Article written by Theresa Storm.
The World Heritage List includes 1,248 cultural and natural heritage (and mixed) properties that the World Heritage Committee considers to have outstanding universal value. And eight of the World Heritage sites are located in Caribbean countries that are members of One Caribbean Canada.
Let’s take a look at what you can see and do at three of the Caribbean’s World Heritage sites.
Martinique
Mount Pelée, Martinique — where hikers are rewarded with breathtaking views from this UNESCO-listed volcanic summit; photo courtesy of the Martinique Tourism Committee
The volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the pitons of northern Martinique comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their representation of volcanic processes and forest types.
At 1,397 metres, Martinique’s highest point is a closely monitored active volcano responsible for one of the most destructive eruptions of all time. On May 8, 1902, Mount Pelée violently exploded and its pyroclastic flow (cloud of gas, ash and rock) wiped out Saint Pierre – then the capital – and its nearly 30,000 inhabitants in just a few minutes.
Today, you can get a closeup look by hiking to the summit, called Le Chinois, and walking around the caldera — each of the three trails winding around Pelée is designated for different hiking levels, from beginner to experienced. As you ascend, enjoy scenic views of the entire island and note the unique plants that flourish on the rainforest-clad slopes. It’s best — and safest — to be accompanied by a guide, who will teach you about Mount Pelée’s rich plant and animal life, as well as its history and geology.
If Le Chinois is physically off limits, discover Mount Pelée through these visitor experiences:
The Earth Science Discovery Centre, housed in a contemporary earthquake-proof building at the mount’s foot, offers interactive exhibitions, films, the eruption’s centenary exhibition and a themed garden.
DoME, a scientific space also nestling at the foot, delivers an immersive experience where landscape, meteorology and ecosystems come to life. Walk along the aerial museum ramp overlooking the hiking trail for a spectacular view of the ecosystem.
The Frank A. Perret Museum, which tells the story of the tragic eruption, The House of Volcanoes and Emerald Estate are other options.
St. Kitts
Perched high above the Caribbean Sea, Brimstone Hill Fortress stands as a testament to 17th-century military engineering; photo courtesy of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park on the island of St. Kitts is a UNESCO-listed cultural property because it’s a well-preserved example of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture and engineering in a Caribbean context.
It’s the most extensive historic British military fortification in the Western Hemisphere and one of the best-preserved, as well as the second largest citadel in the Caribbean. Brimstone Hill sits on a double-peaked, steep volcanic hill 244 metres above sea level with sweeping coastal views. Thus it is known as the ‘Gibraltar of the West Indies’.
Designed by the British military and built to exacting standards by African slave labour, the fortress is testimony to European colonial expansion, the African slave trade and the emergence of new societies in the Caribbean, the UNESCO website explains.
Visitors are encouraged to step way back in time at this sprawling complex that protected the isle from sea attacks and served as a refuge. Rent an audio guide in the visitor’s centre and watch the historic film before exploring the well-preserved heart of the fortress, Fort George (also known as the Citadel). Completed in the late 1700s, this is the earliest surviving example of the polygonal system of fortress design.
Also tour the Fort George Museum and wander through the bastions, ramparts and other structures intermittently constructed from 1690 to the 1790s on different levels of the hill. Also pay a call to the gift shop housed in the reconstructed Commissariat Building.
For sure you’ll want to get your camera out to snap unobstructed panoramic vistas of lush vegetation, the historical township of Sandy Point and the neighbouring Dutch, English and French islands.
Brimstone Hill Fortress is open daily 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Nicaragua
Standing tall since the 18th century, the Cathedral of León is a masterpiece of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Cover photo and above photo courtesy of Visit Nicaragua (photographer: Peter Langer).
Due to its artistic, cultural and historical value, the León Cathedral, located in the heart of the city of León, Nicaragua, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
A visit to this white cathedral in the Central Plaza is a must. Not only is it the city’s crown jewel, but it’s the most important cathedral in Nicaragua and the largest in Central America. Hire a guide at the entrance or inside the nave, who will enrich your visit by pointing out what’s notable and providing information you otherwise won’t know. (A visit to the cathedral is also included in most León walking tours.)
Built between 1747 and the early 19th century, it’s a masterpiece of colonial architecture transitioning from Baroque to Neoclassical. As well, the León Cathedral exceptionally illustrates the Antigua Guatemala Baroque architectural style.
Its thick, horizontal proportions and low towers are uniquely designed to withstand earthquakes, representing a distinctive Latin American architectural adaptation, according to UNESCO. Certainly, the overall style is eclectic.
Decor inside the cathedral is restrained but the vault of the sanctuary is richly ornamented and natural light illuminates the altar. Notable works of art include a wooden Flemish altarpiece and paintings of the Way of the Cross by Nicaraguan artist Antonio Sarria.
Discover the cathedral’s terraces, art gallery, El Sagrario chapel, Patio del Príncipe (Prince’s Courtyard), the basement crypts and the tomb of the renowned Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, which is marked by a sculpted stone lion. Also learn about the hidden network of seven underground earthquake-protection tunnels.
The highlight of your visit will undoubtedly be your climb up a narrow stairway to the rooftop, which offers panoramic views of the cathedral’s large white domes, the city of León, nearby volcanoes and the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
The cathedral is open daily for visitors to explore the church and crypts:
- Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
- Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Tickets for the rooftop cost $3 to $4 USD and it is open:
- Monday to Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4:30 p.m.
- Closed Sunday.
Visit early or late to avoid the midday heat.
Article by Theresa Storm. A four-month-long solo island-hopping adventure through the Caribbean 28 years ago ignited Theresa’s passion for the tropics, culture, nature and trying new adventures.
Back home in Calgary, her increasingly restless, itchy feet soon led to a career writing about travel worldwide. She loves escaping winter for warmer climes, especially to the Caribbean, which has long felt like her real home.
As an award-winning travel writer and photographer, she’s penned scores of articles for magazines, newspapers and e-zines, and contributed to books including Caribbean Escapes and the first edition of DK Eyewitness Caribbean.
Her articles and photographs have been published in magazines including Bon Vivant, Extraordinary Experiences and Vacations (Ensemble Travel Group), Wanderlust (U.K.), Avenue Calgary, WestJet (WestJet Airline’s in-flight), Morning Calm (Korean Air’s in-flight), LUXE Magazine Canada, AAA publications, Cruise & Travel Lifestyles, Dreamscapes and Today’s Parent.
She is a two-time winner of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Canadian Travel Writer of the Year award and twice won CTO’s best photograph with a feature article and best online feature. She also was honoured with the Travel Media Association of Canada’s excellence in Caribbean travel writing award.
