Cold Soufrière

Cold Soufrière lies in a crater on Morne aux Diables in the far north, and it inverts what a soufrière is expected to be: gas bubbles up vigorously through the pools, the ground smells of sulphur, and the water stays cold. The carbon dioxide coming through is dense enough that hollows can accumulate it, which is a genuine hazard. A trail from Penville reaches it in around half an hour through forest and garden plots.

What you actually see

• The cold bubbling - gas rising vigorously through water that stays cold.
• The crater setting - the bowl on Morne aux Diables the pools sit in.
• The sulphur ground - stained and steaming earth around the pools.
• The trail in - half an hour from Penville through forest and garden plots.

When to go

December to April is drier and the trail is easier. Rain makes the descent slippery. Mornings are cooler for the walk.

Honest expectations

Carbon dioxide collects in hollows here and can be dangerous; staying out of dips and following a guide matters. The trail is unmarked and muddy. There is nothing built at the site.

Nearby

Bwa Nef Falls is east, and Portsmouth is south.