Description

Located on the eastern flank of La Soufrière, the Grand Carbet river is famous for its three waterfalls. The first is the highest with a jump of 115 meters between two levels. Accessible thanks to a 1h 30 walk, this is classified as “difficult”, so this waterfall is less visited than its neighbor, whose altitude is 110 meters. The last one and with less altitude, barely 20 meters, has a great flow which has given rise to a large pond that is quite impressive and very pleasant for swimming. 

It is said that its name was given in memory of the indigenous people* who lived in the huts located at the mouth of this river. 

Biodiversity

Biodiversity in this area, as in that of La Soufrière, is characterized by a zone of dense evergreen humid forest*. Its vegetation is therefore exuberant and its fauna is adapted to this particular environment. You can see mountain raspberries, fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum), or Annona muricata. The variety of plant species, as in the case of La Soufrière, changes according to the different levels of the mountain and the forest stage in which they are found. 

The fauna is also diverse there, you can find mongooses (belonging to the Herpestidae family), lesser Antillean bullfinch (Loxigilla noctis),  brown trembler  (Cinclocerthia ruficauda), and Anolis marmoratus (commonly known as the leopard anole or the Guadeloupean anole). The cyrique crab (Guinotia dentata a west indian species of freshwater crab) is also present and inhabits the small ravines.

Potential ecotourism

LThe accessible forest trail winds through big-leaf mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla) and then deep into the rainforest*. The fact of being surrounded by such dense vegetation guarantees a complete change of scenery. 

From the arrival area in Carbet, it takes approximately 1h 45min immersed in the tropical forest to reach the first waterfall. The second one, which remains dangerous to approach due to frequent rockfalls, is visible from an observation deck accessible after about 15 to 20 minutes on foot. The visit to the third fall can be done by two routes. A northern route, which requires two hours of walking from the arrival area; and a southern route that allows access in 1 hour from the Routhiers and Petit Marquisat districts from the Capesterre-Belle-Eau municipality. 

Aerial video link – 2nd fall of the Carbet 

Les chutes du Carbet – 2ème chute (Capesterre-Belle-Eau, Guadeloupe) 

General view of the first and second waterfalls. 

Source: geocaching.com 

Aerial view of the first two falls 

Source: Pinterest