Montserrat Vacations and activities

Montserrat Island has a wide selection of hotels and activities for the avid traveler wanting to visit while on Holiday or vacation.
Montserrat's Volcano is a major tourist attraction!
Visit the Montserrat Volcano Observatory while on you vacation and all of the Volcano Viewing Stations.
Take a guided tour of the town of Plymouth!
Mountain Biking, Hiking and Sight Seeing tours are also available in the nearby tropical rainforest.
While on your Montserrat Vacation packages vacation you can also go Scuba diving or maybe Snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the magnificent underwater park.

Vacations and Holidays on Montserrat are the best!

Montserrat is a popular vacation spot in the Caribbean. Many individuals, couples and  families spend a week or two touring the island,seeing the volcano and taking in the local culture.
Montserrat is often described as “the oldCaribbean”, Montserrat island is “like an Eden that's unedited”. Most of our visitors agree that Montserrat Island is the friendliest island in the Caribbean and a perfect place to vacation. Getting around the island is a breeze too, there aren't any busy streets and also no traffic lights to slow you down!
 
Despite the eruptions of the of the Volcano in the 1990’s, most of the island is covered in a thick green carpet of brilliant foliage, maintaining its heritage as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean“.

Hiking in the Mountains of Montserrat Volcano area out of bounds 

Hikes vary from leisurely to very demanding. With the Montserrat Volcanic southern mountains out of bounds, attention is focused on the lush, forested, mountainous Centre Hills and the more barren northern Silver Hills, which provide several stimulating hikes.

The Tour Guides, as well as Emerald Tours, feature hikes on their schedule of tours. These include a hike dubbed "The Cot," which takes you from the Salem area through a forested route in the Centre Hills to an old, ruined summer house of that name. Montserrat Volcano. The hike is not too strenuous, and your guides will point out several unusual plants and trees along the route. Montserrat Volcano is with in view of these hikes on a clear day.

For adventurous travelers, there are also more strenuous hikes in the Centre and Silver Hills. Forest Rangers, part of the government's Forestry Division, are available to conduct guided hikes. These hikes include the Cassava Ghaut Hike and the Katy Hill Hike hike in the Centre Hills near the Montserrat Volcano, and the Thatch Valley hike in the Silver Hills.

These hikes are very rewarding if you can manage them. The Forest Rangers have a wealth of knowledge about the trees, birds and other wildlife to be found in the mountain forests. If you keep very quiet you may catch a glimpse of Montserrat's shy national bird, the Montserrat Oriole, which the rangers attract by playing recordings or imitating its call. Montserrat Volcano iis dangerous.

The Montserrat National Trust, in collaboration with the Forestry Division, is planning to develop some of these trails, clearing the route of some of the bush, adding steps in the difficult places, along with viewing platforms and a camp site, without taking away from the wild and natural backdrop of these hikes. Montserrat Volcano is beautiful.To contact the Forest Rangers, talk to the staff at the Montserrat National Trust, who will put you in touch.

 
Nature Adventures

The mountainous landscape of Montserrat hides many treasures, from lush rain-forests to fruit-laden trees of mango, papaya, coconut and banana. At only 39.5 square miles, and with a significant portion of the island uninhabitable in the Exclusion Zone, the tropical beauty of Montserrat is often best experienced on foot. The island features a number of walking trails suited to new and experienced walkers alike. Some of the trails are quite strenuous, so if you are not an experienced hiker and are going for the first time, we advise you to go with a guide. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and bring along a flask of cold water. Montserrat Volcano


Hiking Trails

The majority of the island's trails run through the Centre Hills region and include:

Oriole Walkway

This trail traverses the Centre Hills region, which is renowned for its biological diversity, rich habitat and vegetation. The moist rainforest is home to many species of wildlife and most of the thirty-three species of resident land birds and migrant songbirds inhabit the area. This trail is a tropical birdwatchers' paradise, with the chance to spot Montserrat's rare national bird, the Oriole, as well as the rare Forest Thrush, the shy Bridled Quail-Dove, the Mangrove Cuckoo, the Trembler and the Purple-Throated Carib. The area is also home to some unusual amphibians and reptiles, including tree frogs, anoles, ground lizards, dwarf geckos and iguanas. Other regionally endemic species that may be found are the mountain chicken, which is actually a type of frog, and the rare galliwasp, which is half-snake, half-lizard. Montserrat Volcano

Trail to 'The Cot'

This trail allows hikers to explore some of Montserrat' heritage as it passes though the site of an 'oki' banana plantation nestled amongst the ruins of a family cottage several hundred feet above sea level. The hike through the lush vegetation offers breathtaking views of the surrounding villages including some of the Exclusion Zone. Montserrat Volcano.  The trail ascends along a dirt track to the ruins of 'The Cot', the one time summer cottage of the influential Sturge family, which is situated in the Centre Hills. The track continues to a height of 1,000 feet above sea level where walkers are rewarded with outstanding views of the coast.

