When we arrive at the bottom of the cliff, we emerge from the jungle and onto a deserted black-sand beach.

A cascade of water plummets over the cliffs and crashes onto the pounding surf, 130 feet below. Palms trees bow over the water. The black volcanic sand is strangely dense and heavy.

I sit for a while in awe of the sight, but in the back of my mind, I know that there's only one way to get back to the car. And that's to go back the same way we came in.

The ascent is actually much easier than the descent. The danger of slipping on the slippery wet cliffside is less when climbing up, and the trail is now familiar. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for my small amount of previous rock-climbing experience, as it certainly proved useful on this hike.

When we arrive at the bottom of the cliff, we emerge from the jungle and onto a deserted black-sand beach.

A cascade of water plummets over the cliffs and crashes onto the pounding surf, 130 feet below. Palms trees bow over the water. The black volcanic sand is strangely dense and heavy.

I sit for a while in awe of the sight, but in the back of my mind, I know that there's only one way to get back to the car. And that's to go back the same way we came in.

The ascent is actually much easier than the descent. The danger of slipping on the slippery wet cliffside is less when climbing up, and the trail is now familiar. Nonetheless, I’m grateful for my small amount of previous rock-climbing experience, as it certainly proved useful on this hike.