Hiking in St. Lucia

Hiking

The island is laced with trails, but you shouldn't attempt the more challenging ones on your own. Seasoned hikers may aspire to climb the Pitons, the two volcanic cones rising 2,460 feet and 2,619 feet, respectively, from the ocean floor just south of Soufrière. Hiking is recommended only on Gros Piton, which offers a steep but safe trail to the top. Tourists are permitted to hike Petit Piton, but the second half of the hike requires a good deal of rock climbing, and you'll need to provide your own safety equipment. Hiking the Pitons requires the permission of the St. Lucia Forest and Lands Department and a knowledgeable guide from the Pitons Tour Guide Association (758/459-9748). The St. Lucia Forest & Lands Department (758/450-2231 or 758/450-2078) manages trails throughout the rain forest and provides guides who explain the plants and trees you'll encounter and keep you on the right track for a small fee. The St. Lucia National Trust (758/452-5005. www.slunatrust.org) maintains two trails: one is at Anse La Liberté, near Canaries on the Caribbean coast; the other is on the Atlantic coast, from Mandélé Point to the Frégate Islands Nature Reserve. Full-day excursions with lunch cost about $50 to $85 per person and can be arranged through hotels or tour operators.