Caribbean Mountains – Hike the Highest Peaks the Islands Have To Offer
Sure… It’s easy to think of the Caribbean as a place to relax on the beach with a cool tropical rum drink in hand, and while that’s a great idea, when I think of the Caribbean, I paint a mental picture of hiking through a lush rain-forest, heading up-hill a green Caribbean mountain or volcano, enjoying the eye-popping views of the Caribbean Sea along the way!
The Caribbean Islands, also known as “the West Indies”, are located in the Caribbean Sea / Atlantic ocean, forming a sort of right hand arc between Florida and South America. The largest Caribbean islands are in the north-west and include Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico. These islands also have the largest mountain ranges and the tallest peaks in the Caribbean.
That said, I would suggest that some of the best Caribbean Islands for ‘up-hill’ hiking are further south-east and include Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenada. Caribbean volcanoes on some of these southern islands are relatively young, which always make for a fascinating hiking experience.
Some great mountainous rain-forest hiking is available on these wild and beautiful islands, with some trails taking just a couple of hours, while others require a full day or two. Weather permitting, most of these hikes allow you stunning views of the island and/or Caribbean sea and all of the hikes will provide you with a gratifying sense of physical, mental and spiritual accomplishment.
If you’re looking for the biggest and baddest the Caribbean has to offer, here are the 15 highest Caribbean mountains/Peaks in the West Indies (Based on vertical height above sea level):
Island
Rank
Height
Mountain
Dominican
Republic
1
10,164 feet (3,098m)
Pico Duarte
2
9,324 feet (2,842m)
Loma Alto de la
Bandera
5
7,477 feet (2,279m)
Loma Gajo en Medio
Haiti
3
8,773 feet (2,674m)
Pic la Selle
4
7,700 feet (2,347m)
Pic Macaya
Jamaica
6
7,402 feet (2,256m)
Blue Mountain Peak
Cuba
7
6,476 feet (1,974m)
Pico Turquino
12
4,098 feet (1,249m)
Gran Piedra
15
3,740 feet (1,140m)
Pico San Juan
Guadeloupe
8
4,813 feet (1,467m)
La Grande Soufrière
Dominica
9
4,747 feet (1,447m)
Morne Diablotins
Martinique
10
4,577 feet (1,395m)
Montagne Pelée
Puerto
Rico
11
4,389 feet (1,338m)
Cerro de Punta
St.
Vincent
13
4,049 feet (1,234m)
La Soufrière
St.
Kitts
14
3,793 feet (1,156m)
Mount Liamuiga
Please note that the above list only covers the Caribbean Islands, and does not include the Central American, Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan Caribbean, which have incredible mountain peaks of their own.
Antigua Hiking – On a Caribbean Mountain/Trail Named After a US President!
Antigua & Barbuda is a multi-island Caribbean nation east of St. Kitts & Nevis, just north of Guadeloupe. Known for it’s numerous soft white beaches, sailing and snorkeling – The island also has a number of really nice hiking trails to explore! Antigua hiking was a pleasant surprise. If It’s not too daunting, I always like to hike the tallest peak of the Caribbean island I’m visiting and at just over 1,330 feet (450m) tall, Antigua’s Mount Obama is definitely in my ‘do-able’ range, so it was the must-do hike of our trip.
While we like to be active and explore the Caribbean, we prefer to relax and enjoy our vacation experiences without having to worry about all the detailed logistics, so we connected with a local hiking / tour operator who knows the island and our target trail really well. For our Mount Obama adventure, we chose Antigua’s Trek Tours to show us the way…
The friendly folks from Trek Tours picked us up at our east coast hotel around 8:30am, then took us on a pleasant scenic drive on our way to Antigua’s south west, an area known as the “Green Corridor”. It’s good to get off the resort and see what each Caribbean island is really all about. In Antigua, there’s little vehicle traffic (outside of St. John’s) – Our drive was only interrupted by the occasional goat herd wandering across the road. On our cross country joyride we observed that Antigua is noticeably dryer than other parts of the Caribbean. More importantly, the island also appears to be less impoverished than most of the other islands we’ve visited. In general, the locals seem to be very friendly and relatively happy.
