carambola botanical gardens & trails

The trails at Carambola are well marked and traveled. We did not go with a tour guide, but we were the only ones there at the time and the gentleman that ran the place did alot of explaning to us in a short time about some of the plants. So many species! And I loved all the hummiingbirds. The view fron the top is well worth the hick. Overlooking Anthony's , bring binoculars if you have them . You can see the dophin area very well from there. Give yourself time to see this garden.

This was a highlight on our stay. Beautiful hike and a wonderful way to see species of plants and trees you might not get a chance to see normally. The view from the top of Carambola was amazing and we took our time to enjoy it and soak in the beauty of this island.

I feel it isn't totally correct to just call this a garden because it is so much more. Like one other reviewer said, it is a wonderful combination of a rain forest, a jungle and a garden. We did this tour as part of an cruise shore excursion and had a terrific guide who shared so much about the area. I was amazed by the variety of plants, trees and flowers we saw. It was a warm day, but the walk, which is a little uneven at times, but not bad, was cool because of all the shade. We stopped to rest and the guide gave us a taste of several fresh fruits. Again, bring a water bottle and get out and enjoy this beautiful area.

With any luck you'll get an introduction to the gardens by Bill the owner. It is a mix of tropical rainforest and jungle and garden and so may not be to the taste of those who like lawns and gravel paths. From the viewpoint at the top of the mountain trail you can sea people swimming with dolphins (binoculars needed) and the walk down will be tricky for some. A well copied map is available and there is good signage.

We didn't hike to the top for the view, but had plenty of those from the car ride. The garden was very green, but nothing much was in bloom and the $10 pp fee was way over priced. It was a pretty walk around but I would not have spent $30 on it. Gumbalimba is much prettier. Also, they had some cats on the property and one was pregnant and way to skinny....not a great feeling.

We did self guided. Map not the best but signs were posted. Nice jungle hike with a view at the top. Bring water.

This is a delightful garden area where you'll think you've left all hustle-and-bustle behind. The owner graciously tells you all about the plants and suggests places to check out at the Gardens. You will want to inch along, because there is so much to see: spices, ferns, flowers, quiet trails, etc. You can rest in charming seating areas. I was there almost 2 hours and wanted to stay much, much longer.

Took an excursion to the gardens while on a cruise. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to truly take it all in. It is truly beautiful. We sampled local fruits and they were tasty. There are trail within the gardens which we did not have the time to enjoy ... pity.

You are paying money to take a short I/2 hour hike up a mountain with a nice view on top, nothing more. You certainly don't need to also pay for the guide. Overall, not worth it.

The garden did not have a guide the day we stopped in, but the self guided tour was still enjoyable. If you are up to it, the hike through the jungle or mountain trail will lead you to a breathtaking view of Anthony's Key. The owner arrived as we were leaving and it would have been nice to spend more time visiting with him and hearing about how much the island has changed and the evolution of the gardens since he began in 1985.

Very well kept garden with a selection of paths in varying degrees of difficulty. The garden paths are easy to walk on. Depending of your love for plants you may want to spend hours here. You should give yourself at lest a hour. We meet Bill the owner and he informed us of the layout and explained some of the plants he had in the garden. There is a more difficult hike to the top of the hill which you are rewarded with a magnificent view and nice sitting area. I think this is a must do if on the island.

We were fortunate enough to be given a guided tour by the owner and creator of this amazing place, Bill Brady. He bought 40 acres of jungle and has left most of it to mother nature giving it a helping hand here and there. We only saw a small part of this wonderful place and could quite easily have spent the day there wandering round the nature trails. There are exotic fruit trees, spices and orchids there was even a chocolate tree. A definite must see if you ever visit this part of the world.

Great place to take all members of family..I was afraid I would't be able to keep up ( I'm 76 and have both artificial knees ) but it was a wonderful experience and just gforgeous to see.

Spectacular flora and fauna. Very nice owner and staff. Amazing views at the top of the hill (also known as the mountain.)

This is a beautiful garden. The owner is likely to greet you himself and give you a helpful introduction, and if you'd like a guide they are available for $10 more. However, the plants in the garden are also plainly marked so you likely won't need one. If you feel energetic, there is a steep hike to a view that is worth the effort from the garden. Don't miss the excellent gelato at the adjoining ice cream place. We liked the gift shop here too.