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**This article is the second in a two-part series covering adventure travel in the Caribbean. The first article, covering mountain biking and camping, was published December 25.
The authentic Caribbean is an adventurer's paradise just waiting to be discovered and explored. With pristine water and beaches, abundant wildlife and vegetation, and terrain ranging from mountainous rain forests to lunar-like deserts, the Caribbean provides the adventurer with endless possibilities. Hiking the Caribbean Exploring the Caribbean by foot puts you a step above other travelers when it comes to experiencing the authentic Caribbean. Jamaica The misty rainforest and steep, well-marked trails of the Blue Mountains provide the perfect environment for hiking. One semi-challenging hike takes you to the top of Blue Mountain Peak (7,402). Starting from Kingston, use a 4x4 to travel to the Wildflower Lodge at 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. Gordon Town is complete with waterfalls, gardens, and lovely local people. The challenging Fairy Glade offers tree roots for ladders to traverse the dense ginger. Contact the following companies for guided hiking. Wildflower Lodge (809) 929-5394 Valley Hikes (809) 993-2543 Grenada Grenada's unique terrain, offering both tame national parks as well as wild jungles, is another hikers' dream. For independent hiking, your best bet is Grand Etang National Park, where various trails pass countless waterfalls. Another option is an all-day hike up Mount Qua Qua or a 2-hour round-trip hike to Seven Sisters Falls. For adventures into the interior, you're better off hiring a guide from one of the following: Arnold's Tours (809) 440-0531 Henry's Safari Tours (809) 444-5313 Telfor Bedeau (809) 442-6200 Puerto Rico Trails ranging from well-marked nature hikes to challenging 6-mile inclines fill the Caribbean National Forest, the only rain forest within the US National Forest System. Also known as El Yunque, this hikers' dream is only one hour from San Juan. Choose from the following trails in the 28,000-acre park 1 - Big Tree - This one-mile trek through the rainforest and past La Mina Falls is the park's most popular. 2 - La Mina - An extension of Big Tree, this trail proceeds past the first falls to an even larger falls and an old gold mine. 3,4,5 - El Yunque Peak / Bano de Oro / Mt. Britton - The El Yunque Trail is the main trail leading from the visitor's center to the peak. Allow approximately 2-3 hours round-trip. Bano de Oro and Mt. Britton branch off from this main trail. |
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