Mt Plaisir

By Sheldon Waithe

The renewal of Trinidad’s ecocentres is expanded by the renovation of the charming and totally unique Mt. Plaisir Estate Hotel. Adhering to the same HADCO Experiences Ltd principles of environment protection, regenerative systems, and preservation, that have been applied to the Asa Wright Nature Centre, Mt Plaisir promises the experience of a lifetime.

Located on Trinidad’s north coast, the hotel is surrounded by the species-filled rainforest that suddenly opens to provide an idyllic sandy perch looking out to sea. The river nearby enhances the sanctuary setting, but best of all are the seafaring visitors – old and new – to the beach in front of the hotel.

These Leatherback turtles that come to nest each year, and the thousands of offspring that make their way to the sea, take top priority. Together with the consideration for the nearby trails and waterfalls, HADCO Experiences are creating an all-encompassing approach that blends the best of conservation and sustainability, with the finest gastronomic experiences drawn from the local community, to ensure authenticity and freshness.

Offering adventure and retreat, exploration and outings, the refurbished Mt Plaisir is a welcome return to the T&T eco-landscape.

The sun was just rising, the waves softly rolling on to Grande Rivière. We plodded along following the guide, the sand loamy and sticky beneath our feet, the incline steep. Our daughters walked alongside, sleepy but excited about the early morning adventure.

As we got closer, we could hear the soft thrashing of the back fins, almost in synch with the surf. The Leatherback seemed in a trance, digging a deep trench to lay a clutch of about 80-100 soft, white eggs that should hatch in a couple of months.

A few visitors attempted to foolishly hop on the shell and shine flashlights in her eyes, the tour guide was quick to act. As the sun rose the huge silhouette was spot-lit, revealing a scarred shell and those liquid eyes. After about 20 minutes she had successfully covered the nest and slowly returned to the ocean to begin a journey that may take her as far as Canada. Many Leatherbacks return about ten times to nest during the season which peaks from March to June in the island, home to the second largest nesting site in the world.

“Volunteers are responsible for making Trinidad and Tobago’s humble turtle conservation a success story on a global scale. They spend untold hours tagging, counting, and measuring nesting mothers; monitoring and sometimes even relocating nests; and helping safeguard the turtles from predators and threats. Their hard work has caused Leatherback meat and egg poaching to fall to near zero.” A recent National Geographic article stated.

In 1965 the turtle conservation programme started through a collaboration between the University of the West Indies and the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club. In 1989, the Forestry Division developed a comanagement partnership with the rural communities where turtles nest, fostering the growth of several community-based organisations. Twenty-eight of them now comprise the Turtle Village Trust. This community-led approach, particularly in Matura and Grande Rivière, has become a model for similar conservation initiatives