While mostly flat coral and limestone, Antigua’s hilly south-west has some interesting volcanic features along with more/taller vegetation than the rest of the island. This area is home to Mount Obama National Park and the island’s tallest peak, Mount Obama. Formerly known as Boggy Peak, the area was renamed in 2009 in honour of the historic presidential election of Barack Obama in the USA.
Eventually we made our way down a dirt road to the Christian Valley Agricultural Station – an area known for it’s delicious fruits, like mangoes, pineapples and papayas. While we were curiously looking at the various fruit trees, we also noticed a number of furry little critters darting around everywhere. I’ve never seen so many mongooses in such a short time-frame – If you’ve never seen one before, they kind of look like elongated squirrels. Very reminiscent of being back home (in North America).
We were dropped off with our guide on the north side of the mountain. Next to the trail-head was a monument and plaque dedicating the area to President Obama. After a short warm-up on a dirt road lined with papaya trees and more of our hungry mongoose friends, the trail narrows then disappears into the forest. With our guide leading the way, our Antigua hiking journey was underway. We headed into the wilderness for a 4 mile (6.6km) jaunt up and over the mountain.
The forest is heavily wooded, although it felt kind of different to me than hiking through the tropical rain-forests of say, Dominica, St. Kitts or Saint Lucia. I suspect that there are more ‘sub’tropical ferns and trees in this Park than what I’m used to. Anyways…. The natural trail twists and turns through the woods, all the while constantly taking us up to our objective. Our path also took us across a couple of dry river beds, which again, we don’t see very often in the Caribbean. Apparently, during an exceptional rainy season, water does flow here and there’s even a small waterfall.
Our unassuming guide was friendly and knowledgeable, constantly informing us of the local flora (and lack of poisonous fauna 🙂 ) that we were encountering along the way. He explained that they’re growing dwarf papaya trees back at the Agricultural Station, that can be picked without a tall ladder. One amazing tree he pointed out to us, really stood out to me – I believe its called a Ceiba tree – It has dangerous inch long spikes all along it’s trunk surface. I wouldn’t want to slip on the trail and face-plant into one of these fellas!
The narrow path was littered with hundreds of leaves from the surrounding trees, including really cool large foliage from the bamboo stands that grow in clumps along the trail. Even though it had rained a little the night before and the ground was fairly wet everywhere, the trail was not slippery at all.
I really enjoyed the gradual steepness of the trail, along with a couple of short steeper sections that tested our cardio a bit more. It was quite hot and humid and we were definitely working up a sweat – Quite normal for Caribbean hiking! I’ll also mention that there were no bugs pestering us at all – We were thankful for this. We really enjoy a good forest hike and that’s exactly what this was. We were on this comfortable trail for just over half an hour before it suddenly ended and we spilled out onto a concrete road. The road was pretty steep for the next 15 minutes or so, winding around the mountain all the way to the peak.
We reached a fenced-in property at the end of the road. At the top of the mountain there are buildings and antennas owned by the telecom giant, Cable & Wireless. Thankfully, our hiking guide had the key to the gate, so we were able to enter the facility and get a peek, from the peak. It would have been more than a little frustrating, to have come this far and not be able to receive our full reward – Dramatic 360° views of the island was about to be experienced!
It was real nice and breezy at the top – Perfectly comfortable! We wandered around to take-in the spectacular views. First there was the southern coastline of Antigua and the Caribbean Sea, which included two of the island’s most famous icons. At the bottom of a gentle sloping area of Mount Obama near the coast, we could see a large field growing the island’s famous ‘black pineapple’ (pictured above). Not too far from shore, from our vantage point anyways, we could also clearly see the island’s top snorkeling spot, Cades Reef (pictured below).
Our guide told us that on a clear day we would be able to see Montserrat off in the distance to the south-west. Unfortunately, it was humid and hazy the day we hiked, so we could just barely make out it’s outline, although I may just have been looking at a low lying cloud, I dunno. Just to the east and the west of Mount Obama’s slopes however, we had amazing views of the nearby rolling hills that hints at the island’s volcanic past.
Although the views to the north-west and north are obstructed by C&W’s radio towers and antennas, we could easily see the Caribbean coastline, including Darkwood Beach and Jolly Harbour. We could even see St. John’s way off in the distance, including a cruise ship that was in port that day.
