A Beautiful Hot Coastal Hike in Martinique

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

Martinique Hiking – A French Caribbean Island Paradise

With Dominica to the north, and St. Lucia to the south, Martinique is pretty much the centre of the West Indies’ Lesser Antilles. As an “over-seas region” of France and the 3rd largest of the Windward Islands, Martinique is a very unique Caribbean island, and that holds true for its hiking trails as well. The island offers a variety of easy relaxing walks as well as some very challenging/mountainous hikes. Having stopped there as part of a cruise, we were only there for the day – We decided to try an easy and fun looking coastal trail known as the Circuit de la Caravelle.

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

The day started off by renting a car in Fort-de-France, which was a bit of an adventure in itself, but we’ll leave that for another day…  Once we finally got our car, the drive from the Capital to the Presqu’Île de la Caravelle Peninsula took just under an hour, as the traffic was fairly heavy.  The main roads on Martinique are large multi-lane highways, however they can get quite crowded.  This made for a fairly uninteresting drive, as I had to keep my eyes on the road and all the traffic. Once we reached the peninsula however, the views and my mood started to improve.  For a short stretch, the road followed the shoreline through a quaint tourist town.  It had a laid-back atmosphere, with beachgoers sun tanning and playing in the water. There were little cafes and restaurants opposite the beach. All this helped to relax our frame of mind after the hectic drive.  As we proceeded, the setting really started to improve, as more than half of the peninsula is a Nature Reserve.

We soon found out that the Chateau Dubuc area is a popular place, as the parking lot was overflowing, with cars parked all along the side of the narrow dirt road.  C’est la vie. It was a gorgeous day for a walk – Very warm and sunny.  At 86 (30c) degrees it seemed hot for early April… and we were about to find out that the couple litres of water we had brought, was somewhat insufficient to replenish the fluids we were about to lose.  Thank goodness we had dressed light and had sun protective hats.

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

From the parking lot, it’s a short half kilometre walk to the plantation ruins of the Chateau Dubuc, although we decided to head the other way, and walk the main loop in a clockwise direction.  We headed off for the lighthouse called the Phare de la Caravelle, via a winding gravel road through a green ‘dry forest’. The road had a gradual incline and eventually turned into a broken paved road before getting even steeper. As we were walking along, we heard a fairly constant, rustling in the leaves on either side of the trail.  As a Canadian, I naturally thought of squirrels or small birds making the noise, but as we are in the Caribbean, I imagined the culprit might be lizards or iguanas… But no, upon closer inspection, we were surprised to realize that there were a number of large red crabs scurrying around in the foliage – Wow, I wasn’t expecting that!

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

After a little more than a mile (2km), we came across the side trail that branches off towards the lighthouse. We followed the short paved road uphill to a large wooden structure, where a few groups of hikers were taking refuge from the sun, eating snacks and drinking water.  From the look of them, they had likely hiked the loop counter-clockwise and had just completed the dry exposed section of the trail along the coast, that we were heading towards.  From here we discovered the cement staircase that led to the lighthouse and look-out area.

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation


We climbed the stairs and came across a semi-circular monument/bench/map of sorts. The built-in map’s arrows pointed to the features and landmarks of the surrounding landscape that could be seen from this high ground. We could see various mountain ranges and peaks of the island, ranging from the north-east coast, Piton Lacroix on the other (west) side of the island, as well as the mountains south of Le Francois in the south-east of Martinique. Closer to where we were standing, we had an amazing panoramic view of the peninsula and surrounding bays and shorelines.


Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation


Martinique Hiking


After soaking in the spectacular sights for awhile, we went all the way back down to the junction point and continued back on the main road which eventually transitioned into a more natural trail that headed towards the shoreline.  We were getting anxious, as this narrow path provided a glimpse of the sea, hinting at the coastline trail we were approaching.  This was a nice walk and we were accompanied by a bright orange butterfly (moth?) who meandered down the trail with us for a while.

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

Did I mention that it was hot and humid?  Well, it was, and we were just about to leave the shelter of the low scrub-like trees to walk along the sun-soaked rocky shoreline of the peninsula’s east coast. 

Ahhh, I was looking forward to this stretch of trail – We headed south down the wind-swept shoreline. We were thrilled with the eye-popping views of the rugged coastline and its multitude of blue inlets and bays.  For the next mile (2km) or so, the picturesque trail consisted of dry gravelly coastline paths, some large sections of rock, a few man-made stairs, and some short forest trails that bypassed some dangerous cliffs. We even walked through a short 3-4 foot deep rut in the earth – that was weird.  We really enjoyed this scenic coastal section of the trail! While the large rock sections provided the best views, we had to search a bit for the markers indicating where the trail was. Hiking this path was like a mini-roller-coaster ride, taking us up and down in elevation, sometimes 30-100 feet (10-40m) at a time. 

