Tourist Attractions

A Beautiful Hot Coastal Hike in Martinique

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Hiking, Look-Out Points, Nature, Plantation, Tourist Attractions

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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Caribbean Trip Report – Travel during the Covid-19 Pandemic

By freem32@cogeco.ca Caribbean, Covid-19, Tourist Attractions

St. Kitts from the air. Our covid-19 trip report demonstrates that it can be safe to travel to the Caribbean!

Is it safe to vacation yet?

As covid-19 case counts continue to roller-coaster, you may be wondering if it’s safe to travel again. Well, here’s our personal account of travelling to the Caribbean the last two weeks of January 2022, pretty much in the middle of yet another huge spike of covid cases in our native Canada.

Like many of you, it’s been two long years since our last trip to the Caribbean. While our governments are advising against non-essential travel, my wife and I aren’t getting any younger and time may be running short for adventurous tropical vacations, so we decided to head out anyways. Besides, who says that a Caribbean vacation isn’t essential for our mental well-being 😊. To be clear, we are fully vaccinated (now with 3 shots) and we are not exactly throwing caution to the wind – We continued to take reasonable precautions, minimizing our exposure to crowds, while not letting it get in our way of having fun.

St. Kitts Scenic Railway. Our covid-19 trip report demonstrates that it can be safe to travel to the Caribbean!

We managed to book one of the last package deals with AC Vacations before they announced they were cancelling trips to the less frequented Caribbean Islands that we prefer. Although it just missed being one of my Recommended Islands to Visit i n Winter 2022, we picked St. Kitts & Nevis as our destination of choice. We picked SKN because it has been on my (not so) short list of islands to visit for a number of years, and it was the best deal financially we could find.

Pre-travel activities were a little more involved (and expensive) than pre-covid days. Both AC vacations and the Government of St. Kitts required us to upload our proof of vaccination and time-sensitive RT-PCR test results prior to departure. Getting this done within 72 hours of our flight was a little stressful, however, it was really no big deal. We felt relieved once we received a letter from St. Kitts granting us permission to visit.

We arrived at a parking lot just outside Toronto Airport at 5:30 am on Sunday morning. Fortunately, we were picked up quickly by the shuttle bus and were alone on our brief drive to the terminal. The bus driver was separated from the passenger compartment by a plastic barrier.

It’s reassuring to know that everyone in the airport is (supposedly) fully vaccinated and most other travellers have also just passed a PCR test in the past couple of days. That said, we wore N-95 masks the entire ‘travel’ day, protecting both ourselves and others.

The terminal was not too busy and once we obtained our luggage tags from the AC check-in machine, we dropped off our luggage before breezing through security. We were at the gate in no time and eventually boarded the airplane. While social distancing was a challenge from time-to-time, airport personnel and other passengers all wore masks – so far, so good.

Rainforest hike in St. Kitts. Our covid-19 trip report demonstrates that it can be safe to travel to the Caribbean!

We were pleased to see that the airplane was less than half full, and once we were in the air, we moved to a row with nobody beside, behind, or in front of us. Cool! Again, airline staff and most passengers were good at keeping their masks on when appropriate.

Upon arrival in St. Kitts we walked across the tarmac to a special covid-19 facility (a giant tent outside of the terminal) built for initial screening of incoming passengers. Once authorities had established that we had been pre-approved to visit St. Kitts, we proceeded into the regular customs terminal. The Customs Officer processed our passports and verified our recent PCR test results. After picking up our luggage we passed through one final checkpoint before being allowed to leave the terminal. Once we showed our Vaccine Certificates, we were allowed to enter the beautiful island of St. Kitts!

Not being ones to stay still, we experienced a variety of transportation while we stayed on the island for a couple of weeks. All the taxis and tour buses we took had plastic barriers between the driver and the passenger compartments and some asked us to hand sanitize before entering their vehicles. The car rental agency had plastic barriers erected on their desks, and staff wore masks. Staff and passengers for ferries and water taxis, to get to/from Nevis, all wore masks and hand sanitizers were required before boarding their boats. We even took a scenic train tour, where they segregated cruise-ship passengers from folks staying on the island.

L&L Rum Bar in Nevis. Our covid-19 trip report demonstrates that it can be safe to travel to the Caribbean!

Our hotel was not very busy, so social distancing from other guests was never a problem, and the hotel & restaurant personnel wore masks most of the time. Staff and customers in grocery stores and other shops also wore masks.

I have to say that I was very impressed with the way the folks in St. Kitts and Nevis are handling the covid-19 situation – Very professional and responsible. Perhaps they should have made it into our list of Top 5 Islands to Visit in 2022 after all.

