The West Indies have more to offer than pristine beaches and watersports. Lush and green vegetation along with mountainous terrains present the perfect landscape for excellent hiking. Nature lovers can visit some of the West Indies’ top hiking spots aboard a SeaDream voyage.
Many islands offer great opportunities for independent exploration. Lace-up your best hiking shoes and prepare yourself for encountering mesmerizing nature as you visit the unspoiled nature of some of the region’s most beautiful destinations. If guided tours are more your style, SeaDream offers exciting Yachting Land Adventures (YLA) in select ports that highlight the best hiking spots and trails in the West Indies.
With every destination, comes a different and exciting adventure with SeaDream Yacht Club. For the more adventurous guests, our YLA excursions can be booked and purchased online prior to departure or onboard. These adventures are designed to be enjoyed in small groups.
Explore some of SeaDream’s top hiking destinations and YLAs:
Saba, Netherlands Antilles
YLA Recommendation: Hiking the Crispeen Track
This Caribbean paradise is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Due to this fact, Saba is the location of the tallest, or highest point/elevation of the Netherlands, even though it is a few thousand miles away from its European homeland. With an estimated local population of just over 2,000 people, Saba is now primarily supported by tourism, and is known for a concentration on “eco-tourism.” This includes diving, hiking, and climbing its mountainous terrain.
If you like a good workout in beautiful natural surroundings, the Hiking the Crispeen Track YLA is for you! Enjoy some of Saba's unspoiled beauty with this memorable hike. Named for Saint Crispeen, the patron saint of shoemakers, this vigorous trail starts at the little town known as The Bottom. From the tender pier, you get to the starting point by a local taxi van and set out with your local nature guide. The guide will point out the island flora as the trail leads you through the rainforest, across fields, and over a forest ridge. The trail continues through pasture land, highlighting views of The Bottom and secondary rainforest until it meets with the Mt. Scenery Trail. From this point, a downhill trek of about 300 steps brings you to the town of Windward side, where you will have some free time to buy a refreshment or do some shopping before returning to the yacht.
Charleston, Nevis, St. Kitts & Nevis
YLA Recommendation: Source Trail & Rainforest Hike
Nevis is one of our favorite islands, and we encourage you to explore Nevis beyond the small town to make the most of your visit! We offer several excellent and varied options for you to do so and still leave you with plenty of time on your own for the beach. Less commercial and laidback than its large neighbor St. Kitts, Nevis, at first glimpse, offers a stunning approach with dramatic views of the potentially active volcanic Nevis Peak (3,232 feet/985 meters).
The Source Trail & Rainforest Hike YLA is a great and active way to see more of the island. A moderately challenging hike through a lush forest will introduce you to the flora and fauna of Nevis, offering a variety of plants, trees, and shrubs including bamboo, tropical fruit trees, and, if you are lucky, you might even see glimpses of green vervet monkeys. Hike through the lush canopied rainforest to an ideal spot for panoramic views some 1800 feet (549 meters) above sea level. On a clear day, you can observe the volcanic activity on Montserrat as well as spectacular views of neighboring islands of Antigua, Redonda, St. Kitts and Booby Island. Admire colorful traditional homes and shops and see how our villagers live as you stroll through picturesque villages. The alluring beauty of the Nevisian countryside will provide a lasting memory.
Soufriere Bay, Saint Lucia
Recommended YLA: Stairway to the Pitons
Soufriere, a small town on the South West Coast of Saint Lucia, is considered by many as the island’s gem. The town and the surrounding region has a population of 8,000. Originally founded by the French, it was the original capital of the island. Soufriere has a great deal to offer visitors including coral reefs, the rainforest, Diamond Falls, the sulfur springs, a “drive-in” volcano, and the ever-popular and majestic twin pitons.
With the Stairway to the Piton’s YLA, depart the Soufriere dock for a short drive through the town of Soufriere to the Tet Paul Nature Trail. Tet Paul Nature Trail is a guided hike providing many stunning photo opportunities. Culture, history, exotic horticulture, and spectacular landscapes can all be found on this tour. The views from the Tet Paul Nature Trail have been described as absolutely heavenly. From the majestic Pitons to the far away island of St. Vincent, you can see from points along the trail. The gorgeous Southern side of St. Lucia, including Jalousie Bay, is easily visible along the way. You can even see Fond Gens Libre, Choiseul, Maria Island, and the town of Vieux Fort. The trail is lined with traditional medicinal plants and trees. Also, in residence are several species of exotic fruit trees. After you have completed the trail, spend some relax time enjoying local refreshments and snacks, before heading back to the Soufriere docks and the Yacht.
Ready to go on an unforgettable hike with SeaDream? Explore our West Indies voyages today.