Time: 2 hours; Bains Chauds (Hot Baths), 1.5 hours,
round trip. Difficulty: 2-3. A blazed trail, rather
easy. Trailhead: Depart from the Clinique des Eaux-Vives
of Papaye. Arrive at the Forest House of Matouba, altitude 667m.
At the foot of the northern slope of Nez Casse are 90-degree C sulphur
springs. Their therapeutic properties are used by the Clinique des Eaux-Vives
on the Papaye Plateau above Matouba.
This "Clinic of Living Waters" draws some of the wealthiest
people of Guadeloupe. It is also the starting point for your hike. Park
in the lot.
The first 200-300 meters go along the road in a northeasterly direction,
then pass vegetable gardens and fields of grazing cattle.
After crossing a muddy section, the trail becomes wide and rather gentle
because you are following roughly the curves of the northwest side of
Nez Casse.
About 1,500 meters after leaving the fields, the trail curves left
to the Chaude Ravine, a green opening composed of giant trees, tree
ferns, heliconias and raspberries.
The trail leads you 300 meters farther to a fork. The path to the
right, which will take you to the hot baths, meanders through a stunted
forest, a growth pattern that precedes the high-altitude savannahs.
After visiting the hot baths, you can either return to your departure
point by taking the path described above, or continuing on the well-maintained
trail for another hour to the ranger station of Matouba.
From there, you can get back to the Plateau Papaye parking area by
following the road going through Matouba village, with its pretty wooden
houses and colorful gardens.
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