Volcano Hiking on Montserrat

Blackwood Allen Trail

This trail through the Centre Hills incorporates some challenging steep climbs and deep valleys. The route traverses the Blackwood Allen stream where a variety of fresh water fish species can be found. A strategically placed viewing platform allows for panoramic views of the northern villages and the coastline below. The vegetation along the route includes an abundance of heliconia, Montserrat's national flower, amongst other attractive plants. There is also the chance to spot the island's national bird - the Montserrat Oriole. The trail runs from the Grand View Bed and Breakfast in Baker Hill to Mongo Hill. Montserrat Volcano

Runaway Ghaut

Montserrat's ghauts (pronounced guts) are deep ravines that carry rainwater down from the mountains to the sea. Legend has it that people drinking the cool spring water flowing to the drinking fountain at Runaway Ghaut will be drawn to return to Montserrat again and again. This mini-trail offers the perfect route for a relaxing afternoon stroll or a family picnic in a remarkable setting. Montserrat Volcano

Trails in other areas of the island include:

Silver Hills Trail

Silver Hills, situated at the northern tip of Montserrat, is one of the island's oldest volcanic centres. The defunct volcano presents a very diverse appearance, having been heavily dissected, faulted and eroded. The hike takes a circular route from Drummond, winding its way through dry forest, across open fields and over the Silver Hills, providing stunning views of land, sea and coastline. Many land and shore birds are found in this area, including the Red-Billed Tropicbird, the Mangrove Cuckoo and the Pearly-Eyed Thrasher. Pelican Point on the eastern coast is the only breeding colony of Magnificent Frigate birds on the island. The view from the Silver Hills provides an insight into how recent volcanic deposits in the south could appear with the passage of millions of years. Montserrat Volcano is out of bounds.

Trail from Little Bay to Rendezvous Bay

Rendezvous Bay holds unique status as Montserrat's only white sand beach, offering excellent swimming, snorkeling and diving in the most pristine underwater area on the island. This trail includes the contrast of a white and black sand beach, where hikers can cool down with a dip in the sea after a demanding route. The walk follows a steep mountain trail over a bluff, with the option to make the return journey by boat with any of the boat ride operators on the island. Since this trail is often difficult to negotiate, it is advisable to consult a Forest Ranger before setting off. Montserrat Volcano

Montserrat Volcano Hiking is Forbidden

Bird Watching

The lush, forested Centre Hills is renowned for its biological diversity and is home to the thirty-four (34) species of resident land birds and migrant songbirds that inhabit the island. Birdwatchers will delight in a chance to spot Montserrat's rare national bird, the endemic Montserrat Oriole. If your guide is one of the experienced forest ranger, he may imitate its call and signal to you when it is in sight. You may also be able to see the Forest Thrush, the shy Bridled-Quail Dove, the Mangrove Cuckoo, the Trembler and the Purple-Throated Carib. Montserrat Volcano

Turtle Watching

In Montserrat, wherever you are, you're never far from nature. Turtle watching is an intriguing activity for nature lovers. The island has several black sandy beaches which serve as nesting sites for three of the world's seven species of sea turtle: the Green Turtle, the Hawksbill and the Loggerhead. The turtle nesting season runs from August to September so make plans to be here at that time. Get in touch with the Montserrat National Trust and ask about their turtle watching treks. To witness a sea turtle emerging from the dark waves and heaving herself onto the sand to lay her eggs is nothing short of inspirational.

For information on turtle watching contact the Government's Agriculture Department at (664) 491 2075

Eco-Adventure Sailing Trips from Antigua with OnDeck

The Antiguan-based company Ondeck has started providing weekly sailing trips to Montserrat on a 65-footer Farr Ocean Racing Yacht. The yacht departs Falmouth Harbour in Antigua at 8am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with the trip to Little Bay in Montserrat taking up to four hours. The return journey to Antigua departs at 1pm on those same days, taking up to five hours. The return is fully flexible to allow passengers to stay longer in Montserrat or overnight. Montserrat Volcano

Biking

Why not rent a bike and explore Montserrat on two wheels? Take the main road that runs from one end of the island to the other and you'll find that it's a fun way of exploring the villages and enjoying the lovely scenery that makes Montserrat the undisclosed treasure it is.