While this was an absolutely beautiful trail, we were aware that there had been little shelter from the relentless heat of the sun which was high in the sky at this point.  Thankfully, there was a great breeze coming off the Atlantic Ocean, and that, along with our water, kept us from over-heating. With the constant thought of having to get back to the cruise ship on time, we were moving at a fairly quick pace throughout the hike. We were only stopping to take the occasional picture of the amazing coastline and ocean views!  Eventually, we reached a junction in the trail where a side path ventures further south along the coastline looping for another mile (2km) or more.  My feet were kind of burning, so we decided to head back towards the Chateau at this point.

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation


Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

So, we traveled inland again, back into the dry forest landscape.  That said, in less than a mile (2km), the terrain transitioned into mangroves. Perhaps the area was in need of rain, as we encountered some fairly dry mud patches. Suddenly, we were in for another treat – There were holes in the mud everywhere. It appears that there are dozens, if not hundreds of Soldier (Bernhard’s Hermit) crabs (that we had encountered earlier) living here! So Cool… After examining the place thoroughly, we now quickened our pace, which was a bit of a challenge as the path had many twists & turns and ups & downs as we climbed back up into the scrub forest.

I should mention that there was informative/educational signage (in French) along the way. They became more frequent as we neared the end of the trail. About 2 hours and 15 minutes after we left the car, we eventually reached the Chateau Dubuc, which we found out is the ruins of a large 17th-century plantation that grew coffee, tobacco and sugar among other things.

Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation
Martinique Hiking on the Circuit-de-la Caravelle trail is a great diverse hike featuring a lighthouse, amazing coastal views, red crabs plus an old chateau/plantation

The ruins consist of the stone remains of a Greathouse along with a number of other buildings set magnificently on a hillside overlooking the well-protected Baie du Tresor.  This would have been a large and extremely impressive plantation in its day, with the owners having their own slice of Caribbean paradise. I can easily imagine the buzz of activity all around the area, with the movement of people, crops and produce from the fields to the mills, warehouses and to & from the waterfront where ships would be anchored just offshore…  The modest fee of 5 Euros per person to enter the grounds and view the small museum was well worth the price.  

After the half kilometre walk back to the car and a change into some dryer clothes, we headed back to Fort-De-France, which this time took us about 40 minutes… Leaving us enough time to wander around the Capital for a while 😊.

ACT Staff

For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in Martinique, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

For an overview of this French Caribbean Island paradise, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Martinique Adventures blog for more great ideas! (coming soon)

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the island, by checking out our Things to Do in Martinique blog (coming soon)

Hike Martinique’s Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre Trail

Martinique Hiking - The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre / Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike with multiple easy river crossings to a tall and beautiful waterfall

Martinique Hiking – Discover the Tallest Waterfall of L’Ile aux Fleurs!

The first thing I wanted to do after arriving in Martinique was to get out for a nice casual hike.  It’s a great way to unwind and introduce oneself to what the French Caribbean island, known as the “Island of Flowers” has to offer. The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre, AKA the Couleuvre River Waterfall trail was close to where we were staying just north of Saint-Pierre, and as it turned out, was great choice for a warm welcome to Martinique!

Martinique Hiking - The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre / Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike with incredible rope-like vines


The trailhead is literally located at “the end of the road” on the northwest side of the island.  The northbound D10 road ends after a wild series of twisty-turny, up-and-down sections of pavement at a small parking lot capable of holding maybe 10-15 cars.  The morning we went for our hike, there were dozens of cars parked at the end of the D10, overflowing all along the sides of the road. As we were to find out, this is very characteristic of most ‘attractions’ in Martinique. Just beyond the parking lot, there is a small but clear post marking the start of the trail, along with an alternate route that leads to the beach, which I hear can be good for snorkeling on a calm day.

Martinique Hiking - The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre / Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike with amazing stands of bamboo

I knew instantly that this was going to be an awesome trail, as we were immediately surrounded by tropical rainforest plants and trees. We passed some huge trees along the trail and quickly saw tons of interesting fern-like vegetation growing on everything. Of course what really stood out were the massive vines everywhere, climbing like serpents from the ground up into the tree tops and back down again. Some of the vines seem to twist around themselves forming what appear to be large tree branches. Along with the large trunks of tropical trees there were some massive stands of bamboo that made quite an impression on us. That said, we had to keep our eye on the trail, specifically on the frequent river, or more accurately, creek crossings.

