1 Pitch Lake, Trinidad
The extraordinary sight of the Pitch Lake of Trinidad is situated in La Brea in the southwest peninsula of the island of Trinidad. There are only a handful of sites in the world where asphalt rises from the depths and collects in pools on the surface, and Pitch Lake is the most important commercially. It has fascinated explorers, scientists and the public since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595. Raleigh himself used the asphalt to caulk his ship. The Asphalt Lake is at present an oval-shaped outcrop composed of an oil, clay and water (mud) mixture. Among the many legends attached to the lake is one that tells of an indigenous tribe that was engulfed as punishment for eating hummingbirds, in which the souls of their ancestors were believed to reside. It is estimated to be more than 5000 years old and has produced close to 20 million tons of asphalt in the past 100 years. This is used in the paving of roads and for roofing. Until very recently no one suspected the Pitch could harbour life, but astrobiologists have since discovered microbes growing in the asphalt.
• When to go The hotter the sun, the more liquid the Pitch becomes and the more dangerous. In the dry season, local youngsters use the dried Pitch as a… well, pitch for their ball games.

2 Dominica’s Boiling Lake
Dominica’s Boiling Lake is 200ft wide and is considered one of the most amazing geothermal features on earth. The first recorded sighting of the lake was in 1870 by two Englishmen working in Dominica at that time. In 1875 a government botanist measured the water temperature and found it to range from 180 to 197 degrees Fahrenheit (82 - 91.5 degrees Celsius) along the edges, but could not measure the temperature at the centre where the lake was actively boiling. They recorded the depth as greater than 195ft. A later report indicated that the water level of the lake had dropped and that a geyser had developed in its centre. The geyser spewed water and mud to 60ft and higher, building a pumice cone at its base and filling the bottom of the lake. A photograph taken in 1895 when the Boiling Lake was ‘dry’ showed the water level 30-50 feet below the water line. In April 1988, the lake stopped boiling and the level dropped by 29 feet. It has since returned to its normal conditions. Today the lake appears like a cauldron of bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapour.
• When to go May or June, when the cruise ship season is over and the hurricane season hasn’t yet arrived, so there is less chance of heavy rain. The round-trip walk can take six or seven hours, so visitors are advised to embark around 8am to give themselves plenty of time to enjoy the expedition. One of the first landmarks en route is known as Breakfast River, since this is traditionally where walkers used to stop for a quick bite before hitting the uphill climb.

3 Harrison’s Cave, Barbados
Harrison’s Cave is an amazing gallery of stalactites and stalagmites, with streams of crystal-clear running water that drop from waterfalls to form deep emerald pools. Formed over thousands of years, some of the stalactites have reached down to the stalagmites and a spectacular pillar has evolved. Although historical references were made to Harrison’s Cave from as early as the 18th century, no serious exploration of the cave was made until 1970, when the Barbados National Trust commissioned speleologist Ole Sorensen to make a survey and map the cave. Sorensen immediately recognised the potential of the cave and recommended that it be landscaped and developed. Four years later, work on the site began, drawing on scientific, artistic, technological and geological resources. Tunnels were dug to improve lighting and to divert underground streams. Nowadays visitors are driven in electrically-operated trams down through the extensive system of caverns. At the lowest level point, they are invited to walk alongside a spectacular waterfall, which plunges into a deep pool below.
• When to go The caves are open Wednesday to Sunday all year round apart from Christmas Day and Kadooment Day. See www.harrisonscave.com.

4 The Pitons, St Lucia
Towering nearly 3000 feet above sea level, the majestic peak of Gros Piton, along with its twin Petit Piton, dominates the western coast of St Lucia. Together they form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mountains owe their unique pointed shapes to being volcanic plugs, formed from hardened lava trapped within an ancient volcano’s vent. When the surrounding rock eroded, the erosion-resistant plugs remained. Located near Soufriere, these primeval twin peaks are St Lucia’s most famous landmark. Covered with thick tropical vegetation, the massive outcroppings were formed by lava from a volcanic eruption 30 to 40 million years ago. However, they are not identical twins since 2619-foot Gros Piton is taller than 2461-foot Petit Piton – though Petit is steeper. Consequently, the broader Gros Piton is the easier climb, though the trail up is still a very tough trek, requiring a knowledgeable guide and the permission of the Forest & Lands Department. Situated at the foot of Gros Piton is the community of Fond Gens Libre, whose name means “valley of the free people.” This small, old settlement dates back to the 1700s. During the slave rebellion of 1748, Brigands, or black freedom fighters, used the Gros Piton area as a secure haven; many of their descendents still live in the town and serve as hiking guides. The Gros Piton Nature Trail is an excellent way to see the beauty of these mountains.
• When to go A sub-tropical climate kept mild by cooling trade winds makes St  Lucia temperate all year round. However, from June to November be prepared for sporadic tropical showers.

