Rickie tropical tours

Challenge, Action, Adventure, Culture, Tropical Flavours & Fun
4WD SELF DRIVE ADVENTURE TOUR
Depart from 2 persons / 1 vehicle
Itinerary St Vincent, North Grenadines & South Grenadines
9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS

Type & Conditions

This 4 Wheel Drive self-drive adventure tour is a 9 days / 8 nights itinerary during which you will enjoy to drive yourself one of our 4WD vehicle and including :

► The assistance of one of our Vincentian guides as co-pilot in your vehicle, who meets you daily at your hotel after breakfast, guides you the day on your itinerary, organise with you the following day and get off your vehicle each afternoon at about 5 pm . Your guide will assist you also in the formalities to get your temporary Vincentian drivers licence (50 EC$ on presentation of your current valid drivers licence). You keep the vehicle at night for your private use.

► Return to the same accommodation each night (please check our accommodation's selection hereunder)

► Drivers must be 25 years of age or older and hold a current valid drivers licence

► The main island, St Vincent, 5 days, during which our guide will make you discover the history, fauna, flora, cuisine, art craft, beauty of our land and lifestyle of the Vincentians through our 5 itineraries. You will visit the following sites:

► North Grenadines : Bequia, 1 day (depart on ferry in the morning from St Vincent and return in late afternoon)

► South Grenadines : National Park of the Tobago Cays, 1 day, boat tour at extra fee (optional )

►Day 1: At arrival, in the afternoon, our taxi will welcome you at the airport for a ride to your hotel.

►Day 2 : This is the first day of your self-drive adventure tour. Our guide meets you, with the jeep, at your hotel at about 8:00 am and take the driver for the Vincentian drivers licence formalities. Then you embark the ferry with the jeep, for a comfortable crossing of one hour up to the pretty island of Bequia . At arrival, you will visit the island and specially the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary where you could admire all species of marine turtles living in St Vincent 's waters. You will find lots of nice restaurants for your lunch on the waterfront of Port Elisabeth. Relax on one of the beach in the afternoon. Return to your hotel at about 5 or 6:00 pm .

►Day 3: Our guide meets you after breakfast at 9:00 am at your hotel and takes you for inland exploration to : Marriaqua Valley , Botanical Garden, up Kingstown , Georgetown , the rum distillery and Black Point Tunnel. Delicious Vincentian lunch included. Return about 4 pm to your hotel.

►Day 4: Your co-pilot / guide meets you at 9 am at your hotel after breakfast. You start your route driving for a visit of the capital: Kingstown and then the route alongside the Leeward Coast with some off-road up to Vermont Parrots Reserve for a hike in the rainforest up to the parrots lookout. Then you will drive for Wallilabou which was used as the location for " Port Royal " in the Disney movie : « Pirates of the Caribbean ». You will then visit an art craft workshop. Lunch is included, swim in the Caribbean sea in the afternoon. Return about 4 pm to your hotel.

►Day 5: Your co-pilot / guide meets you at 9 am at your hotel after breakfast. This fantastic day begins with a visit to Fort Charlotte , the Black Caribs Museum and Heritage Hall . Then you go on with a scenic coastal drive alongside the Atlantic Ocean . The road passes through the Byera Tunnel, which was built to open up Carib lands to settlement. You will cross the spectacular Rabacca River filled with volcanic sand and stones. The river drains the eastern slopes of La Soufrière volcano and Mount Brisbane . You will pass through Orange Hill's banana and coconut plantations. At the north-western tip of the island are the villages where the Carib settled following the Carib Wars. These picturesque villages are still home to a large number of Vincentians of Carib descent. In Sandy Bay , you will be welcome by some Carib Indians who will offer you to share, the time of your visit, their culture and traditions. You will learn what is arrowroot, how it is made and what it is used for. You will reach then, Owia Salt Pond. Here, the Atlantic Ocean cascades over lava peaks and ridges into a large bathing pool with a breathtaking view of the mountains in the background. Then you'll enjoy a swim in the pond's crystalline waters and a typical Carib cuisine lunch. Return will be about 5 pm .

►Day 6: Our guide meets you after breakfast at 9:00 am at your hotel. You will be d riving up to the end of the Leeward road for an exciting journey passing through exotic coves and fishing villages turning then for an off-road drive under the tropical ferns. At the end of the gap, be ready for some exercise with a one hour hike in lush tropical forest to the spectacular Trinity Falls where you will enjoy a swim. Spectacular views, challenging, jungle and fun ! Picnic lunch is included. Return about 5 pm to your hotel.

►Day 7: Your co-pilot / guide meets you at 9 am at your hotel after breakfast. You all leave for Kingstown spices and tropical fruits market. Then coastal drive up to Chateaubelair and little hike in the bamboo forest up to Dark View Falls for a refreshing swim. Locally made art craft shopping stop, lunch in a « Pirates of The Caribbean » atmosphere, relax then on a beach and enjoy swimming in the Caribbean sea in the afternoon (don't forget your snorkel equipment). Return to your hotel at 5 pm. This was your last day with our guide.

►Day 8: We recommend you to opt for an early departure by boat for a day to the Tobago Cays National Park with lunch (optional at extra fee) or to take the opportunity of that free day for a little shopping on your own and a relaxing afternoon on one of the beach. You will return back the jeep at 4 pm.

►Day 9: Our taxi comes to pick you up in the morning at your hotel, to take you back to the airport for your flight back home.

► Casual, cool summer clothes and sandals are recommended. For the hike in the rainforest, shorts, tee-shirts and ordinary outdoor shoes are recommended but be prepared to the eventuality of getting them wet ! Please do not forget to bring along your swimsuits, beach towels and snorkel equipment. This self drive adventure tour is suitable for everybody. Pregnant women must be aware that some roads are rugged on our way. At night, in the hotels and restaurants : shirt and long pants for the men and dress or equivalent for women.

►Visa: Immigration visas are required from nationals of the following countries : Dominican Republic , Jordan , Syria , Lebanon , China , Iraq , Iran , Nigeria

►Departure Tax: Each passenger over 12 years old must have the amount of 40 EC$ or 15 US $ to be paid for departure tax, directly to the immigration office at St Vincent airport when leaving the country.

►Travellers Insurance: you will be asked to provide us with a copy of the personal worldwide travelling insurance covering all members in your party. Please note that this insurance may be already included in your credit card contract. If that applies, it is valid only if you pay all your trip with the said credit card. This travel insurance coverage is mandatory for participating to our self drive adventure tours.

►Deposit: a deposit of 2500 EC$ will be asked at reservation and will be refund to you at the end of your stay except in case of damages to the vehicle.

Accommodation is not included in our rates but comes as an extra fee. We will help you with pleasure in your reseach and reservations. This service is only offered to clients participating to our tours. We regularly operate a selection of the best accommodations on the island and propose several category of accommodation and rates:

► Inter Island Air Service “Air Shuttle”, international and regional flights to St Vincent : click here

All tours require a minimum of passengers to be confirmed.