Visit Nature Centre - Situated in the Arima Valley of the Northern Range in Trinidad it is owned by a non-profit trust. Charles Meyer took over the property that was bought by his father Fredrich Meyer in the Arima Valley. Springhill, originally called Clearwater was built from 1906 to 1908 on the cocoa estate. The house was has high ceilings, six rooms, with a hallway between the rear four, and a wide veranda overlooking the valley. However, being of German origin all his estates were confiscated in World War I by the Trinidad colonial government. In 1955 Asa Wright bought all of the property. The nature centre now includes a main estate house as an inn and restaurant serving dishes with ingredients from an on-site organic garden. Non-adjacent properties have also been added to the centre's land holdings. The centre is one of the most biodiverse areas in the West Indies and is home to more than 250 bird species which include purple honeycreeper, tufted coquette (a hummingbird), tropical mockingbird, and the rare oilbird (a nocturnal fruit eater), as well as squirrel cuckoos, toucans and parakeets. Among the animals in the forests of the centre are red brocket deer, the elusive ocelot, the Brazilian porcupine and the southern tamandua, red-rumped agouti, red-rumped agouti. The Centre has been a focal point for environmental education efforts throughout the Caribbean. The guides are well trained and knowledgeable. We were taken on a two hour trek through jungle trails over uneven, roots exposed and marching ants. The guides would explain the flora and fauna as we passed them. Sometimes when we heard the bird calls the guide would explain which bird it was, how far it may be, in what direction and what the call was communicating. As we walked down the trial there was not much to take pictures of as all the birds and animals were so far away that the telephone cameras were inadequate to take telephoto pictures. The centre also has a restaurant where we had a typical Trinidadian lunch and drink. The lunch comprised of fresh green and tomato salad, roasted pineapple chicken, grilled shrimp in creole sauce, AWNC (the Centre’s own recipe) vegetable rice, Pasta pie, Trini Callaloo (a dish which uses taro leaves, okra, pumpkin, coconut milk, onions, garlic, and Scotch bonnet peppers) and stewed pink beans. The dessert was marble ‘pettie (sic) four’ with sorrel - a traditional marble sponge but one that had sorrel (hibiscus flower concentrate) added in the batter.

Bird trip to T & T - We used Sensational Tours for 4 days of different birding tours on Trinidad. Nick was great. Nick and I set up the itinerary before we arrived in Port of Spain. Nick answered my email quickly when I had questions. Nick was our guide and driver. He was friendly and on time. He introduces us to Doubles!!! The Asa Wright is a wonderful tour. Great place to see lots of birds. I would use Nick at Sensational tours again when we return to T & T in the future. Thanks Nick!!!

Relaxing in nature - We enjoyed our time at Asa Wright but wish we'd known a bit more about what to expect as we would have got more out of it. I would describe it as a day spa at a beautiful nature centre. With the cost you get lunch, afternoon tea and one guided tour. For the rest of the day you can relax in the beautiful surroundings, go on your own hikes on the other trails and make use of their natural pools. Take your binoculars and camera. Stunning amount of birds to see!

Beautiful oasis - If you want to see beautiful birds in a picturesque setting, this is the place to go. When we first arrived we were sent to the Veranda, which has mulitiple feeding stations, and we were treated to large collection of hummingbirds as well as many other birds in every color imaginable. The actual walking tour was nice with well informed guides. We had a wonderful time.