importantly excluded) in the package (eg: kayaking & transfers). If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, when you book through an agent or hotel, make sure you get a hotline number to contact in an emergency (eg: prohibited cruises due to storm warnings.)

The huge array of slow 'junk' tour boats for package tourists out of Hanoi depart here for Cat Ba Island. As most people taking these boats are on pre-booked tours, the piers are not exactly set up for independent travel. In fact, quite the opposite; you will be approached by hawkers wanting to make a quick buck by selling you tickets for a premium: avoid these guys. What you want to do is get yourself a ticket from the row of counters inside of a building near the waterfront. Tickets are 80,000 dong for 'route 1' which is the standard way to get over the Cat Ba. Wait around there with the locals (the group easy to identify as "not lost looking western tourists") until something happens. For individual tourists not on a tour package from Hanoi, "licensed" agents will approach you upon arrival at Bai Chay Wharf to sell cruise packages to you. Starting prices (for a non-Vietnamese Asian) are 500,000VND for a 4hr cruise (for which you will receive an 80,000VND cruise ticket) and 800,000VND for a 6hr one. If you want to avoid the hassle of buying tickets yourself and not looking like a lost sheep not knowing which cruise to take, do your best to bargain. You could approach the ticket counter directly if you have a Vietnamese-speaking guide along, and the rates will be much lower (remember, it's an 80,000VND ticket), but be prepared to pay higher than the value stated on your ticket due to other surcharges such as mandatory insurance. The tourist boats just stop at an island with two poorly preserved caves, and passengers are hit up for overpriced beers and kayaking ("the water cave") along the way; the whole ordeal takes four or five hours and is really best avoided unless you've never seen a cave before or want to hang out with clueless gap-year tourists. You can talk with the quide, who takes a tourist group on the pier, buying cruise or transfer to Cat Ba with him directly. If they have empty rooms on the boat, they will happy to take you. 2 day 1 night all inclusive cruise is less than 40 USD. An old report claims "There is another government-run ferry leaving the tourist wharf at 12:00 daily costing 100,000 VND per person and takes 5 hours.

A medium quality, 3 day / 2 night cruise including one night on a boat (they may say it is airconditioned but the airconditioning is not likely to work) and one night on Cat Ba island in a 2 star hotel including bus transfers to and from Hanoi, all other transfers, admission to a cave, kayaking, admission to Cat Ba national park and all meals (which are OK in quality but nothing special) should cost around 65 USD when booked from a reputable travel agent in Hanoi (or you could try book through your hotel in Hanoi). Do not book organised tours from Ha Long Bay as they will overcharge you as there is not much competition. When catching a taxi to Bay Chai Wharf at Ha Long Bay many of the taxi drivers will try drop you off at an entrance away from the main terminal where they have friends waiting to try sell you overpriced tours or transfers (be wary if the taxi driver makes a call on his mobile as soon as you are in the taxi). Touts may be wearing identification around their necks to make themselves look official but they are not to be trusted - you are likely to end up on a cheap tour with nothing included (eg. no admissions, no transfers on Cat Ba) despite the touts insisting that everything is included. The touts at Ha Long Bay pier will say anything to get your money and should be avoided if you don't want to be scammed. Pre-booking through a travel agent or your hotel in Hanoi will be a much safer and cheaper option. 

Prambanan : The Exotic Structure of the Past

Prambanan is a complex of ancient Hindu temples in Central Java, Indonesia.

Prambanan is a collection of massive Hindu temples (candi) built by the Mataram Kingdom, rulers of central Java and defeaters of the Sailendra Dynasty.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, in almost any other country a magnificent ancient monument on the scale of Prambanan would quickly be designated a national symbol. In Indonesia though it is somewhat overshadowed by the even more awe-inspiring nature of nearby Borobudur. The two sites are quite different in style with Hindu Prambanan being a collection of sharp, jaggedly sculpted towers in contrast to the vast horizontal bulk of Buddhist Borobudur.

