Topside Adventures

During my afternoons, I visited Morne Trois National Park, a huge reserve near Rouseau with volcanic mountains, cloud forests, freshwater lakes, and geothermal features like the famous Boiling Lake (roughly a six-hour hike for folks in good condition and well worth the effort). I followed guides through spectacular jungle with rare plants, medicinal herbs, parrots, waterfalls, and swimming holes. There are other reserves, as well as a Carib Indian village.

A trip to the Papillote Gardens and Wilderness Retreat wasn’t worth $240 for a van ride, even with stops at the botanical gardens in Rouseau and Trafalgar Falls. Still, the manicured compound captivated me with flowers, exotic birds, and plunge pools, but the food stunk.

You can rent a car, but the the roads are narrow, twisting and largely without shoulders. Local drivers are a little too fearless for my comfort. But, you can arrange drivers and tours; often you can join others from your hotel to reduce the tariff.