The trail took us on a constant but fairly gradual incline on the way to the falls, snaking back and forth across the Couleuvre River. Honestly, I lost track, but we must have crisscrossed the shallow creek close to ten times in each direction. The river crossings were easy to manage at the time of our hike – We didn’t even get our feet wet as we gingerly stepped across rocks that seemed conveniently spaced across the water.  The stream was moving fairly fast though and I can imagine that the crossings can become much more challenging during the rainy season, or even after a big downpour perhaps. What I don’t understand is how the fish got into this shallow stream of water… Curious for sure.

Martinique Hiking - The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre / Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike with many easy river crossings

The dense jungle foliage prevented much sun from penetrating the ground, so there are plenty of moss-covered rocks along the river banks and plenty of fallen logs topped with clumps of little mushrooms and other assorted fungi. I noticed some peculiar tiny white mushrooms and some more familiar-looking brown mushrooms on our walk… and Ya, it was hot and humid for us as well, although to be fair, we had just arrived from a cold part of North America, so hiking through a rainforest was a bit of a shock to our system. A welcome change, but a shock nonetheless.

Martinique Hiking - The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre / Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike with mushrooms and fungi.
Martinique Hiking - The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre / Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike with mushrooms and fungi.


Martinique Hiking at its best. The Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre River Waterfall trail is a pleasant tropical rainforest hike to a gorgeous tall waterfall




While there were several people on the trail, something else that we are not used to experiencing on our Caribbean hikes prior to this trip, it was by no means congested. We still felt like we were enjoying time (nearly) alone in nature.

While we had plenty to appreciate on the journey, I did get excited as I started to hear the faint but distinct sound of a waterfall in the distance. Eventually, I caught a glimpse of some falling water through a break in the foliage. After a few short minutes of hiking, or rather climbing over a couple of boulders and scaling some steep ground, there it was – the star attraction of the hike! A thin and long stream of water appears from nowhere in the sky… then plunges about 100 feet (30m) down a near-vertical black rock cliff face surrounded by well-nourished curtains of greenery!

The trail to Martinique’s tallest waterfall is about a mile (1.6km) long or 2 miles (>3km) return. Hiking the sloped trail results in an energetic and warming walk to the beautiful falls, and a relaxing stroll with momentum on your side on the way back. Taking a leisurely, exploring pace it took us just under an hour to reach the waterfall, and about half that time to return to the parking lot. That said, the duration really depends on how nimble you are in crossing the river, and how well your cardio handles the constant gentle incline which amounts to close to an 820-foot (250m) vertical rise in just over a mile (1.6km) of ground covered.

Overall, an excellent start to our Martinique adventures – We couldn’t have asked for anything better!


For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on Martinique Hiking, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):


For an overview of the beautiful island of Martinique, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page

ACT Staff

6+ Things To Do on Your Next Trip to Grenada

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

Chocolate & Spice, and Everything Nice about Grenada

Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique are the most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands – About 100 miles (165km) north of Trinidad & Tobago and the South American coast. The mountainous main island of Grenada is known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg and other seasonings, although it’s also becoming a mecca for chocolate lovers as well. Grenada may be one of the Caribbean’s ‘best-kept secrets’ offering unspoiled natural beauty and a wide variety of attractions to please travellers from all over. There are plenty of things to do in Grenada if you know where to look… Our personal favourites include:

Savour Grenada’s Chocolate Estates & Factories

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

The makers of fine chocolate in Grenada are proud of their organic locally grown cocoa as well as their ethical fair-trade production methods. Tourists will of course also appreciate the delicious chocolate products being made by the five chocolate companies on the island. We’re talking about organic pure dark chocolate bars, chocolate bars subtly flavoured with nutmeg, ginger or Caribbean sea-salt as well as cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, chocolate butter spread and a variety of chocolate drinks. Yum!

While cocoa was introduced to Grenada centuries ago, the last couple of decades has seen the rise of a successful chocolate ‘tree-to-bar’ movement on the island. Grenada’s high-quality chocolate is recognized by the International Cocoa Organization, which has listed Grenada as one of only 10 countries in the world to produce ‘100% fine and flavour cocoa’.

If you are a chocoholic, then you will love a tour of a local farm and see for yourself how the island’s cocoa is cultivated, processed and transformed into edible delights.  Most tours offer tasty samples and of course they all end with an opportunity to buy a variety of Grenada chocolate delicacies from their gift stores. Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate; The Diamond (Jouvay) Chocolate Factory; The Grenada Chocolate Company; Belmont Estate Plantation; and Tri-Island Chocolate are all doing it right.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you tasting some fine chocolate, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.

