Maho Bay Campground: Eco-Tourism at its Best
Maho Bay Camps is a community of tent cabins located in a private preserve within the boundaries of the US Virgin Island National Park. It is part of the delicate ecology of one of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean. A network of elevated walkways and stairs link tent-cabins, roads, restaurant and beach, preserving the ground cover and preventing soil erosion. At last count it was 400 steps from the highest tent to the beach- a good workout for the intrepid camper. Maho goes out of its way to ensure that the sounds you hear are those of nature. This eco-camp is best equipped for children 4 and over.

Quiet hours are strictly observed and you are discouraged from bringing any device or musical instrument that can be heard by others. For more information on Maho Bay, check out their website www.maho.org.

Your Leaders
Melissa Wenig and Joel Gordon have led this trip for the Appalachian Mountain Club for the past 20 years and know the island intimately. Their love of Maho Bay, St. John and the wonderful groups that go on this trip are evident.They will be joined by co-leader Roy Loiselleand his wonderful wife Shirley) who has led this trip with Melissa and Joel for the past several years.

Accomodations
Maho Bay's tent cabins are a combination of canvas, screen, and wood construction. Each 16'x16' cabin has a private sleeping area with comfortable beds, a living room that easy coverts to a second sleeping space, a cooking and eating area, and an open sun deck all cantilevered over the thickly wooded hillside. Bed lines, blankets, towels, cooking and eating utensils are provided. Each cottage has a propane stove and ice cooler. There are NO bathrooms in the tent-cottages but clean centrally located bathhouse are equipped with modern toilets, sinks and showers. Solar Showers can be hung at the tent site. Each tent-cottage site is unique and quickly feels like home. Tents comfortably accommodate 2 adults plus 1-2 children.

Food
The campground has a small camp store and a good restaurant. There are also small food stores in Cruz Bay. We recommend, especially with families, that you bring some food with you, as food on the island is pricey, since it is all shipped in from the States, Puerto Rico or Europe. You can also bring a cooler with frozen or other food as part of your checked baggage. Each tent-cabin has simple but quite satisfactory and convenient cooking facilities and an ice cooler. A good alternative is to enjoy the campground restaurant, which serves breakfasts and dinners daily. Breakfast rangeapproximately from $4-$7 and $14-$22 for dinners. They do have children's and senior rates and there is at least one vegetarian meal available every evening. The quality of these meals has been good to excellent over the years. No reservations are needed.


Activities
Once on St. John with its beautiful national park, you determine the pace. No schedules or deadlines except those you choose for yourself.

This is an excellent trip for people who want some level of group participation and some time on their own. We plan 2-3 days of group activities and often an optional sailing trip to the Brittish VI's if there is demand. (We have gone every year for the past 7 or so years).

On St. John, we try to give you a chance to snorkel at a variety of different spots around the island- from the wet side to the dry, desert side. Hiking through the rain forest is always a great way to see another aspect of St. John. Additionally, Maho has a terrific offering of day trips as well.

On the Maho beach you will find kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling and diving excursions, etc. Other wonderful beaches such as nearby Francis Bay, Great Maho Bay etc. are all accessible by foot.

There is regular taxi and jitney service available to and from Cruz Bay to the Campground. Transportation for group activities is by charter with Hamilton Eugene, a local resident and entrepreneur, who has become a good friend over the years. Having Hamilton work with us on the trip always adds much to the overall trip as you will find out.

Registration and Cost

This is strictly a non-profit excursion conducted by the leaders on a volunteer basis.  Any unforeseen increases in costs will be shared by all participants.  Any funds remaining after all expenses are paid will be divided among the participants in accordance with AMC rules.

Tuesday, Feb 21 to Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 $1475 (approximately)
Extend to Friday, March. 2, 2012 $1800 (approximately)

Boston Departures ONLY
Week-long Trip Approximate cost with airfare: $1475 per adult. *$1275 per child or 3rd or 4th person in tent-cabin. With extension: AC: $1825. Cost includes Airfare, Transfers,Tent site, Transportation, Day Trips, Opening Night BBQ

The cost is per person based on double occupancy-no single supplement available; we pair single participants. The cost includes: round trip airfare, all transfers from airport to camp, group transport for all scheduled activities and fees.(Not Included: meals, optional activities, personal expenses). The cost reflects current airfare and camp costs. We will do all we can to hold the price, but if airfare taxes or other costs increase, we will be obliged to increase the trip cost. Additionally, if the costs go down, so will yours. Last year we were able to refund money. It all depends on how low the airfare goes the closer we get to the trip.

This Trip Always Fills Up Quickly and we often have many disappointed people and a waiting list. We suggest you contact us as soon as possible with the following information.

Deposits
$200 per person and $400 per family due with application.

Money Policies, etc.
When possible, monies are returned except nonrefundable deposits and a processing fee of $140 per individual. Payments made to all vendors (airlines, Maho, etc.) are non refundable. Please note: In addition, if you should, for unforeseen circumstances, be unable to travel at date of departure, there is a $40 airline penalty in addition to all payments you have made. We encourage you to get Trip Cancellation insurance and will send this information to you.

Application For more information call Melissa and Joel at 617.868.5296 or e-mail melisjoel@mac.com the following information.We will then send you all the proper AMC forms to fill out.

In your email, please include:
Name of all participants and ages of children
Which trip? One week or Week plus extension
Address,
Tel#,
Email address
If you have been on AMC trips before, which ones and with whom.

Looking forward to this journey with you.
Joel, Melissa, Roy and Shirley