Caribbean Adventure Holiday

Arrive St. Lucia. Check into hotel. Staying in a small hotel in the foothills on the Atlantic side, this is our base for visiting the north of the island.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning after a short drive to the Quilesse Forest Reserve, we will walk the famous Des Cartiers Rainforest trail, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the 30 species of birds, including the St Lucia Oriole, the St Lucia Black Finch and the rare St. Lucian Parrot (walk 2.5 miles). In the afternoon you may wish to visit the nearby botanical gardens (optional) or visit the nearby Laborie Bay or Sandy Bay (optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

St Lucia is much more than a collection of beach resorts. We aim to explore its rich collection of National Parks where rainforest and exotic flora and fauna abound.We will be visiting the old British fort in Pigeon Island National Park. Following this we will continue to our hotel in the Rodney Bay Village

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today's trip to Dominica may be by air or by a high speed Catamaran. The scenery as we approach is stunning and if you thought St Lucia was green, wait until you see this island! On arrival, we travel into the mountains by bus to the small village of Laudat, lying at 2000ft on the flanks of the mountains. The views from here down to the coast and up to the peaks are excellent.On arrival you may wish to relax on the verandah, stroll around the village or take a swim in nearby Titou Gorge (Depending on arrival time).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Designated a UNESCO world heritage site, this park covers 17,000 acres and is home to dense primary rainforest. We have a full free day to make further explorations – the tough 8 hour hike to the Boiling Lake is the most remarkable. Alternatively take the gentler walk beyond Freshwater Lake located in a collapsed volcano and up to Boeri Lake for views down to the Atlantic Coast. An undulating trail with impressive views leads around the lake and there is also the opportunity to kayak on the scenic lake itself.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we will visit Middleham Falls (3 hours walk). The path clings to the hillside and takes you deep into the forest past the majestic Chataignier trees with their huge buttressed roots and where hummingbirds abound. After lunch we return back down to the Caribbean coast, and the atmospheric capital of Roseau. A truly Caribbean town with colourful buildings and people. The small museum is worth a short visit and tells us about the Carib Indians, the original inhabitants of Dominica, 3000 or whom still live on the island. These people travelled from North America to South America and finally settled in the Caribbean. Dominica is the only island where they have their own territory on the Atlantic coast.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Roseau is the tiny capital with many wooden balconied buildings and easily manageable on foot. Dominica was originally French – this is evident in the everyday language of most of the people – Creole – a French based patois interspersed with English and words of African origin. Dominica is an independent state (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) and is known as ‘Nature’s island’. Due to its lack of a significant international airport, this is one of the least visited of the Windward Islands – but probably the most interesting and beautiful. Not only is it rich in fauna and Flora, but it has some intriguing historical sites. Our time here is free but the options are wide. Bird-spotters may be rewarded with a sighting of the Rare Sisserou and Jacquot parrot in the Northern Forest Reserve which includes a visit to the Cabrits National Park, home to an excellent 18thC fort. Scuba divers can experience ‘champagne’, an underwater sulphur vent which creates thousands of bubbles.

Overnight Standard Hotel

We cross the Straits of Dominica and run parallel to the spine of Martinique, passing the fort that guards the harbour of Fort-de- France. Martinique is a department of France, and is quite a contrast – French and the Euro replaces English and the East Caribbean Dollar. Famed as the early home of Napoleon’s wife Josephine, home to Gaugin and one of the first ever distillers of rum. A historical quirk is that France dropped their claims over the whole of Canada in return for sovereignty over sugar-cane rich Martinique. Upon arrival we will transfer to Anse Mitan our overnight for the next three nights.

Overnight Simple Hotel

During our 2 day stay in Martinique, we include on our first day a trip to the town of Saint Anne, a pleasant seaside town from where we begin our walk along the beach and through shady woodland to reach the white sands framed by palm trees, blue skies and turquoise water. On our second day for those interested in history, a visit to the ruins of Saint Pierre is a must (optional). Dominated by the active volcano of Mount Pelee, little can be deduced of its deadly history – in 1902 this volcano killed 30,000 people when it last erupted and the dust cloud could be seen from Dominica.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Boarding the Catamaran for the last time we speed across the waves and make for St. Lucia again. Once we’re through the bustling port of Castries, we head for our final destination, Soufriere. This journey traverses the mountainous isle of St Lucia – first we drive through the banana plantations on the plains, before taking a roller coaster winding road through lush tropical rainforest into this small fishing community, framed by the peaks of the two Pitons – the ideal end to our island hopping trip.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The French architecture of Soufriere and its Catholic church reflects the island’s history – St Lucia alternated between French and British control over 13 times! This laid back town is graced by old clapperboard buildings and its setting. Dominated by the forest clad volcanic cone of Petit Piton rearing a sheer 2450 out of the sea, is one of the most dramatic in the Caribbean. After an included walk this morning at Tet Pau from where we get spectacular views of the island, in the afternoon we are free to relax. We recommend a visit to Anse Chastanet, famous for some of St Lucia’s finest off-beach snorkelling – a 40 minute walk away, or a short water taxi journey. It is also possible to hire scuba equipment (certification required).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast