A walking holiday in the Caribbean is more than just blue seas, white sandy beaches and palm trees. Think endemic birds, lush rainforest, stunning coastal walks, Creole cooking experience, rum distillery, fort and cathedral, visit to a lighthouse and botanical gardens. This holiday offers so much diversity, accentuated by three very different islands and local guides to bring out the flavours.
We begin our exploration on St Lucia which is quite simply a beautiful island. Coastal walks, botanical gardens and exotic beaches are all waiting to be discovered. The island is a fusion of French, British and African traditions - an intriguing mix!
Taking a short ferry ride, we head to the French-Caribbean island of Martinique, where Napoleon’s Empress Josephine was born. We’ll discover Fort de France, enjoy a walk that takes us from the Atlantic to the Caribbean coast, through a rainforest, and time for a swim. On La Caravelle Peninsula a short climb to the old Lighthouse affords us panoramic views of the island.
On to Dominica, a spectacular wild, green island of rugged mountains, lush rainforests, rushing rivers, and sparkling waterfalls. A short hike through the lush vegetation of the Trois Pitons National Park, the first park in the Caribbean designated a UNESCO heritage site, takes us to the waterfall grotto of the Emerald Pool. Relatively untouched by tourism, this is certainly an island for nature lovers. It offers a wide variety of hikes, some following routes developed by the Kalinago (Carib) population, long before Columbus arrived. Take the opportunity to relax in a sulphur spa and enjoy a boat trip.
For our final stop, we return to St Lucia for one last night in familiar surroundings. On our final day we travel to the south of the island to Balenbouche Estate for a tour and afternoon tea; a civilised end to a fantastic two weeks. What more could we possibly want from the ideal walking holiday?