BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY of discovery:
dominica’s highlights
Dominica is truly an island full of natural wonders and unrivalled beauty- so many that it can be difficult to choose what to see first!
I can recommend three particular tours to you if you’ve never been to Dominica before and want to cherry-pick the highlights:- Northern Treasures, Dominica Waters, and The Indian River. These are some of the highlights - scroll down to find out the best way to visit them with me.
(You can of course fast forward to Dominica’s Secrets if you want to do something a little different, or we can talk about a Custom Tour if you prefer…)
The Indian River Tour
Dominica is known as the island of many rivers - 365 of them in fact! The most beautiful one is certainly the Indian River, which became famous for filming movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3.
I (or one of my hand-picked Eddison Tours guides) will pick you up from the dock at Portsmouth and we will take a short speedboat ride along the beach, past all the beautiful yachts and along the coastline. On arrival at the mouth of the river, we trade the roar of the big outboard for the quiet clunk of wooden oars as this is a nature reserve and only accessible for small vessels.
As we quietly glide upstream, I will point out some of the local flora and fauna and tell you about the history of this place.
We pass by a large variety of trees such as the Bwa Mang and White Cedars as well as other tropical plants, many of which are used in our bush medicine.
Along the shores you will see a lot of crabs, lizards and birds, undisturbed as we move past so quietly. Quite often we get lucky and even see a flock of Jaco parrots.
After rowing for at least an hour we tie up outside a gorgeous bush bar in the middle of the jungle, where you can try a variety of local, exotic rum punches; the most special one is the Dynamite.
This Indian River Tour takes 2-3 hours and is suitable for every level of fitness. Bookings can be made via my Contact page.
Eddison leading a tour up the Indian River, Portsmouth, Dominica
The Dominica Waters Tour
Dominica, the Nature Island - famous for its many rivers and waterfalls.
Come with me for a real adventure, to see a selection of the best.
We’ll start with a little adventure - a hike to the absolutely spectacular 200’ Middleham Falls, the tallest waterfall in Dominica.
This is a really beautiful route through the rainforest, with lots of ups and downs and a short section of scrambling at the end to see a true wonder of nature (please wear at least trainers or hiking sandals for this).
You can see the falls from the viewing platform, or even climb over the rocks to swim in the small pool at the bottom of the immense waterfall.
After hiking back up, we will go and have lunch in a great local restaurant and catch our breath.
A more sedate afternoon awaits us - a beautiful drive to see the the majestic pair of waterfalls at Trafalgar Falls in the Roseau Valley, then a pretty exciting (and quite cold) plunge at Titou Gorge, and finally make our way to Ti Kwen Glo Cho to sip their incredible herb-brewed rums and relax into the hot mineral springs there.
Once you’re completely chilled out, we will take a leisurely drive back up to Portsmouth (or other agreed location).
Details:
We will meet at an agreed time between 8 and 9am, usually at the beach in Portsmouth (but other locations can be agreed). This is a full day tour (at least 8 hours).
You will need: robust shoes (that you don’t mind getting wet) to walk in, and swimming gear and a towel. Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat. Lunch is not included in the price (expect roughly $10-15 USD pp)
This Dominica Waters Tour takes at least 8 hours and is suitable for people of all ages with a sense of adventure, good mobility, and a reasonable level of fitness. The morning hike can be pretty slippery and does involve a little scrambling at the end to get to the waterfalls. It is safe, it’s not always easy, and it’s definitely an adventure.
Sounds good? Get in touch via my Contact page for a quote or to book. The cost depends on the number of people joining the tour.
The Northern Treasures Tour
The quiet north of Dominica, away from the cruise ship crowds…
This is my country, my neck of the woods. Let me show you the best of it.
We will visit locations such as
- Cold Soufriere where the ground steams with sulphuric gases but the water bubbling out is cold;
- Bwa Nef falls (stunning waterfalls in a dark cove in the middle of the jungle);
- the Red Rocks at Calibishie;
- a local cocoa estate and chocolate factory, with sampling opportunities and explanations of the manufacturing process;
and
- Chaudiere Pool (a short hike to a wonderful swimming pool, ideal for a mini adventure); or
- Syndicate Falls: a 100’ high waterfall in the middle of the jungle.
We will stop for lunch at a local cafe on a beautiful beach and there will be snacks and drinks on the way, as well as stops at particularly beautiful viewpoints. A little bit of everything.
What, when, who? We will meet at an agreed time between 8 and 9am, usually at the beach in Portsmouth (but other locations can be agreed). This is a full day tour (at least 8 hours).
You will need: robust shoes (that you don’t mind getting wet) to walk in, and swimming gear and a towel. Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat. Lunch is not included in the price (expect roughly $10-15 USD pp)
This Northern Treasures Tour takes at least 8 hours and is suitable for people of all ages with a sense of adventure, good mobility, and a reasonable level of fitness. Some light hiking on uneven paths (sometimes muddy and slippery) is involved to get to the waterfalls.
The cost depends on the number of people joining the tour.
Enquiries and bookings can be made via my Contact page.