So far, our experience was comparable to our typical environment and routine at home, where we simply go to grocery stores, a gym with low traffic, and enjoy walks outdoors. Inside we wear masks, outside we don’t. Of course, wherever you go, whether at home or in the Caribbean, there is the usual small percentage of “special” folks who just can’t seem to keep their nose under their masks. Annoying, but not much we can do about it.

Honestly, the situation at restaurants and with local tour operators/guides was a little different for us. We were staying at Frigate Bay and were within walking distance of “the strip”, a string of 8 or 9 restaurant/beach bars, so that’s where we did most of our eating. While we didn’t visit them all, I can attest that the staff at two restaurants (Boozies and Patsy’s) diligently wore their masks. As for the staff at other restaurants, as well as almost all the patrons in all of the restaurants, the attitude towards social distancing and mask-wearing was pretty casual. That said, it is important to note that we’re talking about open-air restaurants where the refreshing Caribbean breeze was constantly flowing. Also, with so few tourists, the restaurants were fairly quiet, so it was usually easy to socially distance. The exception was when cruise ship passengers were bussed to the strip for the day, and on Friday nights when large groups of locals as well as (mostly American) college kids from the nearby medical schools came to party.

Restaurant in St. Kitts. Our covid-19 trip report demonstrates that it can be safe to travel to the Caribbean!

There were no covid-19 related impedances in terms of tours. When we were off on hikes or sailing/snorkeling tours, social distancing and mask-wearing were non-existent, however, we were outdoors with a single guide or a small group of people, so we consider these low risks activities.

Before we left the beautiful island of St. Kitts, we arranged for a (mask-wearing) local doctor to come to our hotel room to take a quick swab for our RT-PCR test before heading home. We had lab-confirmed negative test results later that afternoon via email. Easy-peasy!

When we entered the airport in St. Kitts to fly home, the AC representative confirmed that we had our latest negative PCR test results and had completed ArriveCAN before checking us in. The small terminal area was crowded, although everyone was wearing masks.

We also need to examine the Covid related costs associated with travel right now. For the two of us, we had to pay for PCR tests in Canada ($340) and St. Kitts ($300), and we purchased covid-19 medical/trip insurance ($490), which we ordinarily would not obtain. So, due to covid, we incurred extra expenses of $1,130 or almost 15% of our total trip budget – Not pretty, but you gotta do whatcha gotta do!

Unfortunately, arriving back in Toronto was an absolute shitshow – There is just no other word for it. Once we departed the airplane, we were held in a hallway, mingling with passengers from other flights for about 15 minutes or so. Eventually, we were released and went down to the Arrival / Customs area, where the scene was best described as turmoil. In many years of travel, I have encountered long lines in this area before, however I’ve never experienced anything like this. There was barely any CBSA presence so communication and supervision were desperately insufficient. The main line to the declaration machines snaked all around and eventually just spilled out into a mosh pit of people trying to exit the area to reach the Customs Officers. Thanks to direction from other passengers, we eventually figured out what we needed to do… Perhaps things were made worse by the fact AC didn’t have us complete a declaration card on the airplane – likely resulting in confusion and longer times at the machine. While everyone wore masks, there was absolutely no social distancing whatsoever, although we felt somewhat safe with our N-95 masks on!

After about an hour in the human blender, we finally made it to a Customs Officer. He did not ask a single question; he simply glanced at our passports, placed a big pink sticker on them and told us we could go. After picking up our suitcases, which were piled 3 high on the overflowing conveyer belt, we tried to exit customs, but thanks to those pink stickers, we were diverted into yet another line. Apparently, we had been “randomly selected for PCR testing”… and we weren’t alone. From the few seconds that we were at that intersection, it appeared as though about half of travellers were being diverted for testing. The technician performing my swab confirmed that it was an extremely busy day with thousands of people being tested. Now, I don’t mind being tested, 2 days after already testing negative, as long as I’m not paying for it (directly). That said, I sure would like to understand what they are trying to accomplish. Hopefully, they are compiling data to prove that PCR tests for returning citizens are not required, however I’m not holding my breath…

In conclusion, our experience showed us that our risk to covid-19 exposure may have been only slightly higher than our everyday life at home. This was a result of eating out every day and spending a little time out with locals enjoying what the islands have to offer. Without the incompetence we experienced at the hands of the GTAA and CBSA in Toronto, which was hopefully just an aberration and others won’t encounter, for us, travelling to the Caribbean amidst covid-19 is relatively low risk and well worth it!

Oh, we’ve received our latest ‘negative’ PCR test results, have been home now for a week and we are still A-OK.

