BARRE DE L’ISLE RAINFOREST TRAIL, GRAND RIVIERE, ST. LUCIA

BARRE DE L’ISLE RAINFOREST TRAIL, GRAND RIVIERE, ST. LUCIA

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY, AVERAGE from 1 to 5: 2



DESCRIPTION:

The Barre de L’Isle Forest Reserve, translated as “island ridge”, is located halfway between Dennery and Castries. It is a ridge dividing the eastern and western halves of St. Lucia. The trail offers a casual morning or afternoon nature hike that is very well maintained by the forestry department. There is a hut located directly across from the signposted start. There is a charge of EC$25 per person, which can be reduced to EC$5 if you play the volunteer card.




The 1-mile trail has 28 labeled stops for flora, as described in the map provided from the ranger station. You will see tree ferns, bamboo, and a wide variety of palms, and will walk through the base of a strangler fig tree. The hike requires less than one hour each way, with another hour to climb the short but moderate ascent up Mt. La Combe. At 1437 ft. above sea level you can see all of Mabouya Valley to the east and Cul-de-Sac valley and the Caribbean Sea to the west.

The St. Lucia Forestry Department states that no one is allowed on these trails without the expressed permission from the Forest and Lands Department.
For more information call the Forestry Department at telephone 758-450-2231/2078 (http://www.slumaffe.org/Forestry_Department/Rainforest_Trails/rainforest_trails.html)

PEACE CORPS PROCEDURE:
-ALWAYS travel with at least one partner, preferably two.
-Call your APCD to inform them of your hike, and again upon
returning safely to the bottom.




TESTIMONIALS:

JESSICA WUBBENHORST, EC77
A great hike that’s not too strenuous. It takes about 2 hours to walk both ways. It has some great viewpoints and you get a great view of the rain
forest.  It’s not too expensive and is easy to get to by bus.




SAM SHOPINSKI, EC77
Easy hike that anyone can trek with some extra time on the way to/from
Castries. The trail is very well manicured and well visited by tourists.
The view from Mt. La Combe offers a decent panorama especially to the east coast.