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Adventures On Foot

The Mastic Trail, Frank Sound Road, (800) 949-1996. Grand Cayman's newest hiking trail is also one of its oldest. The 200-year-old Mastic Trail, a former footpath used by locals to herd cattle from the North Side to the south coast, has been renovated and is open for guided tours through a two-million-year-old woodland area. The trail is a project of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands and winds through the Mastic Reserve.

The two-mile trail travels through swamps, woodland, and farming areas, with changing fauna along the way. One of the most interesting places is a region filled with fine red soil called "red mold." The dirt contains minerals found in the ancient rocks of Africa and scientists believe that, throu- gh the years, the dust from the Sahara Desert blew across the Caribbean and accumulated here. (It's not uncommon for hazy days to be attributed to sand blowing off the distant desert.)

Many visitors experience the trail with the expert guidance of Albert Hines, a young resident of North Side. Hines identifies birds along the way, often sighting the Grand Cayman parrot, Caribbean dove, West Indian woodpecker, Cuban bullfinch, smooth-billed ani, and the colorful bananaquit.

The 2½-hour hike also travels past 100 different types of trees, including black mangroves that grow from the brackish water, elegant royal palms, and tall mahogany trees. Fruit trees, first planted by early residents, include mango, tamarind, and calabash. Orchids bring color to the trees during the spring season, probably the best time of year to experience this eco-tourism attraction. Look for the wild banana orchids (the Grand Cayman version has cream-to-white blossoms with purple lips and the variety seen on the Sister Islands are pale to bright yellow with purple centers.)

The walk takes in several environments - from mangrove swamp to dry woodlands to an ancient forest - as it travels south to north. The forest contains over 100 species of trees and 550 other plant varieties. The trail was named for the mastic tree, once used by islanders for its lumber. Today, a tall Mastic tree can still be seen at the halfway point of the trail.

The eight-person guided tours are scheduled Monday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., and on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. only. Reservations are required and the cost is US $30 per person. The tour is not recommended for children under age six, for the elderly or those with physical disabilities. Wear sturdy shoes and bring insect repellent. Cold soft drinks and transportation back to the trailhead are provided. Call (800) 949-1996 or fax (345) 949-1996 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, for reservations. You can also E-mail the Trust at ntrust@candw.ky; check out the Web page at: www.cayman.com.ky/pub/ntrust/.

The National Trust doesn't advertise the trail's location. To reach the Mastic Trail, take Frank Sound Road north. Just past the fire station, take the first road left. Stay left and follow that dirt road 7/10th of a mile across several cattle guards. (If you head north on Frank Sound Road and reach the Botanic Gardens, you've gone too far.) A small parking area beside the Mastic Trail sign marks the trailhead. It can be hiked without a guide, although plants are not marked and the trail is not a loop, so plan to turn around and retrace your steps.

EARTH WATCH: The purchase of the ancient forest seen along the Mastic Trail is just one project of the National Trust. Today the development plan includes protection of the Central Mangrove Wetland, 8,500 acres that flood during the wet seasons and are an important part of the natural Grand Cayman landscape. Over 7,000 acres of this wetland are privately held. To preserve this region, the National Trust is working to acquire parcels of the wetland and to conserve the region which is home to the whistling duck, parrots, snowy egret, and hickatees. The National Trust is encouraging donations for this project and can be reached at National Trust for the Cayman Islands, P.O. Box 31116 SMB, Grand Cayman; (345) 949-0121 or fax (345) 949-7494.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Garden, Frank Sound Road, (345) 947-9462. One of the best (both economically and educationally) attractions on Grand Cayman is the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Garden. The garden has two main features: the Woodland Trail and the Heritage Garden. Both offer distinct experiences. The trail emphasizes Cayman flora and fauna in a natural setting, while the garden showcases tropical plants from around the globe in a beautiful garden.

The Woodland Trail, just under a mile long, is a must-see for anyone interested in Cayman plants. Budget at least half an hour for the walk. More time will allow you to read the informative exhibits and look for turtles in the swampy undergrowth. Stop and listen for the call of a Cayman parrot in the trees. The trail winds through several types of environments. One of the wettest is a swamp filled with the buttonwood, one of the few trees that can live with its roots continually submerged in water. The swamp provides humidity for bromeliads and orchids. On the other end of the spectrum, cactus country illustrates the dry regions of the Cayman Islands, and it's home to large century plants (agave) and cacti. One habitat is similar to that found on Little Cayman and includes flora found on the tiny Sister Island.

Birders should bring along binoculars for this walk. Commonly seen species include the Grand Cayman parrot, the northern flicker, vitelline warbler (a small yellowish bird found only in the Cayman Islands and on Swan Island), the zenaida dove, and the bananaquit.

Butterflies are another common sight. The caterpillars of the Cayman swallowtail (Papilio andraemontaibri) feed on lime trees; the white peacock (Anarte jatrophae jamaicensis) is the most commonly spotted along the trail.

Watch the shadowy undergrowth and you may spot some of Grand Cayman's most reticent residents as well. The agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), a shy rodent, is occasionally seen. Other residents include the hickatee (Trachemys decussata), a freshwater turtle found in the brackish ponds of the Cayman Islands and Cuba. The Grand Cayman blue iguana (Cyclura Nubila Lewisi) or the Cayman anole lizard (Anolis conspersus), with a blue throat pouch, are also seen. Grass snakes (Alsophis cantherigerus) feed on frogs and lizards, but are harmless to humans.

After a walk along the Woodland Trail, take time to visit the beautiful showplace gardens (see Sightseeing, below). The gardens are open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Admission is US $3.12 for adults, US $1.20 for kids 6-12, and children under 6 are free.