Understandably, most Caribbean getaways involve plenty of sunning, swimming and snorkeling. But some who travel to a laid-back island paradise crave a more active vacation, where they can explore the natural landscape on foot. What better way to intimately connect with the land?
Though many Caribbean islands are sliced by trails that easily appeal to thrill seekers who don’t mind scrambling over boulders or grabbing onto exposed roots and vines along steep inclines, other people prefer a more low-key adventure. Trekking along each of the following trio of Caribbean hiking trails will wrap you in scenic treasures, offering unforgettable sights and experiences.
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Book NowWindsor Forest, St. Croix
This 700-acre forest is threaded with well-marked trails, many taking the name of songs composed by Bob Marley (i.e. “One Love” and “No Woman No Cry”). Combining a hike on two of the paths, the Upper and Lower Spur trails, offers a good introduction to the forest along a sun-drenched loop that takes about an hour. Interpretive signage provides details on local history, plants, geology and culture. For example, you’ll learn that the spiny patches of the wild pineapple can shelter grasshoppers, while the fruit of the fiddlewood can be used to make wine. Even though this is a mostly level hike, handcrafted wooden tables, benches and even an armchair are welcome spots for a peaceful respite. As you meander about, you’ll notice Blue Mountain – the island’s second highest peak – in the distance and a watering hole used by animals, including white-tailed deer, whose tracks may be apparent.
Coco Hill Forest, Barbados
An abundance of fruit trees, medicinal plants and herbs grow in this sun-dappled, 66-acre forest, which includes a network of loop trails, many requiring climbing up and down a series of steps. Mahmood Patel, the owner and a Barbados native, desiring to create a sustainable ecosystem, preserve biodiversity, prevent soil erosion and build a food forest, planted numerous specimens that once populated this acreage before the sugar cane plantations dominated the landscape.
On your wanderings, you’ll likely spot date and coconut palms, as well as tamarind and mamey apple trees, to name just a few of the many plants. An observation area along the Agro-Forestry Trail provides stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, while tall tree ferns dating back to the pre-colonial period stand along the Green Therapy Trail.
Lagadishi Walking Trail, Bonaire
Meandering through the expansive Washington Slagbaai National Park, this wind-swept, 2-plus-mile loop trail takes hikers through an arid, sun-drenched land peppered with prickly pear, Turk’s cap, Peruvian apple and other types of cacti. Though this route is short and flat, it can take up to two hours because of the heat and lengthy sections across uneven sharp coral rocks. (Bring walking poles, water and a hat.) Bird watchers will delight in spotting numerous species, such as yellow-shouldered parrots, bananaquits and common ground doves. Flamboyances of flamingos often gather in a salt lake rimmed by mangroves. An especially stunning section leads to a blowhole of ocean water and a powdery sand beach, backed by tall dunes, where green sea turtles nest from May to October. And, given that the word “lagadishi” translates from Papiamento to “lizard,” don’t be surprised by the array of these reptiles along the trail, including iguanas and the blue-tinged Bonaire whiptail.
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