5 Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Mosquito Bay, also known as the Bioluminescent Bay, lies on the south coast of Vieques and is thought to be the healthiest and best example of a glowing cove in the world. The bay glows because it contains up to 720,000 single-celled bioluminescent dinoflagellates per gallon of water.  These half-plant, half-animal organisms emit a flash of bluish light when agitated at night. The high concentration of these creatures can create enough light to read a book by, and fish swimming in the bay leave a bioluminescent trail, as do boats, raindrops and swimmers.  The mouth of Biobay is situated in such a way that the prevailing winds and currents easily allow ocean water to enter the cove.
• When to go Lights seen from the bay and ambient light in the sky (reflected from clouds) greatly reduce the visibility of the bioluminescence at night – it is a treat to be in the Biobay when the electricity goes out on the island. It is also considerably better to see the bay when there is no moon visible. The best time to go is on the first and second nights after full moon, as the moon rises an hour after sunset on the first night and almost two hours later on the second night, providing the chance to see the bioluminescence at its best and then watch the moon rise.

6 Grand Etang, Grenada 
Although most of the Caribbean islands are of volcanic origin, crater lakes can only be found in Dominica and Grenada. In the centre of Grenada, the 1740-foot-high Grand Etang (“large pond” in French) is one such volcanic crater. Surrounded by myths, one legend has it that the mermaid-like goddess Orisha seduces men to then drag them down into the depths of the water. Others claim that those drowning in the Grand Etang reappear in distant places: St Vincent, Trinidad or even Venezuela. Researchers have taken samples from the bottom of the lake and discovered that the pollen and spores are up to 25,000 years old, while the rainforest around the lake holds a stupendously rich diversity of flora and fauna. Situated high in true tropical rainforest where the mountain peaks are frequently obscured by clouds, Grand Etang Park is a wonderful example of conservation in practice. Just eight miles from the centre of St. George, this is one of the Caribbean’s few hikes above 2000 feet. With 160 inches of rain falling annually, Grand Etang is most noted for its tall mahogany and gommier trees, ferns and other plants. Animals include the mona monkey, armadillo, broad-winged hawk (locally called “gree-gree”), Antillean crested hummingbird (the “little doctor bird”) and the Antillean tanager (called “the soursop”).
• When to go The driest months of January through April are the best time to visit, but be prepared for a chilly wind. Sections of the park are more than 2000 feet above sea level, high enough to cause decompression sickness (the bends) in anyone who scuba dives then goes hiking the same day.

7 Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat
After lying dormant since prehistoric times, the Soufrière Hills Volcano began a three-year period of seismic (earthquake) activity in 1992. In August 1995 Plymouth, the capital, was blanketed in a thick ash cloud, which brought almost complete darkness for about 15 minutes. Shortly afterwards the first evacuation of southern Montserrat was initiated. Then 1997 saw pyroclastic flows and surges sweep down the northeastern flanks of the volcano resulting in the abandonment of WH Bramble Airport and Plymouth, which has been compared to a modern day Pompeii. Buried deep in ash and volcanic debris including boulders the size of the houses that once stood there, this once thriving business and commercial centre of the island now resembles a dust-covered lunar landscape through which deep canyons have been gouged. Plymouth lies within the volcanic exclusion zone and access is not possible, but the devastation can safely be viewed from Richmond Hill. Other vantage points from where it is possible to view the volcano and the destruction it has wrought include Jack Boy Hill and Garibaldi Hill, although this requires a 4WD vehicle or a steep climb to appreciate the view from the summit. The Soufrière Hills Volcano is constantly monitored by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) in Flemings. 
• When to go Soufriere is an active volcano. Further information and up-to-date activity reports on the Soufrière Hills Volcano and explanations of volcanic phenomena, can be found at www.mvo.ms.

8 Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
Situated in the heart of Guyana on the Potaro River, a tributary of the great Essequibo, Kaieteur Falls flows over a flat, sandstone tableland into a deep gorge, and has a single drop of 741 feet, making it the largest single drop waterfall in the world. It then plummets another 101 feet making a total of 822 feet – five times the drop of Niagara. The unusual conditions created by the falls support a fascinating micro-environment, which includes some species identifiable only to this area. Lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of the Kaieteur swifts, or Makonaima birds. Swifts are some of the fastest fliers among living creatures, allowing them to snatch up insects while on the wing. They nest under the vast shield of rock hidden behind the curtain of falling water.
• When to go The falls are most spectacular when the water level is at its highest – usually in January or August. Then the power of the torrent falling over a steep, high cliff creates a misty environment with rainbows adding to the magic. 

9 Parc Archéologique des Roches Gravées Trois-RiviÈres, Guadeloupe
UNESCO recognises Guadeloupe as having the highest concentration of intact petroglyphs in the Caribbean. At Parc Archéologique des Roches Gravées Trois Rivières botanical gardens are built around ancient Arawak carvings, dating back to 300AD. The park is located near the landing stage for Les Saintes. The path takes you through the breathtaking gardens before you reach the first engraved volcanic rock depicting a turtle, which is immediately followed by many more representing animals and men. Other strange symbols can also be seen throughout the park.
• When to go The best time to visit is the dry months between November and May. The rainy season is from September to November. Guadeloupe is more cloudy and rainy than most islands at that time, and the humidity is unbelievably high.

Do you have your own nominations for the wonders of the Caribbean?
Send your ideas to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it