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Paria Springs Eco-Community and TIDCO
invite tour operators and media to experience Trinidad’s
Eco/Adventure offerings first-hand at the upcoming FAM/Media Trip
in Trinidad between October 27 and November 3, 2004, throughout
the island. Events begin on Wednesday, 27 October, which is when
we recommend that people arrive in Port of Spain.
Wednesday, 27th October: ARRIVAL
Arrive in Trinidad’s Piarco Airport (airport code: POS),
where you will be met by TIDCO and Paria Springs’ representatives
and transfer to Carnetta’s Inn.
Carnetta’s Inn
Carnetta’s Inn is a cozy family-owned guesthouse offering
comfortable accommodations on the outskirts of Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago’s capital. The inn’s restaurant
provides splendid local Creole dishes, and the delightful staff
are always willing to make your stay relaxing.
Thursday, 28th October: Meet
the Industry Sponsors; Rainforests, Waterfalls & Kayaking
 At
7:45am we all meet to formally introduce ourselves and meet our
industry sponsors. Breakfast is served at 8:15am with presentations
while eating. We’ll depart at 9:15am and head north out
of Port of Spain to Trinidad’s spectacular North Coast.
Enjoy fantastic views of the Northern Range as it crashes into
the Caribbean Sea. Our adventure begins in the rainforests of
this dramatic mountain range. The first stop is on the Marianne
River, which passes through a small agricultural community, Avocat,
where we’ll park and access the river. Our hiking trail
is a circuit over some short hills, where you’ll see and
experience the rainforest and its wildlife, firsthand. Highlights
include leafcutter ants, termites and beetles at work, while Emperor
and other butterflies flit by. Forest birds such as Trogons, Honeycreepers
and Manakins are abundant at their leks. The trail leads to an
enchanting stream with an abundance of flowering anthuriums and
heliconias on its banks.
The walk ends at a gorgeous 70-foot waterfall, where you’ll
take a revitalizing swim in the small pool at the base of the
falls. Relax while getting a natural drumming massage. The walk
is about 1 _ hours in and fairly easy, with an easy 30-minute
walk in the enchanting Marianne River through forest on the way
out.
 Return
to the North Coast to Blanchisseuse. At the mouth of the Marianne
River where the placid river waters meet the turbulent waters
of the Caribbean Sea, we’ll board either single or double
kayaks. This part of the river is tidal and is used by many marine
creatures as a spawning or hiding ground. As you glide along,
gentle breezes blow around you carrying Swifts and Swallows dashing
about collecting insects on the wing. Further into the river system
impossibly long bamboos arc over your head spilling into the river.
As you navigate around obstacles in the river, Kingfishers, Silvered
Antbirds and Sandpipers flit about, Mullet and Gobies swim away
and crabs dive into their holes as they see the strange-looking
creatures (that’s you) invade their habitat. Traveling deeper
into the forest, the river gets shallower as you move from pool
to pool and eventually we have to stop kayaking and relax or swim
in one of the pools.
Since the kayak is best at high tide, which varies, we may
actually kayak first then go to the waterfall.
- Approximate Kayak Distance: 1.5 mi return
- Approximate Hike Distance: 1.4 mi return
- Approximate Kayak Duration: 2 hours
- Approximate Hike Duration: 1:15 to the waterfall, 40 min
back to start
- Highest Hike Elevation: 250ft
- Lowest Hike Elevation: 100ft
- Approximate Total increase in Elevation: 150ft
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Attire: Dress for breakfast prepared to go on the tour in
Shorts and a T-Shirt or Polo. Ladies can wear their swimsuit
underneath; guys should wear surf-style shorts that double as
swimsuits. Keep a change of clothes handy so you can change
after the hike.
- Guides: Courtenay Rooks, Cristo Adonis
Pena Blanc
High up in the hills on the Northern Range in Brasso Seco, Pena
Blanc is a four-bedroom home with a splendid view of the valley
below. The wonderful key to this home is that the roof may be
rolled off as it used to be used as a cocoa house. (Don't worry
– this does not expose the rooms below to the elements,
as there is a strong wooden roof dividing the two.) On this wooden
roof mattresses are placed for most of the guests. Relaxing with
the roof rolled off is an absolutely fantastic way to spend a
night. Due to its elevation and location for much of the year
there is a constant and sometimes strong breeze through the house,
which often makes staying awake a losing battle for many. A highlight
will be an absolutely delicious local meal prepared by local Carib
Amerindians.
