The most beautiful natural sites to discover North Caribbean

Without question one of the most beautiful hikes on the island. It is not difficult, over 2.8 kilometers with an average difference in altitude of 170 meters. Discover rich fauna and flora, historical vestiges… Not to mention the river that you will cross in some places. And the best for the end: a breathtaking waterfall of more than 120 meters high, forming a fine curtain sliding along the rocks and the vegetation. Its access is forbidden in rainy weather because of the river, which makes its fords too dangerous. Count 1h30 in total.

From Saint-Pierre, it is reachable by a tunnel, discovering steep ocher cliffs pierced by the cannonballs of English ships in the 19^th century, who thought they were attacking Saint-Pierre. It is here, on this black sand beach, that Gauguin resided from June to October 1887. Few people know it, but this beach is home to beautiful wrecks that are easily accessible because they lie close to the shore in shallow water. Yellow buoys mark them. We get back by going along the sea again, admiring the flight of the pelicans.

The tree is one of the rare survivors of the 1902 eruption. Rooted for more than two centuries, the cheese tree of Saint-Pierre stands majestically at the edge of the departmental road that goes to Fonds-Saint-Denis. Completely burned by the cloud of fire, only a piece of charred trunk remains, but 50 years after the catastrophe, buds, and leaves appear on the burned trunk. Aimé Césaire was fascinated by the destiny of this tree, which he often came to see.

The Beauregard Canal is a 2-hour walk along an irrigation path built in the 18th century by Mr. Beauregard, also known as the "Canal des Esclaves". At the time, hundreds of slaves transported the heavy stones used to build the irrigation canal to bring the water from the forest to the Caribbean coast. The hike, surrounded by majestic cheese makers, follows the canal, starts at the place called Maison Rousse and returns by the same path. Sometimes we even walk on the low wall, between the water and the void.