Places to hike in Trinidad: Bunsee Trace Mud Volcano & L'eau Michel Beach
I have a new worst hike ever. And I am not exaggerating.
First let me start by saying not everything you see other people doing you must do too. Stop being never-see-come-see like me and learn to stay in yuh house every once in a while. Goddamn!
I only decided to go visit the Bunsee Trace mud volcano after seeing everybody and dey mudda posting their awesome photos all covered in mud like dey playing j'ouvert. Well I wanted to play j'ouvert too dammit! Plus I heard the mud gives you skin as smooth as a baby's butt. Or this guy's butt.
So off we went to make the 37 mile journey from Port of Spain to the Penal/Debe region. We found Bunsee Trace easy enough with the help of Google Maps. So in we went driving down this dirt road. Now I wanted to park at the start of Bunsee Trace and walk to the mud volcano but since we weren't exactly sure how far in it was, and we had kids with us, we decided to drive. Big mistake. Now, this dirt road is utilised by farmers who use tractors to get to their gardens. So the road is pretty bad. I knew we shouldn't be driving in there but man again. Dey doh like to listen. And Mr Man feel we lil Suzuki was a Jeep Wrangler nah.
We went as far as we could but we reached a point where the car just could not pass since the road was so dug up and muddy. Only then Mr Man decided to park. So we parked at that point and made the rest of the trek on foot. It was just about half a mile of walking, ten minutes or so and we got to the mud volcano....which looks more like a mud pit. There's a 'Y' in the trail with a sign telling you which direction to go to the mud volcano and which direction to go to L'eau Michel beach.
The idea is to go get muddy then hike down to the beach to wash off. The mud volcano was like a jacuzzi, filled with grey pungent, thick mud. It felt like wading through melted ice cream...but with a smell like sulphur and oil.
My initial concern when I got into the pit was sinking to the bottom and being swallowed up and my body never being recovered. But it is quite impossible to sink. The mud keeps you buoyant and even if you dive in, it pushes you back to the top. So you float without making any effort to float. Nearby, there's another pit filled with water where people go to wash off. I don't recommend it, though. It's filthy. It's like trying to wash off mud with more mud.
The Bunsee Trace mud volcano is actually just one of 15 known mud volcanoes in Trinidad. But it is one of the more popular ones and very well maintained. The area has been developed with huts and places for cooking and even swings and treehouses for children to climb and play. We had a time.
I don't know why they have a "do not step into volcano" sign there since basically the only reason people come from far and wide is to do exactly that. We went in anyhow as there were already people in it swimming around.
We made the trek to L'eau Michel beach to rinse off. The trail to the beach was dug up and muddy and virtually impassable, even by foot. Most of the way we had to walk through the trees and keep off the trail altogether. If you decide to walk along the trail, you might as well sit on your butt and just slide all the way down, it's that slippery. I'm sure in drier weather, the trail wouldn't be that muddy and slick but that's how we met it today.
It was just about a mile to the beach, most of it downhill. It's one of the least attractive beaches I've ever been to, to be quite honest.
The water was a sickly brown color and did not look inviting at all but it did the job of getting us mud-free.
The climb back out was equally as distressing. With the mud off our skins, now we felt the full force of what felt like millions of mosquitos. Whatever smoothing benefits I gained from the mud bath was erased in an instant. You could play connect the dots on my skin now with the number of mosquito bites I got. Y'all, Penal mosquitoes different boy.
Anyway, up until this point the hike was bearable but when we got back to the car, that's when the trouble began. The mud had become so thick and slippery, and passing tractors had made the ruts even deeper. We got stuck THREE times coming out. The first time a hiking couple stopped and helped us push the car out of a deep rut. But no sooner had we thanked them and went on our way, we got into difficulty again. This time we skid down a muddy slope so quickly, I thought we were gonna die. No lie. The car wouldn't brake and it kept sliding right toward a tree. Just as I started to scream, it stopped. You know how in the movies you see a car stop mere inches from hitting something or someone? That's exactly what happened here.
We were stuck so bad and couldn't get out until another hiking group passed by and reluctantly gave us a push. They were actually gonna leave us there if we didn't beg them to stop and help. Anyway, after they pushed us out of the rut we thought we were good to go. But, the universe said otherwise.
Our third and most difficult challenge had arrived. Getting the car up a steep slope when mud and gravity had other plans. I even came out to push. But the more we pushed, the car just slid backward. Imagine trying to push a 4000 lb vehicle while your feet keep slipping on mud. Yeah, we weren't going a damn place. Then out of nowhere, like he was sent from heaven, a farmer appeared on a tractor and rescued us. He pulled us out and up the slope with a chain attached to the tractor. I was so happy I promised to name my next child after him. So welcome to the world Tractormanika.
The experience was so frightening to get out, I swear I will never go back. If you're gonna do this hike, park at the first shed you meet on Bunsee Trace and go the rest of the way on foot. Even if you're driving a 4x4 and you think you're the best driver around. Don't be an ass. We passed two drivers in Hilux vehicles that could not pass. They eventually gave up and turned back.
You will not make it in a Hilux or Navara or anything other than a goddamn tractor. You've been warned.
Also, my sneakers, which I bought like 2 months ago for running, are kaput now. The mud was so thick yall, the suction pulled the sole right off. So now ya girl gotta get new running shoes 😞. Ain't nobody got money to be buying new running shoes every goddamn month! A BIG ole eff you and middle finger to Bunsee Trace mud volcano and L'eau Michel beach. Go right to the top of the worst hike list! Ah not going back meh say!!!
Length: The trail to the beach from the "Y" is approximately one mile. Not sure of the distance from the start of Bunsee Trace to the mud volcano as we drove in most of the way.
Terrain: Slippery dirt road with deep ruts and thick mud.
