The Dominica Mountain Chicken, so called as the leg meat is said "to taste just like chicken", is actually a species of giant frog, the largest of the frog species. The Mountain Chicken or Crapoud found in Dominica has large muscled legs similar in size to chicken wings. One of only two locations to still be a natural habitat for the Mountain Chicken, Dominica once had many of these land loving frogs, which live up in the higher areas of this mountainous island. However the local love of this delicacy and a fungal disease has all but wiped out this giant frog species. So that now, the hunt for the Mountain Chicken is best done to capture photos of the frog, rather than to capture the actual frogs for dinner.


Dominica Waters

The Mountain Chickens live in the underbrush in the rain forests high on the hills in Dominica and are active at night. With careful night hiking through the rain forests, Mountain Chickens may be found hiding under ground foliage. Dazed by light, hunters generally carry a flashlight with them, which when shone into the eyes of the Mountain Frogs dazes them enough to be simply picked up by hand. Locals remember frequent hunts for Mountain Chickens in the hills at night for a dining treat and even to seeing them in bunches for sale in the local markets. However now with the recent decimation of this local frog population, the hunt is still at night, but once found, the frog is dazed by the flash of the camera for a good photo, rather than the light of a flashlight for a good meal.

Dominica is one of the only locations to view this rare species, the largest frog in the world, and nighttime is the best time to see this frog species. So stop for an overnight in Dominica on your yacht charter in this area to stalk the Mountain Chicken for photographs for this rare frog species.

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Red Footed Booby

The western end of Half Moon Caye is the nature reserve home of the Red Footed Booby, watched over by the Belize Audubon Society. Through this densely vegetated area, a nature trail has been built leading to an observation tower. Climbing to the top of the observation tower puts you literally with the over 4000 Red Footed Boobies nesting in the tree tops. As these birds have become comfortable with the occasional visitor at the observation tower, a great opportunity awaits an ornithologist or just the plain curious to spend time at the top of the observation tower and watch the daily lives of these rare birds.

An extra bonus is the frigate bird, long a friend of seafaring explorers as the first bird to be seen off shore signaling land nearby. Frigate birds have also made this area a home and often can be seen engaged in the courtship dance, inflating their throats into bright red balloons to signal their mating interest. As Lighthouse Reef and Half Moon Caye are only accessible by boat, take advantage of being able to see these rare birds on your yacht charter in Belize by making Lighthouse Reef and Half Moon Caye an important stop in your yacht charter itinerary.

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Underwater in Belize

Most yacht charter starts in Belize City, where all international flights arrive, which is 62 miles from Lighthouse Reef. These collapsed cave formations are well known in Belize on the mainland, and in the Yucatan area of Central America and are called Cenotes. The Blue Hole is believed to be the largest discovered Cenote of its kind under water.


Underwater Coral in Belize

Lighthouse Reef should be included in any yacht charter itinerary of Belize and is a unique scuba diving location. Within the crystal clear waters of the Blue Hole, a scuba diver can hope to see many different types of tropical fish, including giant groupers and nurse and reef sharks. And in the surrounding area are a number of locations to dive along the reef. In shallow waters covering parts of the reef is great snorkeling. Lighthouse Reef is also well known, for a collection of shipwrecks that have happened over the centuries along the far eastern side of the reef, some of which are still visible above the waterline. It is certainly easy to spend several days out in the Lighthouse Reef area visiting exploring both the Blue Hole and other areas of this atoll.

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Fort Pulaski

Cruise up the Savannah River to the Savannah Riverfront area backed by the Historic District, which is one of the largest Historic Districts in the United States. Dock in the old merchant and cotton warehouse area along River Street, where these centuries' old buildings now house a variety of shops, restaurants and hotels, making this a beehive of constant activity for young and old. And, watch while strolling historic River Street as large modern cargo ships slip past the old waterfront as a testimony to time marching on.

If you can, take a walking architectural tour of the fine old homes in Savannah, or just wander the streets to see some of the finest examples of Federalist Architecture in America. The city abounds with history including a Haunted History Tour. Visit Fort Pulaski captured by Union Soldiers during the Civil War and now a National Monument. The capture of Fort Pulaski stopped trade through Savannah and brought this wealthy city to a standstill and locked in time leaving an 18th and 19th century testament in style and architecture to seafaring trade and wealth.

Tybee Island Lighthouse

Tybee Island, just 18 miles east of Savannah, is a long low barrier island with miles of oat grass covered sand dunes. A three mile long beach stretches along the length perfect for sunning, swimming, shelling or a beach picnic. The Tybee Lighthouse was built in 1773 along with a charming light keeper's cottage. This area of Georgia is easy to enjoy cruising through.

