Chutes du Galion

The Chutes du Galion drop around forty metres into a pool in the forest of southern Basse-Terre, reached by a trail of about an hour from the Grand Étang car park that runs through dense rainforest and is muddy for most of its length in most conditions. The pool below the fall is deep and cold and is used for swimming. Rain in the catchment raises the river quickly, which is the main hazard here.

What you actually see

• The fall - a drop of around forty metres into a forest pool.
• The pool - deep cold water at the base, used for swimming.
• The forest trail - an hour through dense rainforest from the car park.
• The catchment - the wet forest that feeds the river.

When to go

December to April is the driest and safest. Flow is strongest after rain but so is the danger. Mornings are best for the walk.

Honest expectations

The trail is muddy, slippery and steep in places. The river rises fast after rain upstream and people have been caught out. There are no facilities on the route.

Nearby

Grand Etang is south, and Capesterre-Belle-Eau is east.