Above: Dominica (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Dominica is hosting a collection of adventure racers for its first-ever Nature Island Challenge this week.

The four-day event, which began on Monday, pits teams of four from the United States and the Caribbean against one another in challenges like trail hikes, cultural activities and photography.

It’s all taking place on the Waitukubuli National Trail, recently designated as an eco-tourism site by the government.

“The Nature Island Challenge shows off Dominica’s magnificent beauty as well as our vast adventure activities,” said Colin Piper, Dominica’s director of tourism, said in a statement.

The national trail, named after the Carib Indian name for Dominica, is 115 miles long, divided into 14 continuous segments.

Part of the course takes racers through Dominica’s Carib Territory, named after the indigenous tribe that still lives there today.

To complete the entire trail, it would take an experienced hiker nearly two weeks.

The challenge will air on NBC’s World of Adventure Sports on June 8.

“This innovative event will introduce Dominica to adventure travel fans the world over, encourage fan participation from near and far via social media and offer the experience of a lifetime for the lucky few competitors who have been selected to participate,” Piper said.