The Tet Paul Nature Trail

Tet Paul is a short trail, about forty-five minutes at a gentle pace, run by the community on a ridge south of Soufrière, and it exists for one reason: from the top of it both Pitons stand side by side across the valley with the sea beyond, which is the view that appears on everything printed about Saint Lucia. The walk itself passes through a working garden with cassava, cocoa, mango and medicinal plants, with a guide explaining what is growing, and there is a traditional house showing how a Saint Lucian family lived. A set of steps called the Stairway to Heaven climbs to the highest point.

What you actually see

• The Piton view - both peaks side by side with the sea beyond.
• The Stairway to Heaven - the steps to the highest point on the trail.
• The working garden - cassava, cocoa and medicinal plants, explained.
• The traditional house - how a Saint Lucian family lived.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and clearest for the view. Early morning is best, before cloud builds on the Pitons and before the heat. The walk takes forty-five minutes and tours run through the day.

Honest expectations

It is short and guided rather than a hike, and the entry fee strikes some visitors as steep for the length. The view is the whole point and it disappears in cloud, which is frequent in the afternoon. The road up is narrow and steep. It gets busy when cruise excursions arrive.

Nearby

Soufrière is twenty minutes north; the Sulphur Springs are nearby.