Sure, more than half of Montserrat has been declared off limits due to volcanic eruptions, but that's part of the island's charms. Volcano watching is just one of the unique activities for visitors to Montserrat.
Montserrat offers a rare opportunity to witness an active volcano from a safe distance. Visitors can learn about the island's geological origins and history, as well as view the Soufrière Hills volcano from locations like the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Jack Boy Hill Viewing Facility, and St. George’s Hill.
The lush, forested Centre Hills area is renowned for its biological diversity and is home to 34 species of resident land birds and migrant songbirds, including Montserrat’s rare national bird, the Montserrat Oriole.
Volcanic activity and the resulting lack of major population growth have helped maintain the health of Montserrat’s reefs and marine life, including a variety of tropical fish, spotted rays, sea turtles, and sponges. Good snorkeling sites are located off many of the island's most popular beaches.
Montserrat's black-sand beaches serve as nesting sites for three of the world’s seven species of sea turtle: the Green Turtle, the Hawksbill, and the Loggerhead. Turtle-nesting season runs from August to September; contact the Montserrat National Trust to join one of their turtle-watching treks.
Montserrat features a number of walking trails that allow visitors to explore an old banana plantation, rainforests, villages, and the fringes of the Exclusion Zone---the area devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 1990s and still closed to the public.
