Marigot Ridge Climb: 10,000 Steps Before Breakfast

Rising protectively above Marigot Bay's calm emerald water, the dense green forest of the northern ridge is a landmark feature of Marigot Bay Resort and Marina's stunning panoramic views. A favourite pastime among guests is gazing at its vertiginous, mysterious presence from their room, balcony, yacht, or table at The Grill or Hurricane Hole, but many are unaware that hidden in that blanket of tropical trees and vegetation is a hiking path to the very top.

Now you can add your name to the list of valiant adventurers who have taken the ridge challenge as part of Marigot Bay Resort and Marina's AbSoLucian Wellness and Fitness Programme. Every Thursday morning before eight, a handful of hardy hikers gather at the dock to take the tiny resort ferry across the mirror-calm bay to the starting point.

It's another 10,000 steps before they return with an adrenaline rush of unforgettable stories and amazing photographs - along with a fierce appetite for a hiker-sized breakfast.

Fitness guru Jay is the creator of the complementary programme, which plays on words by offering absolution to your abs - and every other part of the body - in an absolutely Saint Lucian style.

Puns aside, Jay is a living product of his passion, not just for "fitness" in the traditional sense, but for his self-styled holistic approach that incorporates meditation and yoga, cardio exercise, stretching and toning, targeted workouts, nutritional guidance and fun stuff like Aqua Zumba in the pool. But the highlight of the AbSoLucian week is the Marigot Ridge Climb - and it's not for the faint-hearted.

Talking the group through what they can expect from the outset, Jay is the master of this domain and knows every step intimately, pointing out this hummingbird nest, those nearly-ripe papayas, that tricky rock and the regular occurrence of razor-sharp bromeliad leaves along the way.

Once through the mossy wooden gate and the only way is up, baby!

Striding ahead, superfit Jay makes it look easy, but there's an out clause just before the climb gets very intense: Chicken Rock is a chance to turn around and clamber back down to sea level if the going becomes too rough. For the rest, the hike continues onward and upward - with regular breathing pauses and a few ropes for the steepest sections - to the top of the ridge where the reward is the most spectacular view of Marigot Bay Resort and Marina nestled below on "the Caribbean's most beautiful bay".

The ridge viewpoint offers incredible photo opportunities as well as a short rest before the downward leg begins through the forest and emerges at La Bas Beach, where the exhilarated hikers grab the ferry back for a shower and one of Marigot Bay Resort's delicious breakfasts. Imagine the feeling of satisfaction at achieving ten thousand - uphill - steps and the ultimate Instagram pic before your first cup of coffee? Amazing.

Now how about Stretch and Meditate at 11am?