Immerse Yourself in Grenada’s Spice Culture

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

Known as the ‘spice island of the Caribbean’, it’s only natural for visitors to Grenada to want to know more about the island’s spice heritage and culture. It is fascinating to watch a local guide open the fruit of the nutmeg tree to reveal the mace-wrapped seed, which most of us will only recognize once its ground into powder.  The Douglaston Spice Estate demonstrates the old-fashioned way of processing spices (and cocoa), however unfortunately there was a fire on the estate in 2020 and the current operational status of the estate is unknown. That said, the Gouyave Nutmeg Station is a popular tourist attraction to see how the island’s vast quantities of nutmeg are sorted and packaged for export. You can also learn more about Grenada’s spice trade on a tour of the West India Spices facility. Of course, delicious nutmeg and other spices and related products can be purchased at these locations as well as the De La Grenade Nutmeg Garden.  De La Grenade features a 2-acre spice, flowering plant and fruit tree garden located next to their industrious Processing Facility where you can purchase a wide range of local Grenadian fruit and spice products.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you ‘spicy’, click on the following link to go to our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.

Sample the Local Rums of Grenada

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and Rum Distilleries

Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery (AKA Grenada Distiller Ltd) is the self-proclaimed ‘largest and best-known distillery in Grenada’. The distillery has been in operation for over 80 years and offers guided tours of their historical site. Hear about the history of the distillery as well as the rum-making process, then the short tour ends in the Hospitality Center where a range of Clarke’s Court rums can be sampled and purchased.

The Westerhall Estate has also been blending and bottling quality rums for decades. Westerhall Estate offers tours of the estate grounds and a small museum where you can learn about the history and future of the estate and distillery. Complete the tour with rum tasting and shopping for your favourite Westerhall rums.

Dating back to the 18th century, River Antoine Estate is the oldest distillery in Grenada and is proudly home to one of the Caribbean’s oldest functioning watermills.  The small boutique distillery still makes rum with traditional methods – It’s something to see!  The distillery offers short tours accompanied by stories of historical rum-making along with some rum tasting.  Rum purchases are also available on-site.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you some rum, check out our Grenada Rum page.

Explore the Cultural & Heritage Landmarks of Grenada’s Capital St. George’s

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a Sulphur spring/mud bath

Fort George, Fort Frederick, and Fort Matthew are excellent examples of strategically positioned 18th-century bastion-style forts.  Besides the historical majesty of Grenada’s oldest structures, the locations of these forts provide spectacular views of the town, harbour, and the Caribbean Sea as well as inland to the island itself.

The 340 foot (100m) long Sendall Tunnel, connecting Fort George with the rest of the city, is another attractive and impressive historical site. For more history of Grenada, check out the National Museum’s display of local pictures and other artifacts.

For the shop-o-holic in your group, take a walk around St. George’s Market Square to get your fill of spices, crafts, and souvenirs. The hustle and bustle of this local fruit & vegetable market is a popular attraction for new visitors to Grenada.

There are also a number of churches to view in St. George’s.  They include the iconic 19th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral, which features a large gothic tower, as well as the Methodist Church, which is the oldest surviving chapel on the island. Unfortunately, restorations of the Anglican and Presbyterian 19th-century churches, from 2004’s hurricane Ivan, have yet to be completed as of 2020.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking St. George’s, visit our Things to Do in Grenada page.

Relax at a Colourful Grenada Garden

There are over half a dozen gardens in Grenada where you can enjoy a nice leisurely stroll.

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a Sulphur spring/mud bath

The Tower Estate Garden features a historical ‘Great House’ set among fruit, spice and wood trees alongside an amazing 2-acre floral garden. They offer house tours, garden tours, organic farm tours, afternoon tea, and Sunday brunch. Jessamine Eden Tropical Botanical Garden covers an amazing 60 acres that include rivers and trails to explore. The colonial Sunnyside Gardens is home to flowers, mahogany, palm and fruit trees as well as koi ponds, and some red-foot tortoises. Guided tours of Laura Herb & Spice Gardens ensure you get the most out of viewing their herbs, spices, fruit trees, other plants and vegetables. A gift shop and relaxing gazebo are also on-site.

