At 2 a.m., the night is as dark as anthracite. A fresh wind blows over Jamaica's Blue Mountains. Meter-high bamboo stalks rustle. The air is cool, the thermometer reading only 6 degrees Celsius—and this is in the sunny Caribbean!
At 2256 meters, Blue Mountain Peak is the highest point in Jamaica. One of the world's most expensive products, Blue Mountain coffee, grows on its slopes. Why does the climb have to begin at 2 a.m.? Because by 10 a.m., the sun is unbearably scorching. The heat and high humidity will make it difficult to admire the island's stunning landscapes.
In the darkness, the road signs are barely visible. After an hour of climbing, the sea of lights of Kingston, the island's capital, shimmers right beneath your feet. Most people climb here with their own luggage. travel bags, mountaineering enthusiasts from Europe. The wide variety of bird species also attracts ornithologists.
Jamaica Blue Hour
With dawn, the panorama slowly unfolds. A mountain hut is barely visible in the thick morning fog just below the summit. The scene is reminiscent of Scotland. If you're unlucky, the summit will be obscured by clouds. But if the sky is clear, within a quarter of an hour it's a full view. The view from here is magical! The deep blue ocean, secluded coves and beaches, villages and farms, endless hills—everything shimmers with an unreal blue light in the rays of the morning sun. Jamaica's blue hour.
Guadeloupe
It roars, snarls, and emits powerful steam. Soufrière Volcano is the only active volcano in Guadeloupe. Its last eruption occurred in 1977. Since then, the "Old Lady," as locals call it, hasn't exactly been in a bad mood, but has been constantly rumbling, hissing, and whistling from every vent. The volcano's activity is precisely why it's a popular tourist destination.
At the summit, you become closer to the hot breath of our planet. Hot sulfur vapors escape from more than 30 vents and cracks. They mix with the clouds, cool, and produce almost daily rain. Statistically, rain falls here 355 days a year. But a light rain is necessary because the path leads through a hot and humid forest. For almost two hours, the journey passes lush green rubber trees, giant ferns, and "elephant ears," as the leaves of unprecedented size are called.
The Attractiveness of Cuba
The Escambray Mountains, a mountain range on the island of Cuba, are the land of the revolution. The Sierra del Escambray was where the first unrest occurred. The rebels who rebelled against Fidel Castro's regime had their headquarters in the forest of these inaccessible mountains. Nowadays, it's the opposite: those who want to leave the hustle and bustle of Havana behind find solitude and peace, along with many winding trails, in these mountains. Or at the uniquely beautiful Anabanilla Mountain Lake. Or in the Topes de Collantes National Park, home to the tocororo bird, a symbol of Cuba. Or around the Escambray Resort. This seven-story concrete block building, reminiscent of the Soviet era, is a former sanatorium specializing in natural medicine and hydrotherapy.
Travelers come here to enjoy the healing power of nature and water. One of the most popular attractions is the 60-meter Salto del Caburni waterfall. The route, though short—just 3 kilometers—is challenging: in the heat, you have to navigate it at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level. This is especially challenging during the rainy season, when the path is slippery and muddy. But it's precisely at this time that the waterfall becomes its most impressive spectacle.
Vacation in Puerto Rico
"Ko-kii!" these strange sounds accompany hikers in the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico. No birds or mammals can be heard, only the chorus of coquí frogs. These tiny creatures, about 5 centimeters long, are deafening when they sing. And after every downpour, the croaking swells into a deafening concert. Those who explore the trails of El Yunque are rewarded with untouched nature. More than 200 species of trees grow in this biosphere reserve, two dozen of which are native to Puerto Rico alone, and over 2 species of orchids. Several animal species native to this island have survived here. But Puerto Rico's greatest treasures are its mangrove forests and coral reefs in the warm Caribbean Sea.
