Be mesmerized by Nature's majesty—above and below!
When it comes to experiencing Nature’s beauty and magnificence, few destinations in the Caribbean can compete with Dominica. Aptly named ‘The Nature Island,’ you’ll find more rivers here than there are days in the year, adventurous hiking trails that can be enjoyed all for the cost of … nothing, and acres of timeless, misty rainforests that conceal countless waterfalls, hot springs, and one of the largest active boiling lakes in the world.
While the land provides a canvas awash with picturesque scenery and fascinating terrain, the azure-colored waters that surround the island let you submerge yourself in pristine, life-renewing splendor. Experience crystalline waters teeming with marine life and exploding with color as you enter a world full of underwater canyons, pinnacles, and volcanic craters that set the stage for some of the best diving in the Caribbean.
Whether you’re planning an extended stay or a day trip from a cruise ship, Emerald Pool is not to be missed when traveling to Dominica. Fed by the clear mountain water rushing from a 40 foot waterfall, the pool’s waters appear emerald green in the leafy, filtered sunlight. Its color and drama have served as the backdrop of several movies as well as weddings.
Located in Morne Trois Piton National Park, Emerald Pool is surrounded by verdant forest and offers swimmers and waders a cooling respite on humid days. Just ten minutes off the interior Roseau-Castle Bruce Road, it’s the most accessible waterfall in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Don’t miss your chance to experience the pleasures that Emerald Pool has offered its guests for thousands of years.
Middleham Falls
An hour and half “intermediate” hike will lead you into the heart of the rainforest of the Morne Trois Piton National Park.
There you will find a fascinating variety of trees, plants and shrubs. With a view of the falls in the distance, you will feel a cool spray of water on your body.
The falls are striking, with a narrow stream dropping about 200 ft. from a keyhole notch in the lip of the cliff. The pool beneath the falls is swimmable, though a bit chilly!
Titou Gorge
The hike through Titou Gorge is actually a short swim from the base of a waterfall through a series of natural “rooms and ponds” formed by high cliff walls canopied by interlaced trees. The undulating sides of this deep, narrow gorge were formed as molten lava cooled and split apart.
The swim is short, only about five minutes, and the canopied light filtering down the mountainside within the gorge is spectacular. A hot spring tumbles down a short wall just outside the entrance of the gorge, which feels wonderful after the cool waters of the falls!
Champagne Reef
Experience the spectacle of Dominica’s rainbow-colored seascape!
Named for the bubbling waters rising from volcanic thermal springs on the ocean floor, Champagne Reef attracts diving and snorkeling enthusiasts from around the world. The reef’s plummeting cliffs and towering volcanic formations perfectly match Dominica’s massive mountains and gorges.
Whether diving or snorkeling in these warm waters, you’ll encounter a dazzling explosion of color. The reef holds a paint box of sponges with names like pink azure, red rope, yellow tube, and purple vase, to name just a few. And greeting you as you go are countless crinoids — also known as water lilies. These marine animals attached themselves to coral and sponges, waving delicate tubular wands of red, yellow, each one hypnotizing in its beauty.
Matching the color and variety of the sponges and crinoids is a fascinating range of undersea creatures — octopus, rays, trumpet fish, parrotfish, frogfish, batfish, hawksbill turtles, seahorses, sea snakes, and eels. You may even encounter the remains of the 17th century Spanish shipwreck.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into the beauty and surprise of Champagne Reef.
Experience the enchantment of Trafalgar Falls
These famous twin waterfalls are a 20-minute drive from Roseau. It’s a short 10 to 15 minute walk along a well-maintained path to the viewing platform, where you can photograph both falls.
As you walk the path, be sure to stop at the warm spring that flows across the trail. The more daring can continue on to swim in the refreshing waters of the smaller waterfall or find the hot springs of the tallest fall.