Other Grenada gardens include: St. Rose Nursery & Garden features orchids, shrubs and herbs; Hyde Park Tropical Garden offers stunning views of the south end of the island; Smithy’s Garden includes an ‘old’ garden of fruit trees, and ornamental plants, as well as a ‘new’ garden that is home to a variety of rainforest plants; and Palm Tree Gardens’ two acres display a wide variety of palm trees, flowers and is also home to some red-footed tortoises.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking through the aromatic nurseries, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page.

Embrace Natural Grenada

Grenada is blessed with diverse natural beauty and there is no better place to experience that than in one of the island’s parks or other natural settings.

Major attractions in Grenada include a Chocolate Estates, Spice Stations, Floral Gardens, and nature at Grand Etang National Park or a sulphur spring/mud bath

Located in the mountainous central highlands of Grenada, Grand Etang Lake and National Park is the island’s famous tropical rain forest, best known for its iconic Crater Lake, and several nearby waterfalls.  The island’s most popular nature destination contains a variety of ecological subsystems of flora and fauna including large trees, ferns, colourful flowers and birds, along with frogs, lizards and a few small mammals. If you are lucky, you might even see a Mona monkey living in the wild.

Located in the northeast corner of Grenada, Levera National Park covers 450 acres, including a mangrove wetland called Levera Pond. This Ramsar site features a Boardwalk with an observation tower, making it an ideal location for birding and just relaxing in nature. The Park also contains a long coastline with a great beach and nearby hills which offer spectacular views of a number of small offshore islands. Overlooking Levera Pond with spectacular views of Ronde Island, Carriacou and perhaps even the Grenadines on a clear day, is the hilltop known as the Welcome Stone – Somewhat tricky to get there, but the views provide ample reward.


Located nearby, is the River Sallee Sulphur Springs, which is home to 6 natural springs and warm mud baths. Tourists are welcome to relax in some of the inviting sulphur bath/mud holes.  Situated just south of the centre of the island, the Clabony Sulphur Springs is a waist-deep natural spring-fed pond filled with clear warm water.

Situated near the south end of the island, the Morne Gazo Nature Reserve is an eco-tourism ‘birding’ site with rainforest walking trails and features a hilltop observation area with an amazing panoramic view of the east coast and the Atlantic Ocean. Also located in the southern end of Grenada is the Mount Hartman National Park / Dove Sanctuary which features a unique environment not found anywhere else on the island. The combination of dry forest woodlands and mangroves makes it an ideal location for ‘birding’ and is home to the last remaining endemic Grenada Doves.

The most popular natural area in Carriacou is the High North Nature Reserve / National Park.  From the highest peak on the island, you can relish spectacular panoramic views of Carriacou, Grenada, and the nearby Grenadine Islands surrounded by the sparkling blue sea.

For more information, along with tour operators to get you in nature, check out our Things to Do in Grenada – Land Excursions page. For the more adventurous, you may also be interested in our Grenada Hiking pages.

Consider other Popular Grenada Tourist Attractions

Situated at the north tip of Grenada is the historical site of Carib’s Leap (AKA Leapers Hill), where the last of the island’s indigenous people jumped to their death to avoid being captured by French soldiers. The spot is also a great location for sensational views of the sea and nearby offshore islands. Then there is the town of Gouyave which hosts a weekly fish fry. Street vendors offer all sorts of fish meals, accompanied by music and entertainment. Meanwhile, over on Carriacou, an important and popular attraction is the Windward Boatyard located on the northeast coast of the island.  Here you can immerse into the culture and soul of Carriacou by visiting the location where traditional boat making has been carried on for generations.

ACT Staff

For a more complete review of Grenada Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things To Do in Grenada page.

If you’re looking for something more active that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our recommended Grenada Adventures blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Grenada Vacations page

Hiking through a “veil of vines” in St. Kitts

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

Discovering Vine-land in St. Kitts’ Central Forest Reserve


I’ve always wanted to hike in the St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park, on a trail other than Mount Liamuiga, but I wasn’t sure the so-called hikes offered by the local tour operators were going to be interesting enough for us. So, we rented a car and drove up the west coast of the island to the grounds of the once majestic Wingfield Estate, where I had heard a number of hiking trails originated. Once we got there, I talked to a vendor about hiking in the area and asked if there were any local guides we could hire. Within seconds he was on his phone trying to help us out. After a couple of unsuccessful calls, he was able to reach someone from Old Road Town who would take us on a hike.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

About half an hour later, a friendly fellow named Travis showed up and said he would be happy to take us into the jungle on what he called the “Bench Trail”.  As we would find out, after hiking for an hour or so there’s a rustic wooden bench on the hillside where folks usually rest having just climbed a relatively steep section of the trail, hence the name.  Our hike started with a casual walk along a dirt road behind Wingfield Estate that passed the remains of the recently abandoned Sky Safari Zipline.  It’s amazingly beautiful how quickly tropical nature reclaims ownership of the land when given the opportunity to do so.