It takes another 45 minutes to an hour for the descent. This time we went down the south side of the mountain, following the concrete road all the way to the agricultural land at the bottom. Going downhill on cement is never fun, and today was no exception – It’s a bit hard on the toes, feet and knees for sure. Fortunately the road wasn’t that long or steep most of the way, and it kind of switch-backed most of the way down.
I found that time went by fairly fast on the way down, partly because we had interesting views of the coastline as well as some nearby pineapples growing, but mostly because I was chatting with our guide the whole way down – Not only was he knowledgeable and friendly, but more importantly, I felt at ease talking with him. It was if we had known each other all our lives.
The cement road ends near the bottom of the mountain where it turns into a nice dirt road that continues to the main coastal road. It was a nice place for a leisurely warm-down and there was more to see along the roadside, as it was lined with coconut and other fruit trees. What a fun Antigua hiking experience! We were picked-up here for the drive home.
Our return route took us along scenic Fig Tree Drive, passing by Wallings Nature Reserve (another areas for good hiking) and through small towns with names like Swetes (thankfully pronounced sweets, not sweats). We really enjoyed spending our morning with Trek Tours! They are a small dedicated team, focusing on immersive Antiguan natural experiences. Trek Tours offers a large variety of hikes, ranging from easy through challenging. They also offer combo tours that include the island’s major attractions. Custom tours are also available.
For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in Antigua & Barbuda, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
For more information about Trek Tours, including material to help plan your own Antiguan adventure, you can contact the good folks by visiting their website or facebook page (just click on a link below):
If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Antigua Adventures blog for more great ideas!
For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the island, by checking out our Things to Do in Antigua and Barbuda blog
Looking for Things to do in Jamaica? Discover the Black River Safari
It was an exciting day! We were headed to Jamaica’s south-west coast to enjoy three amazing excursions – The Black River ‘Boat Safari’, YS Falls and the Appleton Estate Rum tour. All great things to do in Jamaica! We booked this 3-in-1 smorgasbord of adventures through Jamaica’s Amstar DMC.
This is part one of three blog posts from the day’s adventures – This one Focuses on the Black River Safari.
I’ll start by saying that it’s a fair distance from Montego Bay down to the Black River, just over 42 miles (70km). Lucky for us the bus was comfortable and our guide from Tropical Tours kept us busy by providing insight into the points of interest we passed along the way.
We left the concrete and noise of Montego Bay behind us and ventured into the mountains of St. James Parish. We had some great views of Jamaica’s beautiful interior as we winded our way through the mountains. We passed the quaint villages of Mount Carey, Montpelier and Shettlewood, getting a first hand view of how the locals live. From New Market to Middle Quarters the road traveled through an impressive valley before spilling out into the flatter rural areas of St. Elizabeth Parish.
A cluster of Egrets in the bush
When we finally reached the Riverside Dock, it was great to be able to stretch our legs. After checking out some souvenirs offered by local vendors, we boarded our pontoon boat and were ready for our Black River boat cruise – One of the many fun things to do in Jamaica. Just before we got under way, we noticed that it looked more like a green river than a black one, although that would change as we ventured further upstream. Although we had been listening to the enjoyable rhythms of Reggae music the last couple of days, I couldn’t help think about CCRs ‘Green River’ tune.
We pushed off from the dock and our pontoon boat took us out into the murky waters. Our boat operator ‘slash’ guide, immediately started telling us about the various vegetation and birds in the area. It didn’t take long for the view from the boat to get much more wild looking, and we settled in for a nice nature tour. The guide was informative and friendly, pointing out and describing the various flora and fauna that we encountered. He first mentioned that large portions of the river bottom was peat moss, and that is what gave the water it’s dark greenish hue.
Our boat guide also explained how the clumps of long vine-like branches bring water from the river up to the higher parts of the tree – Pretty fascinating. He also showed us Indigo plants growing at the sides of the river and explained that in the past, blue dye was extracted from these plants by European settlers and used for making ‘blue jeans’.
