Caribbean Adventure Escapade

DETAILED ITINERARY

Friday

Featured in the October 2008 issue of

Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Friday – ARRIVE & TRANSFER TO CASCADIA
Arrive at Piarco International Airport and enjoy a short, 30 minute drive to The Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in Port of Spain

Cascadia
The Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre is a traditional businessman’s hotel that is changing in an effort to do its part in the fight against climate change by greening the hotel. It has also started to work with Courtenay Rooks and community based NGOs to build trails and a genuine eco adventure product.  The trails are built to standards set by the International Mountain Biking Association.

Saturday – WARM UP RIDE AND KAYAK:
Breakfast       Buffet at 8:00am
Depart            9:00am

Our official tour begins with a meet and greet of all the adventurers and a tour briefing at breakfast.  This morning we head west to Chaguaramas. Located on Trinidad's North Western Peninsula, it was leased to America during World War II, and became the site of a US Naval Base. It was then handed back to T&T after we gained Independence in 1962.  We start riding on paved country road meandering our way to the Cuesa River where a trail system was built by local mountain bikers over the last 5 years. These are Trinidad and Tobago's only trails dedicated strictly to mountain biking.  Currently there are over 10 miles of single track and the amount is growing.  The trails are built to be fun with no very technical sections, some fast swooping down hills and lots of "SWEEEET" built in. 

During it's stint as a naval base, Chaguaramas was used for guerilla warfare training in its forests, as a recreation site for officers on leave and many other uses. Your rides will be structured to pass some of the ruins left by this era, and you will have the opportunity to experience some of this very interesting history.

After about 3 hours of riding we head south east to the Caroni Swamp, where we have a local meal cooked at a friend’s home.  At about 3:30pm we put in our kayaks at the Guaima River (pronounced Why-ma) on the Southern edge of Caroni Swamp and your tour leader teaches the basics of paddling technique.  While paddling you may see Ospreys fishing, Caimans cruising, and the beautiful Wattled Jacana as it hops from lily to lily.  Our kayak trip starts on a wide river, but soon we turn to enter the depth of this amazing wetland and the channels narrow, eventually becoming just wide enough for the kayaks.  We will look for many more beautiful birds, such as the spectacular Scarlet Ibis, Snowy Egrets, several types of Herons, and Ducks.  If we are lucky we may see a Silky Anteater or Tree Boas.  With the setting sun, the boat stops as thousands of the exquisite Scarlet Ibis fly overhead to land in a clump of red mangrove trees to roost for the night.  A never to be forgotten spectacle! 

Mountain Bike Details
Country Road: 5 miles 
Single Track: 10 miles
Elevation increase: 500 feet
Elevation Loss: 500 feet
Duration:  3 hours
Difficulty Level  Easy
Physical Effort  Easy to Moderate

Kayak Details:
Duration:  3 Hours
Distance:   Approx 5 miles
Water Conditions:   Flat Water with some tidal currents
Kayaks:  Sit-on-top, Single, Double, Triple and Quad Kayaks
Difficulty Level  Easy
Physical Effort  Easy to Moderate

Drive:
35 Minutes on main roads to Chaguaramas
45 Minutes on Main roads and highway to Caroni
30 Minutes return.

Sunday – SMOKIN’ El TUCUCHE:
Breakfast       Buffet at 6:30am
Depart            7:00am

Today the adventure ramps up with a hike or mountain bike to the summit of El Tucuche, Trinidad’s second highest mountain.   Whether you ride or hike you will be using trails whose history is long and very interesting; having been used for thousands of years starting with Trinidad’s First Nationals who came into Trinidad from South America at least 7000 years ago.   They settled in villages and used these trails for farming, hunting and trading between themselves and communities much father a field.  When the Spanish colonized Trinidad they used the trails to bring supplies from the Spanish Armada on the north coast to St Joseph, Trinidad’s then capitol.  Later, the British and French used these trails for trading to get farming goods such as cocoa and coffee to the main towns, while Pirates used them to sack towns.  Since the trails were reopened by mountain bikers and community groups they have been used for hiking and mountain biking. 

Mountain Bike
Your mountain biking odyssey starts as you climb on very bumpy, muddy jeep track.  Soon it runs onto a narrow track or wide single track with a sharp drop on the right, which at times becomes a cliff.  It continues climbing slowly through farmland, then flattens somewhat and enters rainforest.  The rainforest closes over the rider ’s head in a sea of brown and green with splashes of red, yellow and blue.  The trail climbs to the rest house, which in the past provided a night’s rest for traders.  From here it is a beautifully tough and steady climb up El Tucuche’s Eastern face to the summit as the trail snakes its way through rain forests and woodlands.