We soon left the dirt road, following a narrow path into the jungle. The natural trail took us next to what appeared to be an old riverbank, although the river bed was a green carpet, with just a little trickle of water and the odd puddle. Travis explained that the water was dammed and captured in cisterns much higher up the mountain. This part of the trail follows small pipes that bring clean water down into the local houses and businesses in Old Road Town and the surrounding area.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

We stopped once in a while for Travis to show us various trees and plants bordering the trail. He explained that while some have edible fruit, others have leaves, bark, and roots that can be used for medicinal teas – Apparently curing everything from sore throats, indigestion, and stiff muscles to maybe even cancer. Other plants grow hard bright-coloured seeds that are used as decorative beads in traditional artwork. One tree Travis showed us was the massive locust tree, whose fruit is called ‘stinking toes’ due to their visual likeness and repugnant odour once cracked open. It was more appetizing when Travis pointed out the occasional cocoa tree with its distinctive large pods housing future chocolate.  Then he brought to our attention the stand of almond trees we were walking under. Pretty cool to see the trail littered with partially eaten almond husks.  Apparently, the local vervet (or green) monkeys eat the flesh between the husk and the pit, not realizing what they are missing – I’m sure they would really enjoy the protein-rich nut inside. 

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

I always enjoy seeing the large tropical gommier trees with their fascinating rock-hard-looking bark with patches of reddish flakes, and maybe even a little shocked to come across the spike-covered sandbox trees. While intriguing to look at – don’t touch these horrors of the forest! Another interesting fruit Travis showed us was the manciport or mammee apple, whose fruit is apparently nutritious and delicious! We also encountered several species of mango and other edible fruit trees in the rainforest, although the monkeys eat the fruit right before it fully ripens, so unfortunately there is rarely much left for human consumption.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

After about half an hour or so, we left the rainforest’s natural grocery store and pharmacy to head uphill. The trail twisted and turned around large trees constantly taking us higher. While a bit of a workout, it was relatively easy to hike although the incline did get steeper over time as the trail snaked up the mountainside. At Travis’ urging, we stopped a few times to sniff the air.  Yes, I smelled the odour of animals nearby.  While we figured correctly that goats roam the area, Travis suggested that there was something else afoot. He showed us marks on trees where the bark was clearly worn, as well as areas of earth that had been dug up near the roots.  Apparently, these are the signs of feral pigs scratching themselves and rooting for food respectively. As the uphill hike continued, we kept hearing rustling noises above us in the trees.  We were hoping to see monkeys, however, the sounds inevitably turned out to be doves.  This situation repeated itself over and over again – The sight and sounds of startled doves taking flight.

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

After another half hour or so, we were quite sweaty and breathing a little hard as we arrived at “the bench”.  We grabbed a seat, although we didn’t rest for too long.  After peering through a gap in the rainforest canopy, we could see that we were on the edge of a gully, or what they call a ghaut in St. Kitts. Peering down into the ghaut, it was clear that we had traveled a fair distance, although it was clear that the trail continued much further as we could see a series of ropes tied from tree to tree. Travis told us he had never gone past the bench before, so he wasn’t sure where it went or for how long. We pushed on to take a look, but there was no end in sight.  While the trail is fairly steep in this section, I didn’t need to use the ropes, although they are a good safety precaution for sure. With blue/white blazes on the trees, it appears as though this is a major trail of some sort. I believe that we were on the Old Military Trail that crosses the island from Old Road Town to Phillips Village.  I further believe that if we had continued for another half hour or so, we would have found the spur trail to Dos D’Ane Pond. 

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.


We had set out today to just go for a nice little rainforest hike, so we were satisfied at this point to head back. It was great to discover that Travis was taking us back on a slightly different route, as loop trails provide the opportunity to experience as much diverse terrain and flora as possible. As an exciting change of pace, the first part of this new trail included an unanticipated plunge down the hillside.  We pretty much rappelled a short section of trail to quickly reach the gully floor.


Being higher up in the ghaut, there was a bit of a stream in this area, quite likely from recent rains.  Travis looked for crayfish but came up empty-handed. At this point, we crossed the shallow stream to encounter something out of a Jurassic Park or Tarzan movie.  There were vines of all sizes hanging everywhere. 