Jekyll Island Book Store

Located at the end of a massive ocean funnel, these islands can have a tide change of 6 to 8 feet at a time. With this great a tidal change, these long low islands are constantly changing in size as the tide comes and goes. Beaches uncovered at low tide, can disappear at high tide. And each tide can bring new sea and marine life to the area, and leave shells and other natural debris behind on the long pristine beaches. All of the Barrier Islands of Georgia are public property, although visiting some is more restrictive than others, due to wild and marine life research occurring, as these islands offer perfect locations for study of some of the earth's most intricate systems. Highlights of some of the islands are as follows:


Sapelo Island at Sunset

Sapelo: Is one of the largest of the Georgia Barrier Islands and is open to the public during daylight hours for beach picnics, swimming and hiking. However Sapelo is also an important island for ecological research and hosts research groups from several institutes for ongoing ecological research. Sapelo has miles of fresh and salt water estuaries, which offer an ecosystem unlike any other in the world.



Wassaw: Is a large natural preserve for numerous species of shorebirds and a nesting location for the threatened Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Again this island is open to the public during daylight hours only for hiking, saltwater fishing, beach use, and wildlife observation.


Jekyll Island Historic District

Jekyll: A very popular resort island during the Gilded Age, still retains an air of quiet style and the sophistication of yesteryear. The village, built of winter homes for Victorian elite is now a National Historic Landmark District with over 33 structures preserved from this time period of high society. In the center of this area is the Club House built as the original structure for this high society resort. On Jekyll Island, visitors could swim, hike, sail, and golf all 12 months of the year. Accessible only by yacht and private club launch the wealthy flocked to this island to winter on land or on their yachts anchored just offshore, with names such as Morgan, Rockerfeller, and Vanderbilt visiting the island. The Club House has been restored into a hotel and many of the homes have been restored and opened for tours. Visit the Club House for a meal and tour the homes for a peak at the upper crust of society from the turn of the century, and their idyllic winter days on Jekyll Island.



St. Simons: Once an active cotton growing island dotted with plantations, now golfing and fishing rule the day. The cotton grown on St. Simons and several other Barrier Islands was high quality known for a long fiber. For many years, this cotton, known as Sea Island Cotton was prized. Unfortunately, a cotton weevil brought an end to the cotton era, although Sea Island Cotton can still be found in some locations today. An active resort island, there are cottages for rent and today St. Simons' offers a life of relaxation and leisure.

Cruising through these islands is a constantly unfolding panorama. Mixed in with warm water swimming and water sports, saltwater fishing, shelling and sunning, creates an area where it is hard to ask for more.

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Settled in 1680, Charles Town was named after the reigning King Charles II, and quickly became a prosperous trading city located on the neck of land separating the Ashley and the Cooper Rivers. As one of the first planned cities in America, the area was laid out in orderly squares. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Charles Town was renamed Charleston, and entered into an era of cultural growth and prosperity. South Carolina was an agricultural based economy with plantations spread across the state accessed by the various rivers. The agricultural goods from these plantations were shipped down the rivers to Charleston and from there around the world. Charleston soon became a wealthy city, and it was not unusual for the plantation owners to have a plantation house on a river and also a town house in Charleston for market days. Beautiful southern colonial homes and town houses were built for the prosperous, with the prime location being The Battery, facing out to sea. Historic Charleston quickly expanded as block after block of colonial buildings, multi tiered with porches for cool breezes, and many with the end facade facing the street for a lower street front tax payment, were built creating a unique Charleston style.



It is easy to spend a day or so exploring the streets of Historic Charleston, visiting the houses that are open as museums, and peaking into the many secret gardens tucked away in the back. This is an area known for artisan shops and shops of the unique and interesting as well as an area known for good antiquing. And throughout this area are sidewalk cafes or restaurants tucked into historic buildings offering various gourmet tastes for the adventurous palate. And of course, be sure to visit historic Fort Sumter, where the "shot was heard 'round the world", which is now a National Monument, overseen and operated for tours by the National Park Service.



The coastal area around Charleston is also a lovely cruising area to explore. Glide past shores lined with antebellum mansions and live oaks dripping with Spanish Moss, while dolphins and sea otters play in the warm South Carolinian waters around you. Visit remote North Island and wander the beach shelling for giant whelks. Cruise by the "Harvest Moon", a Yankee Civil War ship wrecked off of Battery White and enjoy this warm southern coastal area great for cruising.


Harbor in Charleston, S.C

Molas Market and the Kuna Indian Village

The tradition of the Mola is believed to have originated with the Kuna Indians and is descendent from a form of body painting with natural dyes in geometric patterns. As cloth became available to this culture around 170 years ago, the body painting transformed into cloth panels decorated in these same patterns, which are then formed into clothing. Molas are handmade individual cloth panels using a reverse applique technique. From two to seven layers of different colored cloth are sewn together, with the pattern revealed by cutting parts of each layer away. These panels are then sewn together to make shirts and skirts. When a woman tires of the shirt or skirt, the panels are disassembled and sold as individual panels. The panels might show some wear or stitching marks from garment construction, however this actually adds value to the Mola as the panel is considered to have been made for authentic use.


Kuna Indian Beach

Molas can only be found for purchase in the San Blas Islands, which are a very interesting and off the beaten track yacht charter location. Here warm tropical waters and breezes mix with a unique culture, which is most easily experienced by cruising through these islands on a crewed yacht charter.


San Blas Banana Plantation and the San Blas Coconut Harvesting