Galbas trail

10 points of interest

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  Information board

  Starting panel

  You will see the panel introducing two neighbouring trails: the Saut des Trois Cornes trail and the Tête Allègre trail. The start of the Galbas circuit is shared by both of these trails. Please note, this trail is not mentioned on the starting panel.
  On the way, you will see signs guiding you along the Galbas trail.

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  Agricultural landscape

  Vanilla

  There are more and more agroforestry projects, and vanilla is one of the main crops, with half of the vanilla farmers working as franchisees. The ONF authorises franchises or "concessions", which are drawn up to respect technical and environmental provisions related to forest management.
  Vanilla is an orchid that likes shaded, cool and humid environments. Growing it is tricky and time-consuming. Since there are no pollinating insects in the archipelago, pollination is carried out by hand.

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  Flora

  Candlewood

  Candlewood (Dacryodes excelsa) can grow up to 35 metres in height. From the trunk and roots a white sap with a strong smell of resin seeps out when cut. The sap is traditionally used as incense or to light fires, since it burns very slowly, whatever the humidity level. It is believed it can chase away evil spirits. Candlewood trunks were used by native Americans to make canoes (kanawa), and in many tropical countries today, such as Dominica, the trunks are used by coastal populations to make fishing boats. Wood pigeons are fond of the seeds from the tree.

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  Flora

  Haya blanca

  Guatteria caribeae is a very straight tree, often with more than one trunk. It has blackish bark and dangling branches. The tree's berries are pulpy and black. The bark is used to make rope, and the wood to make ships' masts. It is still used today to make traditional sailing boats in Guadeloupe (kanot).

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  Flora

  "Bwa Bandé"

  Richeria grandis is known as "Bwa Bandé" locally. This is a very tall species that can be recognised with its tough leaves and reddy-brown bark. Its fruits are very specific, forming little capsules that look like green raisins. They mass together in large numbers on the branches. The "bwa-bandé" is unfortunately often the victim of illegal cuttings, since its bark is renowned as an aphrodisiac. The wood was once used to make frameworks and in carpentry

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  Information board

  Signpost

  First intersection with the Boucle de Tête Allègre trail. Turn right to follow "Sofaïa" / Galbas.

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  Flora

  Sierran palm

  The Sierran palm (Prestaea montana) has no trunk but only a stipe, like the fern. It can live both in the hygrophile or rain forest (where it can grow up to about ten metres in height) and at high altitude (where it does not grow over two metres).
  Please note: intersection towards the Trois Cornes Fall (Sofaïa). Continue to the right and begin the descent along the Galbas trail.

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  Flora

  West Indian mahogany

  The West Indian mahogany (Swietennia macrophylla) is a perennial tree with a large, straight, cylindrical bole. It has little yellowy green blossom. The species was introduced into the island for its wood. The wood is much in demand in cabinet-making for its hardness and colours, which leads to over-exploitation in its native area. It appears in appendix II of the list of endangered species (Washington convention).

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  River and waterfall

  Gully

  The Basse-Terre mountain range has a network of countless gullies which constitute drainage basins for the main rivers. The Grand Boucan gully is one of the rivers periodically supplying water to the famous Grande Rivière in Goyaves.

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  Flora

  Philodendron giganteum

  The Philodendron giganteum is an epiphyte. It is easily recognisable due to its leaves resembling elephant ears and its root system, with one part securing it to the host plant and another growing down towards the ground. The roots are used as raw materials in local wickerwork. Epiphytes are plants living on other plants. In Guadeloupe, they are remarkably abundant in the thick rain forests. They attach to the trunks, branches and leaves of their hosts, forming real hanging gardens to enchant visitors. Although some of them can grow on the ground, they generally grow higher up in forests because there is more light and higher humidity levels (over 80%).