Everyone loves the Caribbean for its beaches, restaurants and nightlife, but we might take the chains of green mountains for granted – we know we at the Health & Beauty do! That is why we have decided to take advantage of the hiking trails that our region has to offer – and we’re taking our fellow adventurers along for the hike.
This week’s heavenly hike takes us to our neighbouring island Saba, known for its unspoiled nature, which makes both hiking and diving unforgettable experiences. Even though Saba is only 5 square miles, the “Unspoiled Queen” boasts more than 20 hiking trails, which take hikers through 5 different ecosystems. So, let’s go explore. Happy hiking!
Of course, the most popular hike takes adventurers to the top of Mount Scenery, the highest point in the Dutch Kingdom (877m or 2877ft). More often than not, the summit is enshrouded by clouds, resulting in a cloud-forest environment with dense vegetation and a variety of species. A bit lower, hikers walk through a rain-forest vegetation.
But not everyone has the time – or stamina – to climb up 1,015 steps for 90 minutes to reach the highest point of the Kingdom.
Thankfully, the Mas’Cohones is a short and relatively easy trail to hike for those who do not want to undertake the strenuous climb, or wish to add another vantage point to their trek. Though only 20-minutes one-way, hikers are still rewarded by a trek through the secondary forest and a stunning view of Windward side at the end of the trail.
Mas’Cohones is basically the little brother of Mount Scenery and gets almost no attention, but besides being a lot easier and shorter, the hike does have another advantage. Mount Scenery is often shrouded in the clouds, whereas Mas’Cahones is often clear and sunny. This means that hikers have a better chance at enjoying the view from the top of Mas’Cohones than they would from the highest point of Mount Scenery.
The trail to Mas’Cohones starts at the trail head of Mount Scenery in the village of Windward side and follows the same path for about 15 minutes. After that, hikers will follow a sign to the top of the smaller hill. At the end of the trail, adventurers will be rewarded by amazing views of Windward side, the ocean and neighbouring islands.
