Shurland welcomed my small group with the biggest smile and the friendliest greeting, assisted by dozens of hummingbirds circling our heads. My friends and I were on a road trip to the northern parts of Tobago. I had heard of this mini Shurland Nature Park and decided to book the highly-recommended lunch on the way back. It is located on the Roxborough-Parlatuvier Road that traverses the island.
We were all charmed by the rustic setting, and having the birds fluttering around us was very special. Shurland gave us each a small flower feeder which kept the hummingbirds coming, even sitting on our hands to feed.
We settled in various chairs, drinking home-made juice and playing with the birds. Shurland gave us a history of the place and how she encouraged the hummingbirds to stay. There are different varieties depending on the time of year, though there was only one type that day. She shared her vision for the future, always improving, always upgrading, to present a corner of paradise to visitors. She even did a special bird call to attract motmots to the larger bird feeders, and they came, along with other types of birds. It was a delightful experience.
Then we strolled around the picturesque site and enjoyed the view over the Caribbean Sea. It appeared to show the hills between Parlatuvier and Bloody Bay. Meanwhile, Shurland set up warmers with our lunch. A veritable feast – fish, chicken, callaloo, corn pie, veggie rice, plantain, dasheen, sweet potato and green salad. We came back for seconds and more, but couldn’t clean up the servings. All this was rounded off with her famous soursop ice cream. Shurland persuaded us to taste the highly nutritious soupsop fruit too. It lives up to its name.
It’s a good thing we opted to do the hike before lunch, not after! We chose an easy one-hour hike with a guide. This was in the oldest forest reserve in the western hemisphere, the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, which occupies much of the centre of the island. Fitzroy stopped our car on the road, guessing correctly that we were his customers. He led us into the rainforest along a winding track next to a ravine. His sharp eyes and ears allowed him to point out various birds in the foliage.
We stopped to admire a trap-door spider‘s nest, designed so that the spider can surprise and catch passing insects. The spider was not too pleased that we opened his trap-door to take a photo, and we carefully replaced it for him. After half an hour, we turned around and retraced our steps. A pleasant walk, though perhaps a longer hike might have been more rewarding.
I do recommend a visit to Shurland Nature Park, especially suitable for children. It is unique and supports eco-tourism, which is what Tobago is known for. Here are the costs and opening hours. You get a discount if you book a meal. Enjoy it!
Shurland’s Adventure – Hike Trails and Waterfalls
Hummingbird Viewing and Photography:
Shurland 660-7883 / 294-3740
Rain Forest / Waterfall Tours,
Bird / Turtle Watching:
Fitzroy 344-1895 / 763-2524 / 660-7836
