People don\u2019t come to St. Barths for mountaineering\u2014the highest point is just 286 meters. People come here to hike for other reasons: short, spectacular trails, views of turquoise waters, and beaches as a reward. Hiking is the island\u2019s best-kept secret\u2014and its most affordable pleasure.<\/p>\n
The Colombier Trail kicks things off: a thirty-minute walk along the hillside above the sea, all the way to a beach accessible only on foot or by boat<\/a>. This is the island's most famous hike; it's best to go early in the morning when it's cool and quiet.<\/p>\n To the south, the hills flanking Grande Saline and Gouverneur offer short but steep climbs, with panoramic views of the entire wild coastline. At daybreak, with the birds of the old salt flat below, it captures the essence of the island: space, silence, and light. The trailhead is just a few minutes from Maison Fleur de Lune<\/a> \u2014 The lodge staff are happy to point out the best trails to take.<\/p>\n Add the coastal headlands between Petit Cul-de-Sac and Toiny, where the coastal trail runs along a rugged, wild, and deserted stretch of coastline battered by the Atlantic\u2014a world apart from the island\u2019s chic image.<\/p>\n The golden rule can be summed up in one word: early. Between 6 and 9 a.m., the temperature is mild, the light is superb, and the trails are deserted. Bring more water than you think you\u2019ll drink, a hat, sturdy shoes\u2014the trails are rocky\u2014and something to swim in: here, almost every hike ends in the water.<\/p>\nSmart Walking in the Tropics<\/h2>\n