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If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box vacation this fall, planning an island-hopping adventure in the Caribbean should be on top of your bucket list.
Boasting both well-known attractions and gorgeous untouched beaches, this region is known for its breathtaking scenery and vibrant spirit.
Luckily for adventure seekers out there, a company called Makana Ferry has just launched new lines and schedules that make visiting four of the most stunning Caribbean islands easier than ever.
If you have a week, a couple of hundred dollars on hand, and an itch for exploration, I suggest you read on.
What You Can Expect
Faced with growing demand, this ferry line took it upon itself to offer several reasonably priced routes linking four Caribbean islands, allowing tourists to experience all of them in the span of a few days.
The newly announced destinations included Sint Maarten, Statia (Sint Eustatius), St Kitts, and Saba.
Those looking to explore the Northeastern Caribbean in its entirety will find that the new routes aren’t only convenient but budget-friendly too.
If you were to book a round-trip flight from Sint Maarten to St Kitts, you’d need to set aside roughly $350 for transportation alone.
However, if you choose to book a ferry ride covering the same distance instead, you’ll only need to spend, marking a 45% decrease.
Sample Itinerary
If you’re interested in taking an island tour around the Caribbean this fall, you might be wondering about the best way to go about it and the cost of the entire ordeal.
For the sake of convenience, let’s assume that your trip starts in Sint Maarten.
It’s one of the biggest, most popular islands in the region and is located in close proximity to Anguilla and St. Barts.
Now, considering the ferry line’s current schedule and pricing here’s the itinerary you might be looking at:
Day | Trip | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Cost |
Wednesday | Sint Marteen – Saba | 5:15 PM | 6:55 PM | $75 |
Thursday | Saba – Statia | 7:15 PM | 8:15 PM | $50 |
Friday | Statia – St Kitts | 4:20 PM | 5:30 PM | $45 |
Though you’ll be able to choose between a wide array of schedules for your trip, this sample itinerary allows you to spend at least a day in every destination while still keeping your travel costs under $200.
If budget and time allow for it, you can always add a stop to Nevis at the end of your trip, which is roughly an hour away from St Kitts.
We do want to note that Makana Ferry recently introduced a surcharge to compensate for increasing fuel prices.
The fee varies depending on the route you’re taking, but it generally ranges between $1.5 and $4.5, so make sure to account for it while budgeting for your trip.
Departure taxes, on the other hand, are included in the ticket price, so you won’t have to worry about any extra fees surprising you just as you’re about to board.
Ticket Prices
Speaking of ticket prices, it’s time to explore them a bit more in-depth, as they can widely vary depending on route, schedule, and so on.
One-way tickets sold by Makana Ferry range between $45 and $135 for adults. Children will be expected to pay anywhere between $30 and $90 for the same tickets.
If you’re not interested in taking the island tour and just want to book a round-trip ticket to one of these destinations, you’ll need to set aside $80 to $190, depending on the route.
If you’re traveling with children, their tickets will be roughly 30% cheaper (ranging from $55 to $140).
While reasonably priced, the tickets will still eat away at a good chunk of your travel budget. So, what do you get in return?
Aside from the actual journey, a ticket includes:
- 1 handbag or personal item
- 1 carry-on
- 1 check bag
If you want to bring an additional bag with you, you’ll have to pay $30.
Luggage that exceeds 62” (157 cm) in height and 50 lbs (22.7 kg) in weight will cost you an additional $30 on top of what you’ve already paid.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.