TET PAUL TRAIL vs. PITONS: BATTLE OF LANDMARKS

​Tet Paul Nature Trail vs. The Pitons - Which Hike is Best for You?

Hiking St. Lucia is an absolute must for adventure minded travelers, and there are plenty of hikes to choose from.  Whether you are looking for a relaxing hike through the rain forest or want to try a steep ascent up a volcanic mountain, you can find what you are looking for.  Better still, you can do all of this and more without ever leaving the Soufriere area. 

​But which trail is right for you?  Here we will look at St. Lucia's top hiking trails- Gros Piton, Petit Piton, and the Tet Paul Nature Trail- to find which one will be perfect for your St. Lucia adventure goals. 

Hiking tours are incredibly popular in St. Lucia.  After all, it is a tropical paradise where hiking can mean taking a stroll through a rain forest or climbing a volcanic mountain to see the expanse of the island laid out before you from the peak. 

​Familiarizing yourself with various local hikes is certainly the best way to choose the excursion that is right for you, and you will find it easy to book a guided tour of the St. Lucia hiking trail you decide to tackle

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Tet Paul Nature Trail Facts - Physical Rating: 2 - Easy

• The Tet Paul Nature Trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, is located about ten minutes from Soufriere and is ideal for hikers looking for a short but moderate hike
• The Tet Paul Nature Trail measures approximately a kilometer in length with an elevation gain of 41 meters during the ascent
• This moderate hike is considered to be one of the best hiking trails in St. Lucia
• The Tet Paul Nature Trail is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers incredible views of the Pitons and Jalousie Bay as well as distant islands, historic sites and local flora and fauna
• Hiking the Tet Paul Nature Trail, which is essentially a large loop, takes about 25 minutes
• A Tet Paul Nature Trail tour with Real St. Lucia Tours is fully customizable so you can focus on what you want to see and do​
• There is a picnic area located onsite at the Tet Paul Nature Trail that is perfect for groups and families looking to enjoy a meal surrounded by the majesty of the island

​Gros Piton Facts - Physical Rating: 5 - Challenging

• Gros Piton is one of the two twin UNESCO World Heritage Piton Mountains located in Soufriere St. Lucia
• Hiking Gros Piton takes an average of six hours and is best done early in the morning when the weather on the island is at its coolest
• Gros Piton St. Lucia has an elevation of 2,619 feet at its peak
• When hiking Gros Piton, it is highly advisable to bring an experienced guide.  Real St. Lucia Tours offers excellent, knowledgeable guides who know the island and the mountain inside and out
• From the peak of Gros Piton, travelers can see virtually the entire island laid out below​
• The peak of Gros Piton is actually one of the most scenic places on the entire island, making it perfect for wedding proposals

Petit Piton Facts - Physical Rating: 5 - Challenging

• ​Petit Piton, the smaller of the two UNESCO World Heritage volcanic peaks, measures 2,461 feet in height but is considered a much more challenging climb than its larger twin
• Hiking Petit Piton is only allowable with an experienced guide due to its steep ascent and slippery rocks.  With that said, however, there has never been a death recorded during a Petit Piton climb
• Hiking to the top of Petit Piton takes approximately six hours 
• The view from the top of Petit Piton is rivaled only by the sense of satisfaction that comes with conquering the mountain and reaching the summit