Babonneau SkyTram and St Lucia zip line

‘Look up there,’ said our guide Jackie pointing at the bird flying above, ‘that’s a St Lucia parrot.’ Too high to spot its green, blue and red feathers, we were lucky to see one of the rare birds at all.

That’s not the easiest thing to explain to a parrot-obsessed toddler though. Minnie gazed skyward, insisting ‘more parrot, more’ as it flapped off into the rainforest.

press trip*

The best I could do was a toy one in a can (which they helpfully opened, as I didn’t fancy explaining why she had to wait until I got my hands on a tin opener either) – but while that was probably the highlight of my daughter’s visit to the rainforest at Babonneau, it was only the start for me.

We were taking one of the Rainforest Adventures tours combining the aerial tram ride or SkyTram and a zip line through the rainforest in St Lucia

A cross between a cable car and an open-top cage, the SkyTram sails smoothly up through the trees before cruising back down from above the canopy, giving some fantastic views out to the sea all the way to Martinique on the horizon.

Even better, it’s suitable for any age. And while I did feel mildly anxious about what would happen if Minnie got fed up part-way through the ride – which lasts just over an hour – I needn’t have done. According to Jackie, she was far from the youngest to try the ride and it’s pretty common to get kids on the tour.

Sat comfortably between my Mum and I, she seemed quite happy as long as I was next to her. The biggest issue was subduing her monkey-like squeaks of excitement so the other six people could hear the commentary (rice cakes, thankfully, sufficed).

With hummingbirds darting through the lush green leaves, strangler ficus, bright red heliconia and calabash trees to spot along the way, plus breadfruit and even pipes bringing the pure volcanic water down to the towns, there was more to take in that I can remember.

Between the commentary, explaining the five different levels of rainforest, we could just sit back, enjoy the silence (Minnie permitting) and the stunning views. Feeling suitably at one with nature, it was time to ratchet up the adrenaline a bit.

Sadly the zipline was a bit beyond Minnie for now – although interestingly not by much. According to Jackie, size matters more than age, so once kids have a waist size of 12 inches, they can wear a harness – that usually means at least age four, and they need to understand instructions.

I suspect that last point actually means they need to follow instructions – at 22 months Minnie knows what she’s being asked, but she chooses whether to pay any attention or not.

Obviously it depends on your own children, not least how fearless/mature they are, so it’s worth checking before you book.

For big kids, it’s fantastic. Nine different ziplines and obstacles, including a Tarzan swing and being rappelled down from a platform, they get successively longer and faster as you follow the trail through the forest.

There’s a triple redundancy system (ie two back-ups) and two guides accompanying at each platform, plus you’re clipped on while you’re waiting at either end. I never felt remotely unsafe – on the contrary, I was asking to go faster – and with a complete mix of ages, heights and weights, our group proved it’s got wide appeal.

Factor in extra time during high season, as even on a relatively quiet day, the waiting around meant it took me over two hours to get around (my Mum, who’d been waiting with Minnie and a group of staff forming an instant toddler appreciation society, was then ushered to the front of every queue to speed her round afterwards for her own turn and managed it in 30 minutes).

And obvious though it seems now, if you’re as jetlagged as I was, do not forget the insect repellent as any uncovered limb will be bitten to pieces.

Although there are lockers to leave your bags, you can take a camera/phone on this St Lucia zip line if you want photos, plus inevitably there’s the chance to buy one afterwards.

One last word of warning. Wearing a helmet for safety is something you’d probably expected. The hygienic blue hairnet-style hat? Well, let’s just say the photo might not take pride of place on the mantelpiece.

For more ideas of what to do in St Lucia and where to stay, check out my guide to the Caribbean island.

ZIPLINE ST LUCIA, BABONNEAU: PIN FOR LATER

Disclosure: The cost of our St Lucia zipline tours was covered by the tourist board and Rainforest Adventures. All opinions (including those on blue hairnets) are my own.

Images copyright MummyTravels

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER