Third Carbet Waterfall

6 points of interest

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  Information board

  Footbridge + signs

  You will come across trail resources all along the trail and a great many mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla). The species comes from South America. It was planted by the ONF from the 1950s onwards in a total surface area of over 4,000 hectares, and almost exclusively in Basse Terre in the thick rain forests.

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  Flora

  Tree fern

  Tree ferns are fossil plants that are among the oldest plants growing on land. They can grow up to 15 m in height. Instead of a trunk, they have a stipe (like banana trees), with wide fronds, 2 to 3 metres wide, at the top. The young leaves are shaped like a bishop's crosier. The most common species in the hygrophile or rain forest is Cyathea muricata.

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  Flora

  Sierran palm and Arouma

  The Sierran palm is one of the few palm trees growing in the rain forests of Guadeloupe. The Ischnosiphon arouma is a beautiful plant with leaves that seem to hang from the end of the long, slender petioles. It is often used in wickerwork and regenerates easily by casting off its root stock.

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  Information board

  River to cross and panel

  Be careful when you cross this small gully.
  On the other side is a panel with information about animals living in the water.

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  Flora

  Epiphyte plants

  They are one of the main features of the rain forest. They live on other plants, using them as a support but without acting as parasites. The most spectacular is probably the philodendron giganteum with its huge leaves (up to 80 cm long and 50 cm wide) growing on a stalk that can reach up to 1.5 m in length. Its scientific name is Philodendron giganteum.

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  Flora

  Crossroads and Candlewood

  To the right are panels showing the way to the 2nd Carbet waterfall. Opposite, around a karbay without a table, are a wide range of trees identified with small panels. One of them is remarkable for its trunk with a fragrant white resin running from it. The resin is still used today as incense. The candlewood tree can grow up to 35 m high. It is one of the tallest trees in Guadeloupe. Scientific name is Dracyodes excelsa.