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Caribbean TrailMix
By : Chanize Thorpe
There's more to the Caribbean than beach-bumming. Head inland for fascinating treks into these islands' natural network of paths.
Dominica
The "Nature Island" has more than 300 trails for all ages and fitness levels. Serious climbers scale 2,500 feet to Boiling Lake, the second-largest of its kind in the world. The three-hour (each way) journey to this site in Morne Trois Pitons National Park requires a guide. Nerves about traversing through sulfur springs and active geysers are quelled by the stunning lake whose temperature is over 180 F. Those who like a little mystery with their meanderings will enjoy a hike to the aptly named "Stinking Hole," a bat-filled lava tube cave named for the unpleasant smell of the creatures' droppings.
experiencescaribbean.com
Nevis
While there are easy self-guided trails in Nevis, hiring a botanical expert is money well spent. The reason? Bush medicine is alive and well in these parts, and a tramp through a heavily forested region is sure to bring up a bounty of tales on the healing powers of the island's indigenous plants. There's also the arduous yet fulfilling adventure of schlepping to the "Water Source," an old pipelined reserve high in the hills that's still used to hydrate much of the land. The two-hour adventure is part stroll—ambling past frolicking vervet monkeys, indifferent donkeys and busy goats—and part exhilarating climb that ends in a jaw-dropping panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea.
nevisnaturetours.com
Tobago
This tiny island was ecosavvy before it was trendy, so exploring Mother Nature's playground is a national pastime. A favorite is the moderately challenging walk through the Main Ridge. Protected since the 1760s, the first and oldest reserve in the Western Hemisphere is home to 6,000 species of plants and flowers that thrive among the waterfalls and jungle-like foliage, as well as more than 200 species of birds, making it a birdwatcher's dream.
harris-jungle-tours.com
St. Lucia
Major trail tours are coordinated by St. Lucia's Forestry Department and National Trust. The Des Cartiers Rainforest Trail—a 2.5-mile, 1,800-foot-high loop that meanders through the canopied Quilesse Forest Reserve—is an opportunity to glimpse the rare St. Lucia jacquot parrot, hummingbirds and frogs smaller than a fingernail. A visit to Pigeon Island National Park, a living museum, offers 44 acres of military ruins as you march to the top of the Fort and Signal Peak for unbeatable views of the coastline and the island's emerald peaks.
slunatrust.org; slumaffe.org
How To Get There: American Airlines and American Eagle provide service to the Caribbean.
Book your trip today! Visit www.aa.com, call American/American Eagle reservations at 1-800-433-7300, or call your travel agent for more information.
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