To my right, the hills rolled along, gently rising up into the rain forest on the slope of the mountain. But this is no ordinary mountain, this is Liamuiga, a dormant volcano on the island of St. Kitts. The last eruption was about 1600 years ago, with possible, unconfirmed eruptions in the 17th and 19th centuries. I hoped the sleeping giant wouldn't choose this day to wake up.

At the wheel sat Royston Stevens, of Royston Tours, our friendly, knowledgeable guide for this adventure. I rode shotgun in his safari-style vehicle, feeling like I was on an expedition. Accompanying us were my wife, and another couple we had met on our vacation. While travelling along the winding coastal road Royston showed us many wonderful views of the shoreline and interior of St. Kitts.

Once we arrived at the base of the mountain, he drew our attention to a rock high on top. We looked, and there, shrouded by a wisp of gray cloud, was an oddly shaped boulder precariously perched upon the rim of the volcano. In a relaxed Caribbean voice Royston said, "That's where we'll be hiking to today."

I Gulped.

We swung off the main road onto a bumpy trail that lead us through tall cane fields. At the edge of the rain forest we parked and climbed out, anticipating the adventure of a lifetime. Mount Liamuiga's highest peak is approximately 3,800 feet. Our trip began at 1,000 feet, so we would only climb about 2,000 feet to the lower peak. Only.

We enjoyed a moderate hike along the lower slope, beneath banyan trees, many palm varieties, and more vines than a Tarzan movie. We learned about local wildlife, like mongoose introduced by the English to control the snake population. Unfortunately mongoose also ate tropical bird eggs. Now there are no snakes or parrots on the island, but plenty of mongoose.

The slope increased dramatically as we neared the cone of the volcano. We clambered over roots and rocks, making up for our leisurely hike. Our friend Todd reached the top first with Royston, and a rush of adrenaline pushed me onward behind the others. We made it! The strong winds cooled my face as I peered into a grassy crater of lush foliage, like an ancient garden.

I gazed into the Eden below, watching clouds rise and fall, revealing then concealing the opposite ridge. The giant volcano seemed to breathe. Initially I was afraid to climb a volcano, but as I sat on top of Mt. Liamuiga my fear changed to awe, and respect. We stayed awhile, enjoying the views, and the incredibly crisp, clean air.

All too soon we began our descent over steep, rugged terrain, eventually resuming the casual pace over the lower slopes. We stopped to watch green vervet monkeys thrash about in the trees and underbrush. The larger males perched on high branches, watching us closely.

Finally we reached the truck. I glanced at Royston, and was amazed to see that he looked like he had merely taken a leisurely stroll while the rest of us looked like we had, well... climbed a volcano.

On the way out through the cane fields we were startled by a blaring "Mooo!" A cow we hadn't noticed waited for us to pass before issuing his farewell. It seemed like a fitting end to our wonderful time spent with nature.

Yes, farewell Liamuiga. Thank you for the adventure, and the memories.

More Information about St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Kitts is one of two islands that make up the "sister island" federation of St. Cristopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis.

Aside from breathtaking beauty, St. Kitts and Nevis offer many activities and adventures for the traveler seeking an exciting vacation, including a selection of catamaran tours along the southeast peninsula and across the 2 mile "narrows" between St. Kitts and her sister island Nevis. Along with the amazing scenery these tours include food, drink and fun, even a stop for snorkeling. During one of our trips we were all pleasantly surprised by a pair of dolphins who decided to show off along side our catamaran while we drifted into the snorkelling cove.

Other activities include ATV tours through cane fields, foothills and portions of the rain forest; ocean kayak trips along the peninsula; and you can visit Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a monstrous fortification built during the 17th and 18th centuries. From Brimstone Hill you can see neighboring islands like St. Eustatius and Saba.

Many wonderful beaches accent the coastal beauty of St. Kitts and Nevis. South Friar's Beach features an unique rock formation and cliffs, while Turtle Beach, on tip of the southeast peninsula, offers a great view of Nevis, and is regularly visited by green vervet monkeys who dwell above in the hills and in the forested shoreline.

This island nation is home to many fine resorts, villas and condominiums, for rest and relaxation after the adventure. Explore the historic town of Basseterre, and have lunch on a balcony overlooking The Circus in the center of town. Gaze out at the Caribbean while you dine at any one of several seaside restaurants offering the best in Caribbean and international cuisine. St. Kitts and Nevis are a destination with much to offer; history, adventure, peace and quite. You can have it all.