Climbing Gros Pitons in St. Lucia
Submitted by Amy and Chris
While vacationing in St. Lucia in May, my boyfriend Chris and I decided to hike the Pitons. When a taxi driver, concierge and local vendor all told us to drink lots of water and go to bed early the night before our hike, we knew that we were in for a challenging day.
Nearly 3,000 feet above the Caribbean Sea, two volcanic spires in St. Lucia known as Gros Piton and Petit Piton make up the Piton Management area, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its lush, green landscapes and diverse animal and plant life. The almost identical twin peaks are 2.5 miles apart and can be seen from most parts of the island – they’re completely awe-inspiring!
Gros Piton is the only mountain legally open for hikes, as the other is too steep and dangerous. For $25, anyone can hire a local guide and hike to the summit of Gros Piton to enjoy its breathtaking views. You can book tours through the interpretive center in the town of Fond Gens Libre, at the base of the mountain. The fee is reinvested in the community, and helps to pay the guides.
The town of Fond Gens Libre, which means “valley of the free people” is a small, old settlement that dates back to the 1700’s. Small houses, tiny farms, roaming pigs, goats, and dogs greeted us. It is a tight knit community, and many of the guides have lived in the village their entire lives. Lucianus Deniswas was our laid back and informative Rastafarian guide. We also learned he was about to be a father for the first time!
During our hike, Denis showed us the old paths he used to carry water to the animals and the charcoal pits he used. All along the challenging path, we saw smoking fires where the trees were burned to make charcoal. The trail is rocky and strenuous, yet Denis never struggled and offered us fresh mangoes from his garden to keep us going. The views from the top were truly breathtaking, though, and worth the sweat and tears it took us to get to the top.
I would definitely recommend this adventure, and would recommend starting it early morning before the sun gets too hot. And, if you choose to do the hike with a local expert, ask for Lucianus Denis!
For more info, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Centre website. Safe travels!