The banks of the river were mostly covered with a couple different species of mangroves along with various bushes and long shoots. There was really no ‘shore’ to speak of the entire boat trip. With the exception of the large ever-present mountains in the background, I again couldn’t help to think I was traveling through some southern bayou.
At a broad bend in the river, we came across a large patch of green lily pads floating on the water. In the background a local fisherman canoed by with his crab traps – apparently they’re quite the delicacy in the area. It was amazing to see him paddling the river in a traditional dugout style canoe – a real blast from the past!
As we journeyed up river, we saw plenty of birds near the water and in the trees along the river banks. There were a couple types of egret along with a variety of other birds, and we also saw a couple of ospreys! That’s all good, however we were really out there to see a Jamaican Crocodile…
Eventually the river narrowed and the water got much darker, OK it was black… This was my favourite area for sure – Again reminiscent of a southern US swamp, although the water here always appeared to be fairly deep. Here’s where we saw a couple of crocodiles. I have to say I’m not a big fan of feeding wild animals, however it did get them out of their hiding spots along the river banks and bring them out onto the water for everyone to see. The American Crocodiles that live in Jamaica’s Black River are relatively small as compared to their African and Australian cousins. Apparently they are also quite mellow, perhaps a reflection of the local people themselves 🙂
After spotting a few of the ancient reptiles, we turned around and moved considerably faster on the way downriver, back to the dock. Once there, we enjoyed a local lunch of beef stew, jerk chicken along with rice & peas (although I think they were beans) and fruit punch (sans rum). Tasty – That hit the spot.
In summary, this enjoyable boat cruise is just one of the many incredible things to do in Jamaica. The tour lasted just under an hour and a half. While there were a number of other boats on the river, I didn’t find it crowded or touristy. Admittedly, we had set out to see a crocodile, although we ended up really appreciating the boat cruise itself. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and there was lots of nature to see with plenty of opportunities for photos to capture and bring home memories.
A Great House, Heritage Railway, Rum Distillery and more…
Barbados is a unique coral island in the south-eastern Caribbean famous for its white-sand beaches, consistently warm weather as well as generally being considered the birthplace of rum. It was on a(nother) quest for rum that motivated me to leave the beaches and touristy south-west area and travel across the island to the rural north-east of Barbados – I’m sure glad we decided to visit St. Nicholas Abbey! This excursion really helped us get to know some of the history and culture of the island, as well as see some of its natural beauty.
St. Nicholas Abbey is comfortably nestled in the beautiful “Scottish highlands” of Barbados – A region full of natural beauty which we witnessed first hand as we drove up the hilly east coast and up/across a ridge that took us past the amazingly preserved Morgan Lewis Windmill and the fabulous Cherry Tree Hill look-out (more on that later). I really enjoyed the last bit of the drive along an extraordinary road lined with massive Mahogany trees whose branches seemed to touch each other above us across the road.
We arrived at the grand old plantation just in time! The St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway was preparing to leave the station. We boarded the train and were off… The ride started in a gentle arc around a pond and past some sugar cane fields before chugging up a bit of a hill. After another wide turn, we entered a mature stand of mahogany which gave way to a section of track flanked by a cliffside which was remarkably close to the train. I understand this train and its track was completed in late 2018, with tours having just started in early 2019. This rail system is an authentic representation of the 19th Century transportation system used in Barbados to transport sugar, then later commuters, around the island. The train cars were stunningly beautiful and I could just feel the craftsmanship that went into their construction. We enjoyed our ride, which was narrated by a tour guide who helped us understand what we were seeing along the journey.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before we reached the end of the line at Cherry Tree Hill. At this point, we were pleasantly surprised to be volunteered into assisting the train crew turn the train engine around on a manual carousal/turn-table in preparation for the return journey. It’s not every day that you can participate in such an event! Our work done, we wandered across the street to visit some local vendors who had set up tables and were selling a variety of souvenirs. That didn’t hold our attention for long, as we noticed the amazing views of the island just a few steps away.