Prambanan can be fairly easily covered on foot. If the midday heat is too much, a toy train shuttles around the park (free of charge for foreigners, Rp 5,000 for locals).

The main site of modern day Prambanan complex is inside a large, landscaped park. The complex is open daily from 6AM to 6PM/entrance ticket box closed at 17:15. Try to get there early to beat the heat. Entry costs Indonesians less than $4, while foreigners are charged a fixed tourist rate of US$18 (162,000 Rp) or US$9 /Rp81.000 for a registered student. Overseas visitors can also purchase ticket on the net via kiostix.com. There is a separate entrance for foreigners with a much shorter queue. Entry ticket also entitles you to complimentary tea/coffee/water. A sarung is provided upon entry.

Guides can be hired at the ticket office for about US$8 (75,000 rp) and as this is a complex monument, a guide is a very good idea.

• Candi Lara (Loro) Jonggrang, or simply Candi Prambanan, is the largest and most-visited of the temples just to the left of the main entrance. While there were 240 temples originally built, most have long since crumbled and the main remaining attractions are the six temples of the central court, richly decorated with carved reliefs. Three of them, known as the Trimurti ("three sacred places"), are particularly important: 
  • Candi Siva, dedicated to Shiva the Destroyer, is the largest of the six, rising to a height of 47 meters. There are fine reliefs of the Ramayana in its forecourt and four chambers with statues. The largest chamber, to the east, contains a statue of Shiva himself, while the south has the sage Agastya, the west his son Ganesh (the elephant-headed) and the north his wife Durga. Durga is also known as Lara Jonggrang ("Slender Virgin"), a legendary beautiful princess turned to stone (see box).  
  
  
  
  • Candi Brahma, to the south, continues the story of the Ramayana and has a statue of Brahma the Creator inside.
  • Candi Vishnu, to the north, tells the story of Vishnu's avatar Krishna and has a statue of Vishnu the Preserver inside.
  • Opposite the three large temples are three smaller temples originally dedicated to the vehicles of the gods. Only the statue of Nandi, Shiva's bull, has survived.

• Candi Lumbung and Candi Bubrah, two Buddhist temples, are located several hundred meters further north. They lie in ruins and are fenced off.also candi sewu has 249 temples (the most are ruins)in the north side in tte park.

• Candi Sewu, a large Buddhist temple complex meaning "one thousand temples", is one kilometre north of the entrance gate and contains a large central temple surrounded by a cluster of smaller ones. The sheer size of the recently renovated and intricately decorated central temple is impressive but the statue niches are all empty. Take note of the Borobudur style stupas here. Entrance from the east side only. 
  

• Prambanan Museum. North of Candi Lara Jonggrang is a poorly displayed museum laid out in a series of small houses connected by walkways. Explanations are minimal, but entry is free so you might as well take a look.

• Prambanan Audio Visual, inside the museum grounds, is the park's term for screenings of a film entitled "Cosmic Harmony", which lambasts the "industrial world" in general (and Jakarta in particular), and gives a fairly basic explanation of the Prambanan site. Still, it makes for a fairly entertaining half-hour break, also being air-conditioned and free of charge for foreigners (Rp 5,000 for locals). The film is available in several languages. 

Around Prambanan

Other than temples within Prambanan archaeological park (Prambanan, Lumbung, Bubrah, and Sewu temples) there are also other less visited and less touristy temples around Prambanan plain. If you interested in ancient Javanese temple architecture, the off the beaten path temples on hill tops or in the middle of rice paddy through villages might interest you. After your visit to Prambanan, the Prambanan Archaeological park offer the group tour to these outlying temples, especially Ratu Boko. However if you prefer going on your own, rent and riding andong horse carriage (you must state the destination, for example Plaosan temple, and bargain for the price), or by taxi (if you took one from Yogyakarta earlier that has been waiting for you since there is no taxi around Prambanan area), or by daily rented car if you rent one earlier in Yogyakarta.
The entrance of these minor temples are guarded by archaeology bureau authorities. They will hand you guest book and expect you to fill your identity: name, origin, and your oppinion. It is for statistic purpose on visitors data of each temples. There is no specific ticket rate to enter these temples (except of Ratu Boko), however the temple guard might expect donation, although you are not obliged to, paying Rp 5,000 (US$ 0.5) in these sites is sufficient.

