With its rain forests growing on the slopes of La Soufriere, St. Vincent has a number of appealing options for travelers who want to hike through the island’s pristine interior. La Soufriere, which rises to a height of more than 4,000 feet about sea level, is one of the most spectacular peaks in the Caribbean. There are two different routes to the summit—Leeward and Windward trails. (The Windward Trail is the more popular of the two, the Leeward one is a little longer and less defined.) You’ll ascend through lowland forest before reaching a tropical rain forest where tree ferns, bromeliads, and lianas thrive in the moist soil shaded by a canopy of tall trees. Bird-watchers will want to head to the Vermont Nature Trail, located nine miles from Kingstown at the Buccament Valley. As you explore the tropical rain forest there is a chance of seeing (or hearing) the St. Vincent parrot—Amazona Guildingii—and the whistling warbler, both unique to St. Vincent. The area is also a habitat for the black hawk, cocoa thrush, the crested hummingbird, redcapped green tanager, green heron, and a number of other colorful bird species.