Pena Blanc is truly a cultural experience, utilities are very
basic as there is nothing fancy here, and you live as locals would.
This enriches your experience.
Parang Party
Tonight after our wonderful local dinner, we are entertained by
a local Parang and Calypso Group. Parang is a traditional form
of music that is very lively and has Spanish roots, and Trinidad
is the birth place of Calypso. This night is one of merriment.
- Attire: Casual – shorts, light skirt and a T-Shirt
or Polo
- Breakfast: Local Breads, Eggs/Sausage/Ham
- Lunch: Sandwiches
- Dinner: Genuine local meal (Chicken/Fish)
Friday, 29th October: Red Howler
Monkeys & Transfer To Grande Riverre:
After a 4am departure from Pena Blanc, we head
off on a two-hour drive to see the amazing red howler monkeys
in the Bush Bush area of Nariva Swamp. As we approach Trinidad’s
East Coast we have breakfast in the vehicle, driving through miles
of Coconut Palm Trees along the east coast until we arrive at
Nariva Swamp, Trinidad's largest freshwater swamp.
We enter Bush Bush, which is a flatland peninsula that juts out
into Nariva, via Kernahan Trace, a very bumpy road through a farming
community. Hiking along a flat trail into Bush Bush one can access
the monkey viewing area, where will spend about 5 hours. The Howlers
can be found among the branches of the larger trees of the seasonal
evergreen tropical forests that dominate this area. Since the
Howlers are very mobile, it may take very little effort to see
them, or a lot of sweat. Since we are in the forests at dawn,
we should hear their amazingly loud calls, which may seem close
but actually are some distance off. Getting good views may also
mean going off the main trail, tracking them by following their
call. We also will be looking for White-fronted Capuchins, much
smaller and secretive monkeys that sometimes may be seen eating
one of their favorite fruits. This area also offers many other
wildlife: birds like the Black-crested Antshrike and Macaws, or
butterflies like the Blue Emperor Morpho.
After several hours looking at monkeys and exploring, we depart
Bush Bush and drive to the northwestern side of Nariva Swamp to
a place called Plum Mittan, where we will have a fabulous curry
lunch in the home of a local family. Your cultural experience
today involves sound, sight, smell and taste.
After lunch we head off to Galera Point, where the Atlantic Ocean
crashes into the Caribbean Ocean, then ease over to Grande Riverre,
where we check in and take a swim in the ocean if you wish.
- Approximate Hike Distance: 4 mi return
- Approximate Hike Duration: 6 hours return
- Highest / Lowest Elevation: Flat
- Duration of Drive to Nariva: 2 hours
- Duration of Drive to Grande Riverre: 2 hours
- Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Breakfast: Local Bake Eggs/Sausage/Ham
- Lunch: Curry Chicken finger-licking-good lunch at local’s
hom
- Dinner: 3-Course local meal (Chicken/Fish/Lamb (optional
steak or lobster must be covered by you)
- Attire: Long pants or slacks and a T-Shirt or Polo. Light
colors are best as this area tends to have mosquitoes at times
and dark colors attract them. Keep a change of clothes handy
so you can change after the hike.
- Guides: Courtenay Rooks, Cristo Adonis
Le Grande Almandier
 Along
the North Coast of Trinidad lies the sleepy community of Grande
Riverre. The beach is famous for its nesting sea turtles in this
community tied to the sea, where fishing and agriculture are the
main occupations, surfing and swimming the main recreation. Right
on the beach is Le Grande Almandier, a new guesthouse built by
community members Cyril and Wendy. All of the rooms are colorfully
decorated in Caribbean style with hammocks and batik curtains.
It also has a restaurant and bar along with a balcony to relax
in a hammock sipping rum punch. Chef Jason serves up wonderfully
presented, mouth-watering local Creole dishes. (Here fresh fish
means it was caught about two hours before.) Wendy presents the
desert: Le Grande Almandier Cheesecake topped with fresh almonds
from the trees outside the restaurant.
