When You Visit Trinidad...
Hike to Avocat Falls

...and journey back into the islands past

The striking beauty of Avocat valley as this mysterious river winds its way northward towards the blue Caribbean Sea is amazing, and the banks of the river lined with Maraval lilies, make this short hike a must when you visit the dramatic North Coast or Trinidad's world famous
Asa Wright Nature Center.

 Place, Position and Preparation 

Avocat Falls is only a short drive away from the fishing village of Blanchisseuse on Trinidad's rugged north coast, which is itself about 1 hour's drive away from Port-of-Spain, and 30 minutes beyond Maracas Beach.

On our trek we were fortunate to be escorted by one of Trinidad's leading eco tour guides, who made arrangements with one of the private properties at the entrance to Avocat for us to park for a small fee, which allowed us to enjoy our hike free from care.

Be warned, when your tour guide recommends that you wear shorts and shoes you can get wet, and perhaps even dirty, follow their advice. On this occasion our companions were French and Spanish tourists visiting Trinidad for the first time, and believe me when I say, we all got a lot damper than expected.

 Caribs and Arawaks 

Even though there is a well-trodden path most of the way to Avocat Falls, some of it through emerald green banks of lilies that must be glorious to behold when in full bloom, one can sense the delicate footfall of the first Trinidadians, Caribs and Arawaks, who in the past must have made their way along these same quiet banks.

As you ford the river again, and again, be it but for a few hundred years, your fellow explorers could be a family of Trinidad's first settlers in search of food, or perhaps, like you, exploring this picturesque river valley for the first time. But wait...

 Cocoa and Coffee Plantations 

Suddenly you realize that the feet of slaves and early French landowners must also have trod these paths to plant cocoa and coffee, because scattered among the trees remains the evidence of their toil.

In fact, one can still pick the fruits of their labour, ripe cocoa pods, bright yellow and red against the moss covered bark of the cocoa trees in this deep, dark tropical rain forest.

 Local Folklore Lives 

The hike to Avocat Waterfall is magical. The virgin white of Maraval lily blooms lead the way towards the falls like fallen bread crumbs in a childrens story.

If you stand still long enough, you may even catch sight of a Dwen, those back-footed children of local folklore; or the old cloven-hoofed man of the forest, Papa Bois himself, here to protect the animals in the dark and sleepy depths of his tropical forest realm; or you may sight some other more corporal inhabitant of this enchanted kingdom, perhaps an Agouti, or, as we did, several of Trinidad and Tobago's over 460 species of exotic birds.

 Peace Lily Paradise 

The next time you see the deep green and pure white of a Peace Lily (Maraval Lily), no matter where you are, in a hotel lobby or a mall, remake your pledge to visit Trinidad, and experience for yourself the arching leaves and pleasing oval bloom of this lily in it's natural setting, the shrouded valleys of Trinidad's Northern Range, under the soaring canopy of this Caribbean island rain forest.

 Avocat Waterfall in Trinidad 

The falls at Avocat hang off the walls at the head of this narrowing valley like a brides veil; it's cold clear water thundering into the small basin at it's feet.

This is journey's end, and time to join your fellow travelers in a reinvigorating swim.

Along the way our Trinidad tour guide provided thoughtful commentary, and pointing out highlights that we might have otherwise missed. A butterfly here, a exotic flower there, the beautifully crumpled leaf of the Bois Cano tree (literally, wood for canoe) laying on the ground, the foot prints of an Agouti in the sand, and a mating pair of Rufous-Tailed Jacamars.

 Visit Trinidad's Many Natural Wonders 

When you visit Trinidad, an experienced eco tour guide can add such depth and texture to your voyage of discovery, and this easy 30-minute hike is the perfect setting to introduce yourself to some of Trinidad and Tobago's incredible biodiversity. Take the time to see Avocat Falls when you visit Trinidad. It's just one Trinidad’s many waterfalls, but it's also one of our favorite places.

Here's how to book an Eco Tour to Avocat Falls.