Final thoughts… We enjoy getting out during the day and exploring – hiking in the rainforest and snorkeling in warm clear waters, etc… However, we cannot speak to indulging in nightlife and spending time socializing with strangers.

For other blogs from our trip to St. Kitts and Nevis that are way more fun and exciting than this serious trip report, check out the St. Kitts & Nevis section of our Excursions page, and follow us on facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Visit the Fascinating Clifton Estate Rum Company

By freem32@cogeco.ca Caribbean, Rum, Tourist Attractions

A rum tour with the Clifton Estate Rum Company in St. Kitts & Nevis. Bottle your own little barrel of Clifton Estate Spiced Rum. Enjoy rum tasting and more in Nevis!

Bottle Your Own Rum in Nevis – It Has Your Name On It!

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming about vacationing in the Caribbean – Thoughts that inevitably include warm weather, the gorgeous Caribbean Sea, sand between your toes, and a rum beverage in hand? If so, you’re not alone… and I’m sure you’ll agree that no Caribbean Island vacation is complete without visiting a local rum-making facility. So the next time you’re in the Leeward Islands’ Saint Kitts & Nevis, be sure to find your way to the Clifton Estate Rum Company on the small island of Nevis. If you’ve never heard of this Caribbean gem before, it’s a lush green volcanic island that happens to be the birthplace and childhood home of Alexander Hamilton, the face on the American ten-dollar bill.

Mark Theron - A rum tour with the Clifton Estate Rum Company in St. Kitts & Nevis. Bottle your own little barrel of Clifton Estate Spiced Rum. Enjoy rum tasting and more in Nevis!

Our trip began with a pleasurable visit to L&L Rum Shop with Mark Theron, the man behind Nevis’ great little store as well as Clifton Estate Spiced Rum. We were fortunate enough to be invited to a behind-the-scenes look at the Clifton Estate Rum Company with Mark. Arriving at their facility, located in a wooded lot just south of the island’s capital, Charlestown, we were welcomed by a Clifton Estate Rum branded pergola fronting a couple of unassuming buildings.

We started our tour in their warehouse and blending facility – After all, this is where the magic happens. Mark explained the different stages of their rum blending and filtration process while showing us the tanks, vats and equipment that make it all possible. Clifton Estate Spiced Rum starts life as a 2-year-old rum sourced from nearby Antigua before it is masterfully blended with a delightful combination of ‘warming’ Caribbean spices along with a touch of fresh orange and real honey. Due to increased demand for the company’s products, the building is being expanded to allow for increased production and storage. From the tanks on the top shelf of the rum mixing area, the final blend flows through a pipe to the bottling room in a separate building next door.

It is in this room that the amber liquid is deposited into bottles, which are then labelled, capped, and boxed up for distribution. Speaking of bottles – Clifton Estate Spiced Rum is packaged in a unique bottle in the form of a barrel, complete with planks and rivets! I’ve seen some cool-shaped bottles in my time, however nothing captures the essence and history of rum like this does. From start to finish, the creation of Clifton Estate Spiced Rum is a ‘hand-made’ affair, with very few hands involved in the process. This is the epitome of small-batch artisanal rum making. A place where they really care about their brand and end-product.

When they are not bottling their latest batch of spirits, this room doubles as the blending/mixing lab where Mark develops future concoctions for the Clifton Estate Rum Company. When we visited, it looked like a mad scientist had been hard at work, with several hand-labelled bottles denoting various ages and mixtures. Mark was excited to tell us about one product being crafted whose foundation is a 5 yr old rum aged in a Jack Daniels barrel. I can’t wait to try that one!

We then went into the Clifton Estate showroom for further discussion, a few samples of rum, and an amazing and unique experience that would be the climax of our day, not to mention one of the highlights of our vacation. We started by sampling the award-winning Clifton Estate Spiced Rum, which is aptly known as “a taste of Nevis in a barrel”!

For a relatively young rum, it was surprisingly delicious. I love the rum’s rich golden colour and its appetizing aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and candied orange peel. Tasting Clifton Estate Spiced Rum, I found the flavour brimming with warming spices and a touch of honey. While it tingled on my tongue a little, I was amazed at the absence of a harsh burn. Good stuff – Mellow and flavourful enough to drink straight-up. That said, Mark suggested alternative ways to enjoy Clifton Estate Spiced Rum including drinking it with a splash of coconut water or with a drop of orange bitters in a rum and coke. I’ll be trying both of them for sure.