Saturday, 30th October: Optional
Tour, Relax, or Adventure Race & Adventure Festival:
On this day you have the option of being taken out on a tour
in the area to waterfalls, or sightseeing or just to relax on
the beach. In the afternoon there will be a short adventure race
that you may join if you wish. Also you will want to spend some
time at the Adventure Festival.
- Breakfast: Local Breads, Fruit Platter, Eggs/Sausage/Ham
- Lunch: Chicken, rice, peas and salad in a take-away box
- Dinner: 3-Course local meal (Chicken/Fish/Lamb (optional
steak or lobster must be covered by you))
- Attire: Casual at dinner and for the evening beach party.
If attending the competition, dress as if going to the beach.
If hiking, wear long pants or slacks and a light-colored T-Shirt
or Polo.
- Guides: Courtenay Rooks, Nicholas, Ivan Charles
Sunday, 31st October: Optional
Tour, Relax, or Mountain Bike Race & Adventure Festival:
As with Saturday you have the option of being taken out on a tour
in the area to waterfalls, or sightseeing, or just relaxing on
the beach. Today there will be several mountain bike races that
you may join if you wish, either to try and win, or just to do
as a biking tour. Also you will want to spend some time at the
Adventure Festival.
::: Cross-Country Race :::
The grueling cross-country race starts in front the judges’
stand in Beach Break, Sans Souci, and goes up to Monte Video mostly
along the main road. For this year’s race we will be adding
a new trail on the way to Monte Video. Once past Monte Video,
racers turn onto the Monte Video Zagaya Trace, a tough muddy trail
that goes through the back of Grande Riverre Valley, crosses the
river and climbs a steep hill, and finally descends sharply into
the bay west of Sans Souci.
Racers then turn back towards Sans Souci via the Paria Branch
Trace, which starts in a steep, rocky climb and then becomes a
narrow undulating trail with several stream crossings, fallen
trees and lots of mud, testing the rider’s hill climbing
ability, balancing skills and endurance. The competitors’
odyssey ends back in front the judges’ stand in Beach Break
Sans Souci.
- Approximate Mountain Bike Distance: 20km
- Highest Elevation: 200 meters
- Approximate Total increase in Elevation: 565 meters
- Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
::: Downhill Race :::
The Downhill Race is exactly that, a race starting at about 275
meters above sea level on La Pas Trace between Sans Souci and
Lanse Noir, where the fastest one to sea level wins. Basically
the competitor who uses their brakes the least will win. However,
on the way they are faced with slippery rocks, difficult sharp
corners switching back on themselves, steep bumpy wet hills, river
crossing and jumps. This type of race lends itself to a special
type of bike that has both front and back shocks. It’s a
fast and exciting race lasting about 5 minutes and it is one-of-a-kind
for the Caribbean. Sheldon Weeks, the 2003 winner, is this year’s
favourite as he beat the others so convincingly last year in a
time of 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
- Guides: Courtenay Rooks, Nicholas, Ivan Charles
- Breakfast: Local Breads, Fruit Platter, Eggs/Sausage/Ham
- Lunch: Chicken, rice, peas and salad in a take-away box
- Dinner: 3-Course local meal (Chicken/Fish/Lamb (optional
steak or lobster must be covered by you))
- Attire: Casual at dinner. If entering the competitions, wear
cycle shorts and top.
Monday, 1st November: Grande
Riverre River Gorge:
Our day of adventure is spent in the Grande Riverre River. We
start walking up the river through agricultural lands and into
rainforest. Here amazing butterflies, toucans, lush trees and
nature welcome you. Enter the refreshing waters of the Grande
River and float, hike and swim your way to the beach and back
to Le Grande.
If you are fit and want a tougher adventure, we then hike for
more than 2 hours through the forest where we enter a small gorge,
climbing over waterfalls pool to pool. Then we return via the
river where we climb over massive boulders, jump off waterfalls,
swim long pools navigating down the river for about four hours
before returning to Le Grande. The return is about 4 hours of
serious adventure fun.
- Approximate Hike Duration (Easy version): 2.5 hours
- Approximate Hike Duration (Adventure version): 6 to 8 hours
- Highest Elevation: 600ft
- Lowest Elevation: Sea Level
- Approximate Total increase in Elevation: 600ft
- Level of Difficulty: Easy or difficult hike, depending on
choice
- Breakfast: Local Breads, Fruit Platter, Eggs/Sausage/Ham
- Lunch: Chicken, rice, peas and salad
- Dinner: 3-Course local meal (Chicken/Fish/Lamb (optional
steak or lobster must be covered by you))
- Attire: Casual at dinner. For hiking, wear swimsuit/shorts.
