Hunte's Gardens

Hunte's Gardens was created by the horticulturist Anthony Hunte in a collapsed limestone sinkhole in the island's central highlands, and the setting is what makes it: a deep bowl of a gully whose steep sides Hunte planted from the floor to the rim with a dense, layered profusion of tropical foliage, so that paths wind down through cabbage palms, ferns, heliconias and orchids in a green amphitheatre. Classical music drifts from hidden speakers, chairs are tucked into leafy nooks with a rum punch on offer, and the effect is more theatrical garden than botanical collection. Hunte, a genial and eccentric host, was often on hand to talk to visitors. It is one of the loveliest small gardens in the Caribbean and a cool green retreat from the coast.

What you actually see

• The sinkhole gully - the planted bowl with paths winding down through the layers.
• Cabbage palms and heliconias - the towering palms and dense tropical planting.
• The leafy seating nooks - chairs tucked into the greenery with music playing.
• Orchids and ferns - the detail among the larger foliage.

When to go

Any time of year; the garden is green throughout and the gully setting keeps it cool. Mornings are quietest and best before tour groups arrive. Rain makes the paths slippery but the planting more vivid.

Honest expectations

It is a small garden and a visit is an hour or two rather than a half day; the setting and atmosphere are the draw more than the size of the collection. The paths down into the gully are steep and can be slippery, which limits accessibility. Entry is charged and, for the size, not cheap, though most visitors find it worth it.

Nearby

Welchman Hall Gully and Harrison's Cave are close in the central highlands; the east coast is a short drive.