• Candi Plaosan. This Buddhist temple is about 2 km east of the northern edge of Prambanan park complex and is easily walkable from there. There are two large stuctures - Plaosan Lor (north) and Plaosan Kidul (south). This complex gives a good insight into the close relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism in 9th century Java. Buddhist Plaosan was built during the same reign as Candi Loro Jonggrang. The Hindu king at the time had a Buddhist wife. There are some excellent intact reliefs and statues of Boddhisattvas here although most of the statuary was looted long ago. 
  

• Candi Sojiwan. A buddhist temple with architecture similar to Mendut temple near Borobudur. The temple reconstruction completed on December 2011. The main chamber is empty. Located in a village 1.5 kilometers south from Prambanan between Prambanan and Ratu Boko.

• Kraton Ratu Boko, south of Prambanan (take the minor road from Prambanan towards Piyungan and this palace is on your left after about 3 km), is a ruined palace or temple of uncertain origin, located on a hilltop 200 metres above the Prambanan plain (which makes for good pictures if and only if you have a zoom lens). Only some building foundations remain and it's difficult to make any sense of the site. Now incorporated into the Borobudur Park Authority, entry to Ratu Boko is a separately charged US$10.

• Candi Barong and Candi Banyunibo. Candi Barong is located east of Ratu Boko on neighboring hill top, while Banyunibo is on the valley nearby. Barong is a Hindu temple on stone platform on the hill overlook the valley, while Banyunibo is Buddhist temple. Ask for the information and direction in Ratu Boko park authority. Take the village road southeast from Ratu Boko around 1.5 kilometers.

• Candi Ijo located further 4 kilometers southeast from Ratu Boko. The Hindu temple houses a large Linggam and Yoni symbol of Shiva. The temple is consists of one main temple with three lesser temple. Because it is located on hill top on another hill and quite remote, it is advisable to reach these temples with taxi (from Yogyakarta) or rented car.

• Candi Kalasan. This Buddhist temple is the oldest temple in Prambanan plain located 3 kilometers west of Prambanan. Take the main road from Prambanan heading back towards Yogyakarta, after 3 kilometers the temple can be seen easily on south (left) side of the road. It is the oldest temple in Prambanan plain. According to Kalasan inscription, it was built to honor Tara, a female boddhisattva. The temple throne is now empty, statue of Tara probably made from bronze and have been looted for scrap metals for centuries, however the carvings of boddhisttvas is interesting.

• Candi Sari. This Buddhist temple was the vihara (temple as well as lodging) for Buddhist monks. Located just several hundreds meters north from of Kalasan temple in a walking distance. Just cross the main road to north side, walk east heading to Prambanan direction, after several hundred meters turn left into small village road and heading north until the temple is visible. The carving of Taras and Boddhisattvas are exquisite. Examine the winged human celestial creature similar to angels on northern wall. The temple was originally coated by white plaster called 'vajralepa'. The temple is originally two storey, with upper deck was made from wooden structure, the remnant of place to hold wooden beams can be seen.

• Candi Sambisari. This Hindu temple pre-dates Prambanan by about 30 years and was only discovered as recently as 1966 and is remarkably complete. Some archaeologists speculate that it is part of a yet to be discovered, much larger complex which lies hidden under centuries of volcanic ash and earth on the Prambanan Plain. Take the main road from Prambanan heading back towards Yogyakarta. When you reach the village of Sambisari, turn north (right) and follow the small road to the end.