A note from the owners:

Welcome! Arawak Expeditions would like to invite you along on an unforgettable adventure. Come experience the beauty of the Virgin Islands "up close" on one of our exciting trips. Whether you join us on a half-day kayak tour or on an extended kayaking and camping tour, we think you'll leave with a better appreciation of the natural wonders of these islands.

Arawak Expeditions is proudly celebrating its 15th season in business! We were the first company to offer sea kayak tours on St. John, and we are proud of our record and our experience. Although we are small, family-operated business, our love for these islands is great. Our mission is to provide safe, enjoyable expeditions while having the least impact possible on the natural environment. Furthermore, it is our goal to help preserve this beautiful, yet fragile environment through education and conservation. We strive for the best. We use the highest grade equipment available, provide the finest outdoor cuisine, and chart the most exciting trip itineraries. Call us (or fill out the on-line reservation form) to make your reservation today!

(L to R): Evan and Arthur, Adelaide and Beth Jones

 

Our Environmental Stance:

We live in a special place. Here on St.John, we are fortunate that the Virgin Islands National Park comprises more than half of the island and most of the waters surrounding it. Because of the Park, we still have clean water to swim in, vibrant coral reefs surrounding the island, and protected lands that are safe from future development. But not all of St. John is protected, and there are some real threats to our environment that the Park can't protect.

All of humankind is connected in some way to the marine environment. Whether you live in Denver or Dominica, our survival on this planet depends upon the survival of our oceans. Unfortunately, all is not well in our oceans or on our islands. From the Caribbean to the South Pacific, our oceans are being threatened by pollution, shoreside development, overfishing, and global warming. Coral bleaching is a fairly recent phenomenon that is linked to the rising of the oceans' temperatures. We've seen evidence of bleaching here in the waters off of St. John. Bleaching episodes occur during the warmest months of the year, usually in August or September. Sometimes the coral can recover from these bleaching episodes when the waters cool off in the winter; sometimes the coral can't recover.

What are we at Arawak Expeditions doing about all of this? First of all, we are trying to educate our clients to the very real threats to our oceans - not just here in the Caribbean, but worldwide. Secondly, we are doing what we can to clean up the shoreline and the waters here in the Virgin Islands. Arawak recently "adopted" Henley Cay as part of the Friends of the VI National Park's "Adopt-A-Beach" program. In September of 2006, we did a massive clean-up of the island and carried off hundreds of pounds of trash and garbage from Henley Cay. Furthermore, we are doing what we can to get involved with other environmental groups. Since 2003, we have donated over $10,000 to the Friends of the VI National Park. Money raised by the Friends goes to environmental education, natural resource conservation, cultural preservation, scientific research and improvement of Park facilities.

Arawak guide Gen Hilliard poses with trash collected from Henley Cay

What can you do? First of all, go out and enjoy the wonders of our oceans. Come kayaking with us in the Virgin Islands, go surfing off a point break near you, or simply go for a stroll along the beach. It's hard to comprehend that our oceans are in danger if you've never put on a mask and snorkel and seen what's down there. The more time we spend on the ocean, the more we realize how truly connected we are to it. Secondly, educate yourself to the threats of our marine environment. Log onto the Blue Ocean Institute's website (www.blueocean.org) and read about the perils that face our oceans. Read what you can about global warming and how it affects marine life. Thirdly, get involved with environmental groups. Become a Friend of the VI National Park. Donate to a non-profit environmental group such as the Ocean Conservancy (www.oceancoservancy.org) or join a grass-roots environmental organization that is working to protect a lake, river or waterway near you. Lastly, realize that everyday decisions that you make have an impact on our environment and our oceans. From the type of fish that you buy to the kind of car you choose to drive, almost everything we do affects the future of our planet. Enjoy. Get educated. Get involved. Choose wisely.