CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons (Trent Foley)Hike· St Lucia· Windward Islands
Gros Piton Trail
13° 48.4′ N · 61° 4.0′ W
A guided climb of St Lucia's iconic 798 m (2,619 ft) volcanic spire from the village of Fond Gens Libre, through dry forest to rainforest and a summit view of the whole island, St Vincent and the Maria Islands.
Practical
Coordinate is the OpenStreetMap Gros Piton Nature Trail. About 4 km round trip and 4-6 hours (Saint Lucia Tourism Authority; a guide service quotes 3-6 hours one way for slower groups); moderate to challenging with steep rocky sections; a certified local guide is required, obtained at the interpretive centre in Fond Gens Libre, and the guide is included in the entry fee (Wikipedia). Start early in the cool of the morning; take plenty of water, sturdy shoes and a walking stick for muddy sections. Petit Piton (743 m) is a far more technical scramble with fixed ropes and a mandatory guide; one guide service says only Gros Piton is legally sanctioned for hiking, so check the current rules. From the Pitons or Malgretoute moorings, take a taxi to the trailhead.
Best for
The big hike of the trip
Nearby
- Coral Gardens (Gros Piton)0.6 NM away
- Tet Paul Nature Trail1 NM away
- Pitons Bay Moorings (Sugar Beach)1.2 NM away
- Sugar Beach (Anse des Pitons)1.3 NM away
- Superman's Flight (Petit Piton)1.6 NM away
- Boucan by Hotel Chocolat (Soufrière)1.8 NM away
- Dasheene at Ladera (Soufrière)1.8 NM away
- Piton Falls1.9 NM away