El Cerro del Aripo

El Cerro del Aripo is the highest mountain in Trinidad and Tobago, rising to about 940 metres above sea level. It forms part of the island’s Northern Range and is the country’s principal highland summit.

The slopes host montane and cloud forest habitats with species adapted to cooler, wetter conditions than the lowlands, and several trails provide routes to the summit for day hikes. Weather can change rapidly and parts of the route cross steep and vegetated terrain.

The mountain is located in the Northern Range on the main island of Trinidad, near ridge lines that overlook both the Caribbean coast to the north and interior valleys to the south. Access is typically from local trailheads reached by road from nearby northern towns and villages.

• Highest point: at 940 metres above sea level it is the highest peak in Trinidad and Tobago and is often paired with nearby El Tucuche by hikers visiting the Northern Range.

• Start the hike very early to reach the summit before afternoon cloud and rain build in the Northern Range; morning summit views are usually clearest.
• Use a reputable local guide or join a known hiking group-routes can be steep, wet and slippery, and guides know the safest trails and current conditions.
• Plan your trip on a dry-weather day and allow time for river crossings and muddy sections; the peak sits in cloud forest, so conditions change quickly and go beyond a typical day hike.