When it comes to planning your Caribbean adventure, you aren’t short of options. Home to 7,000 individual islands, the Caribbean has something for every type of traveler. Romantics, families, adventurers and beach bums all have a place in the region, but what if you want to match your trip to the Caribbean with hiking? Well, you’re in luck.
Synonymous with relaxation, and for good reason, the Caribbean reward travellers who are willing to swap their sun lounger and rum punch for a few days of exploration.
Beyond the famous white sand beaches, trails through dense rainforest and tropical-covered hills expose a side to the Caribbean that you never knew existed. Glittering waterfalls, towering views and an abundance of rare wildlife are all on the menu, so what are you waiting for?
In this post, we look into the best islands to visit on your next Caribbean hiking holiday.
Cayman Islands Hiking Trails
There are several hiking trails for visitors to complete in the Cayman Islands, but the one that draws in the crowds (and for good reason) is the Mastic Trail.
Named after the mastic trees that once covered Grand Cayman, the Mastic Trail is a flat, beginners 2.3 miles (one-way) hike through swampy mangroves, two million-year-old woodland, and grassy fields.
Managed by the National Trust, the trail gives visitors a chance to see the largest tract of untouched old-growth forest remaining on Grand Cayman. The trail takes hikers through the island’s most rare plant life and there is the possibility of spotting some wildlife including bananaquit birds, snakes, tree frogs, and hermit crabs.
St Lucia Hiking Trails
St Lucia has long been a popular choice for honeymooners, but the mountainous island has plenty of hiking opportunities to satisfy those more adventurous, too. The Pitons, two famous side-by-side mountains that dominate St Lucia, are the priority calling point for most. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and believed to be the most photographed site in the Caribbean, the challenge of ascending one of the towering mountains is often too big to resist for hikers.
Gros Piton and Petit Piton stand at 771m and 743m respectively, with Gros Piton the easiest to climb of the two (thanks to a gentler slope). The still tricky climb results in one in five, not making it to the peak.
Those successful are met with the ultimate vantage point with far-reaching views over the island and its neighbors – enough to put the aching muscles to the back of your mind!
St Vincent Hiking Trails
Whether you’re looking for a short or more demanding hike, St Vincent has plenty of options (and luxury villas!). Waterfalls, including the picturesque Trinity Falls, are easily accessible by a short hike and then there are the winding forest hikes such as the Vermont and Cumberland Nature Trails.
For many, though, a hiking trip to St Vincent isn’t complete without reaching the summit of the La Soufriere volcano. The active volcano has erupted numerous times, most recently in 1979 – adding a certain edge to the hike.
The two-hour ascent will take you through banana plantations, cloud forest, and along volcanic ridgelines. At the top, hikers are greeted with an unforgettable view of the crater and active lava dome.
With all that hiking planned, you’ll need somewhere relaxing to put up your feet at night. Browse hundreds of Caribbean luxury holiday villas for rent today!
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