Trinidad & Tobago hiking St Ann's to Maracas28-APR-12 02:56:35 PM

The historic Cedula of Population of 1783 by Spanish Governor Don Jose Maria Chacon granted permission for French Immigrants to open up estates and develop the country.The valleys of St Anns ,Maraval and Santa Cruz were all prime cocoa estates because of their proximate location to the capital.The Queens Park Savannah was owned by Henri Peschier who called it Paradise Estate ,The Country Club was called Champs Elysees (Fields of Happiness) and the Moka Estate is now Moka Golf Course .The Santa Cruz or Holy Cross Valley had a collection of estates Pastora ,Cantaro ,Gasparillo,Little Couroucaye and Grand Couroucaye and getting produce to Port of Spain was difficult and long because of the rugged mountains of The Saddle or La Silla .The preferred route was over Mt. Hololo and remnants of old mile post can be seen along the trail however treats of erosion cause this passage to be neglected. In 1852 the government granted 1000 pounds for improvements to roads in Santa Cruz and the Mountain of The Saddle was cut to access an easier route to Port-of-Spain.
On Saturday 28th April'12 Fitness Walkers trek over the hills of St Anns and Santa Cruz to Maracas Bay.The 15 mile one-way trek starts at the bottom of Lady Chancellor Road and consist of two legs .The first part is along the Chancellor and Fondes Amandes Ridge to the top of Mt Hololo where the St Anns Peak is located.(199m).On the exposed side of the mountain the trail is covered with thick ferns and razor grass, making it difficult to pass and preparing the trail for the hike took several days with the assistance of Back-Packers Hiking Club .Prominent spurs along the ridge allow clear views of the Queens Park Savannah ,Santa Cruz Valley and the scenic pine forest of St Anns. The trail descends into Santa Cruz on the Hololo Extention Road and the second half of the journey continues on the Gasparillo Road to Maracas Bay..