Hike
The hike starts at an elevation of 1000 feet on an old bench trail that takes you to a pass in the mountain range, where we eventually leave the donkey trail.  At the turn off there is an old broken down shack where an old “Obeah Woman” used to reside after she was rejected by the villages.  She practiced her own brand of various religions.  She had a black iron cross that she stuck in the ground and claimed Christ would return to earth in all His glory there.  She often moved the cross.  The elevation is about 1800 feet here and there is just over half the upward journey to go.  As you enter pristine forest on the Eastern face of El Tucuche, its getting cooler and the birds are chattering all around you.  At 2000 feet the vegetation slowly changes to Montane Rainforest and tree trunks and branches become laden with mosses and ferns, and the slopes are steep and muddy. But with the cool, clean air and the beautiful scenery around it invigorates you.

As the first summit draws nearer, the forest changes to Elfin Woodland and the trees become shorter and more luxuriant.  It is usually quite wet up here, even when it is not raining, and it is quite often cloud covered.  The ground is so soggy it makes strange noises as you walk.  The first summit is at about 2800 feet and has a 1000-foot cliff to one side.  From a break in the vegetation the view is spectacular, when not cloud covered. 

The last push to the real El Tucuche summit is then made.  Slipping and sliding up the steep, muddy slope, you push on, your muscles yearning to reach the final destination as the Elfin Woodland gets shorter and shorter.  Finally, you emerge at the summit four hours after leaving base camp. Here the views are even more spectacular. Once the clouds clear, views of the Caroni Plains and swamp, the North Coast, and Northern Range can be seen. Even the Little Garden, where it all began can be seen.  Relaxation, lunch, and photography are the activities here.

At the summit the mountain biking and hiking parties join for a festive picnic.  Then the whole adventure is blessed in a smoke ceremony by your hiking guide Cristo Adonis, who is a Carib Shaman.  Then the party plunges back down the mountain using the mountain biking trail on the eastern face.  

Once we are all back at the vehicle, we head to a local’s home for an evening of local music, dancing and food.  The meal will be a combination of Caribbean/French/African/Spanish influences and the music will be all local Parang and Calypso. The dance will be what ever you wish.  For more info check http://www.tntisland.com/parang.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parang.  This is also a great opportunity to local rums. They seem to ad flavor to the music.

Mountain Bike Details
Jeep Trail: 2 miles
Single Track: 10 miles      
Elevation increase: 2500 feet
Elevation Loss: 2500 feet
Duration                 3 hours climb – 1 hour descent
Difficulty Level  Moderate
Physical Effort  Moderate to Difficult

Hike Details:
Duration:  3  to 4 Hours each way
Distance:  Approx 11 miles
Difficulty Level  Moderate
Physical Effort  Moderate to Difficult
Highest Elevation:  3072ft
Lowest Elevation:   1000ft

Drive: 1 Hour each way on highway, main roads and country roads

Monday – WATERFALL JUMP & GRANDE RIVIERE:
Breakfast       Buffet at 9:00am
Depart            10:00am

The day starts late, giving you the opportunity to rest weary muscles and to recover from the previous evening’s festivities.   After breakfast we head out to North East Trinidad, an area of spectacular and rugged beauty.  As we get further and further from built up areas the forest gets thicker, and eventually we reach the coast at Matura.  This we follow until we cross the Rio Seco River, then take a country road deep into the rainforest.  After a short drive, we disembark and prepare to hike, which is relatively easy and takes a little over and hour.  The trail can be quite muddy at times, which makes it fun, and passes through the unique and wondrous Mora Rain forest.  Here you will be introduced to the marvels of rainforests.  Our effort is rewarded when we arrive at the Rio Seco Waterfall a gorgeous thirty-foot Waterfall with a large deep pool at its base, perfect for a swim to refresh you.  This waterfall is our favorite as you can climb up the side of the waterfall and jump off the top into the large pools. It is amazing fun, and extremely refreshing.

After the swim, we hike back to the bus and drive to Grande Riviere where we check into Le Grande Almandier

Right on the beach is Le Grande Almandier; a new Guesthouse built by community members Cyril and Wendy James.  All of the rooms are colorfully decorated in Caribbean style with hammocks, and batik curtains hung on local vines, Wendy whose modesty belies her ability to decorate a room with exquisite Caribbean décor created it all.  There is also a restaurant and bar with a balcony on the property, to relax in a hammock sipping rum punch flavored with local fruits.  Jason, the chef, serves up wonderfully presented, mouth-watering local Creole dishes.  Here, fresh fish means it was caught about two hours before.  Wendy presents the desert; Le Grande Almandier Cheesecake topped with fresh almonds from the trees outside to restaurant.

