Observe: All journey is topic to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please test federal, state, and native advisories earlier than scheduling journeys.
Cliff diving isn’t for everybody to try, however it positive is enjoyable to look at the professionals do it. The death-defying leaps, flips, and twists from towering clifftops and rock ledges belong to one of many oldest excessive sports activities on the planet. Actually, cliff divers are featured in Greek and Etruscan work courting again to the fifth and sixth centuries B.C.
Quick ahead to the twenty first century: Cliff-diving daredevils, normally expert locals educated in carrying on this athletic legacy, could be discovered performing for vacationers in areas all over the world. For those who’d prefer to see it for your self, listed here are a couple of locations the place you may witness these courageous or loopy (take your decide) athletes dive from nice heights which are typically quadruple the peak of the Olympic video games’ tallest diving platform, which is 10 meters excessive.
RELATED: Prime 10 locations for adrenaline junkies
Highest peak: 135 ft (41 meters)
Elvis helped to make the La Quebrada Cliff Divers well-known. The jumpers had been featured in his 1963 musical, “Enjoyable in Acapulco,” and vacationers have been flocking to see them ever since. They carry out a number of occasions every day, scaling the steep rocks of the La Quebrada cliffs with their naked arms earlier than leaping right into a mere 12 ft of ocean water under at a speeds of as much as 55 miles per hour. There’s an commentary deck to witness this must-see spectacle, and divers usually come to greet guests afterward and obtain suggestions. For the perfect vantage level, nonetheless, head to La Perla restaurant on the Lodge Mirador Acapulco, which boasts spectacular views.
Examine right here for Acapulco lodge offers.
Highest peak: 92 ft (28 meters)
The fjord on this city on the Amalfi Coast offers a pure springboard for cliff-diving athletes. Every July, it hosts a Mediterranean high-diving championship—an occasion greatest seen by hiring a ship or becoming a member of a water-based tour. Afterward, you may recount the insane acrobatics over an Italian feast and loads of native limoncello.
Examine right here for Furore lodge offers.
Highest peak: 89 ft (27 meters)
Leaping off the Outdated Bridge (Stari Most) in Mostar dates again to not less than 1664. That’s when 16-year-old boys had been inspired to leap from the bridge without any consideration of passage into manhood. For those who didn’t soar, your life was predicted to be a failure. (How’s that for motivation?) At this time, members of the Mostar Diving Membership commonly soar from the bridge into the freezing waters under. Guests who’re feeling courageous can enroll with the dive college, which is run by dive consultants who’re thought of the guardians of the bridge. They’ll train you find out how to make the leap safely, at incrementally larger and better heights. Those that full the very best dive stroll away with a certificates and a loopy story.
Examine right here for Mostar lodge offers.
Highest peak: 85 ft (26 meters)
This Medieval village is understood for greater than its gorgeous alpine surroundings and beautiful hikes. It’s residence to the World Excessive Diving Federation (WHDF), and its cliffs host the WHDF Cliff Diving World Tour every July. You’ll discover among the greatest cliff divers on the planet coaching right here.
Examine right here for Brontallo lodge offers.
Highest peak: 50 ft (15 meters)
La Quebrada isn’t the one place in Mexico to seek out expert cliff divers. Mazatlan is residence to a cliff at an oceanside park, often known as El Clavadista (translation: “the diver”). The park is an simply accessible space to look at expert locals leap elegantly into the waters under. It’s been a convention because the mid-Nineteen Fifties, and suggestions from spectators are appreciated. Although the peak of the Mazatlan cliff is nowhere close to as intimidating as La Quebrada, the vanity of the water definitely is: It’s solely 6 ft. Divers have to carry out with excessive precision to make the leaps right here.
Examine right here for Mazatlan lodge offers.
Highest peak: 35 ft (10.5 meters)
With just a little little bit of liquid braveness, you is perhaps impressed to make the leap with locals. Rick’s Cafe in Negril is a must-visit spot at sundown for a couple of drinks and an acrobatic present. Whereas most sun-burned vacationers (fairly hilariously) cannonball dive off the 35-foot cliff upon which this legendary bar is perched, the locals will wow you with extra spectacular acrobatic dives into the Caribbean waters under.
Examine right here for Negril lodge offers.
Highest peak: 30 ft (9 meters)
The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has maintained a convention since its opening in 1963: the ceremonial cliff dive from Pu’u Keka’a, often known as Black Rock. The ritual takes place every night time at sundown, accompanied by stay music and guided historic narration. The dramatic lele kawa (cliff diving) honors the legend of the final chief of Maui, who leapt from sacred Pu’u Keka’a into the Pacific. With Hawaiian chanting and torches lighting the best way, a younger diver retraces the chief’s footsteps to the summit earlier than making a breath-taking dive into the ocean under.
Examine right here for Maui lodge offers.
Highest peak: 60 ft (18 meters)
Cliff diving in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Within the walled metropolis of Dubrovnik, recognizing Recreation of Thrones filming areas isn’t the one thrill guests will discover. Simply outdoors the town’s thirteenth century partitions on the ocean aspect, you’ll discover Buza Bar, a well-liked out of doors ingesting institution constructed into the aspect of dramatic cliffs. Under the bar is Buza Seaside, which isn’t a lot of a seaside in any respect however slightly a set of cliffs and small platforms the place locals and vacationers alike take a look at their may by leaping about 60 ft into the Adriatic Sea under.
Examine right here for Dubrovnik lodge offers.
Depart it to energy-drink model Crimson Bull to sponsor the world sequence for this high-risk, high-adrenaline excessive sport that makes the Olympic diving platform appear like baby’s play. Competitions are held at cities, cities and villages all over the world every year, dazzling spectators who can solely think about what it’s prefer to dive from such insane heights. Plan to be certainly one of them—one of many spectators, that’s—by checking Crimson Bull’s Cliff Diving World Sequence web site for updates on the place competitions will likely be held. Eire, France, Norway, Azerbaijan—these are simply among the nations which have hosted competitions that usually run from June to October.
Tagged: Caribbean, Europe, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Switzerland
Observe: Orbitz compensates authors for his or her writings showing on this web site.
