st lucia hiking

St Lucia Hiking Trails

St Lucia hiking is one of the best things to do on the island. The Tet Paul Nature Trail, just 30 minutes from Balenbouche, is one of our favorite st lucia attractions. The walk itself is an easy 40 minutes with magnificent views of the Pitons and the South of the island.

The Gros Piton and Petit Piton trails must be done with an official guide and cost US$ 55 per person. Both are around 4-5 hours round trip with stops. Petit Piton is a bit more challenging because there are some very steep areas where you have to hang onto ropes or trees. The Gros Piton has a trail with steps almost all the way. You will feel your legs the next day if you’re not someone who exercises daily. Both are well worth the trip! Contact the Tourguide Association directly: grospitontours@candw.lc, Tel: 1(758) 459-9748 or 459-9748 or 489-0136

There are great views all throughout the island, but if you’re staying in the south, check out the Moule a Chique View point & Lighthouse in Vieux Fort and the Morne le Blanc View point in Laborie.

The St Lucia Forestry Department manages the following St Lucia hiking trails which form part of the 18,000 acre protected area in the interior of the island. To enter the st lucia rainforest, it is mandatory to go with an official forestry guide. For more information, please contact the St Lucia Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit or arrange a tour through your hotel or guesthouse.

Descartiers Rainforest (moderate) RECOMMENDED BY BALENBOUCHE
Experience St Lucia’s most hidden rainforest. Drive six miles inland from the east coast main highway through a secondary road to access this 2-kilometer trail.

Edmund Forest Reserve (moderate to challenging) 4 WHEEL DRIVE REQUIRED
This 3½-hour hike will take you through the heart of the island into Edmund Forest Reserve on the west side of the island. Continue west for a magnificent view of Mt Gimie, St Lucia’s highest peak.

Enbas Saut (moderate to challenging) 4 WHEEL DRIVE REQUIRED
The Enbas Saut Falls trail is a remote 4km cut st lucia hinking trail six miles East of Soufriere at the foot of Mount Gimie, offering a combination of Rainforest, Cloud Forest, Elfin Woodlands and wildlife. The trail is famous for its two cascading waterfalls and pools at the head of the Troumasse River.

Union Nature Trail (easy)
An ideal hike for visitors looking to experience some of the enchanting wildlife and flora of st lucia without a long hike or drive. The site near the Forestry headquarters in Castries offers an interpretation centre, medicinal herb garden and mini-zoo with indigenous and exoic animals such as the agouti, iguana, boa, and st. lucian parrot.

Forestierre Trail (moderate to strenuous)
This st lucia hiking trail is only thirty (30) minutes drive from the city, Castries. It is part of the Old French Road, which traverses through mature pristine rainforest, abundant with large, spectacular fig trees, epiphytes, and ferns, from Forestierre to La Resource, Dennery.

Barre De L’isle Trail (moderate to strenuous)
The Barre de L’isle Forest Reserve divides the eastern and western halves of St Lucia. It takes approximately one hour to walk this one-mile st lucia hiking trail and another hour to climb Mr. La Combe ridge.

St Lucia Birds

St Lucia is home to 186 bird species. Around 23 bird species are typically found along st lucia hiking trails including three varieties of hummingbird, the Banana Quit, and the Pewee, a species of fly catcher endemic to the island.

St Lucia bird watching can be done through the Forestry Department or with individual tour companies like Wildlife ambassadors or Rainforest Adventures. There are also special st lucia birding vacations offered through various companies.

It is fairly rare to see the St Lucian parrot (Amazonas versicolor, nicknamed “Jacquot”) but you are likely to hear them or may catch a glimpse very early in the morning. The best place to see the parrot is on the Descartiers trail. Another good place for st lucia bird watching is the Millet trail and the La Sorciere eco park.

Read our article on st lucia animals to see what you might encounter on one of your hikes.

“Balenbouche is indeed a world within itself exuding a tranquil presence of warmth, hospitality and harmony.”
(Tropical Traveler)

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+ 1 (758) 455-1244
P.O. Box VF 707, LC12101, St Lucia

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