The Authentic Caribbean
An Outdoor Adventurer’s Paradise for Biking, Camping, or Hiking
By Linda Armstrong
Most of the hordes of travelers who flock to Caribbean resorts every year are drawn to the luxurious hotels, five-star meals, swim-up bars, and umbrella-adorned, tropical drinks. Fortunately, however, the Caribbean offers far more than these tropical clones of stateside resorts.
The authentic Caribbean is an adventurer’s paradise of pristine water and beaches, abundant wildlife and vegetation, and terrain ranging from mountainous rain forests to lunar-like deserts. You have your choice of mountain biking, camping, or hiking.
Mountain Biking
While steep, unpaved roads with hairpin curves are a driver’s nemesis, they’re a mountain biker’s dream: Tropical delights and interesting people are around nearly every bend.
Anguilla. With its rolling terrain and breathtaking beaches, Anguilla is the perfect location for a biking and beach adventure. Everything from bike rental and delivery to maps and advice is available through Multiscenic Tours, (809) 497-5810. For a mere $10 a day, you can independently traverse the rugged trails of the island’s interior.
Take the new dirt road through Brimegin toward Shoal Bay, the most popular beach on the island, and you’re off on a wonderful bike/ beach day trip. Or bike down the paved road to White Hill. Then catch the dirt trail through Junk’s Hole and you’ll find yourself at the semi-secluded Captain’s Bay. Or try Little Bay: Bike to the hospital, locate the dirt trail behind it, and you’re off to this beautiful, cliff-side beach, which you descend to on a rope.
Jamaica. The Blue Mountains are home to coffee plantations, winding roads amid lush rainforest, and the culture-filled downhill ride of your life.
Former New Orleans natives Becky and Paul LeMoine operate a one-day tour through Blue Mountain Tours in Ochos Rios, (809) 974-7075. For $80 you get a pink bike, transportation, a Cajun/Jamaican lunch, and a guided glide from 5,000 feet up in the Blue Mountains.
In addition to commenting on local flora and fauna, whistle-toting local guides located at the front and rear of the group alert riders to the occasional approaching vehicle. After a song-filled stop at the Cascade Primary and Junior High School, your descent is complete.
Camping
St. John. Covering nearly one-half of the island of St. John, the Virgin Islands National Park offers a campground and beach. Equipment rentals include everything from windsurf boards to sea kayaks. In addition, trails lead directly from the campground to the park’s interior.
Accommodations range from bare sites to tents and cottages. The $20 per night bare sites include a table and grill. The $52-$80 per night tents include table, grill, propane stove, cots, lantern, cooler, cooking/eating utensils, and bedding. Cottages range in cost from $70-$120 per night.
Hiking
Jamaica. The Blue Mountains provide steep, well-marked trails through the misty rainforest. One semi-challenging hike takes you to Blue Mountain Peak (7,402 feet). Starting from Kingston, use a 4x4 to travel to the Wildflower Lodge (4,500 feet). Catch the well-marked trail at the lodge, and you’re on your way to the top.
The Gordon Town Trail and the Fairy Glade Trail are best seen with a local guide. The challenging Fairy Glade offers tree roots for ladders to traverse the dense ginger. For guided hiking contact: Wildflower Lodge, (809) 929-5394, or Valley Hikes, (809) 993-2543.
Grenada. Grenada’s unique terrain, offering tame national parks as well as wild jungles, is another hiker’s dream. For independent hiking, your best bet is Grand Etang National Park. Another option is an all-day hike up Mount Qua Qua or a two-hour roundtrip hike to Seven Sisters Falls. For adventures into the interior, hire a local guide through one of the following: Arnold’s Tours, (809) 440-0531; Henry’s Safari Tours, (809) 444-5313; or Telfor Bedeau, (809) 442-6200.
Puerto Rico. Trails ranging from well-marked nature hikes to challenging six-mile inclines fill the Caribbean National Forest, the only rainforest within the U.S. National Forest System. Also known as El Yunque, this 28,000-acre park is only an hour from San Juan. For guided tours outside the park contact: Encantos Ecotours, (800) 272-7241, or Tropix Wellness Tours, (809) 268-2173.
Contact Information
Virgin Islands National Park, 6310 Estate Nazareth, St. Thomas, VI 00802. Visitor’s center: (340) 776-6201; headquarters: (340) 775-6238; www.nps.gov/viis.
Cinnamon Bay Campground, P.O. Box 720, Cruz Bay, St. John, VI 00831-0720; (340) 776-6330, (340) 776-6458.
El Yunque Ranger District, P.O. Box B, Palmer, PR 00721; (809) 887-2875.
El Yunque Trail is the main trail leading from the visitor’s center to the Yunque Peak. Allow approximately two to three hours roundtrip. Bano de Oro and Mt. Britton branch off from this main trail. Los Picachos, a three-and-a-half mile trek, is the longest route to the peak.
Grenada Self-Drive Jeep Tours, www.grenadajeeptours.com, offers a number of Jeep and bicycle tours throughout Grenada. One adventurous option is a self-drive Jeep tour through the rainforest.
World of Adventure Vacations (800-900-7657; www.worldofadventure.com). Serving the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, this company offers diving/snorkeling, fishing, hiking/backpacking, and kayaking.
Serendipity Adventures-Costa Rica, P.O. Box 2325, Ann Arbor, MI 48106; (800) 635-2425; www.serendipityadventures.com, costarica@serendipityadventures.com. Catering to self-formed groups and honeymoon couples, their wide range of activities include whitewater rafting, jungle excursions, hot-air ballooning, bicycling, climbing, hiking, diving, kayaking, fishing, and horseback riding.
Close Encounters, P.O. Box 1320, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502; (888) 875-1822; belizejq@tekstar.com, www.travelsource.com/close-encounters. Catering to individuals, groups, and honeymooners, this tour company specializes in reef, rainforest, and ruins adventures in Belize.
Ocean Connection, 211 E. Parkwood, Suite 108, Friendwood, TX 77546-5133; (800) 395-5332. Ocean Connections offers customized adventures in Belize with everything from diving and fishing to Mayan ruins and rainforests.
Cutting Loose Fishing Expeditions, P.O. Box 447, Winter Park, FL 32790; (407) 629-4700; ucutloos@aol.com. Cutting Loose offers fresh and salt-water fishing in the Bahamas/Virgin Islands and Central/South America.
Roatan Charter Inc., P.O. Box 877, San Antonio, FL 33576-0877; (800) 282-8932; www.roatan.com, info@roatan.com. This company offers Honduras adventures including Mayan ruins, river rafting, and jungle exploration.
LINDA ARMSTRONG a former tour director in Jamaica, writes a travel column for Suite 101.
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