This is the second-highest point on Barbados and we savoured the breathtaking views of the island’s hills and ridges as well as the rugged boulder-strewn shoreline of the east coast. Before reboarding the train, we took the opportunity to get our picture taken with the spectacular ‘period correct’ engine and listen to the train conductor as he told stories about the history of trains and their cargo/passengers on the island. This experience really transported us back in time to the days before Barbados had roads. We imagined trains commuting people from Bridgetown around the south end of the island and heading up the east coast, which at that time was the destination of choice for wealthy travelers – It’s still a great place to spend time in the beautiful Bajan countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the west coast.
After our railway adventure was complete, we exited the train to tour St. Nicholas Abbey’s great house. After a short walk across a manicured field lined with gardens and giant palm trees, we were welcomed into one of only two surviving 17th-century Jacobian homes in the Caribbean. English Jacobian architecture is characterized by its combination of Tudor, Elizabethan and Renaissance styles influenced by Flemish, Dutch and French architecture of the time. A tour guide walked us through the main floor pointing out some of the house’s antiques and artifacts while providing a brief history of some of the owners who had lived there.
I immediately gazed upon the Drawing Room’s chandelier, which was decorated with shells. Along with an English tea set from the 1800s, I enjoyed inspecting the “sailors valentines” – mosaics, ornately assembled from tiny shells. The Dining Room looked inviting, with the table fully set with fine china.
We then passed through the Study, which featured a vintage 1930s “Gentleman’s Chair” complete with a backrest, footrest, wheels, table attachments and a reading lamp. There was also a much older mahogany “judge chair” that looked very much at home in the storied great house.
It was interesting listening to the long line of families and sordid tales of the some of the inhabitants. Some of the more revered owners of the property included Sir John Gay Allyne, a long time local government official and Mount Gay rum fame, as well as the more recent Cave family, who lived at the house from the early 1800s all the way up to 2006.
After the great house tour, we headed outside where we enjoyed a complimentary rum punch in a courtyard under the shadow of a massive 400 year old Sandbox tree. We then took a short walk down a gentle slope past some cockatoos and colourful macaws to see the rum producing parts of the plantation. I understand that a few days a week, staff demonstrate how the plantation’s sugar cane is crushed for juice which is then reduced to a sweet syrup – The day we visited, the old Steam Mill was not in operation. St. Nicholas Abbey uses cane sugar syrup and a modern hybrid (pot/column) still, to produce their rum which is aged in used bourbon barrels.
We then went back into their main building and watched a short film, which is essentially ‘home movies’ from the 1930s taken by a Cave family member. The filmed covered their Atlantic crossing, scenes of a bustling Bridgetown, clearly centred around the sugar industry, as well as scenes of the plantation including traditional sugar and rum-making utilizing windmills. The video was followed by a short discussion about their rum, along with a sampling of their 5 year old spirit. St. Nicholas Abbey rekindled the old plantation’s rum making in the early 2000s, and now produce small-batch, single cask artisan rums that also include an 8 year old, 15 year old as well as a rare 22 year old. They also produce a white rum along with interestingly flavoured rums (Banana, Passion Fruit, Sorrel and Coffee) as well as Rum Punch.
The tour formally ended at this point, however guests were welcome to roam the plantation or enjoy lunch on a fantastic terrace situated above a lush ravine. We wandered back into the great house and also visited their rum bottling building, where a woman was hand bottling some ‘special occasion’ rums. After having a light lunch in their snack bar we visited their gift shop where a nice assortment of souvenirs was available – I thought their coffee beans, flavoured by being stored in empty rum barrels, was interesting – Nice!
What a great way to spend an afternoon. St. Nicholas Abbey, which by the way is/was not an abbey at all… has plenty to offer visitors… from a Train ride and Great house to assorted Rum related attractions. The plantation also conveniently has a restaurant, snack bar and gift shops. That said, the place really provides a historical perspective of Barbados that you just can’t get on the beach. St. Nicholas Abbey does a good job in preserving the heritage of Barbados. The property and facilities all have a ‘new’ feel to it, clearly well managed and professionally run, although its staff is still nice and friendly, which we have come to expect from Bajans – Casual and laid back…
ACT Staff
For more information about the plantation and its tours, check out their website at St. Nicholas Abbey
For Tour Operators who can get you there as well as other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Barbados page
If you’re interested in reading more about rum, check out our Caribbean Rum page as well as our Barbados Rum page, which includes a list of Tour Operators who will get you sampling Barbados’ finest.
