El Tucuche
Trinidad's second highest peak, a montane forest climb ending in elfin woodland with bromeliads.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
El Tucuche reaches 936 metres and is the second highest point in Trinidad, and the climb through it passes from cocoa and citrus at the bottom through closed rainforest to elfin woodland near the top, where the trees are stunted and hung with bromeliads and mosses. The golden tree frog, found only on this peak and on Cerro del Aripo, breeds in water held in the giant bromeliads. The round trip takes six to eight hours.
What you actually see
- The elfin woodland - stunted mossy forest near the summit, unlike anything lower down.
- The golden tree frog - a species found only here and on Cerro del Aripo.
- The giant bromeliads - the tank plants the frog breeds in.
- The forest zones - cocoa, rainforest and elfin woodland passed in one climb.
When to go
January to May is the dry season and the only sensible window. The wet season makes the trail treacherous. Early starts avoid afternoon rain and heat.
Honest expectations
The trail is steep, muddy and poorly marked, and a guide is strongly advisable. The round trip is a long day and not for casual walkers. The summit is often in cloud with no view.
Nearby
Maracas valley is below, and Cerro del Aripo is east.
What to pack for El Tucuche
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