Time: The trail to the beach takes about 20-30 minutes.
Level: This hike is rated as a level 3 (the mud makes it a bit more challenging though) Best visited in the dry season.
Got any ideas of scenic places to walk or hike to? Comment any suggestions down below!
First let me start by saying not everything you see other people doing you must do too. Stop being never-see-come-see like me and learn to stay in yuh house every once in a while. Goddamn!
I only decided to go visit the Bunsee Trace mud volcano after seeing everybody and dey mudda posting their awesome photos all covered in mud like dey playing j'ouvert. Well I wanted to play j'ouvert too dammit! Plus I heard the mud gives you skin as smooth as a baby's butt. Or this guy's butt.
We went as far as we could but we reached a point where the car just could not pass since the road was so dug up and muddy. Only then Mr Man decided to park. So we parked at that point and made the rest of the trek on foot. It was just about half a mile of walking, ten minutes or so and we got to the mud volcano....which looks more like a mud pit. There's a 'Y' in the trail with a sign telling you which direction to go to the mud volcano and which direction to go to L'eau Michel beach.
The idea is to go get muddy then hike down to the beach to wash off. The mud volcano was like a jacuzzi, filled with grey pungent, thick mud. It felt like wading through melted ice cream...but with a smell like sulphur and oil.
My initial concern when I got into the pit was sinking to the bottom and being swallowed up and my body never being recovered. But it is quite impossible to sink. The mud keeps you buoyant and even if you dive in, it pushes you back to the top. So you float without making any effort to float. Nearby, there's another pit filled with water where people go to wash off. I don't recommend it, though. It's filthy. It's like trying to wash off mud with more mud.
The Bunsee Trace mud volcano is actually just one of 15 known mud volcanoes in Trinidad. But it is one of the more popular ones and very well maintained. The area has been developed with huts and places for cooking and even swings and treehouses for children to climb and play. We had a time.
I don't know why they have a "do not step into volcano" sign there since basically the only reason people come from far and wide is to do exactly that. We went in anyhow as there were already people in it swimming around.
We made the trek to L'eau Michel beach to rinse off. The trail to the beach was dug up and muddy and virtually impassable, even by foot. Most of the way we had to walk through the trees and keep off the trail altogether. If you decide to walk along the trail, you might as well sit on your butt and just slide all the way down, it's that slippery. I'm sure in drier weather, the trail wouldn't be that muddy and slick but that's how we met it today.
It was just about a mile to the beach, most of it downhill. It's one of the least attractive beaches I've ever been to, to be quite honest.
The water was a sickly brown color and did not look inviting at all but it did the job of getting us mud-free.
The climb back out was equally as distressing. With the mud off our skins, now we felt the full force of what felt like millions of mosquitos. Whatever smoothing benefits I gained from the mud bath was erased in an instant. You could play connect the dots on my skin now with the number of mosquito bites I got. Y'all, Penal mosquitoes different boy.
Anyway, up until this point the hike was bearable but when we got back to the car, that's when the trouble began. The mud had become so thick and slippery, and passing tractors had made the ruts even deeper. We got stuck THREE times coming out. The first time a hiking couple stopped and helped us push the car out of a deep rut. But no sooner had we thanked them and went on our way, we got into difficulty again. This time we skid down a muddy slope so quickly, I thought we were gonna die. No lie. The car wouldn't brake and it kept sliding right toward a tree. Just as I started to scream, it stopped. You know how in the movies you see a car stop mere inches from hitting something or someone? That's exactly what happened here.
We were stuck so bad and couldn't get out until another hiking group passed by and reluctantly gave us a push. They were actually gonna leave us there if we didn't beg them to stop and help. Anyway, after they pushed us out of the rut we thought we were good to go. But, the universe said otherwise.
Our third and most difficult challenge had arrived. Getting the car up a steep slope when mud and gravity had other plans. I even came out to push. But the more we pushed, the car just slid backward. Imagine trying to push a 4000 lb vehicle while your feet keep slipping on mud. Yeah, we weren't going a damn place. Then out of nowhere, like he was sent from heaven, a farmer appeared on a tractor and rescued us. He pulled us out and up the slope with a chain attached to the tractor. I was so happy I promised to name my next child after him. So welcome to the world Tractormanika.
The experience was so frightening to get out, I swear I will never go back. If you're gonna do this hike, park at the first shed you meet on Bunsee Trace and go the rest of the way on foot. Even if you're driving a 4x4 and you think you're the best driver around. Don't be an ass. We passed two drivers in Hilux vehicles that could not pass. They eventually gave up and turned back.
You will not make it in a Hilux or Navara or anything other than a goddamn tractor. You've been warned.
Also, my sneakers, which I bought like 2 months ago for running, are kaput now. The mud was so thick yall, the suction pulled the sole right off. So now ya girl gotta get new running shoes 😞. Ain't nobody got money to be buying new running shoes every goddamn month! A BIG ole eff you and middle finger to Bunsee Trace mud volcano and L'eau Michel beach. Go right to the top of the worst hike list! Ah not going back meh say!!!
Length: The trail to the beach from the "Y" is approximately one mile. Not sure of the distance from the start of Bunsee Trace to the mud volcano as we drove in most of the way.
Terrain: Slippery dirt road with deep ruts and thick mud.
Time: The trail to the beach takes about 20-30 minutes.
Level: This hike is rated as a level 3 (the mud makes it a bit more challenging though) Best visited in the dry season.
Got any ideas of scenic places to walk or hike to? Comment any suggestions down below!
This review I must say was such a joy to read. I am sorry to hear that your experience was so terrible though. I visited this volcano three times already in a Nissan B15 but thankfully all was in dry season so I did have an enjoyable time. So I do hope you give it another try...in the dry season. Happy hiking
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