Célus trail
Petit-Bourg

Célus trail

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This is an immersion in the mesophilic forest with fauna and flora helping to make for a great change of scene on the way.
This is a favourite spot for the Guadeloupe woodpecker. The hike is also a chance to see a wide range of flowers.

8 points of interest

  • Flora

    Jackfruit

    The jackfruit belongs to the same family as breadfruit. It is the biggest fruit in the world. It can weigh up to 20 kg.
  • Flora

    Common guava

    A bird probably first brought the seed here. It is a great boon to hikers, if they manage to get to the fruits before the animals living in the wood.
  • Fauna

    Guadeloupe woodpecker

    The Guadeloupe woodpecker (Melanerpes herminieri) is between 26 and 28 cm long. It has a long, slender beak. The male's beak is longer than its head, in contrast to the female. Its plumage is black, its breast is blood red and its black bluish black. You will see it quite often on tree trunks, where it hammers away with its powerful beak (hence its Creole name "Toto bois" ("wood comforter") or "Tapè" ("hitter"), leaving a lot of holes in the bark.
    The Guadeloupe woodpecker is the only bird species endemic to Guadeloupe and is listed as an endangered species.
  • Flora

    "Bwa Bandé"

    The tree is often used for its alleged aphrodisiac qualities (it contains a vasodilating substance). The name comes from the activity of pit sawyers who once went into the forest to cut wood. When they were cutting this particular tree, which is very dense, and due to the substance mentioned above, their arms were anaesthetised, enabling them to work for hours on end without feeling any pain.
  • Flora

    Wild pineapple

    They are generally small in size. It is hard to find them in the forest because they are very popular with local animals.
  • Flora

    Wild plantain

    Heliconia caribaea is a member of the musaceae family. It is a sort of long grass characteristic of the tropical rain forest in the Lesser Antilles. The plant belongs to the same family as the bananas and can grow up to 5 metres high.
    It blossoms all the year round, especially from April to June. The inflorescence looks like wheat's ears. It is either red, yellow-edged red or completely yellow.
    It is grown to be sold by florists.
  • Flora

    "Bwa Lansan"

    The "Bwa lansan", Potrium attenuatum, produces a smell of resin, like candlewood or gumbo-limbo. In contrast to candlewood, the tree's sap is not sticky and is less inflammable.
  • Flora

    Vanilla

    Vanilla is a spice consisting of the fruit of different climbing tropical orchids, and especially the Vanilla planifolia species.
    Growing and preparing vanilla calls for lengthy and painstaking care to produce a richly aromatic spice. This makes it one of the world's most expensive products. It comes in the form of black, shiny sticks, usually known as "pods".

Description

No markings.
Set off along the forest road. At the intersection (point 1), turn right. Follow the recommended route along the track on the right. Then go alongside the river before arriving near the "Koumbit Gwadloup" site. Turn left before arriving at the site.
The road climbs and can be slippery in wet weather. Then turn left and follow the track until your get to the forest road (point 2).
Follow the forest road until you get to the parking area.
  • Departure : Behind INRA, Prise D'Eau, Petit-Bourg.
  • Arrival : Behind INRA, Prise D'Eau, Petit-Bourg.
  • Towns crossed : Petit-Bourg and Lamentin

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Don't set off after 3 pm.
Follow the recommended trail.
NB: unsupervised car park.

Information desks

Maison de la Forêt

RD 23 - Route de la Traversée, 97170 Petit-Bourg

http://www.guadeloupe-parcnational.fr/fr/des-decouvertes/ou-sinformer/maison-de-la-foretinfo@randoguadeloupe.gp

Opening hours :

  • In low season (May 1 to June 30 and September 1 to October 31) : every day (except weekends) from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
  • In high season (November 1 to April 30 and from July 1 to August 31) : every day from 9 am to 4.30 pm ; sunday from 9 am to 12.30 pm.

Services: reception, permanent exhibition, free parking, picnic area nearby. Building accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Please note : parkings are not supervised.

Localisation GPS : Lat: 16,17600 N - Lng: 61,69280 W.

Find out more

Access and parking

GPS starting point: Lat: 16.20407°N - Long: 61.66601°W.
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On the Route de la Traversée, the RD23, at the Barbotteau roundabout, take the D1 towards "Prise d'eau". Take the first left after the church.
Cross the bridge and continue straight ahead, passing the "Domaine Duclos" on your left.
Take the uphill road after the Domaine Duclos, park in the car park opposite the buildings to your left.

Parking :

Behind INRA, Prise D'Eau, Petit-Bourg.

Source

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