The Layou petroglyph is the best known and the most easily accessible of St Vincent’s petroglyphs. The huge stone, carved with mysterious faces, probably dates from between 300 and 600 A.D. It is a lasting reminder of the people who lived on St Vincent long before Christopher Columbus set sail. The stone is huge — 7 metres (~21 feet) wide — and features a face that might represent the Supreme Being Yocahu, a god believed to have brought cassava to the people. It is easy to see why St Vincent’s Carib predecessors chose this site as an important spiritual location. Located in a valley shaded from the Caribbean sun by a huge canopy, the site is as soothing as it is cool. A gentle stream fills the gorge and shards of light penetrate the vegetation throwing magical shadows on the ancient rock. A bit farther down the stream, still on the park site, is the ruin of an indigo factory from the Colonial period, which the forest is slowly reclaiming. The park is a relaxing experience, with shaded gazebos from which to soak up the surroundings. Don’t miss: • The atmospheric ruins of the Indigo Factory • The mysterious heads on ropes on the rock