Hike Details:             
Duration:   1 Hour each way
Distance:   Approx 3 miles
Difficulty Level  Easy
Physical Effort  Easy to Moderate

Drive:
1 ½ Hour to Hike
1 ¼ Hour to Grande Riviere

Once in Grande Riviere we hook up with a local CBO who has been conserving the world’s densest population of nesting leatherback turtles.  They are responsible for reducing beach slaughter of turtles from 60% to 0% - a fantastic achievement.  You join guides as they patrol the beach and assist them in recording information on these ancient dinosaurs.

Tuesday – RIDE, HIKE, KAYAK & TURTLES
Breakfast       A la Carte at 8:00am
Depart            9:00am
Bikes are mounted and we start with an easy ride along a country road that follows the rugged coast, of which we will have fantastic views.

Fully warmed up, we hit some grassy, wide single track, and meander through old cocoa estates. Climbs get the heart racing, but thankfully the steep ones are short.  The trees eventually tower in excess of 100 feet over our heads as we enter seasonal evergreen forests, and the sea breeze and chatter fade through the maze of flora. 
The climbs continue at an easier angle, as we maneuver between bamboos, round hair pins and hop over logs until we have to abandon the bikes.  The hike starts with a look at the amazing dance of a small bird called the White bearded Manakin, as the males compete for females.  The trail winds down to a very refreshing waterfall where a swim is a must; then we feed the resident crayfish in the pool, while having some sandwiches ourselves.

After the fun of the waterfall we start our return, and the fun monster really kicks in with a down hill that is both fast and technical.  Starting on the trail we climbed and ending on another steep more technical descent. 

Ride
2 Miles of road.
2 miles of single track

Hike
0.5 mile hike

Total Duration: 3 hrs (2 hours out and one hour back)

Upon returning to Le Grande Almandier we refresh ourselves and recharge batteries.  Then it’s off along the coasts for ocean kayaking.  We sneak in and out of small coves as we cruise over the waves.  The further we go the steeper the hills become until they are cliffs crashing into the azure Caribbean Sea. As long as there is a swell we will pull out the kayak surfboard and ride the waves!!

Kayak      
Distance: 3 miles on ocean swells and choppy seas.
Duration 2 to 3 hours

Wednesday – CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BATTY KIND!
Breakfast       A la Carte at 8:00am
Depart            9:00am
Today we depart Trinidad's north coast and head into Central Trinidad for an adventure in theTamana Cave.  Mount Tamana lies on the eastern edge of the Central Range, south of Sangre Grande.  As we pass through Sangre Grande we head to my friend Kuchilal’s house.  Here we have a delicious local curry meal, which is really more of a cultural interaction.  
Then we head to Tamana Hill, which rises to a height just over 1000 feet and is geologically unique in Trinidad as it is mostly made up of ancient reefs that have been uplifted from the oceans.  After many millennia out of the oceans running water has carved intricate cave systems within the calcium carbonate left by the reefs.  These caves are now the homes to many wonderful geckos and other critters, however its most abundant inhabitants are millions of bats!
At the cave we can enter and do some exploring as thousands of bats fly all around.  It is a wonderful experience.  Entering the first chamber can provide amazing and close views of these incredible creatures.  The adventurous can wriggle through the small hole that connects the first chamber to the rest of the cave system.  Then go exploring!  This will bring you into contact with many bats and other creatures that live in the cave.  We then wait at the cave entrance until the sun sets, which is when millions of bats leave the cave.  Stand at the entrance as a vortex of bats stream past you producing a unique and exhilarating experience.  You can feel the wind of their wings as hundreds flutter past, and now and again one may land on you for a few seconds.  After a bit we head off hiking down the hill with flashlights guiding our way back to the vehicle where we change and drive to accommodations for the night.

Hike 
Trail: 5 miles                            
Elevation increase: 600 feet                                          
Duration: 1 hour to summit
30 minutes to cave,
30 minutes return in dark

Note: Bring bright headlamp
Wear long pants and an expendable shirt. You might also want to bring a change of clothes.

Drive
2 Hours to Kuchilal’s House
Approximately 1 hour to Pax Guest House         

Thursday –TOBAGO HIKE & SNORKEL:
Depart                        7:00am for the airport
Breakfast                   In Tobago
This morning we head to Trinidad’s sister isle, Tobago. Once there we drive up the rugged and picturesque windward coast to Kings Bay.  Near the water reservoir we disembark the bus and hit the Pigeon Peak trail.  The trail very quickly starts to climb into rain forests.  The forests have been affected by repeated hurricanes and are in various stages of recovery, both natural and assisted by the forestry department.  The older forests where most of the hike takes place, are beautiful and house stunning birds.  The trail ascends steeply, then we continue towards Blue Waters Inn, descending steeply down the windward slopes. 

After a shower, lunch and relax at Blue Waters Inn we spend the afternoon snorkeling. Immersion in the pale blue waters allows us a view of a massive reef system hosting a myriad of corals and sponges, living in harmony with a bright array of reef fish, from damsels, to puffer and parrot fish.  Maybe an eel or stingray will show up also. 