For an overview of beautiful Barbados, take a look at our Barbados Vacations page
If you’re looking for more ‘active’ things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Barbados Adventures blog post for some great ideas!
Cultural and Natural Treasures of the Caribbean Islands
Looking for something special in the Caribbean islands? These wonderful places have been deemed worthy by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Centre of being of significant cultural or natural value. These sites preserve our heritage – Our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations!
When it comes to the Caribbean islands as well as coastal areas of the Americas, this includes archaeological Indigenous sites, well preserved historical European structures, along with breathtaking and rich bio-diverse natural sites. UNESCO’s intent is to strengthen the Caribbean’s sustainable development and the role of local communities, which is vital for heritage protection and management. A well protected World Heritage site contributes directly to environmental, social and economic development and helps better the life of local communities in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean has 31 (including seven tentative) Cultural sites, 19 (including seven tentative) Natural sites along with 4 (including two tentative) Mixed (Both Cultural & Natural) sites. Three of these sites are in danger of irreparable damage due to direct and indirect human activities – They are Belize’s “Natural” Barrier Reef Reserve System; Venezuela’s “Cultural” Coro and its Port; and Honduras’ “Natural” Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve.
Our favourite ‘Cultural’ World Heritage sites in the Caribbean include:
Saint Kitts & Nevis – Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park
This well preserved Fortress makes for an imposing sight. The fortress is built on a steep volcanic hilltop, approximately 755 feet (230m) high, yet seemingly a natural part of the Caribbean island’s main mountain range. This fortification must have been extremely intimidating in it’s day. The fortress is an excellent example of British military architecture used in the Caribbean in the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s – This is the earliest surviving example of “Polygonal System” design. Covering almost 40 acres (150k sq. m), the main features of the multi-leveled fortification include it’s massive stone wall, with it’s commanding view (read cannon range) of the surrounding coastline and Caribbean Sea, along with it’s main building the Citadel, also know as Fort George.
Puerto Rico – La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site
Over the last 500 years, a series of defensive structures have been built in this Caribbean Island to protect it’s Capital, San Juan. These fortifications provide an excellent example of European military architecture traditionally used in the Caribbean to protect important cities and ports. These Spanish built structures reflect Italian Renaissance, Baroque, and French Enlightenment designs and construction. This Heritage site includes the structures of La Fortaleza, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristobal, Fort San Juan de la Cruz, the Devil’s Sentry Box, as well as the town now known as Old San Juan.
La Fortaleza has been used as a fortress, an arsenal, a prison, the residence of the Governor-General, as well as the residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, for which it is still used today. Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or just “El Morro” for short, with it’s dominating command over the entrance to the Bay of San Juan, was probably the most iconic and feared Spanish built fortress in the Caribbean. The remaining fortifications were an expansion to the over-all system.
Few other Caribbean islands offer tourists a place for a full day’s walk-about of sight-seeing featuring old fortresses and protective stone walls (almost three miles [5km] long) along with the charming town of Old San Juan itself – Great for indulging in history, culture, and shopping!
For more information on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico and the tons of fun that can be had there, check our our Puerto Rico Active Vacations page
Cuba – Old Havana and its Fortification System
Built by the Spanish on the northern shores of the west end of this Caribbean island, the capital Havana grew over the centuries into an eclectic combination of residences and defensive fortifications. The old historic centre, with it’s plazas and narrow streets, retains it’s 17th and 18th century European architecture – Featuring grandiose commercial buildings along-side private homes with balconies, wrought-iron fences and enchanting internal courtyards.
Some of the oldest and largest stone fortifications in the Caribbean islands were built in Cuba starting in the early 1500s, right up to the 1900s. The complex system of fortifications that protected Havana, its port and its all-important dockyard is comprised of: the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña – one of the largest fortresses in the Caribbean; Castillo de la Real Fuerza – one of the oldest fortifications in the Caribbean; Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta; Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, along with a number of other smaller fortifications.
Mexico – Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen Itza
When you think of the iconic Mayan pyramid, Chichen Itza has to come to mind.
