SANS SOUCI AND GRANDE RIVIERE VACATION.
For vacationers spending time in northern Trinidad, especially in serene villages in Sans Souci or Grande Riviere, it is highly recommended that at least (5) days be spent in either villages, for apart from the very well known “Leatherback Turtle nesting season” between February to August being very prominent in Grande Riviere, there are also great nature trails that can be visited. Nature trails to (2) small but beautiful waterfalls, a totally secluded beach, from village to village treking along what was once the main roads that got villagers to their destination where today offers beautiful bird sightings pending on the time of the year. Being in these villages far away from society, Grande Riviere and Sans Souci are known locally as “Behind God’s Back” where on a good day,Tobago can easily be seen in either village.
Here are some of great trekking routes that is highly recommended during your stay hereby ensuring that it is not only the sun, sand and sea during your stay. So make the time to put on your trekking shoes and come and get to know the inner parts of the villages that even very few of the villagers know about.
HOMAD WATERFALL (RETURN TREK).
From the village of Grande Riviere, we take a lovely nature trail just a mile and a half from the main turtle nesting site and we head into the lush green forest. A clear and wide trail throughout the journey for the next 45 minutes to one hour will eventually lead us to a narrow but quite a nice waterfall. The rating of this hike is “moderate”.
Seeing that at this location where the mountains are not as tall as in the Northern Range, the waterfalls in these regions are not as tall; nevertheless, the pool is quite refreshing indeed. One word of caution though is that upon approaching the pool, the trail from here is quite narrow and so, one has to be a bit careful when descending to the pool.
Optional: Once you feel up to it, we can take a trek further upstream for about 20-25 minutes and we will come up to another waterfall (Jakatan Falls) where the pool is even bigger and waterfall, again quite beautiful.
Cost for locals: (2-10 persons) - $600.TTD.
(11-20 persons) - $1,000.TTD.
Cost for visitors: (2-4 persons) - $100.USD.
SANS SOUCI TO GRANDE RIVIERE FOREST WALK (ONE WAY OR RETURN TREK).
From Sans Souci we first take the road walk until we reach the once upon a time the original road that got the villagers to Grande Riviere ( Paria Branch Road) where today, this once upon a time this donkey trail is now desolated which makes this trek the more interesting throughout. Great greenery all the way with the occasional views of the Caribbean Sea. This trek, pending on the pace set would take about 2.5 hours to 3 hours one way and the rating of this hike is “moderate”. Great shade throughout the walk. Once in Grande Riviere, we can walk to the beach where one can either bathe in the lovely sea waters or the nearby lagoon.
Cost for locals: ( 2-10 persons) - $600.TTD (One way).
(11-20 persons) - $800. TTD (One way).
(2-10 persons) - $900. TTD (return trip).
(11-20 persons) - $1,200. TTD (return trip).
Cost for visitors: (2-4 persons) - $100. USD (One way).
(2-4 persons) - $150. USD (return trip).
CUMANA VILLAGE TO SANS SOUCI (ONE WAY TREK).
Cumana Village, the village before Toco; we take the “Anglais Road” that was once upon a time the original road the villagers took on their journey from this village to Sans Souci before the present Toco Main Road came into existence. This Anglais Road is still quite a busy road up to a certain point where the road is transformed into the original dirt road with very few houses around. This walk is quite an invigorating one for the nature lover with the rating of “moderately challenging” being put fairly with the greatest challenge “the sun”. Greenery all around us as well as the many banana fields where if we are lucky, the farmer will offer us some mouth watering fresh bananas along the way. This journey will take about 3 hours or just that bit more and the end of this walk will lead us directly in Sans Souci at the popular “Big Bay” where a fresh and deserving swim awaits us.
Cost for locals: (2-10 persons) - $750.TTD.
(11-20 persons) - $1,200.TTD.
Cost for visitors: (2-4 persons) - $150.USD.
MATELOT TO MADAMAS BAY AND RIVER (RETURN TREK).
Here we head to Matelot village very early in the morning as this hike is quite a long one ( 3-4 hours one way) and so, the early one leaves, the more time can be spent in this absolutely fantastic beach and river which is rated among the best beaches in the Northern Coastline.
The hike all the way is a moderately challenging one where for the first hour and a half one will meet a mixture of uphills and flats, but once that is accomplished, it will then be easy sailing all the way until we reach the beach. This trail in the old days was once upon a time the original bench road where cocoa was transported extensively from the inner villages to Matelot for transport. This trail is a great one throughout until the destination is accomplished. Great bathing more so in the river. An absolutely great trail for the fit hiker.
Cost for locals: (2-10 persons) - $750.TTD.
(11-20 persons) - $1,200.TTD
Cost for visitors: (2-4 persons) - $150.USD.
SANS SOUCI TO L’ANSE NOIRE (CIRCUIT TREK).
Circuit trek meaning that we trek one way from Sans Souci to L’Anse Noire in the mountains and return to Sans Souci via the Main Road. In Sans Souci, we head up the L’Anse Noire Road that will eventually lead us to the top of the mountain. We first have to cross 9 small streams before heading uphill. Once on top, the entire trek is a flat one where one can truly enjoy the splendor of the countryside. This trek is rated “moderate” for the average walker. This trek would take about an hour and a half where we will by then reach “ Road” in L’Anse Noire. As we reach the Main Road, we then make our way back to Sans Souci at Big Bay. Quite a perfect circuit walk for the nature lover.
Cost for locals: (2-10 persons) - $600.TTD.
(11-20 persons) - $1,000.TTD.
Cost for visitors: (2-4 persons) - $100.USD.
( Please go to "Booking" and click on "Other" to register this tour in particular).