NEW YORK, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- With Tax Day looming ever nearer,
outdoor recreation and adventure travel web site GORP.com, has released its
list of top ten tax havens for active adventurers looking to duck out on Uncle
Sam.
Locations on the list, chosen for their financial-friendly outlook, have
more going for them than just a "cushy" tax policy. These top-ten areas,
receptive to shielding cash and company titles, also represent spots high in
adventure potential.
GORP.com's top ten include:
1. Bahamas -- Soft sand beaches (some of them pink!) and azure blue water.
Add outdoor opportunities to the mix, such as sea kayaking or swimming
with sharks for the adrenaline addicted, and you've got your classic
Caribbean tax haven.
2. Belize -- Playing second fiddle to Costa Rica in the eco-tourism game,
Belize shelters its own fair share of Mayan ruins, tropical forests,
wildlife, and tax-free opportunities. The country also offers some
top-class fishing on Belize's atolls as well as the "great barrier
reef" of the Caribbean. For those looking for rare birds to add to a
life list, the rainforest in Belize is a birder's paradise.
3. Cayman Islands -- Another classic offshore tax haven, the Caymans
conjure up those stereotypical images of powdery white beaches, bright
blue water, pastel architecture, and tropical ease. The Caymans also
offer some of the most exciting and challenging diving available.
4. Costa Rica -- Costa Rica is the destination par excellence for those
longing for a bit of Central American rainforest mystique. Volcano
hiking, mountain biking, swimming in hot springs, and paddling the
jungle rivers add up to great adventure.
5. Hong Kong -- Surprisingly, Hong Kong makes the top ten because of its
hiking resources. Trekking to the top of Sharp Peak on the Sai Kung
Peninsula provides a breathtaking view of the South China Sea, outlying
islands and deserted beaches.
6. Ireland -- Ireland's green shores will not only camouflage your
greenbacks but also provide walkers with the rhythms of rolling Irish
countryside and wildlife viewing a plenty.
7. Puerto Rico -- This U.S. commonwealth, the only place in the United
States that is exempt from federal income taxes, boasts a remarkable
virgin growth rainforest with a startling abundance of fauna and flora.
And if you feel the need to be, well, a bit more underhanded about this
tax haven thing, you can always go underground, to Rio Camuy Cave Park
-- the world's third largest underground river cave system.
8. Switzerland -- The protective mountains (and banks) of Switzerland have
famously hidden quite a lot of money, and this alpine country prides
itself on neutrality and discretion. Hiking and climbing in Europe's
favorite mountain chain are the most popular activities for visitors,
and no wonder, since this is the birthplace of mountain trekking.
9. Turks & Caicos -- The eight major islands in the island chain boast one
major activity -- diving. One of the longest coral reefs draws scuba
enthusiasts the world over, as well as whale watchers, particularly
during the winter breeding season.
10. United Kingdom -- If you don't have cloven feet, of course, a lusty
hike through England's pleasant pastures green or along its sheer chalk
cliffs is the perfect way to enjoy the countryside.
For would-be shelterers who want to test drive these countries before
taking a fiscal folly, www.gorptravel.com has adventure travel packages to
each country. For more information, crooks should call toll-free
1-877-440-GORP and ask for a tax-haven package.
GORP.com (http://www.gorp.com) is the largest and most trafficked Web site
dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel. With nearly
250,000 pages of content, GORP offers a complete package of authoritative,
award-winning content; a large, active community of outdoor enthusiasts; and a
full-range of e-commerce offerings drawing nearly 30 million page views per
month. Started in 1995, GORP offers a full-service active travel-booking
feature with thousands of trips, accessible via the Web or telephone. GORP
has been cited by Yahoo!, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The
New York Times, and many others, as the leader in this category and a "Best of
the Web" site. AOL Keyword: GORP