The Edmund Forest Reserve

The Edmund Forest Reserve covers the western side of the central ridge and the trail through it runs about ten kilometres over the spine to the Quilesse reserve on the eastern side, climbing through rainforest to around six hundred metres with Mount Gimie, the island's highest peak, above. It is the best place on Saint Lucia to look for the Saint Lucia amazon, the endemic parrot that was down to around a hundred birds in the 1970s and has recovered to well over a thousand through protection and a campaign that made it the national bird. The forest also holds endemic orioles, warblers and the local boa.

What you actually see

• The Saint Lucia parrot - the endemic amazon, recovered from near-extinction.
• The ridge crossing - ten kilometres from the western to the eastern reserve.
• Mount Gimie - the island's highest peak, above the trail.
• Endemic birds - orioles, warblers and pewees found only here.

When to go

December to April is the drier season, though this is rainforest and it rains in any month. Dawn is when the parrots move and call. A forestry guide is compulsory and is arranged at Fond St Jacques. The full crossing needs transport at both ends.

Honest expectations

A guide is compulsory and the fee applies; going alone is not permitted. The trail is muddy in every season and the full crossing is a long day requiring transport arranged at both ends. Parrots are heard far more often than seen. The access road to the trailhead is rough and needs four-wheel drive after rain.

Nearby

Fond St Jacques is above Soufrière; the Quilesse reserve is on the eastern side.