Main Ridge Forest Reserve
Trinidad and Tobago · Tobago · 550 m
Description
The Main Ridge Forest Reserve runs along the spine of Tobago and is the oldest legally protected forest reserve in the western hemisphere, set aside in 1776 because planters had worked out that cutting the ridge would dry up the island's rainfall. That reasoning was two centuries ahead of its time. The forest is dense, wet and full of noise, and the Gilpin Trail crosses it in about three hours. The white-tailed sabrewing hummingbird and the blue-backed manakin are the birds people come for. A guide is required for the trail and is worth it for the birds alone.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – May
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Gilpin Trail through the ridge forest
- White-tailed sabrewing hummingbird
- Oldest protected forest reserve in the hemisphere
- Blue-backed manakin lek
- Argyle waterfall and its three tiers(Day trip)
- Ridge road across the island
- Tree ferns and epiphytes of the wet forest
- Bird guides from the villages