Taking photos in the north of Dominica
A bend in the coast road
Photos at Red Rocks
Syndicate Falls - 30m waterfalls in the jungle
Walking down to Chaudiere Pool
Swimming at Chaudiere Pool
individual highlights
some of the best parts of our tours of Dominica…
Trafalgar Falls
Trafalgar Falls is located in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dominica. The park is known for its diverse flora and fauna, volcanic features, and waterfalls.
Trafalgar Falls consists of two main waterfalls, often referred to as the "Mother Falls" and the "Father Falls." These falls are sourced from the same river but cascade separately down the mountainside.
The area around Trafalgar Falls is geothermally active, and there are hot springs nearby at Ti Kwen Glo Cho which we also visit as part of the Dominica Waters Tour
We can drive most of the way to Trafalgar Falls and then there is a short, easy walk up an incline surrounded by lush vegetation, to a viewing platform. It is suitable for all levels of fitness and mobility.
The falls are spectacular, especially after rain.
RED ROCKS
Another geological anomaly on this incredible island; there is an area near Calibishie where the lava from a previous eruption has flowed to the sea. The resulting moonscape takes you right down to the water where the high iron content in the lava has rusted in the salt and tropical sunshine, producing some incredible colours. Best seen in the late afternoon light as part of the Northern Treasures tour, or as part of a Custom Tour.
Chaudiere Pool
Fresh water from one of Dominica’s 365 rivers courses down the mountainside and creates one of the best natural swimming pools in Dominica. It’s a 30 minute, relatively easy hike down the hill to get there, but the opportunity to jump off the rock face into deep and cooling water is worth every step (You can also enter the water in a more leisurely fashion if you prefer ;) )
It’s like being a kid again.
The walk there is on uneven ground and partly through jungle although well marked and cleared and not particularly steep. You need to be relatively fit to get there - and back up the hill again - as there is no vehicular access. We often are the only people there for hours.
We go here or to Syndicate Falls in the afternoon of the Northern Treasures Tour but Chaudiere Pool can easily be incorporated into a Custom Tour if you prefer.
Middleham Falls
Middleham Falls is in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park and is a stunning 275-foot waterfall formed by the convergence of the Middleham River and the Ti'tou Gorge River. The waterfall cascades down the steep cliff face of basalt and other rock colours created by earlier volcanic activity. It is absolutely breathtaking.
Starting from where we park, the trail first crosses the Providence River. It then passes a few cultivations and a massive Maho Kochon tree, before entering virgin rain forest.
As we descend the winding track to the 275 ft waterfall, there is lots to see, including a large spring gushing between the rocks, and an old abandoned cultivation with bananas, tanya and a breadfruit tree. We are walking through untouched rainforest and although there are no large mammals, the area is rich with an incredible diversity of trees and other plant species as well as bird life, reptiles and insects. The buttressed Chatannyé and the pillar-like Gomyé are really impressive. The area is home to endemic parrot species as well as various varieties of hummingbird and thrush, and we are quite likely to spot a tree lizard or two.
Another distinguishing feature of the rain forest is the comparatively open forest floor. This is because only as little as 10% of the sunlight striking the canopy is able to penetrate through the tree tops. This leaves little chance of growth for any but the hardiest seedlings, and hence offers an easy walk-through. However this ease is deceptive and one can be tempted to divert from the trail to explore. It is very easy to get lost when one strays from the trail, even for only a few yards/metres.
The trail is uneven throughout, with the occasional handrail, and features a lot of up- and downhill sections as well as some steps. The last 100 metres or so is often particularly muddy and slippery and is definitely more scramble than walk. From the viewing platform, it is possible to clamber over the rocks and swim in the pool under the falls (although if it has been raining hard, this is not for the faint-hearted!).
We do this hike in the morning on the Dominica Waters Tour but Middleham Falls can easily be incorporated into a Custom Tour if you prefer.
Ti Kwen Glo Cho
Ti Kwen Glo Cho literally means ‘Little Corner with Hot Water’ as the thermal activity in the area creates a natural, mineral rich spa with water the colour of cappuccino.
This water has been used for generations to soothe and relax the body, treat aching muscles, arthritic pain and even skin complaints.
The hot water (and it can get very hot at times) is mixed with the fresh cold water from the Kabwit waterfall on the property. Several natural cold showers are available near the pools to complement your hot water soak and provide a rejuvenating hydrotherapy treatment.
Set in the midst of a beautifully manicured tropical garden, it’s just the place to while away several hours. They also have a Bush Bar with an impressive number of locally brewed rums made with local herbs, so you can chill out completely…
We visit here as part of the Dominica Waters tour, or you can incorporate it into a Custom Tour if you prefer.
MEET YOUR GUIDE
Eddison John Laville
“Maybe you want an adventure. Maybe you just want to chill and see some interesting places. I’ve got you covered.
I was born in Dominica and although I have travelled a lot, I have spent most of my life here on the island. I love it here. I know most people are pretty proud of where they come from, but when you visit Dominica you will realise why we think our island is the best in the world.”