Recommend September 2010 - (Page 69)

by stately palms leads to the bathhouse and a series of pools, each a different temperature. Beyond are the falls roaring out of a mineralstreaked gorge and spilling through the gardens into the pools. SuLphur SpringS: Two miles south of Soufriere, clients can explore the drive-in volcano, which is what’s left of a volcanic crater, now protected by the Saint Lucia National Trust. Visitors actually drive down to the edge of the volcanic activity to join a park guide who points them toward the seething pools of boiling mud and the clouds of steam that shoot 50 ft. in the air. One of the world’s most legendary natural spas is created from rain water falling year-round into the boiling crater where it’s heated and saturated with residues of sulphur, iron, copper, magnesium and zinc. The rich mineral pools and riverlets, which satisfy beauty aficionados who know the pools’ immeasurable value, flow down the mountainside and into the six amazing waterfalls. Micoud: Still another beautiful botanical paradise located across the island from Soufriere on the eastern side at Micoud—a charming seaside village of about 2,700—is the Mamiku Gardens, a 22-acre botanical garden that’s part of the original 400-acre Mamiku Estate owned by a French nobleman, Baron de Micoud, in the 18th century who was a French governor of the island. After the English re-captured the island, he willed the property to his wife, a Saint Lucian, knowing that according to British law, the property could not be taken away from her. Mrs. de Micoud was called Ma Micoud by the locals, and gradually the estate was referred to in Creole as “Plantasyon Ma Miku” until it was simply called Mamiku. Mamiku Gardens, which opened to the public in 1998, boasts over 400 flowers and trees, plus a special garden of traditional medicinal herbs. In addition to the garden, there are original plantation ruins as well as an ongoing archaeological dig that has already uncovered a variety of artifacts currently on display in the Interpretation Center. The Saint Lu cia parrot is the island’s national bird . eventually constructed a hillside trail, a garden trail and a medicinal garden as parts of its ecotourism products. Today’s Union Nature Trail runs through that land where non-native tree species such as teak, mahogany, and blue mahoe were introduced. The hike itself starts from the Visitor Center next to the mini-zoo just beyond the forest nursery and traverses in a wide loop. The Visitor Center provides visitors with information on the forest and wildlife in general, while the Mini-Zoo showcases a number of indigenous as well as exotic species such as the Saint Lucia parrot, Saint Lucia iguana and more. It’s a great place for a family outing. ✦ Still another hiking spot near Castries is the Forestiere rainforest Trail, part of an Old French Road that runs through an exotic rainforest. Visitors start at the heritage trust cottage where they’re assigned a guide who will work out a route for travelers based on their abilities. The overall hike is ranked as moderate and the 3-mile-long trail begins as a gentle slope through natural dense foliage meandering among l’encens trees that produce › Hiking and Birdwatching There’s no better way to enjoy the incredible beauty and bio-diversity of Saint Lucia than by taking advantage of its myriad hiking trails around the main island and Pigeon Island. Much of it is not too strenuous, although some hiking areas do demand a certain amount of stamina. But it’s well worth the effort with trails meandering through the island’s rainforests where clients will experience stunning waterfalls, occasional startling views of the Caribbean and the Atlantic or get bird’s-eye views of the Pitons. They’ll be able to hike past old plantation grounds, spot indigenous birdlife such as the country’s national bird, the Saint Lucia parrot—the Amazona Versicolour; the Saint Lucia oriole; and the Saint Lucia black finch. Here’s a comprehensive list of hiking areas your active vacation clients should visit. ✦ Just 15 minutes from Castries is the union nature Trail and MiniZoo, which is rated as an easy hike and is comprised of land owned by the Union Agricultural and Research Station that had been set aside for the then Forestry Division to be used as a nursery, which mon The Dia d Waterf alls in So ufriere. S31 Live the legend

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Norwegian Epic
Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam
Ocean Club Resorts, Turks & Caicos
10 Great Family Resort Stays
Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Stay Awhile: Great Family Escapes
Touring Latin America: Calling All Explorers!
Montreal—"Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
Hawaii: Mahalo to Condo-Hotels
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Unforgettable Safaris
The Wonders of China
Christmas Tours

Recommend September 2010