GETTING AROUND

Passengers are advised to take precautions when eating and drinking in local establishments.  Drink bottled water and avoid drinks with ice.  In particular refrain from fresh juices sold from local sidewalk vendors.

      The cruise-ship pier is in the heart of town. You can easily walk from the pier to all of the city's attractions, but you'll need transportation to reach the national parks and other sights out and around the island. If you are planning to rent a jeep or other vehicle be prepared to get lost. There are no real street signs.  Also, be aware that sites are often isolated and difficult to find.   It will take about a 45-minute ride around the ragged cliffs and narrow winding roads to get to your first interesting site. Rain is heavy in Dominica, particularly on the island's interior during the wetter summer months, and road conditions can deteriorate quickly under the assault of heavy rains. Many of Dominica's roads have steep drop-offs that run parallel to them. Some roads may be lined with steep embankments, and many are without protective siding to prevent cars from sliding off.

     Taxis have an "H" on the license plate and are unmetered. Drivers in Dominica stay to the left-hand side of the road, which will be new to visitors from North America and most of Europe. However, travelers may be able to rent cars that have the steering wheel on either side. Tourists who wish to drive in Dominica must have a valid home driver's license and must obtain a local driver's permit from the airports, car rental firms, or from the High Street Traffic Division office in Roseau. The cost of the permit, good for one month, is approximately $11(USD). Most rental car companies require travelers to be at least 25 years old, have two years of prior driving experience, and possess a major credit card.  Both standard cars and four-wheel-drive vehicles can be rented in Dominica.        To make better use of your port time, it is wiser to hire a driver or join an organized excursion.

EXCURSIONS                                                                                               On any hiking excursion, be sure to take a poncho in case of rain, and non-slip shoes.

Hike to Middleham Falls
     This 4-hour shore excursion is for the physically fit and takes you into the rain forest for a one hour hike (each way) to the beautiful Middleham Falls along well-defined paths through the forest. There are a few stops along the way where you can drink pure water and one stretch full of vines where you can practice your best Tarzan impersonation. The current is strong, the water refreshing, and there is a cave you can swim to and jump into the pool below the falls. Participants can swim in the natural pool at the base of the falls before hiking back to the trailhead.

Titou Gorge (a short drive from Middleham Falls) requires only a 5 minute walk.

    

     This is where parts of Pirates of the Caribbean II was filmed, and it is breathtakingly beautiful.  You put on a safely belt/life jacket  and swim through a narrow passageway into the cave  where you able to stand and make good progress against the current to see the falls at the end. The waterfall is about 10-15 ft tall and quite the sight. With sheer cliffs rising up on both sides, the sounds of the waterfall and the birds in the rainforest overhead as background the gorge is quite magical with the sun shining through the leaves above, giving everything a green glow. The name "Titou Gorge" means 'Little Throat Hole" in Creole and it self-describes this place. A short walk will take you back to your transport once again and you are on to the second portion of your tour, the beautiful Trafalgar Falls.

Trafalgar Falls                                                                                

                     

     About 6 miles from Roseau is Trafalgar Falls which is not a difficult adventure because of easy access and thus, it is a popular outing for cruise ship passengers. It is mostly on level ground and maybe 20-25 min each way to the overlook to the falls.  However, if the steps are wet, muddy and mossy, in the heat and with total lack of railings, the climb up as well as down going may be difficult for some. Taxis to Trafalgar Falls $25 pp round trip (3 hour trip)

     The overlook has benches where you can rest and enjoy the view before walking back. For those who wish to go all the way to the falls and go under and behind the falls, there are trails.

     Another short stroll will bring you to the viewing spot to see the best angle of these falls. If you are adventurous, you can join your expert guide in scrambling over the boulders (another 10-15 minutes) to the base of one of the falls where you'll find another inviting pool for swimming. Anyone not in good physical shape is advised to stay at the platform because the boulders are large and slippery. Wear hiking shoes that can get wet--or water shoes. A guide is also a good idea for locating the easiest route to the hot water springs. 

     Trafalgar is actually the site of two falls (the “father” and the “mother”) between 180 and 200 feet high that converge in rocky pools. The falls, particularly the taller one “father,” was impacted by a rockslide in 1995. An unusual feature is the hot water springs coming from the base of the taller falls.

Emerald Pool                                                                                                   The drive to the Emerald Pool is very long; around 70 minutes.  However, once there, it's an easy walk which is a loop trail of less than 1 mile that takes about 20 minutes to complete. The Emerald Pool is by far the most accessible spot in the entire Morne Trois Pitons National Park. This is a favorite stop on the way from Roseau to the Carib Territory. Emerald Pool is actually a waterfall-fed pool that appears bright green in the tree-filtered sunlight. The forest here technically falls into what is known as a transition zone, not true rain forest or montane forest. The majority of plants are young trees--not shrubs--which create a massively thick canopy, prompting many vines to grow upwards from ground level.  The short trail has 3 lookout points. All illustrate just how heavily forested and natural Dominica remains. The first lookout is of Morne Trois Pitons. The second looks across Belle Fille Valley and Morne Negres Marrons (2,248 feet). Part of the trail past the second viewpoint is paved for a short distance. This is part of the old track used as a main road by the Carib Indians from perhaps 800 years ago to as late as the 1960s. The third outlook shows the Atlantic Coast at Castle Bruce and Anse Quanery.

