Island Hikers

Island Hikers invite visitors to a Down D islands hike to Chacachacare Light House.The Island now deserted has a wealth of history, it was first discovered by Columbus on  12th August 1498 and called El Caracol (The Snail ) because of it's shape.During times of slavery cotton was cultivated on Chacachacare  between 1777-1850 and evidence of cotton trees still exist. In 1813 the  Island was used as a base for the liberation of Venezuela from Spanish rule by Simon Bolivar and Santiago Marino ,In 1820  a whaling station  was established , In 1870 The Boca Light House was constructed on Morne Cabresse (825feet).It is the second tallest light house in the world and is still in operation today.A Leprosarium with a convent and church to house 500 patients was built on Coco, Saunder's and La Chapelle Bay  between 1924 -1984.
The boat ride to the Island takes forty  minutes .The hike to the Light House is thirty - five minutes and fantastic views of Venezuela, just eight miles away can be seen in the distance .The hike is optional and non hikers can spend the day relaxing at La Tinta and Perruquier Bay.