There’s no season like low season

By Emily Kruckemyer and Rona Gindin

updated 8:29 p.m. ET May 2, 2007

Bank on it: When temperatures start to heat up at home, prices in the Caribbean start to drop — as much as 60 percent between April and mid-December. It’s also the time when hotels pile on the incentives, including room upgrades, bonus nights and free activities. We’ve rounded up 25 of the top packages for couples, families, spa enthusiasts, divers and outdoorsy travelers. Pick one. Better yet, at these rates, you may be able to budget two trips to the Caribbean between now and Christmas.

Action plans
Roughin’ It (like Royalty)
Explore Central America’s great outdoors by day and sleep in air-conditioned comfort at night at the Inn at Robert’s Grove in Placencia. You’ll snorkel the barrier reef, swim into a cave on Blue Creek, explore the Monkey River and visit the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve during your adventurous eight days. The deal includes round-trip airfare from Belize City and daily meals at the Inn’s Seaside Restaurant.

Location: Belize
Package: Summer Adventure
Rate: $1,717 per person, double occupancy
Available: Through November 30
Contact: 800-565-9757; www.robertsgrove.com/

Reef ’n Rainforest
Take five wild outings (trekking through the rainforest and kayaking a jungle river, among others) over a seven-night stay at the beachfront Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort. Three meals a day, flights between Belize City and Dangriga, and round-trip ground transfers are provided. From August 1 through October 31, guests receive a $100 gift voucher per room.

Location: Belize
Package: Reef & Rainforest
Rate: $1,527 per person, double occupancy
Available: Until December 14
Contact: 877-552-3483; www.hamanasi.com

Harpin’ on Tarpon
What beats fishing with a buddy? Fishing with a buddy for free. With this two-for-the-price-of-one deal, you and your best fishing friend will spend six days stalking tarpon, bonefish and permit at El Pescador on Ambergris Caye for the price of a seven-night, single-occupancy fishing package. Round-trip land, air and sea transfers between Belize City and El Pescador, daily meals and Belizean beer and rum are included.

Location: Belize
Package: Two-for-One Angler
Rate: $4,395, double occupancy
Available: August 15 through December 14
Contact: 011-501-226-2398; www.elpescador.com

Slideshow   Caribbean way of life From chic to rustic, expensive to affordable, tourists looking for some sun and sand can find what they're looking for in the Caribbean. more photos

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River tubing, waterfall and rainforest hikes, and safari jeep tours are among the outings available at this eco-friendly boutique hotel on the Spice Island. The seven-night deal at Blue Horizons Garden Resort includes a deluxe one-bedroom suite, an introductory scuba lesson in the pool, complimentary greens fees at the nearby nine-hole Grenada Golf Club, and non-motorized water sports and beach chairs at Grand Anse Beach.

Location: Grenada
Package: Adventure Vacation
Rate: $659 per person, double occupancy
Available: Until December 15
Contact: 473-444-4316; www.grenadabluehorizons.com

Gaga for Golf
As guests of Grand Lido Braco Resort & Spa, CT&L readers will play 45 holes on three courses to tame that inner Tiger, among them Breezes Runaway Bay. Included is a garden-view suite, all meals, a manicure and pedicure, greens fees and transfers to the courses.

Location: Jamaica
Package: Golfer’s Delight for CT&L readers
Rate: Starts at $289 per person per night, based on double occupancy (two-night minimum required)
Available: Until December 31
Contact: 877-467-8737; www.grandlido.com

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