     It's possible to swim in Emerald Pool; in fact, on a hot day you'll probably want to. If you do, go stand behind the 20-foot high waterfall; there's plenty of room in the eroded stone behind it. But be careful. The rocks are slippery. Taxi to Emerald Pool $30 pp round trip (3-4 hour trip)  Taxi rates to both Trafalgar Falls ad Emerald Pool $40 pp round trip (5 hour trip).

Emerald Pool

The Boiling Lake is a flooded fumarole approximately 6.5 miles east of Roseau. It is filled with bubbling grayish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapor. The lake is approximately 200 ft (63m) across. Dominica's Boiling Lake is a unique natural attraction, the second largest of its kind in the world, after that at Rotorua in New Zealand's north island. It occurs at an altitude of 2,500 feet and is situated in Dominica's UNESCO World Heritage Site - The Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The only way to reach it is on foot. The trail from the village of Laudat covers a distance of approx. 7 miles and must not be attempted unless in the company of a qualified hiking guide. This wonderfully scenic hike takes around 3 hours each way to complete.  The trail climbs and descends through forested highlands, via Titou Gorge, Breakfast River, Panorama viewpoint and the Valley of Desolation, where steam and boiling water surface through numerous vents and from where the Boiling Lake can be seen steaming in the distance.

Screw's Sulphur Springs is nestled in the rain forest near Trafalgar Falls. A visit will bring relaxation, refreshment and take away five years of stress. Not only is the water refreshing (quite different from the chilly waters of Titou Gorge) there are five pools of warm and cool water.  The staff is very efficient and Mr. Screw, the owner is very  hospitable. The place looks magnificent, with greenery everywhere.  It's like having your own private rain forest. You can relax in the five pools, as all your tensions and worries melt away. One can only handle this luxury for maybe an hour, then it's time to get back to the real world.

Screw's Sulphur Springs

 

Canyoning with Extreme Dominica

 

     A must-do experience for the most adventurous people visiting Dominica. Rappel down a series of waterfalls and rapids below Titou Gorge with Extreme Dominica. It is fantastic fun - training and equipment are all provided. You will see beautiful rock formations, crystal clear pools and waterfalls few even dreamed existed. Swim through pools of fresh spring waters, rappel down waterfalls, and jump off 15 foot cliffs, while putting your life and safety into someone else’s hands.              

River Tubing   A 30–40 minute drive brings you to the launch site for the safety briefing after which you will be provided with your life vest, modified inner tube, and paddle before getting into the river.

     With everyone in the water, your guides will set you loose to begin your journey, gently spinning and swirling in the current, taking in the changing exotic scenery at the same time - if you can. This is NOT a leisurely float down river! There are very calm rapids, but they are rapids! You will get bounced around and you may get dumped once or twice. The guides keep everyone going in the right direction and are very take-charge when it came to directing the tubes. Pre-pay by PayPal per person charge includes taxes and transport from Roseau or cruise ship.

Snorkeling at Champagne
     If you love to snorkel, you should take this tour. The snorkeling boat picks up guests within walking distance of the cruise ship pier in Roseau for the 3-hour shore excursion. You will enjoy 45-minute ride along the southwest coast of Dominica which provides a great view of Roseau and several small villages along the coastline. Champagne is an area in the Soufriere/Scottshead Marine Reserve where there are small volcanic fissures in the sea bed. These fissures release tiny, crystal-like bubbles into the water. Champagne is also a haven for many tropical fish, so the 1-1/4 hours of snorkeling of the 3 hour tour is interesting. Swimming in these bubbles is like swimming in a glass of champagne!  There is a small admission fee to the marine park. You should know that there is really not a "beach" to speak of, being volcanic it is really a rocky shore, but there are some smoother areas where you can lay out some towels and relax for a bit. 

Aerial Tram Located in the center of Dominica's isolated wilderness, the Rainforest Aerial Tram offers the opportunity to see a rich and diverse flora and fauna, which would be hidden from the human eye at ground level. Visitors can learn about medicinal plants, birds, bats and many other species that inhabit the forest. Don't miss the 350-ft-high suspension bridge that spans the Breakfast River Gorge for breathtaking views.

     Beaches may be the one thing most travelers think of when they consider visiting the tropics, but Dominica is not best known for its shoreline. Still, those seeking the chance to enjoy unusual scenery will love Dominica's black and yellow beaches.

     The majority of Dominica's beaches are made up of dark gray or jet black volcanic sands, which are unusual but not uncommon throughout the region. However, along the northeastern edge of the island, rarely seen gold or honey-colored sands line a few beaches. Dominica's beaches tend to be somewhat rocky, so sunbathers may want to choose their beaches carefully.

 

HAVE A WONDERFUL VACATION ON THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND NATURE ISLAND.                                  

     I hope that this web-tour of Dominica was able to provide you with a sneak peak of what you can expect to experience when you visit.   Hopefully, not only it will help you decide on an itinerary for your particular day ashore, but you will want to choose Dominica next time  for a longer land vacation to meet and know these lovely people on this unbelievably beautiful nature island.  

   Please feel free to send me feedback (click here) to this site --or the rest of my sites,  i.e.; things I should change; things I  should add.   I certainly would appreciate your input and suggestions.     Thanks!          Sunny