Popular with local restaurants and bars in St. Kitts & Nevis, the Clifton Estates Rum Company continues to capture the “Spirit of Nevis” with their Moko Jumbie brand of Gold and Silva rum. Once again, considerable thought and effort have been put into the presentation of this rum as it is packaged in a gorgeous, frosted bottle with silhouettes of ghost-like characters etched into the side – Images that invoke the annual St. Kitts & Nevis’ Sugar Mas Carnival, where dancers don the traditional costume of the Moko Jumbie, a ghost with healing powers. The company also creates and bottles single-run batches of “specialty” rums of various ages and blends for upscale clients like hotels and bars looking for something unique to celebrate special occasions. For those looking for a more casual pre-mixed beverage, the Clifton Estate Rum Company also produces a Lemongrass & Ginger “Tropical Punch”, utilizing their Moko Jumbie Gold rum as the base of course.

While rum is Mark’s passion, the company is branching out, also producing an exclusive vodka-based beverage handcrafted in Nevis.

Their flagship vodka-based product is NEVIQ Tropical Liqueur and it’s really something to behold, as well as taste! The bright blue concoction contains a captivating silver swirl that you have to see to believe. Similar to their rum-making process, they source high-quality spirits, this time from the USA, blending it with tropical fruit flavours before filtering it and adding the special “shimmer” ingredient. Sipping the wild concoction, I found notes of passion fruit while the taste profile evolved on my tongue, moving from tangy to sweet… Very yummy indeed!

Clifton Estate has also begun the development of a cannabis-infused red wine beverage that will be ready to hit the shelves once the righteous plant becomes fully legal in St. Kitts & Nevis. Our conversation continued over a variety of shots. I loved hearing about Mark’s passion for crafting innovative products on the island of Nevis. I especially appreciate his ambition to distill his own rum on the premises, ideally utilizing Nevis-grown cane sugar, which was once known to be the finest of the Caribbean. With access to some of the most fertile land in the islands, coupled with his growing presence in the rum industry, Mark is definitely on the right track with this aspiration. In just over 5 years the Clifton Estate Rum Company has proven their rum-making prowess, extraordinary creativity in designing alluring bottles and labels, and have also created and produced a number of sensationally original products. With his enthusiastic drive and industry connections, I’m looking forward to seeing what Mark can accomplish in the next 5-10 years.

Oh right.., back to the Clifton Estate bottling experience… While I was captivated by the swirling stardust in the bottle of NEVIQ, Mark was busy engraving our names on a couple of their signature bottles. When they were ready for us, we took turns filling our own personalized bottles with the ‘elixir of life’ from a special mini-keg of Clifton Estate Spiced Rum.

Once full, we corked our little barrels of liquid gold then dipped the necks into hot wax, elegantly sealing the bottle and completing the rum bottling experience. Oh man, that was fun! So, not only do we end up with a great bottle of rum to enjoy, but we now possess unique souvenirs and showpieces for our rum collection – A valuable keepsake from our trip to Nevis.

Not to be left out, you too can enjoy this rum bottling experience for yourselves. The next time you’re planning a trip to Saint Kitts and Nevis, reach out to Mark via Marks Rum Tasting or email L&L Rum Shop at lnlrumshop@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can also join a Nevis Rum Tasting Experience tour with Nevis Sun Tours. For us, we felt that the rum bottling was a very special, personal, and interactive experience – A must-do for any and all rum enthusiasts for sure!

FYI – Clifton Estate products are available at grocery stores, bars and restaurants across St. Kitts and Nevis. Outside the Caribbean, the Clifton Estate Rum Company has recently accessed the US market, with some availability of Clifton Estate Spiced Rum and NEVIQ in Florida and New York State (coming in 2022). Folks in the UK and Europe won’t have long to wait either, as distribution is being finalized for availability in 2022 as well. To keep up to date, check out the Clifton Estate Rum Company website for more info.

If you’re interested in reading more about rum, check out our Caribbean Rum page and our St. Kitts & Nevis Rum page, which includes a list of Tour Operators who will get you sampling SKN’s finest.

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

For other great Tourist Attractions on the islands, check out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

If you’re looking for more ‘active’ things to do while vacationing in St. Kitts & Nevis, click on our SKN Adventures blog post for some great ideas!

ACT Staff

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6+ Things To Do on Your Next Trip to Grenada

By freem32@cogeco.ca Caribbean, Chocolate, Family, Gardens, Great House, Look-Out Points, Nature, Old Forts, Plantation, Rum, Tourist Attractions

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

By freem32@cogeco.ca Adventure, Caribbean, Family, Hiking, Nature, Plantation, Tourist Attractions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 17^th century, it is believed to have been one of the Caribbean’s first rum distilleries!

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

Category: Tourist Attractions

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

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