- Guides: Courtenay Rooks, Nicholas
Tuesday, 2nd November: Tamana
Hill & Cave:
After packing and a quick fruit platter, we depart at 9am for
Esterel Spa, where we tour the facilities and take brunch.
At 9:30am, we head for Mount Tamana, which lies on the eastern
edge of the Central Range, south of Sangre Grande. It rises to
a height just over 1000 feet and geologically it is unique in
Trinidad as it is mostly made up of ancient reefs uplifted from
the oceans. After many millennia out of the oceans, running water
has carved intricate cave systems within the calcium carbonate
left by the reefs. These caves are now the homes to many wonderful
geckos and other critters, but their most abundant inhabitants
are millions of bats!
After a long but beautiful drive through east and central Trinidad
– passing many farms, rural communities and lowland forests
– we reach Tamana. The trail starts off quite steeply, and
when muddy can be difficult to negotiate, but the cave can be
reached in about 30 minutes. If we arrive early, we’ll head
up to the summit where wonderful views of the Northern and Southern
Ranges may be seen. At the cave we can enter and do some exploring
as thousands of bats fly around. It is a wonderful experience.
Entering the first chamber can provide amazing and close-up views
of these incredible creatures. The adventurous can wriggle through
the small hole that connects the first chamber to the rest of
the cave system. Then go exploring! This will bring you into contact
with many bats and other creatures that live in the cave. We then
wait at the cave entrance until the sun sets, which is when millions
of bats depart the cave. Stand at the entrance as a “river”
of bats stream past you, producing a unique and exhilarating experience.
Here you can feel the wind of their wings as hundreds flutter
past, and now and again one may land on you for a few seconds.
At about 7pm we head off down the hill, with flashlights guiding
our way back to the vehicle. Then we will drive to Chateau Guillaumme,
where we arrive around 9pm.
- Approximate Hike Distance: 1mi return
- Approximate Drive Duration: 2.5 hours each way
- Approximate Hike/Cave/Bat viewing Duration: 5 hours
- Highest Elevation: 1000ft
- Lowest Elevation: 300ft
- Approximate Total increase in Elevation: 600ft
- Level of Difficulty: Easy to moderate hike; Moderate to difficult
cave exploration
- Breakfast: Fruit Platter
- Lunch: Brunch at Esterel Spa
- Dinner: Local meal bought on the way
- Attire: Long pants or slacks and a T-Shirt or Polo that you
do not mind getting very dirty. Keep a change of clothes handy
so you can change after the cave exploration.
- Guides: Courtenay Rooks, Cristo Adonis
Wednesday, 3rd November: Departure:
Return home via Piarco Airport in Port of Spain.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Organizing Company / Tour Operator
Paria Springs Eco-Community
www.pariasprings.com
Sponsor and Organizing Tourism Office
The Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad
and Tobago (TIDCO)
www.visittnt.com
Main Tour Guide,
Courtenay Rooks
Managing Director / Chairman of the Board, Paria
Springs Eco Community
rooks@pariasprings.com,
rookstours@ttemail.com
Home and Office: 868-622-8826
Cell: 868-620-8240
Courtenay is a naturalist/adventurer and Managing Director of
Paria Springs Eco-Community. His love and knowledge of nature,
hiking, mountain biking, surfing, diving, birding and adventure
make him perfect to be your lead tour guide. Many of the trails
you will take, he pioneered for tours and local nature enthusiasts
alike and will lead you through your adventure with his easygoing
love of life.
The desire to develop ecotourism in Trinidad and Tobago has been
fuelled by the fact that Courtenay has been hiking through and
studying the various habitats of Trinidad and Tobago for more
than 20 years with his family, the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’
Club (of which he recently resigned as Secretary), and while working
at Institute of Marine Affairs of Trinidad & Tobago. During
this time he gained a respect and love for these environments,
and a wealth of experience. He is also an avid naturalist, ornithologist
and nature photographer. Serious study of birds started in 1985
and he is the founding Chairman of The Field Naturalists’
Bird Group.