Photo Credit – Vincent-Ko-Hon-Chiu
This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centres ever built on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. Influenced by close to a thousand years of diverse habitation, the area demonstrates the fusion of Maya and Toltec construction, as well as monuments and art. Buildings that still remain today from the Mayan-Toltec civilization include the Warriors’ Temple, El Castillo (pyramid) and El Caracol circular observatory.
Dominica – Fort Shirley (Tentative List)
The Fort is located on the south side of Cabrits National Park, on a small point jutting into the Caribbean Sea on the west side of the north end of the Caribbean island. Nestled between two hills, the fortifications were first built by the English, then augmented by the French. The area provides an amazing vantage point over the beautiful Bay of Portsmouth and the rugged landscape of Dominica. The Fort and Park provide a calm area to relax in, for those coming from the strenuous travel through the island’s mountainous geography. Fort Shirley consists of a main garrison with seven gun batteries, seven cisterns, powder magazines, ordnance storehouses, bakeries, iron forge and barracks for officers, hundreds of soldiers as well as their support staff and slaves. This site is of historical significance for the following two reasons.
In 1802, the 8th West India Regiment revolted, with African slave soldiers taking over the garrison for three days. They protested living conditions and the constant threat of being sent to work on the plantations. The revolt resulted in all slave soldiers in the British Empire being made free a few years later.
The Fort was successfully defended by the English from French attacks on numerous occasions in the late 1700s and early 1800s, although it is a sea battle that is it’s claim to fame. The Battle of the Saintes, considered to be one of the the most important naval battles in the history of the Caribbean – An offshoot of the American Revolutionary War, the naval battle took place within view of the fort in early April, 1782. England’s Admiral Rodney was victorious, re-confirming Britain’s ownership of their colonial territories in the Caribbean.
For more information on the Nature Island of the Caribbean, check out our Dominica Active Vacations page
Our favourite ‘Natural’ World Heritage sites in the Caribbean include:
Belize – Barrier Reef Reserve System
Photo Credit – Evergreen
This amazing area contains the largest barrier reef complex and one of the healthiest eco-systems in the northern hemisphere – Making it a top candidate for the most rewarding place in the Caribbean for snorkeling and boating. Seven protected areas encompass reefs, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries, as well as offshore atolls and hundreds of sand and mangrove cays. The area provides habitat for threatened species such as marine turtles, manatees and the American crocodile. This natural paradise is home to over 200 types of marine flora, over 500 fish species as well as bird colonies of red-footed booby, brown booby and the common noddy.
The Reserve System is comprised of: Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve; Blue Hole Natural Monument; Half Moon Caye Natural Monument; South Water Caye Marine Reserve; Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve; Laughing Bird Caye National Park; and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.
Dominica – Morne Trois Pitons National Park
Photo Credit – Evergreen
Perhaps the most dramatic mountains in all of the Caribbean islands are found on this quiet isle. The Park, along with two Forest Reserves, are full of diverse rugged beauty making Dominica one of the most challenging Caribbean islands for hiking. The National Park combines lush tropical forests with barren volcanic features and is home to the 4,400 feet (1,342m) high volcano peak of the Trois (three) Pitons. The Park’s 27 square miles (70 sq. km) are dominated by a rugged mountain range filled with steep peaks and narrow canyons – Here you can find dozens of fumaroles and hot springs, a couple of freshwater lakes, a number of volcanoes as well as a lake with water so hot, it boils!
While the Park contains the massive pitons and Dominica’s largest lakes, Boeri Lake and Freshwater Lake, perhaps the most impressive and interesting areas lie further south-east. Here you will find the aptly named Valley of Desolation, an unworldly barren rocky valley of volcanic activities including hot springs, fumaroles and bubbling mud holes. Of course there’s also Boiling Lake, a waterfall fed flooded fumarole whose water is a constant rolling boil.
For more information on the Nature Island of the Caribbean, check out our Dominica Active Vacations page
Jamaica – Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park
Photo Credit – R Miller
The Park is home to one of the Caribbean’s largest mountain ranges and the highest peaks in Jamaica. It’s tallest, Blue Mountain Peak stands 7,402 feet (2,256 m) above sea level. While driving the roads in the area are an adventure unto themselves, this is one of the best areas in the Caribbean for hiking and mountain biking. This massive Park covers 100 square miles (260 sq. km) of heavily forested mountainous landscape. The elevation variations in the Blue and John Crow Mountains provide a diverse natural system consisting of tropical montane rain-forest, a unique mor-ridge forest as well as an elfin forest.