Drive to Airport:  15 Minutes
Flight:   20 minutes to Tobago
Drive to Trail Head:   1 Hour 15 Minutes
Hike:
Distance: 4.8 miles       
Elevation increase: 1500 feet                                        
Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Blue Waters Inn
Blues Waters Inn is nestled in a picturesque private bay on the northern corner of Speyside, which is rural Tobago.  It has over 30 rooms and 3 bungalows with double beds. The bay is very calm, with clear blue waters and a wonderful reef, excellent for snorkeling. Kayaking or simply relaxing are easy options as well.  This is perfect setting for launching our kayaking tours in northern Tobago. 

Friday – TOBAGO EXUBERANT MULTISPORT
Breakfast       A la Carte at 8:00am
Depart            9:00am
Today you get to use all your muscles, including the ones that make you smile.  We begin with a cross country mountain bike along Tobago’s north east corner, starting with some tough climbs on wide single track though seasonal woodlands.  We stop at various points to look at stunning birds and views of rugged coastline where the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic meet.  We then descend to sea level at a stunning secluded beach where we have a picnic lunch and desert.  After a relaxing swim in the sea we board single and double kayaks for a paddle along one of the Caribbean’s most dramatic coasts and at strategic spots we stop to snorkel reefs viewed by few other than you. 

Mountain Bike
Single Track: 3 miles                                        
Elevation increase: 1000 feet    
Elevation Loss: 1000 feet

Kayak Details:          
Duration: 3 Hours
Distance: Approx 2 miles
Water Conditions:  Open Ocean with swells, chop and some tidal currents
Kayaks: Sit-on-top, Single and Double Kayaks
Difficulty Level  Moderate
Physical Effort  Moderate
           
So you thought the fun was over for today!  Well tonight after a couple rum punches, as you dace to the beat of the steel drum, the smile can’t be wiped off your face.

Saturday – THE FINAL HURAH!!
Breakfast       A la Carte at 8:00am
Depart            9:00am
Our day starts by heading up into Main Ridge Tobago where we have fun on a variety of roads and trails ending at Highlands Waterfall, for an invigorating swim under a 70 foot waterfall as it drums on weary muscles.  After that we ride some more single track, jeep trail and eventually paved road to Mt Irvine.  Here we hit the azure Caribbean Sea for a swim and snorkel near the shore. We often see turtles, squid, queen angles and file fish float past us.

Then there is a quick flight to Trinidad where we join locals for traditional Saturday night festivities including steel drums and lots of fun.

Mountain Bike
Country Road: 2 miles
Single Track: 3 miles
Elevation increase: 500 feet
Elevation Loss: 1000 feet         

Drive
1 Hour to Trail head
20 minutes to the airport
20 minutes to accommodations
Check in for flight      5:30pm
Flight Time                 7:00pm            

Trinidad and Tobago lie just 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela; in fact they were joined to the South American Continent during ice ages, but separated between 12,000 and 15,000 years ago!  Hence, Trinidad and Tobago is South American in geology, wilderness and natural history with extensive rain forests covered mountain ranges, wetlands, savannas and deciduous forests enveloping low lying plains.  Yet, it is Caribbean with rugged coasts crashing into azure Tropical Seas teaming with brilliantly coloured reef fish, corals, morays, and more.

We boast a compelling blend of Caribbean, Amerindian, Indian, European, African, Chinese and other cultures melting into a unique culture that is only Trinidad and Tobago’s.  Distinctive and delicious foods, festivals, musical instruments, attitudes and a culture whose ambition is to have fun have developed from an evolutionary cultural soup of a people trying to live in harmony.  This makes Trinidad and Tobago the Caribbean’s most biodiverse islands, both in terms of nature (boasting more birds, butterflies, and plants than the rest of the Caribbean combined) and in terms of its people and culture.

During this Trinidad and Tobago visit you will get the best of South American adventures and stunningly wild areas on Caribbean islands with a distinctive and fun culture that invented the steel drum and calypso, giving the Caribbean its sound and rhythm. 

We will be mountain biking through a variety of tropical rain forests, over mountain ranges and along coasts on single track ranging from very wide to quite narrow, that will be at times clear and others, well ...not so clear!  Trails will have many roots, rocks and fallen logs to navigate. Some parts will be muddy. while other parts will be hard packed. Most will have lots of leaves. All in all they are fairly similar to trails in the Temperate Rain Forests of Washington State.

Along the way riders will journey to 3 beautiful lodges and a jungle camp deep in the rain forests of Trinidad’s Northern Range.  There will be many cultural interactions including numerous local meals, music, and dance. Discussions about the tastes of local beers and rums will approach PhD levels. And to top it all off we shall have a close encounter with countless bats.  The last night will be a night of merriment to the sounds steel drums.