Courtenay has been surfing since 1978; mountain biking and adventure
racing have come more recently but are his current focus.
Courtenay started the Paria Springs Project to answer his desire
to have a career that while providing an income allowed him to
work with rural communities and conservation. In order to achieve
this vision, two organizations were formed: Paria Springs
Eco-Community, which handles the business of ecotourism,
i.e. lodging, tours, transfers, etc.; and Paria Springs
Trust, a non-profit NGO whose aim is conservation and
gains its funding through grants or donations. The Trust’s
lead project is the Ocelot Conservation project, which has education,
advocacy, research and conservation components.
Main Supporting Tour
Guides
Ivan Charles Cell: 868-685-6206
Ivan is a former racing cyclist turned anything-on-a-bike
guy!! He can make your tour a joyful experience, as he is a fun
person to be around. He provides a unique view on being a Trinidadian
who loves a party or in Trinidadian language “Liming”.
His current passion for racing has been focused into adventure
racing and duathalons.
Cristo Adonis Cell: 868-796-6328
Cristo is a man of many contradictions – Shaman
of the Carib community (local Amerindians) and a Roman Catholic.
His local experiential knowledge of Trinidad’s Northern
Range is unsurpassed and paralleled by his knowledge of Trinidad’s
culture through the eyes of the Caribs. He is your adventure-hiking
guide in Trinidad and is also the lead singer of a Parang Band
(a local type of music using four-stringed guitars) that at some
time will entertain you.
Derek Chung
Owner/Operator of Undersea Tobago, Derek is arguably Tobago’s
leading diving operation. Derek has been a Dive Master for more
than a decade. There is not a nook or cranny in Tobago that he
has not dove and his staff are just as capable.
Sean de Freitas
Sean is an enthusiastic sportsman who knows/loves the best and
most exciting trails around Tobago. Known as "The Iceman"
(he operates his own ice factory and approaches the most hairy
trails cool as ice), Sean formed Mountain Biking Tobago to legitimise
his habit of disappearing on his mountain bike whenever he had
a spare moment. His passion for outdoors activities include mountain
biking, surfing, adventure racing, wind surfing and kayaking.
This makes him the perfect guide for our mountain biking Tobago
experience.
David Rooks
David is without a doubt Tobago’s foremost natural
historian. Just when Courtenay thinks he knows a lot, he just
does a tour with David (his Dad) and he realizes who is boss!
David has studied the natural history of Tobago for more than
50 years, and his enthusiasm to conserve it has made him the founder
President of Environment Tobago and a very vocal conservationist.
He has been featured as an expert on several wildlife documentaries
and provided technical information to the very famous David Attenborough’s
“Trails of Life”.
David pioneered ecotourism in Tobago in the early 1980s and all
of the standard trails were forged by him, and by many of the
guides he trained.
Sheldon Patterson
Sheldon is an Adventure Guide in training and now Courtenay’s
protégé. Sheldon will ensure that the tour runs
smoothly and are fun.
Accommodation
Contacts
Carnetta’s Inn
868-628-2732, 868-622-5165, 868-622-2884
carnetta@trinidad.net
Brasso Seco
Contact Courtenay Rooks
Le Grande Almandier
868-670-1013
info@legrandealmandier.com
Sadilla House
868-640-3659
sadila@tstt.net.tt
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU ON YOUR FAM
TRIP
FAM Trip includes:
- Overnight accommodations– comfortable and unique rooms
- All meals – alcoholic beverages extra
- Daily guided excursions
FAM Trip excludes:
- Tips to guides – not compulsory but encouraged
- Alcoholic beverages
- Trip insurance – strongly recommended for inward and
outward bound travel
- Souvenirs
Suggested items to pack and bring along:
- Passport / ID (passport must be valid for at least 6 months)
- Hiking boots and socks
- Tennis shoes / sneakers / sandals with good tread
- Light cotton trousers, long-sleeved shirts
- Rain protection (poncho)
- Bathing suits, one towel
- Sun protection / sun block
- Head protection – baseball caps, hat or scarf
- Insect repellent (suggestion - Johnson's Baby Oil, alcohol
and / or “deet”)
- Small flashlight and spare batteries
- Small backpack for daily essentials
- Binoculars
- Camera with plenty of film and spare batteries advised!
- Please no aerosols
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