Pretty much a curtain or veil of vines. Travis explained how the vines grow out of the ground, climb up and tangle themselves around tree branches high in the sky, before reaching back to earth. He said the older ones secured to large trees are strong enough to hold the weight of an adult human, and Travis proved his point! OK, that was pretty cool!


Following the stream and eventually the dried-out riverbed, we eventually made our way back down to Wingfield Estate where Travis showed us soursop, calabash and pacay trees.  He explained that the spiky soursop is a tasty and nutritious fruit, while calabash fruit and pacay seed pods are not edible, they do make for fun musical (percussion) instruments.

Back at Wingfield Estate, we walked around the remains of the old stone structures.  A few hundred years ago, this was one of the most dominant plantations on the island – The place just oozes with history. In the mid 17th century, it is believed to have been one of the Caribbean’s first rum distilleries!

Hike St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve National Park.  The Bench Trail - Part of the St. Kitts Old Military Trail providing access to the Dos D'ane Pond Trail.

Now that’s what I call a good day!

For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

For an overview of the beautiful “Sister islands”, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog for more great ideas!

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the islands, by checking out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

ACT Staff

Hiking, or Rather Climbing, Nevis Peak

Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

A Hike That Took My Breath Away

One of the main reasons I had wanted to vacation in St. Kitts & Nevis (SKN) was to hike the stratovolcano known as Nevis Peak. While not the tallest mountain in the Caribbean, I heard that the trail is one of the steepest, perhaps comparable to St. Lucia’s Pitons which I enjoyed hiking, so I had to give it a go! Besides, the highest point on Nevis is more than 900 feet (275m) higher than the iconic Gros Piton…

We stayed in St. Kitts for our holiday, but whenever I had the chance, I glanced over at her sister island, paying special attention to the cloud cover on Nevis Peak. It was almost always shrouded in mist, however from what I observed it seemed to be cloud-free more often in the afternoon than the morning, so I decided to schedule the hike for the afternoon.

On the day of the hike, I took the public ferry from Basseterre, St. Kitts over to Nevis, landing in the island’s capital, Charlestown.  I got there early so I could wander around and visit the historic Bath House / Hot Springs as well as the Museum of Nevis History. When my meeting time came, I went back to the Charlestown waterfront road lined with flags from all over the world.  This is where I met Reggie Douglas of Nevis Adventure Tours, my private guide for the day. I was fortunate to have booked Reggie, who I understand from their website is a former SKN Sportsman of the Year and National as well as Eastern Caribbean Triathlon Champion.

Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!



It was a short drive from Charlestown, to the south side of the island to a place called Stoneyhill. We parked next to the Dunbar Mill, near the Hermitage Inn, although I believe the official trailhead is actually a couple of streets further east. Our hike started up a steep incline, on an old double-track concrete road.  Once we passed the last few houses skirting the Volcano, we followed a path into the forest. Although relatively short, this is a relaxing wooded section of the trail. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the last I was going to see of anything resembling level ground for the rest of the hike. Meanwhile, a couple of small dogs had run past us and were somewhere on the trail ahead – We could hear them yipping away, seemingly in a verbal war with a territorial monkey.  Once we reached the area, the dogs had vanished, but Reggie could see the monkey high up in a tree. While I could hear the little primate, now squawking at us, I couldn’t spot him/her hiding in the dense canopy above.

Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

Soon after that, we abruptly turned uphill and began the climb. I’ve done a fair amount of mountain hiking in my day, however I’ve never encountered a trail like this before.  There is not even the slightest notion of a switchback anywhere – The trail pretty much takes a straight-line path up the side of the volcano.

The path essentially consists of a series of near-vertical sections, each connected by a few feet of somewhat flat sections, only a couple of which lasted for more than a few steps. As for the plentiful near-vertical sections, I loved climbing up the natural ladders formed from tree roots and branches – What a rush! Thankfully, these areas also had ropes strung from tree to tree, providing additional help if needed. Looking for an authentic, wild hike, I didn’t use the ropes too often and Reggie made it easy by calmly identifying good places to grab and step as we made our way uphill. That said, there were a couple of perilous-looking verticals where I would have been foolish not to take advantage of the safety ropes.

Reggie mentioned that sometimes he has to coach, or rather coax some of his clients to continue the climb when they were confronted with some of the more daunting sections. I had absolutely no second thoughts of carrying on, although after being on the trail for less than half an hour, I was breathing so hard, I just couldn’t catch my breath.  It was a tough uphill climb, but I also blame my struggle on having hiked and biked a substantial amount a few days prior to this strenuous hike.  Whatever it was, my heart was beating out of my chest so I asked Reggie, who as far as I could tell wasn’t even breathing hard, to take a short break. Excuses aside, after a 5-minute water break, we were underway again and I eventually found my groove.  I was still constantly breathing hard with an elevated heart rate, however I felt much more comfortable the rest of the way.

Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

After a while I started to acknowledge my surroundings, recognizing that we were in a rugged, nearly impenetrable jungle, filled with lush rainforest plants and tall trees reaching skyward in an attempt to find sunlight. For most of the climb, there were very few opportunities to see much through the thick green foliage, although Reggie let me know when we reached a couple of partial clearings that did offer a view of the island below. I savoured the spectacular scenery that these little ‘windows to the world’ offered.  Seeing the green island unfold below, transitioning to a stunning blue ocean that went on for as far as the eye can see, was something to behold!

View from Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

While I didn’t really think about it, and when I did I wasn’t perturbed in the least, I should point out that some people may consider this a dangerous trail. The potential for serious falls exists, although you wouldn’t roll down the mountainside too far before being unceremoniously stopped by a tree ;). Due to the nature of the trail, the opportunity to converse was limited, although I did enjoy hearing about Reggie’s cycling experiences in Europe, agreeing that the mountainous Alps are something special. We talked about some of the other trails on the island, as well as how humans would be better off if we were more in tune with the natural world. A lifestyle I value and strive towards these days – I wondered how we can make positive changes in North America to head in that direction…

Lichen and moss on Nevis Peak Trail - St Kitts & Nevis. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!
Unique trail of Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!


As we got higher up the mountainside, Reggie pointed out the green moss and lichen that were now growing in much larger and richer clusters than they had a few hundred feet earlier.  The plants keep everything nice and moist up here – So cool to see! As we neared the top of the volcano, we climbed up some truly striking areas that appeared to be muddy gashes in the earth.  Not long after ascending one of the slippery zones, we suddenly popped into a little wooded area on fairly level ground, quickly reaching a small clearing in the rainforest. We had reached the top of the volcano! The mist from the clouds enveloped us, offering only fleeting glimpses of the island below. While we chilled, taking in the scenery, Reggie told me that people of all ages have climbed this peak, from pre-teens to a 72-year-old. WoW – Impressive!  While we were talking, a green/blue hummingbird darted around us, letting us know that we weren’t the only ones up there. Apparently, the highest spot in Nevis is another 100 meters or so from where we were standing. Reggie stated that that section of the trail hadn’t been cleared for the last couple of years and was only a few feet higher than where we were.

At the top of Nevis Peak - St Kitts & Nevis. Ascending Nevis Peak is more of a climb than a hike. One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

Well, eventually we decided it was time for the return journey.  While there is another path down the other side of the volcano, it hadn’t been cleared for a while either, and it complicates logistics anyways.  So, we headed back down the same way we came. From my previous mountain hiking experience, I have come to learn that going down a mountain is usually harder than going up it, mostly because it puts a strain on different muscles (and joints).  That said, this trail provided a unique challenge.  For anyone who has climbed a tall ladder to get onto the roof of a house, you know what I’m talking about. From a psychological perspective, it’s totally different going up a ladder than it is staring down it. Not to belabour the point, down we went. Sometimes with our back/butt hugging the earth, and sometimes going backward, facing the ground – Whatever felt more natural at the time. Unlike the trip up the volcano, I made extensive use of the ropes on the way down.

Zebra butterflies on Nevis Peak Trail  One of the Caribbean's most unique and challenging hiking experiences!

The Nevis Peak experience wasn’t over yet though. When we got near the location where we had encountered the dogs and monkey, it was interesting to see a monkey turd proudly displayed on top of a trailside boulder.  I guess the animal was once again reminding us that they have made this area their home 😊. A much nicer surprise greeted us a few minutes later when we retraced our steps through the nice wooded area near the road. More than a dozen yellow and black striped insects, that Reggie identified as zebra butterflies, merrily fluttered around us – A soothing encounter to end the hike.

About three hours after we had started the hike, we were back at our starting point. To be clear, I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that this was more of a climb than a hike.  Although I didn’t get to revel in spectacular 360° views from the top of the island, scaling Nevis Peak was a blast. I had a great time with Reggie, so unassuming and authentic. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the mud completely out of my mesh hikers, but that’s a small price to pay for such an awesome experience! Another day in paradise.

For more information on Reggie’s tours and services, check out his website, Nevis Adventure Tours and Greenedge Bike Shop, or his facebook page.

For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):

For an overview of the beautiful “Sister islands”, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog for more great ideas!

For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the islands, by checking out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

ACT Staff