The Park contains one of the richest bio-diverse areas found in all of the Caribbean islands, with an exceptionally high proportion of endemic plant and animal species – Indicating that Jamaica evolved somewhat separately from other islands. Plants include rare lichens, mosses and a variety of flowering plants. Home to several species of amphibian, bird and mammals, the Park is a protected area for the conservation of a number of globally endangered frog and bird species.
For more information on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, including the wide variety of adventures and tourist attractions to enjoy, click on our Jamaica Active Vacations page
Honduras – Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve
The tropical reserve protects some of the most diverse plant and wildlife in Central America, as well as being home to more than 2,000 indigenous people who are managing to preserve their traditional way of life. Bordered by the Caribbean sea on the north, the mountainous Reserve is part of a conservation complex which includes another Reserve as well as a National Park. The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve contains rain-forests, wetlands, Savannah as well as coastal lagoons. Home to over 500 plant species and more than 400 types of birds, 200 types of mammals, as well as over 100 reptiles, amphibians and fish. Of note is the critically endangered Mexican Spider Monkey, the endangered Central American Tapir and Great Green Macaw, the vulnerable Giant Anteater, West Indian Manatee and pheasant like Great Curassow, as well as the near-threatened Jaguar, boar like White-lipped Peccary and Guiana Crested Eagle and Harpy Eagle. A number of ancient sites, some with petroglyphs can also be found in the area.
Cuba – Desembarco del Granma National Park
Found at the south-west tip of the Caribbean island, this remote and quiet Park covers approximately 124 square miles (320 sq. km), including more than 23 square miles (60 sq. km) of marine territory. The land in the Park is an excellent example of ongoing geological processes, featuring a dramatic karst landscape filled with sinkholes, caves and canyons. The magnificent coastal cliffs provide beautiful natural views as well – From the land and the sea!
Mexico – Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
Photo Credit – Vincent-Ko-Hon-Chiu
Located on the Yucatán peninsula, bordering the Caribbean Sea, the massive Reserve, translated from Mayan as the ‘Origin of the Sky’, covers over 1,540 square miles (4,000 sq. km) of land, including 75 miles (120km) of coastline along with a large number of mangroves. The Reserve contains tropical forests, palm Savannah along with well preserved wetlands filled with mangroves, marshes, lagoons and sand beaches. There’s a large marine area in the park as well. The Reserve is home to over 300 species of birds, hundreds of types of fish, along with amazing and rare wild cats such as Jaguar, Puma and Ocelot as well as the Central American Tapir. Of special geological interest in this Biosphere is the hundreds of ‘petenes’ or small islands, that appear/disappear in the marsh lands as is the ‘cenotes’ or karst sinkholes, found further inland.
Saint Lucia – Pitons Management Area
Photo Credit – Marc Patry
Perhaps the most iconic image in all of the Caribbean islands, St. Lucia’s Pitons rise sharply from the sea, making for fantastic photo-ops as well as hiking. Covering almost 12 square miles (30 sq. km), the area encompasses the Piton Mitan ridge with it’s two volcanic spires, hot springs and fumeroles, including the renowned Sulpher Springs, along with a marine area approximately 7 miles (11km) long and just under a mile (1km) off shore – This marine area is full of coral reefs and steep underwater walls – Like a subterranean extension of the Pitons themselves. At 2,526 feet (770m) and 2,438 feet (743m) high, the Pitons are an imposing home to tropical forests and dry forests as well as elfin woodlands at higher elevations. The area is home to over 100 hundred plant species – including eight rare species of trees, 27 types of birds along with small mammals (including bats), as well as a number of reptiles and amphibians. Off the coast of St. Lucia, the sea contains over 100 species of fish, along with an assortment of corals and sponges. Ancient Petroglyphs have also been found in the area.
For more information on the beautiful island of St. Lucia, including a long list of things to do on the island, check out our St. Lucia Active Vacations page
