Bike St.Lucia - Jungle Biking Adventure

WHERE ADVENTURE MEETS ROMANCE

January 22, 2012

For the adventurer and romantic, Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia offers the unique combination of physical challenge and total pampering. Enjoy two nights free on basis of our weekly Amazing Adventure package for travel June 1- Sept 30, as long as there is availability - book no later than July 15, 2012. Call 1-800-223-1108

Few places offer enchanting accommodations midst spectacular scenery and the choice of an adventure a day. And while sensuous seclusion of the rooms provides some guests with the perfect excuse for lolling away the day on the balcony, many head out to partake in the many activities: yoga, snorkeling, scuba diving, tennis, sunset sailing sea kayaking, jungle biking, hiking and bird-watching among the ruins of the 18th century colonial plantation.

Anse Chastanet has created THE AMAZING ADVENTURE PACKAGE just for the energetic romantic. The week includes seven nights accommodation in room category chosen, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, all tax and service, airport transfers both ways, welcome cocktail, drinks package in room fridge, basket of local fruit, daily scheduled scuba diving for certified divers (or one scuba beginner resort course including two dives for non certified divers), jungle biking with Bike St.Lucia, boat snorkel trips, guided walks and hikes on the ANSE CHASTANET 600 acre estate, one Rain Forest Hike, use of tennis and tennis equipment, use of watersports equipment (snorkeling, ocean-kayaking, windsurfing, sunfish sailing),use of beach chairs and beach towels, complimentary resort watertaxi to ANSE MAMIN beach. Exchange a day of scuba diving or jungle biking for a "Kool Kayaking" Adventure.

Package Rates in US Dollars

On basis of this limited promotion, a one week stay for 2 is US 4615, US 5235, US 5530 and US 6240 in Superior, Beachside Deluxe, Hillside Deluxe and Premium accommodation respectively.

Unused package features are non refundable.

St. Lucia, Soufriere, June 1, 2011… For the adventurer and romantic, Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia offers the unique combination of physical challenge and total pampering. Enjoy two nights free on basis of our weekly Amazing Adventure package for travel June 1- Sept 30, as long as there is availability - book no later than July 15, 2011.

Package Rates in US Dollars

On basis of this limited promotion, a one week stay for 2 is US 4615, US 5235, US 5530 and US 6240 in Superior, Beachside Deluxe, Hillside Deluxe and Premium accommodation respectively.

Unused package features are non refundable.

New hiking trail allows non-riders to experience Bike St. Lucia

To enhance the enjoyment of non-riders who may accompany hard-core mountain bikers to the Bike St. Lucia facility, Anse Chastanet has added the Reservoir Hiking Trail at its Anse Mamin adventure center. The trail winds its way through the lush jungle past plantation ruins ending on the hillside overlooking the 18^th century stone-walled reservoir that holds 1 ½ million gallons of water. Along the way the path parallels and crosses some of the bike trails allowing non-riders to view family and friends as they ride. At trails end there is a bench where you can relax and enjoy the serene view overlooking the reservoir and the natural beauty all around you. The trail begins just off the Anse Mamin beach inside the gate and requires a very modest level of fitness.

New Jump Up Bridge enhances trail options

A new bridge has been built across the Anse Mamin River in the midst of Bike St. Lucia’s labyrinth of trails that serves to better connect tracks on both sides of the stream. The bridge adds to the options riders have as they roll along through the jungle from one trail to another. Located roughly half way between the bike center and the reservoir, the rustic wooden structure fits in perfectly within the old plantation.

A mountain biking enthusiast shares his Bike St. Lucia experience

(This story, posted on www.mtbr.com, the mountain bike review website, captures well the experience Bike St. Lucia offers to riders.)

I just returned from a Cruise of the Caribbean onboard a Royal Caribbean ship. I wanted to ride this trail for months and was delighted to hook up with the folks at Bike St. Lucia who collected me at the ship and took me to their boat for an interesting cruise down the coast on an uncharacteristically rough sea on the island’s leeward coast.

The ocean is heaving; 8 foot swells flip the water taxi like a cork as we speed along the St. Lucian coastline. As we round the point, the beach comes into view. I am the only mountain biker on the boat. The pilot says to me in broken English, "this is where you get off". He floors the throttles full reverse, as the waves crash over the stern of the small dive boat. The deckhand releases the gangplank and I jumped to the beach and quickly scramble to get out of the way of the next incoming wave. For a moment, I stand there taking in the solitude and exotic beauty of the beach.

I’m then met by a friendly security guard who says he’ll take me to the bike center. I can barely contain myself as the trailhead comes into view.....a most unreal sight I'd never expected. Huge 12 foot high wooden doors, similar to Jurassic park, separate the isolated beach from the jungle within. The guard swings them open with a groaning sound, revealing behind them, a perfect ribbon of single track snaking off into the jungle.

We walked maybe 100 yards into the property, where a 200 year old ruin of a building awaited me. I walked through the doors of this once molasses warehouse and was immediately surrounded by at least 50 thousand dollars worth of bikes. At least 30 Cannondale f-800s hung from the ceiling and in the bike racks. All decked out to the max, with XT hydro disk brakes, and lefty's I even spotted a few Jekyll's in the mix...but I'm a hard tail man...so that's what I chose.

After being outfitted with my new favorite bike, it was time to hit the trails. I donned my helmet and gloves, tested out the brakes and fork lockout, and spun off. The trail guide took me around the 1.5 mile inner loop, pointing out various trailheads that branched off of "Main Street" and the easy-to-read trail markings (green, yellow, red, and Black) and what difficulties they represented. His final piece of advice was regarding the "black" trail. "Tinker's trail", he said, "is black for a reason. Only Tinker Juarez has climbed the entire thing without walking, and very few can make the decent." I took that as a challenge. As I got used to the bike, I got more courage. The Creeping Fig Loop has cool vines growing up the side of the cliff as you ride by, some of the downhill runs shoot you out through the ruins, while creek crossings and technical sections abound. The true highlight of the trip (the entire cruise vacation) was "Tinker's Trail". From sea level, it is a 1000 foot vertical climb. 1 mile up, 1 mile down. I remember being about half way up...walking switchbacks, thinking to myself "most trail builders use the shallow grades for the climbs".
"What could possibly await me on the descent?"
This was without a doubt, the most difficult climb of my life. As I round a corner, I see a trail intersection. There are signs, telling you at this point, you can either continue upward, or head back down. Trust me....you will want to go back down! DON’T. You're halfway there....and the best is yet to come. You climb among boulders as big as houses, through loose rocky switchbacks, but the view at the top is spellbinding. I would say that the view of the mighty Pitons rising out of the Caribbean is worth EVERY climb you have ever made..... and, oh yeah, then you get to come back down!

The climb took me 45 minutes. The descent took 6.

It was hair raising, white knuckled and fast. The first 4 switchbacks are so steep and tight, that if you can't trackstand, you WILL fall. After you swing around each one, let the brakes go, and hold on for your life. Over 5 minutes, the trail changes from dry rocky, to tacky and rooty, as you descend below the jungle canopy. Stay off the brakes over the roots, or you'll find a shortcut to the Caribbean....and enjoy the best mountain bike ...no ... JUNGLE bike ride of your life!